Some of history's most decisive moments came not in open battle but before a city's walls, in the slow grip of a siege. This is a guide to the greatest sieges ever fought, from the earthworks of Alesia to the ruins of Stalingrad, each linked to its full story.
| Siege | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Alesia | 52 BC | Roman victory under Caesar |
| Constantinople | 1453 | Ottoman victory; end of Byzantium |
| Khotyn | 1621 | Polish-Lithuanian defence held |
| Vienna | 1683 | Relief force broke the siege |
| Yorktown | 1781 | American and French victory |
| The Alamo | 1836 | Mexican victory |
| Stalingrad | 1942 to 1943 | Soviet victory |
The Siege of Alesia, 52 BC. Caesar's double ring of siege works trapped and starved the Gauls under Vercingetorix, effectively completing the conquest of Gaul.
The Fall of Constantinople, 1453. Mehmed II's great guns battered the ancient walls for weeks until the city fell, ending the Byzantine Empire.
The Siege of Khotyn, 1621. A Polish-Lithuanian and Cossack army held the fortress against a vast Ottoman force and halted the invasion.
The Siege of Vienna, 1683. The Ottomans besieged Vienna for two months until a relief army under John III Sobieski broke them in one of the largest cavalry charges in history.
The Siege of Yorktown, 1781. A Franco-American siege trapped Cornwallis's army; his surrender effectively ended the American Revolutionary War.
The Siege of the Alamo, 1836. A small Texan garrison held the mission for thirteen days before it fell; ‘Remember the Alamo’ became a rallying cry.
The Battle of Stalingrad, 1942 to 1943. Months of urban siege and street fighting ended with the destruction of a German army, a turning point of the Second World War.
Why sieges decided wars
A siege is a test of walls, supplies and will. Some, like Alesia and Constantinople, decided the fate of whole peoples; others, like Yorktown, ended wars outright. Explore more in the greatest battles of all time or the greatest last stands in history.
Sources
Every siege and battle above links to its own page, each with its own sources. We give figures as the ranges the sources use and never invent numbers; see our editorial approach.