#sieges

the city of rottweil, besieged by emperor lothair iii

double-page illustration from an autograph manuscript of jos von pfullendorf's rottweiler hofgerichtsordnung. produced in rottweil, c. 1435

Stade Francis-Rongiéras, Périgueux – gouache format A2, novembre 2025. Collection Delphine Labails.

Learn how Archbishop Albero of Trier used siege warfare to secure independence and reshape power in medieval Germany.

On 26th May 1652 Dunnottar Castle, the last Royalist stronghold in eastern Scotland, surrendered.

In 1651, Oliver Cromwell’s army were held at bay by an aged garrison of seventy men for eight months. The English were attempting to steal the Scottish Crown Jewels, however the jewels were saved, smuggled out to Kinnef Kirk - a village a few miles south of Dunnottar. Here they were hidden at the old Parish Church.

The Regalia of Scotland, consisting of the crown, sword, and sceptre, - after having been made use of on Ist January, 1661, at the Coronation which took place, on that day, at Scone, near Perth, of Charles II. as King of Scotland, - had been deposited for safe keeping in Dunnottar Castle, a stronghold, on the sea coast of Kincardineshire, belonging to the Earl Marischal, - hereditary keeper of those symbols of Royalty, - situated a mile or two South of Stonehaven, now the county town of the Mearns. About the period referred to, the different fortified places in Scotland were in the course of falling, one after another, into the hands of the victorious troops of the English Usurper - Oliver Cromwell. In these circumstances, William Keith, the then Earl Marischal, sought out a fit person to whom might be entrusted the responsible charge of Governor of Dunnottar Castle. George Ogilvie, whose property of Barras was situated some 4 or 5 miles south of Dunnottar, was the person whose reputation recommended him as most fit to hold an office so important ; and accordingly the Laird of Barras, by commission dated at Stirling, 8th July, 1661, was formally nominated Lieutenant, or Governor, of Dunnottar Castle, and assumed the charge so devolved on him.

After the lapse of some time, and as had been anticipated, the troops of the English Commonwealth approached the solitary rock on which stood the fortress containing the emblems of Scotland's Independence. To the repeated summons to surrender made to him, the gallant Ogilvie, on 22nd November, 1651', thus replied to the Commander of Cromwell's forces :-

" Whereas you write that I keep the Castle of Dunnottar for the use of the King's Majesty, which house, as you say, doth belong to the Earl Marischall, you shall know that I have my commission absolutely from his Majesty, and none else; neither will I acknowledge any man's interest here, and intends, by the assistance of God, to maintain the same for his Majesty's service, upon all hazard whatsoever. I hope you have that much gallantry in you as not to wrong my Lord Marischall his lands, seeing he is a prisoner himself, for the present: Whereas you have had success in former times, I attribute it to the wrath of God against us for our sins, and to the unfaithfulness of those men who did maintain the same, - none whereof you shall find here by the Lord's grace to whom I commit myself, and am, Sir, your very humble servant,

“Blizzard”

Ao3

Danny opened his eyes and pressed the goggles back against his face. Even though he could see just fine through the snow besieging the Guys in White, he still needed aid looking far away.

He sighed and looked back at Skulker, who hadn’t moved an inch since the siege started. Who would have thought he could be an endurance predator when necessary?

Regardless, Phantom was getting cranky. He had imagined that taking down the G.i.W. would be cake once they were cut-off from government funding, but they were some stubborn fucks.