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{{short description|Using ladders to scale defensive walls}}
{{about|the siege tactic|the SUV|Cadillac Escalade|the attack of Geneva in 1602 and Swiss celebration|L'Escalade|the proposed entertainment complex|Grand Canyon Escalade}}
[[Image:Scaling ladder in ancient China.jpg|right|thumb|A replica of an ancient scaling ladder used for escalade, in [[Xi'an]], [[China]]]]
Escalade consisted simply of soldiers advancing to the base of a wall, setting ladders, and climing to engage the defending forces. This would generally be conducted in the face of [[arrow]] fire from the battlements, and the defenders would naturally attempt to push ladders away from the wall. Heated water, sand, pitch [[Boiling oil|oil]] or molten lead was sometimes poured on attacking soldiers. As the result of all this, it was often difficult for attackers to reach the top of the wall. Even when they did so, however, they would be heavily outnumbered by the defenders. Often, the objective of escalade was not to take the fortification itself, as it was thought impossible to get sufficient numbers of troops up the ladders - rather, it was hoped that the fortification's gates could be opened, allowing a more direct attack.▼
'''Escalade''' is the act of [[wikt:scale#Verb|scaling]] [[defensive wall]]s or [[Rampart (fortification)|ramparts]] with the aid of [[ladder]]s. Escalade was a prominent feature of [[siege]]s in [[Ancient warfare|ancient]] and [[medieval warfare]], and though it is no longer common in [[modern warfare]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Firnhaber-Baker |first=Justine |date=2010 |title=Techniques of seigneurial war in the fourteenth century |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmedhist.2009.10.001 |journal=Journal of Medieval History |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=90–103 |doi=10.1016/j.jmedhist.2009.10.001 |s2cid=159915063 |issn=0304-4181}}</ref> escalade technologies are still developed and used in certain tactical applications.
== Overview ==
Fortifications were often constructed in such a way as to impede escalade, or at least to make it a less attractive option. Some of the measures taken to counter escalade included the digging of [[moat]]s (which prevented ladder-bearing soldiers from reaching the base of a wall) and the construction of [[machiolation]]s (which facilitated attacks on attackers while they climbed).▼
▲Escalade
▲Fortifications were often constructed in such a way as to impede escalade, or at least to make it a less attractive option.
Because of the difficulties involved, escalade was usually very costly for the attackers. Two critical factors in determining the success or failure of escalade were the number of ladders and the speed with which they could be set up - a slow attack gave the defenders too much time to pick off the attackers with arrows, while having too few ladders meant that the number of troops would be insufficient to capture the battlements.▼
[[File:Battle of Badajoz.jpg|thumb|left|The escalade during the [[Siege of Badajoz (1812)|Siege of Badajoz]] in 1812, part of the [[Peninsular War]]]]
Escalade was, in essence, an attempt to overwhelm defenders in a direct assault rather than sit through a protracted siege. Attackers would generally attempt escalade if they had reason for wanting a swift conclusion, or if they had an overwhelming superiority in numbers - otherwise, less costly siege tactics would often be preferred.▼
▲Because of the difficulties involved, escalade was
▲Escalade was, in essence, an attempt to overwhelm defenders in a [[Frontal assault|direct assault]] rather than sit through a protracted siege. Attackers would generally attempt escalade if they had
[[Category:Military terms]]▼
== Modern warfare ==
[[File:GIGN29 Domenjod 140618.jpg|thumb|[[GIGN]] operators using a modern assault ladder installed on the roof of a [[Sherpa Light]] armored vehicle]]
Escalade is no longer common in modern warfare, as new technologies and tactics have essentially made escalade obsolete; for example, most fortified walls that would have required attackers to use escalade may now simply be destroyed by [[Explosive weapon|explosives]] or nullified by [[military aircraft]].
However, escalade still exists as a viable (albeit niche) combat tactic, and is occasionally used by [[Police tactical unit|police tactical]], [[Counterterrorism|counterterrorist]], and [[special forces]] units to raid a structure through its upper levels, either to avoid a barricaded entrance or line of sight, or to breach the structure from multiple points. Mechanical assault ladders, typically installed on the roof of vehicles and featuring ramps that can extend or angle themselves to reach an entry point such as a [[window sill]] or [[balcony]], are often used in this capacity.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== See also ==
* [[Siege tower]]
* [[L'Escalade]], the commemoration of the failed attack on [[Geneva]] by [[Savoy]] in 1602, conducted by escalade
[[Category:Siege tactics|Escalade]]
[[Category:Ladders]]
[[Category:Siege equipment]]
[[Category:Siege engines]]
[[Category:Medieval siege engines]]
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