since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during warfare. The word 'catapult' comes from the Latin 'catapulta'. Castles and fortified walled cities were common during this period – and catapults were used as a key siege weapon against them. As well as attempting to breach the walls, flammable missiles could be thrown inside—or early biological warfare attempted with diseased carcasses or rotten garbage catapulted over the walls. The Medieval Catapults history dates
first datable one (circa 1168). The outer wall was built with flanking towers and towers enforcing the centre of each wall span, with the exception of the gatehouse wall. This wall encloses an area of 130 x 100 meters1, making it one of the largest enclosure castles, it also encloses two further walls, the first of which has only one tower because of its close proximity to the outer wall, the inner wall is built with flanking towers to support the middle bailey.
Medieval Siege Weapons This is a brief paragraph or two on each of the major siege weapons. For the not just the besiegers but also the defenders. Please note most of these weapons were not used alone and often had many different versions of the same weapon. KNIGHT At age seven a son of a noble family was sent to a nobleman or lord, often who was a relative. Here he was a page and taught how to ride a horse, and his manners. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a knight. As the squire
"THE SIEGE OF 1216 BROUGHT ABOUT LITTLE REAL CHANGE TO DOVER CASTLE. AT THE END OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY DOVER CASTLE REMAINED THE TYPICAL MEDIEVAL SQUARE KEEP CASTLE THAT IT HAD BEEN IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY" I would disagree with his statement, Dover Castle developed throughout its history, to cope with the change in weaponry and situation of the times it went through. After the siege of 1216 changes and improvements were made that made an
What is a trebuchet? The question isn’t a common one, especially in today’s day-and-age due to the fact a trebuchet in the simplest of terms was a weapon used in medieval times. Many could compare it to a catapult , but the trebuchet can shoot a projectile a further distance and is far more accurate. Although the trebuchet is most commonly associated and used during the medieval times, the trebuchet’s original and most archetypical uses can be traced back to the fourth century B.C in China. China
A trebuchet a simple machine from the middle ages when attacking the opposing side. The Chinese invented the trebuchet in 300BC, the French were using trebuchet more than anyone. A force is a push or pull, but if unbalanced it can change an objects motion. The force used in a trebuchet is gravitational force, which is applied when the counterweight is pulled to the ground to launch the projectile in the air. The counterweight has to be heavier than the projectile or the trebuchet won’t work. The
The History of a Trebuchet The history of a trebuchet is long and complex seeing as civilizations have struggled to properly maintain records throughout time. The term trebuchet comes from the French word “trebucher”, which means “to throw over”, or “to fall”. The war machine was called “Ingemium” in England, called so as it was Latin for “ingenious”. This ancient form of the trebuchet is called a traction trebuchet. Instead of utilizing a weight and gravity as modern ones do, this structure required
Oft times rivers were even diverted to add extra protection, and as a steady water supply in the event of a siege. But always somebody had to do better; soon they were adding mounds, banks ditches, and whatever else would trip up invaders. Earthworks, as they were called, could be mounds, also called mottes, or hollow circles of dirt, called ringworks. In the case of a motte, a wooden tower usually topped it; while a ringwork enclosed structures protected by a wooden palisade, or fence. Nonetheless
Since brass, nor stone, nor boundless sea, 2 But sad mortality o’er-sways their power, 3 How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea, 4 Whose action is no stronger than a flower? 5 O how shall summer’s honey breath hold out, 6 Against the wreckful siege of batt’ring days 7 When rocks impregnable are not so stout, 8 Nor gates of steel so strong, but time decays? 9 O fearful meditation! Where, alack, 10 Shall time’s best jewel from time’s chest lie hid? 11 Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot
tale had been demonstrated archaeologically.” - M.I. Finley, the World of Odysseus Introduction The Trojan War and its characters are detailed in the writings of Homer, Vergil, Dante and many others. It is a fantastical tale of a decade-long siege of a powerful city by a massive pan-hellenic force. However, even though it has proved to be such a rich source of inspiration for writers, poets and artists throughout history, it is debated whether it actually took place. Heinrich Schliemann famously
mechanisms and highly trained guards & knights. The Castle was defended with ease from all of the different attacks used in the Medieval Era. Chastershire was prepared for anyone who wanted to attack by climbing over the walls by rope, ladder or siege tower by not shooting at them, since it is a waste of arrows, but by shoving it off of the wall whilst the attacker was climbing up. This would have been a difficult way of attacking since Chastershire sits on a lake, and to get the climbing equipment
warfare known as a siege was used to gain a castle using various siege weapons and was frequently used during this time period. Sieges can be defined as a Medieval military operation that involved surrounding a town or castle in order to cut off essential supplies such as food and water, aiming to besiege or capture it. Neither attacker or defender wanted a prolonged siege so according the Chivalric Rules, a truce between the two parties would be attempted before the siege began. Sieges were expensive
these fine instruments of siege warfare. Many people believe that catapults where a new and very often used technology in Medieval Ages, but the first catapults are said to have come during the time between 400 B.C.E. and 300 B.C.E. by the Chinese. Gee, they’ve pretty much invented everything. Anyways, the Middle Ages didn’t “start” until 476, so saying the catapult was first built at the latest date, it’s still 776 years until the Middle Ages. The first recorded use of siege in these ages of Middle
for an attack or siege of a castle. Many tactics and strategies helped develop much-improved version of an attacking artifact, like weapons and sieging machinery. The knights of Medieval England which were the cavalry, improved as the years went by, but never actually had any tactics or strategies. The usual knight would just go out there and fight. The knights were the counter offensive against a small siege, but they were ineffective against a large siege of a castle. A siege was very essential
prescribed in this afflicted state 3:37-41 D. The complaint renewed 3:42-54 E. Hope in God and to wait for his salvation 3:55-66 IV. LAMENTATIONS 4 A. Injuries and indignities done to those who used to be respected 4:1, 2 B. Effects of the famine by the siege 4:3-10 C. Sacking of Jerusalem 4:11, 12 D. Acknowledges the sins 4:13-16 E. Gives up all as doomed to utter ruin 4:17-20 F. Foretells the destruction of Edomites 4:21, 22 V. LAMENTATIONS 5 A. Representation of the present calamitous state of God’s
Paris for Troy. Helen, consumed by her love, leaves for Troy with "no thought for her child or husband." Menelaus' love for Helen drives him to raise an army of thousands and lay siege to Troy to recover her. Thousands of young men from both sides of the struggle, Troy and Argos, died. The result was a ten year siege of Troy finally resulting in the plunder of the city, the women of troy being enslaved, and all of the men being slaughtered. Patroclus, Achilles, and Hector, all dead for the sake
outcome of the battle of the Somme was due to poor planning and pressure. The preparations for the battle of the Somme were rushed because the French urged the British to start their offensive on Germany earlier than planned to help lift the siege on Verdun and relieve the pressure on the French army at Verdun. The French had lost an enormous amount of men at Verdun and said that they were prepared to "fight to the last man," this is why the French generals kept pressuring the British leaders
Some people say teenagers can’t make a difference. Well there are plenty of examples that say otherwise. There are many teenagers around the world that have invented something to change the world for the better, whether it was inventing a weapon or commanding massive armies to win almost impossible battles. Many teenagers have helped to shape the world some more than others, but there are some who did things that most adults couldn’t do. One teenager who made a difference was Samuel Colt; he was
a city under siege by the Chetniks. People who resided in Sarajevo during that time became prisoners in their town. They had to compromise something to live. Whether it was their humanity for safety or their safety for integrity. By giving up something, their moral compass was breached and it shifted over time. Some people became assassins, killing the innocent, some became a spectator witnessing others being butchered and doing nothing, while others thrived during that intense siege. No matter where
the field of ancient warfare. Flinging a wide variety of objects hundreds of yards, the trebuchet became the weapon of choice for laying siege to a castle. Its incredible range could often place it beyond the effectual defense range of the castle archers, thereby permitting the besiegers to destroy the defender's walls with little interference. During extended sieges, trebuchets were often used to hurl large quantities of dung, dead animals, and other such items to encourage disease throughout the besieged