What ends a seige (WAS Re: Golden Snitch / Marriage / HP and LV die together? /

[Tom Wall]

No: HPFGUIDX 55348

I wrote previously:
classical history teaches us that a seige never succeeds unless 
there's a traitor within the castle/city (exceptions being clever 
maneuvering by the enemy, ala Troy.)

Catlady replied:
No. Starvation or running out of water will defeat the besieged 
city. So will disease, which might start on its own or be started by 
the besiegers hurling lague-stricken rat corpses over the city walls 
with their catapults.

I reply:
Agreed. The way I learned it, it's these things that ferment the 
situation and cause a person to betray the city.

I don't know of a recorded situation where the city agreed to defeat 
collectively (for instance, 'cause they all wanted food.) 

In cases where disease/food/water are at stake, in my understanding, 
it either a lone individual or group inside who decided that, 
whether for lack of food or water, disagreement with the city's 
leadership, a secret alliance with the enemy, or some other reason, 
they would take it onto themselves to help the enemy win so that 
they could get/accomplish those things.

I think that we're in agreement, just working from slightly 
different perspectives. ;-)

-Tom