Historical Context: The Magna Carta and Rebellion

Fast forward to the early 13th century, when King John’s reign (1199–1216) was marked by heavy taxation, military failures, and conflicts with the barons. His arbitrary rule and disputes with the Church led to the baronial revolt, which culminated in the sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215—a document limiting the king’s power and establishing certain legal protections.

Despite the Magna Carta, tensions continued, and civil war broke out between King John and the rebel barons, who invited Prince Louis of France to take the English throne.

The Siege

Rochester Castle became a focal point once more in this conflict. In 1215, the rebel barons captured Rochester Castle. King John responded swiftly, laying siege to the fortress in October of that year.

The siege is considered one of the most famous in English medieval history due to the sheer determination and brutality involved.

• The Defenders: The castle was defended by a garrison loyal to the rebels, commanded by a small force including Geoffrey de Mandeville.
   

• King John’s Army: The king brought a large force equipped with siege engines—trebuchets, mangonels, and battering rams—to assault the castle.
   

The Siege Engines and Assault

The attackers focused on breaching the castle walls, especially targeting the curtain walls and the keep. The siege lasted approximately two months, a testament to the keep’s formidable defenses.

One of the most dramatic moments was when King John’s men tried to undermine the castle walls by digging tunnels beneath them—a common siege technique known as mining. The defenders countered by digging tunnels of their own to intercept the attackers, leading to underground skirmishes in the dark.

Eventually, the king’s forces managed to break through part of the curtain wall using their trebuchets. The defenders retreated into the keep, which then became the last bastion. shutdown123