Revealed: 15 of the Longest Sieges in History

In the midst of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is a prolonged conflict between military forces. The forces have entrenched themselves and are using long-range artillery to target cities under enemy control. Although a recent counteroffensive by Ukraine may be changing some battle lines, there is a possibility that the conflict could eventually turn into a nationwide siege, similar to scenarios where cities like Mariupol remained isolated for months. In the 21st century, where artillery can reach targets hundreds of miles away, the dynamics of a siege have evolved from historical times when defenders sheltered in castles and forts against trebuchets and catapults. Throughout the history of warfare, sieges have played a significant role, involving places like Carthage, Xiangyang, Tenochtitlan, Vienna, Vicksburg, Leningrad, and Stalingrad.

Some cities are famous for withstanding long sieges, but they don’t necessarily hold the record for the longest ones. CEOWORLD magazine recently conducted a study to identify the longest sieges in history by examining data from various sources, including Tony Jaques’ military encyclopedia “Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8,500 Battles from Antiquity through the Twenty-first Century.” The sieges were ranked based on their duration in years, with efforts made to use the same source where possible to minimize inconsistencies.

A siege is a military tactic where a city or fortified location is blockaded to force surrender. It is usually used against strategically important places like Ceuta in North Africa or Candia in Crete. The strategy assumes that the stronghold is too well-defended to be attacked directly. The defenders, who are often outnumbered, rely on strong fortifications to withstand the siege. Sometimes, the besieging armies prepare for a long stay by digging trenches or growing crops around the fortress. Throughout history, different tactics have been used to break stalemates, such as the Romans tunneling under the Etruscan city of Veii. In medieval times, the invention of gunpowder and cannons made it possible to breach thick fortress walls, which was a pivotal development in ending sieges.

1. Siege of Ceuta

• • Length of siege: 33 years
  • Dates: 1694 to 1727

2. Siege of Azotus

• • Length of siege: 29 years
  • Dates: 659 BC to 630 BC

3. Siege of Candia

• • Length of siege: 21 years
  • Dates: 1648 to 1669

4. Siege of Gerdkuh

• • Length of siege: 17 years
  • Dates: 1253 to 1270

5. Blockade of the Gaza Strip

• • Length of siege: 15 years
  • Dates: 2007 to present

6. Siege of Philadelphia

• • Length of siege: 12 years
  • Dates: 1378 to 1390

7. Siege of Đông Quan

• • Length of siege: 10 years
  • Dates: 1418 to 1428

8. Siege of Ishiyama Honganji

• • Length of siege: 10 years
  • Dates: 1570 to 1580

9. Siege of Troy

• • Length of siege: 10 years
  • Dates: 1194 BC to 1184 BC

10. Siege of Gingee

• • Length of siege: 9 years
  • Dates: 1689 to 1698

11. Siege of Bursa

• • Length of siege: 9 years
  • Dates: 1317 to 1326

12. Siege of Veii

• • Length of siege: 9 years
  • Dates: 405 BC to 396 BC

13. Siege of Lilybaeum

• • Length of siege: 9 years
  • Dates: 250 BC to 241 BC

14. Siege of Thessalonica

• • Length of siege: 8 years
  • Dates: 1422 to 1430

15. Solovetsky Monastery siege

• • Length of siege: 8 years
  • Dates: 1668 to 1676

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