Let's suppose you have a 1100s Norman Castle, one of the earlier stone fortifications. These typically were on a raised terrain, with stone walls, and usually a ditch that was not filled like a moat. Well, I suppose they became a moat during rainstorms. There were towers that lacked "murder holes" so there are spots juuuust at the base of the castle that are safe for enemies, each usually big for 3 fully grown men, sometimes big enough for 4 smaller guys. These castles often had a singular huge gate for armies (and showing off...) and several smaller gates. The smaller gates were rarely used and one could enter in them triple file.
The easiest way to take a castle would be to let the defenders run out of food. Apparently even without a fridge, castles could hold a fair amount of food, so sometimes the attacker would have to go home.
Let's suppose that there is a castle with a garrison of 3,000 (obviously one of the bigger ones...). The enemy, over 10,000 notices one day that a side gate is open. The defenders shoot arrows and chuck rocks at them. The attackers run up to the side gate and start entering. Someone brought a stone and propped the gate into the "open" position (I don't know how gates work, I assume one can keep it open by blocking its closing). The defenders immediately send knights to block the attackers, but by this point almost a hundred attackers are inside and they can still enter triple file. Until the defenders can get to the gate and remove the stone, the gate is stuck open.
Both sides are fully fed and not disease ridden yet.
Even though the attackers have no siege equipment besides ladders, they have a way in.
Is it plausible for the outnumbered defenders to save themselves?
The easiest way to take a castle would be to let the defenders run out of food. Apparently even without a fridge, castles could hold a fair amount of food, so sometimes the attacker would have to go home.
Let's suppose that there is a castle with a garrison of 3,000 (obviously one of the bigger ones...). The enemy, over 10,000 notices one day that a side gate is open. The defenders shoot arrows and chuck rocks at them. The attackers run up to the side gate and start entering. Someone brought a stone and propped the gate into the "open" position (I don't know how gates work, I assume one can keep it open by blocking its closing). The defenders immediately send knights to block the attackers, but by this point almost a hundred attackers are inside and they can still enter triple file. Until the defenders can get to the gate and remove the stone, the gate is stuck open.
Both sides are fully fed and not disease ridden yet.
Even though the attackers have no siege equipment besides ladders, they have a way in.
Is it plausible for the outnumbered defenders to save themselves?