A compact castle can be defended by a smaller garrison. Solid construction and concentrated masonry can still make a small position difficult to attack. Size alone therefore gives a poor impression of how hard a castle would be to take. French troops using Vauban-style fortifications in Mali and elsewhere in Africa provide a modern comparison for the survival of older defensive techniques.
Notable Point · 1:43:53-1:44:49
Why small castles could be hard to take
Small castles reduced garrison requirements while concentrating defensive strength into a solid enclosure.