#watchers of outremer

[suzannahnatters]

all RIGHT:

Why You're Writing Medieval (and Medieval-Coded) Women Wrong: A RANT

(Or, For the Love of God, People, Stop Pretending Victorian Style Gender Roles Applied to All of History)

This is a problem I see alllll over the place - I'll be reading a medieval-coded book and the women will be told they aren't allowed to fight or learn or work, that they are only supposed to get married, keep house and have babies, &c &c.

If I point this out ppl will be like "yes but there was misogyny back then! women were treated terribly!" and OK. Stop right there.

By & large, what we as a culture think of as misogyny & patriarchy is the expression prevalent in Victorian times - not medieval. (And NO, this is not me blaming Victorians for their theme park version of "medieval history". This is me blaming 21st century people for being ignorant & refusing to do their homework).

Yes, there was misogyny in medieval times, but 1) in many ways it was actually markedly less severe than Victorian misogyny, tyvm - and 2) it was of a quite different type. (Disclaimer: I am speaking specifically of Frankish, Western European medieval women rather than those in other parts of the world. This applies to a lesser extent in Byzantium and I am still learning about women in the medieval Islamic world.)

So, here are the 2 vital things to remember about women when writing medieval or medieval-coded societies

FIRST. Where in Victorian times the primary axes of prejudice were gender and race - so that a male labourer had more rights than a female of the higher classes, and a middle class white man would be treated with more respect than an African or Indian dignitary - In medieval times, the primary axis of prejudice was, overwhelmingly, class. Thus, Frankish crusader knights arguably felt more solidarity with their Muslim opponents of knightly status, than they did their own peasants. Faith and age were also medieval axes of prejudice - children and young people were exploited ruthlessly, sent into war or marriage at 15 (boys) or 12 (girls). Gender was less important.

What this meant was that a medieval woman could expect - indeed demand - to be treated more or less the same way the men of her class were. Where no ancient legal obstacle existed, such as Salic law, a king's daughter could and did expect to rule, even after marriage.

Women of the knightly class could & did arm & fight - something that required a MASSIVE outlay of money, which was obviously at their discretion & disposal. See: Sichelgaita, Isabel de Conches, the unnamed women fighting in armour as knights during the Third Crusade, as recorded by Muslim chroniclers.

Tolkien's Eowyn is a great example of this medieval attitude to class trumping race: complaining that she's being told not to fight, she stresses her class: "I am of the house of Eorl & not a serving woman". She claims her rights, not as a woman, but as a member of the warrior class and the ruling family. Similarly in Renaissance Venice a doge protested the practice which saw 80% of noble women locked into convents for life: if these had been men they would have been "born to command & govern the world". Their class ought to have exempted them from discrimination on the basis of sex.

So, tip #1 for writing medieval women: remember that their class always outweighed their gender. They might be subordinate to the men within their own class, but not to those below.

SECOND. Whereas Victorians saw women's highest calling as marriage & children - the "angel in the house" ennobling & improving their men on a spiritual but rarely practical level - Medievals by contrast prized virginity/celibacy above marriage, seeing it as a way for women to transcend their sex. Often as nuns, saints, mystics; sometimes as warriors, queens, & ladies; always as businesswomen & merchants, women could & did forge their own paths in life

When Elizabeth I claimed to have "the heart & stomach of a king" & adopted the persona of the virgin queen, this was the norm she appealed to. Women could do things; they just had to prove they were Not Like Other Girls. By Elizabeth's time things were already changing: it was the Reformation that switched the ideal to marriage, & the Enlightenment that divorced femininity from reason, aggression & public life.

For more on this topic, read Katherine Hager's article "Endowed With Manly Courage: Medieval Perceptions of Women in Combat" on women who transcended gender to occupy a liminal space as warrior/virgin/saint.

So, tip #2: remember that for medieval women, wife and mother wasn't the ideal, virgin saint was the ideal. By proving yourself "not like other girls" you could gain significant autonomy & freedom.

Finally a bonus tip: if writing about medieval women, be sure to read writing on women's issues from the time so as to understand the terms in which these women spoke about & defended their ambitions. Start with Christine de Pisan.

I learned all this doing the reading for WATCHERS OF OUTREMER, my series of historical fantasy novels set in the medieval crusader states, which were dominated by strong medieval women! Book 5, THE HOUSE OF MOURNING (forthcoming 2023) will focus, to a greater extent than any other novel I've ever yet read or written, on the experience of women during the crusades - as warriors, captives, and political leaders. I can't wait to share it with you all!

[dimsilver]

this heartbreaking segment from the end of The House of Mourning by @suzannahnatters 🤝 Till We Have Faces

[lover-of-the-starkindler]

Fortnight of Books 2021

Day 8:

Favorite couple:

Ulrica and Aurelius Rakefang! (Galleries of Stone by C. J Milbrandt) ...is it cheating that part of the reason I reread the series was so I’d have an easy answer for this question? John and Rahel Bessarion from The Watchers of Outremer series by Suzannah Rowntree are really good as well

Worst character death:

Occurs in Rogue Protocol (Murderbot Diaries #3 by Martha Wells). And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

[beneathathousandskies]

Hello!

We’re days away from the start of September and the launch of Self-Published Fantasy month (Website| Twitter), so I thought that I would compile my TBR for the event.  It was hard to narrow down the ones I wanted to include as I have a large backlog of indie fantasy that I want to get too, and I keep adding more to the list, and I am hoping that I will be able to read a few more than the ones mentioned here throughout September but decided to keep them as bonuses and focus on this TBR.

However, in addition to these ten I will also be participating in blog tours for ‘The Skald’s Black Verse’ by Jordan Loyal Short and ‘The Jealousy of Jalice’ by Jesse Nolan Bailey so please keep an eye out for those tours.

  THE TBR

  1) Paternus: Rise of the Gods (The Paternus Trilogy #1)- Dyrk Ashton

  Book Summary:

Even myths have legends. And not all legends are myth.

When a local hospital is attacked by strange and frightening men, Fiona Patterson and Zeke Prisco save a catatonic old man named Peter—and find themselves running for their lives with creatures beyond imagination hounding their every step.

With nowhere else to turn, they seek out Fi’s enigmatic Uncle Edgar. But the more their questions are answered, the more they discover that nothing is what it seems–not Peter, not Edgar, perhaps not even themselves.

The gods and monsters, heroes and villains of lore—they’re real. And now they’ve come out of hiding to hunt their own. In order to survive, Fi and Zeke must join up with powerful allies against an ancient evil that’s been known by many names and feared by all. The final battle of the world’s oldest war has begun.

***** *****

2) Blade’s Edge (Chronicles of Gensokai #1) – Virginia McClain

  Book Summary:

Mishi and Taka live each day of their lives with the shadow of death lurking behind them. The struggle to hide the elemental powers that mark the two girls as Kisōshi separates them from the other orphans, yet forges a deep bond between them.

When Mishi is dragged from the orphanage at the age of eight, the girls are unsure if or when they will find each other again. While their powers grow with each season-cycle, the girls must come to terms with their true selves–Mishi as a warrior, Taka as a healer–as they forge separate paths which lead to the same horrifying discovery.

The Rōjū council’s dark secret is one that it has spent centuries killing to keep, and Mishi and Taka know too much. The two young women have overcome desperate odds in a society where their very existence is a crime, but now that they know the Rōjū’s secret they find themselves fighting for much more than their own survival.

***** ****

3) The Heresy Within (The Ties that Bind #1) – Rob. J. Hayes

  Book Summary:

As any warrior will tell you; even the best swordsman is one bad day away from a corpse. It’s a lesson Blademaster Jezzet Vel’urn isn’t keen to learn. Chased into the Wilds by a vengeful warlord, Jezzet makes it to the free city of Chade. But instead of sanctuary all she finds is more enemies from her past.

Arbiter Thanquil Darkheart is a witch hunter for the Inquisition on a holy crusade to rid the world of heresy. He’s also something else; expendable. When the God Emperor himself gives Thanquil an impossible task, he knows he has no choice but to venture deep into the Wilds to hunt down a fallen Arbiter.

The Black Thorn is a cheat, a thief, a murderer and worse. He’s best known for the killing of several Arbiters and every town in the Wilds has a WANTED poster with his name on it. Thorn knows it’s often best to lie low and let the dust settle, but some jobs pay too well to pass up.

As their fates converge, Jezzet, Thanquil, and the Black Thorn will need to forge an uneasy alliance in order to face their common enemy.

***** *****

4) Song of Shadow (Ballad of Emerald and Iron #1) – Natalya Capello

Book Summary:

They said she was out of her mind. The dark truth will shake the foundations of the fae realm…

Lorelei refuses to believe her wild visions mean she’s insane. But despite her royal sidhe heritage, she’s banished to a remote priory to prevent her causing trouble. So when a priestess of the Elemental Order urges her to join a risky pilgrimage, she flees her prison and sails headlong into danger.

Traveling to an ancient land imbued with volatile magic, she chokes back her disbelief after unearthing evil sorcery that shouldn’t exist. And now that Lorelei holds the forbidden secrets, she fears it’s only a matter of time before the powerful Elphyne Empire silences her permanently. If the fae church’s ruthless assassins don’t hunt her down first…

Can Lorelei expose the sinister conspiracy before darkness falls forever?

Song of Shadow is the captivating first novel in the Ballad of Emerald and Iron epic fantasy series. If you like strong women, potent magic, and non-stop adventure, then you’ll love Natalya Capello’s enthralling tale.

***** *****

5) The Wrack – John Bierce

  Book Summary:

Plague has come to the continent of Teringia.

As the Wrack makes its slow, relentless march southwards, it will humble kings and healers, seers and merchants, priests and warriors. Behind, it leaves only screams and suffering, and before it, spreads only fear.

Lothain, the birthplace of the Wrack, desperately tries to hold itself together as the plague burns across it and its neighbors circle like vultures. The Moonsworn healers would fight the Wrack, but must navigate distrust and violence from the peoples of Teringia. Proud Galicanta readies itself for war, as the Sunsworn Empire watches and waits for the Wrack to bring its rival low.

And the Wrack advances, utterly unconcerned with the plans of men.

***** *****

6) A Wind from the Wilderness (Watchers of Outremer #1) – Suzannah Rowntree

  Book Summary:

Hunted by demons. Lost in time.

Welcome to the First Crusade.

Syria, 636: As heretic invaders circle Jerusalem, young Lukas Bessarion vows to defend his people. Instead, disaster strikes.

His family is ripped apart. His allies are slaughtered. And Lukas is hurled across the centuries to a future where his worst nightmares have come true…

Constantinople, 1097: Ayla may be a heretic beggar, but she knows one thing for sure: nine months from now, she will die. Before then, she must avenge her father’s murder–or risk losing her soul.

Desperate to find their way home, Lukas and Ayla join the seven armies marching east to liberate Jerusalem. If Lukas succeeds in his quest, he’ll undo the invasion and change the course of history.

But only if he survives the war.

Only if his enemies from the past don’t catch him.

And only as long as Ayla never finds out who he really is.

***** *****

7)  Cradle of Sea and Soil – Bernie Anés Paz

  Book Summary:

The Primordial Wound has festered with corruption since the birth of the world. The island tribes have warred against its spawn for just as long—and they are losing.

Burdened by the same spiritual affliction that drove the first Halfborn insane, Colibrí lives in exile with little more than her warrior oaths and her son. But when Colibrí discovers corrupted land hidden away by sorcery, those same oaths drive her to find answers in an effort to protect the very people who fear her.

Narune dreams of earning enough glory to show that he and his mother Colibrí are nothing like the Halfborn that came before them. Becoming a mystic will give him the strength he needs, but first, Narune will need to prove himself worthy in a trial of skill and honor.

Together, Colibrí and Narune must learn to become the champions their people need—and face the curse threatening to scour away their spirits with fury.

***** *****

8) Blood of Heirs (The Coraidic Sagas #1) – Alicia Wanstall-Burke

  Book Summary:

Lidan Tolak is the fiercest of her father’s daughters; more than capable of one day leading her clan. But caught between her warring parents, Lidan’s world begins to unravel when another of her father’s wives falls pregnant. Before she has time to consider the threat of a brother, a bloody swathe is cut through the heart of the clan and Lidan must fight, not only to prove her worth, but simply to survive.

Ranoth Olseta wants nothing more than to be a worthy successor to his father’s throne. When his home is threatened by the aggressive Woaden Empire, Ran becomes his city’s saviour, but powers within him are revealed by the enemy and he is condemned to death. Confused and betrayed, Ran is forced to flee his homeland, vowing to reclaim what he has lost, even if it kills him.

Facing an unknown future, and battling forces both familiar and foreign, can Lidan and Ran overcome the odds threatening to drag them into inescapable darkness?

***** ****

9) Smoke and Stone (City of Sacrifice #1) – Michael R. Fletcher

  Book Summary:

After a cataclysmic war of the gods, the last of humanity huddles in Bastion, a colossal ringed city. Beyond the outermost wall lies endless desert haunted by the souls of all the world’s dead.

Trapped in a rigid caste system, Nuru, a young street sorcerer, lives in the outer ring. She dreams of escape and freedom. When something contacts her from beyond the wall, she risks everything and leaps at the opportunity. Mother Death, a banished god seeking to reclaim her place in Bastion’s patchwork pantheon, has found her way back into the city.

Akachi, born to the wealth and splendour of Bastion’s inner rings, is a priest of Cloud Serpent, Lord of the Hunt. A temple-trained sorcerer, he is tasked with bringing peace to the troublesome outer ring. Drawn into a dark and violent world of assassins, gangs, and street sorcerers, he battles the spreading influence of Mother Death in a desperate attempt to save Bastion.

The gods are once again at war.

***** *****

10) A Sea of Broken Glass (The Lady & The Darkness) – Sonya M. Black

Book Summary:

Secrets have a price.

After enduring weeks of torture and being convicted of witchery, Ris escapes, only to discover the Darkness and the Lady are hunting her. They need the magic that sings within her.

Creator of all, the imprisoned Lady needs Ris, her last vessel, to find the Heart of Creation. The Darkness seeks to corrupt the vessel and retain his hold on the Lady, and with it, the world.

Ris finds help from a pair of Paladins of Light who aid her in cleansing the evil taint from the lands. As her power grows, so do her questions. How can she restore balance to the world and free the Lady? Should the Lady be trusted or is she as much at fault for the evil in the world as the Darkness? With powerful demons War, Ruin, and Plague at her heels, Ris struggles to stay alive as she tries to unravel the secrets hidden within her before it’s too late.

Secrets that may cost Ris her soul even if she does succeed.

**

Let me know if you’ve read any of these, if you plan to read them and any recommendations (because if I put a dent in the tbr, I have to fill it again – that’s the rule).

Rowena

Self-Published Fantasy Month TBR Hello! We're days away from the start of September and the launch of Self-Published Fantasy month (

[suzannahnatters]

one of my favourite weird historical facts is that the Assassins once threatened Saladin by sneaking into his tent and leaving one of their distinctive knives on his pillow, along with two cakes of the bread only they made. "hi, these scones verify that we can kill you. bon appetit!"

(this weird medieval fact brought to you by the House of Mourning line edits, which I am nearly finished!)

[suzannahnatters]

trads: alas for the noble days of yore, when men were macho dipsticks and women were fainting lilies the noble days of yore: In this same year, on the Feast of Our Lady in August, King Henry was crowned king of Jerusalem at Tyre. Brother Bonnacorso, Archbishop of Tyre, crowned him. And great festivities were held at Tyre. And when the king came to Acre, they put on a festival that lasted fifteen days in a place at Acre called the Auberge of the Hospital of St. John, where the Hospitallers had a very great palace. It was the loveliest festival anyone had seen for a hundred years, with amusements and jousts with blunted lances. They re-enacted the stories of the Round Table and also of the Queen of Feminie, with knights dressed up like women jousting together. Then they had nuns who were dressed as monks and who jousted together, and they role-played Lancelot and Tristan and Pilamedes and many other fair and delightful and pleasant scenes. - The "Templar of Tyre", 13th century chronicler, as translated by Paul Crawford

[suzannahnatters]

wild how every other piece of media I've seen dealing with the 1187 siege of Jerusalem gives the random male protag a romance with Queen Sibylla, despite the fact that one of the most obvious historical facts about her is that she was devoted to her own husband

wild how each of those is by a dude

--

anyway, THE HOUSE OF MOURNING is releasing in just under a month, DV - the first work of historical fiction I know of to foreground the experience and agency of women in the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem at this time (unless you count the previous books in the WATCHERS OF OUTREMER series!)

[suzannahnatters]

HEY GUYS I'M COMING TO THE US LET'S MEET UP ~ Book Signing Event!!! ~ WHERE: Barnes & Noble Polaris in Columbus, Ohio WHEN: June 11th from 2-5 PM WITH: RJ Anderson, W.R. Gingell, Rosamund Hodge, and Joanna Ruth Meyer!

Let me just rave about my chums for a minute - - R.J. Anderson, who writes wonderful, old-school YA fantasy about fairies and faith! (Try KNIFE, I couldn't put it down)

- W.R. Gingell, author of beloved Aussie urban fantasy series THE CITY BETWEEN (my fave is BETWEEN WALLS but you have to read the whole thing)

- Rosamund Hodge, author of dark and bittersweet parables of sin, redemption, and stabbing things (if you haven't read CRIMSON BOUND what are you even doing with yourself)

- Joanna Ruth Meyer, author of heartfelt and evocative YA fantasies (INTO THE HEARTLESS WOOD is the cottagecore tree siren story you never knew you needed).

- And ME, your favourite author of ridiculously over-researched historical fantasy!

(- Also possibly a sixth MYSTERY AUTHOR watch this space)

IF you want to purchase books, you can snag a copy of DARK CLOUDS on the day, or if there's a specific title you want, be sure to call B&N Polaris at (614) 854-0339 and ask them to order it in for you.

11 June! Please come! Bring any books you want signed! It will be SO thrilling to meet you!

[suzannahnatters]

PSA: If you've preordered THE HOUSE OF MOURNING on Amazon, you've probably received notification that the preorder was cancelled. Don't panic! This was a slipup on my part, but the book will still release on 16 November as planned! I apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience!

[suzannahnatters]

fun fact: in the Middle Ages troubadours would say things like "I am Love's Assassin" because back then the Assassin sect was not quite as famous for knifing people unexpectedly as they were for unquestioning loyalty to their lord.

[suzannahnatters]

Hello,

I’ve been following you for a while. But some thing you have just posted has resonated with me. I’m writing my dissertation for my MA in creative writing and it’s an historical fiction set in the third crusade. And one of the big things that I am doing is trying to unpick the stereotyping and assumptions of the role of women and also the Templars in that time. You made reference to the Muslim writers. Could you share particular works that you have read that are useful in regards to the women in Outremer. At the moment I’m focused on the recruitment drive around Wales in 1188. But this is definitely something I want to explore later.

really interested to read your work.

Hey! Thanks for reaching out on a subject I'm so enthusiastic about!

Women in the Third Crusade include some lady knights captured at the siege of Acre by Saladin's army and a female archer in green who helped resist a Saracen assault on Frankish fortifications for hours one afternoon before being killed. You can read about these in Francesco Gabrieli's ARAB HISTORIANS OF THE CRUSADES.

For the lay (non-academic) reader, Geoffrey Hindley's A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES contains many errors of fact and interpretation and I would not ordinarily recommend it, except for chapter 6, on women in the Crusader states, which is actually a very decent introduction to the subject! I would also recommend reading some decent historical overview of the history of the Crusader states which will introduce you to some of the major players, like Morphia, Melisende and her sisters, Agnes of Courteney, Sibylla, Isabella I, Lucy of Tripoli, Isabella d'Ibelin and Eschiva d'Ibelin of Beirut...try Christopher Tyerman's magisterial, detailed and accurate GOD'S WAR: A NEW HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES.

For the reader who isn't afraid of academic reading, have I got recommendations for you...

Susan B Edgington's GENDERING THE CRUSADES contains a brilliant collection of essays on various aspects of life for women during the crusades.

Helen J Nicholson's book SYBIL OF JERUSALEM reconstructs the life of Sibylla, one of the many ruling queens of the Crusader States. Forthcoming is also Danielle E A Park's FULK AND MELISENDE which will detail one of the most amazing queens, and her partnership with her much older husband, with whom she fought and won an early power struggle!

One book I'm aware of but haven't read on this subject is also Katherine Pangonis' QUEENS OF JERUSALEM - it looks written for a more popular audience but tackles some of the most interesting ladies of the 12th century crusader states.

Another very recent publication from the grand dame of crusader scholarship is Helen J Nicholson's WOMEN IN THE CRUSADES which I would love to read but haven't yet!

James Brundage's 1991 article on "Marriage law in the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem" will add helpful context. Bernard Hamilton has a brief and mostly descriptive article on "Women in the Crusader States: the Queens of Jerusalem (1100-1190)".

Two articles that are not strictly about the Crusades but have helped me understand the period better in general are Katherine Hager's "Endowed with manly courage: Medieval perceptions of women in combat" on women warriors and Susan Mosher Stuard's 1995 article "Ancillary evidence for the decline of medieval slavery" which is highly relevant to the Crusader states given their numerous population of male and female slaves.

I hope you do read the WATCHERS OF OUTREMER books and enjoy them, too! I do find myself writing about a lot of the historical women I hear about, although I can't claim to be a real historian writing careful nonfiction!

[suzannahnatters]

Hello! I am a big fan of your books (especially Miss Sharp and Miss Dark), and I'm SUPER excited for the upcoming book signing. On that topic, I have a question. I know that, for at least some of the authors, we can't buy books day-of; we have to preorder or special order them. Is that true for all the authors? Or will some of y'all have books available to buy the day of the event? And, if there is a difference, do you happen to know who will have books available for day-of purchase and who won't? (I know W.R. Gingell has said she won't, but I'm uncertain about you and the other authors.)

(Oh, and a side note — this event is what convinced me to finally read Echo North, and it is SO GOOD, so THANK YOU.)

Thank you for your help! <3

Hey!!! I'm so excited you'll be coming! And so thrilled you're enjoying ECHO NORTH! So, for the 11 June book signing in Columbus, OH (details here) the Polaris Fashion Center B&N will be stocking one title per author EXCEPT for W.R. Gingell. The titles are: RJ Anderson: SWIFT Rosamund Hodge: CRUEL BEAUTY Joanna Ruth Meyer: INTO THE HEARTLESS WOOD Suzannah Rowntree: DARK CLOUDS IF you would like to buy other titles by any of these authors (we all have lots available!) OR any of WR Gingell's books, then please do call the B&N on (614) 854-0339 to order the books in! That way you can pick up your order on the day AND get it signed =)

[suzannahnatters]

Morbid fact of the day: in the middle ages, if you were a rich person who died on a journey, they'd boil the flesh off your bones and take them home for burial.

One of these days I really must find out what they did with the broth.

[suzannahnatters]

THE HOUSE OF MOURNING - the darkly gothic Book 5 of my critically acclaimed WATCHERS OF OUTREMER series, a historical fantasy set in the medieval crusader states - is released!!! Here are some nice things @rosamundhodge said about the book when she was beta reading it earlier this year. Get it today, anywhere ebooks are sold!

-

From the demon-infested shadows of an enchanted house, a sorcerer plots the downfall of the crusader kingdom…and his greatest act of vengeance.

Jerusalem, 1186: They call her the White Watcher, the warrior saint guarding the beleaguered kingdom of Jerusalem with her invincible lance. But Marta Bessarion doubts she’s anything special – and all signs warn of a coming disaster.

Now allied with the demon Lilith, the cunning and ruthless Countess Sibylla is poised to seize the throne. In Damascus, Saladin has sworn to conquer the crusader kingdom. And at his side, the sorcerer Khalil plans to take his revenge on the Bessarion family once and for all.

War promises Marta a long-awaited chance to confront Khalil, but in order to defeat him, she must first uncover his darkest secrets…and venture to the heart of his power.

Some battles can’t be won, even with a magic lance.

Sometimes it takes the weak things of the world to put the mighty to shame.

Darkly gothic and steeped in magic, this is the pivotal fifth instalment of the critically acclaimed Watchers of Outremer historical fantasy series! Order today and follow Marta Bessarion through the enchanted doorways of The House of Mourning…

[suzannahnatters]

A reader asked me for recipe ideas to create themed food to go along with her WATCHERS OF OUTREMER re-read...fear not! I got you.

- For Middle Eastern vibes, try serving a platter of crispy hot flatbread and a selection of mezes to go with it! Finish with an orange (don't eat the seeds.)

- For an authentic medieval Syrian experience, withdraw to a mountain cave for 27 years. You can have 6 parched barley grains, a sip of water, as much prayer as you like, and that priceless if insubstantial bread of heaven each day.

- To re-enact the 1098 siege of Antioch as a first crusader, take a bit of shoe leather that's already travelled thousands of miles along arid roads, and a hank of freshly picked grass. Boil until intolerable and eat with a horsemeat chop, aged at least 3 weeks!

I'm sure this will give you plenty of ideas and possibly dysentery to boot 😇

[suzannahnatters]

PSA: Sieges Are Awesome

so I just watched ANOTHER TV show where the characters could have simply barricaded themselves inside a VERY cosy and defensible fortress instead of heading outside to get killed/maimed/captured by the baddies

I call this Television Abhors a Siege and it is EVERYWHERE and I hate it

I HATE IT

yes, I know the writers look at each other and say, well, if our characters retreat to their stronghold then how will we fulfill our Swords Go Clang quotient for this episode?

this is only because the writers lack both imagination and education

you see, I've been reading medieval military history in exhaustive detail now for 8 years and SIEGES ARE AWESOME, both tactically and dramatically!

tactically, sieges make sense, because there is no way to thwart an enemy and buy time like HIDING SAFELY BEHIND A STONE WALL. the only time you would not do this is when a) you have a realistic chance of pulling off a surprise attack (the TV characters are never smart enough to do this) AND b) there is no realistic hope of circumstances altering to favour you in the near future (the TV characters never consider this either).

also historically speaking, whenever people looked at each other and said "this siege has no realistic hope of success" they did not march out to throw themselves on the enemy's swords: they negotiated and usually with great success (the TV characters never consider this either). but let's say you're in one of the VAST MAJORITY of situations where a siege DOES make sense and only the most unhinged mental gymnastics would justify leaving your fortifications to fight (see: the majority of TV shows and movies that deal with this scenario)? does this mean that your characters must sit inside their walls twiddling their thumbs?

pfft don't be silly

sieges are totally dramatic!

it's not about LEAVING your fortifications to fight, it's about USING your fortifications to fight.

your baddies could try everything to get in and there might be fighting over a gate, a breach, or a tunnel/mine?

your characters might sally out under cover of night to destroy the enemy or their weapons?

one of your characters might escape the fortress in a desperate journey to find help?

your characters might turn out to have a traitor or saboteur in the group?

there might be injured people who need urgent attention, or supply shortages?

a FRICKING METEOR might fall out of the sky onto the heads of your enemies, sending them running and allowing you the opportunity to regain the initiative? (and if you think this couldn't possibly have happened, something very close to this literally happened at Antioch in 1098 during the First Crusade)

anyway this is just to say that I am begging you all to reconsider the dramatic potential of the noble siege. for one thing, it makes the characters look like total imbeciles if you ignore it. and for another, sieges are AWESOME. eta: I learned all this doing the study for WATCHERS OF OUTREMER, my historical fantasy epic of the medieval crusader states! Book 4, A CONSPIRACY OF PROPHETS, puts my own magical spin on the 1098 siege of Antioch ;)