Receiving order from the king

Galvano and Frederick stood atop the walls of Durazzo, gazing out at the formidable sight below. The besieging force of 9,000 men sprawled across the landscape, their presence marked by the palisades they had constructed. The wooden shields formed a barrier, providing cover for the attackers' archers to unleash volleys of arrows.

Notably absent from the makeshift siege works were battering rams or siege towers. The attackers seemed to exercise caution, realizing that assaulting a garrison with more than half of their number was a perilous endeavor. The absence of these traditional siege engines spoke to a more measured approach, perhaps an acknowledgment of the challenges posed by the well-fortified city.