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When moats were in style, during times when your neighbors were far off and liable to want your land, some castles used a moat as a natural defence, when no other form of natural terrain advantage was at hand.

Moats were generally used as a deterrent, since sappers could dig under and drain them, or swimmers could cross and then set up ladders or other means to get across the wall, or even break down the gate to let the calvary in to wreak havoc.

So, in short; moats were used by digging a trench and allowing water; especially sewage water; to accumulate in it. Depending on the tastes of the Baron or other Lord who had the castle built, the moat could also be filled with sharpened stakes before being filled, for any people who tried to swim across or simply fell in. The common idea of moats being filled with alligators or other such beasties is mostly myth; it would be rather difficult to _MAKE_ voracious man-eating animals inhabit the moat, especially since they'd be a threat to the inhabitants.

When moats were in style, during times when your neighbors were far off and liable to want your land, some castles used a moat as a natural defence, when no other form of natural terrain advantage was at hand.

Moats were generally used as a deterrent, since sappers could dig under and drain them, or swimmers could cross and then set up ladders or other means to get across the wall, or even break down the gate to let the calvary in to wreak havoc.

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14y ago

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