The Illustrated Book of Knights by Jack Coggins

Author:Jack Coggins
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780486121420
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 2012-10-13T04:00:00+00:00

CAT WITH BATTERING RAM

NOW the outer walls have been captured and the defenders of the castle have retreated to the inner bailey. The attackers are attempting to clamber over the walls by means of scaling ladders, while archers pick off the men at the embrasures. At left, a detail has tried to batter down the gate with a heavy battering ram, but they are forced to retreat when the men on the walls shower them with a kettleful of blazing pitch.

TREBUCHET

A FAVORITE weapon for attacking castles in the Middle Ages was the trebuchet, which operated on the same principle as a simple sling. Its throwing arm was pivoted on a strong wooden frame and on one end of the arm was a large box which was filled with heavy stones. This acted as the counterweight. The end with the sling was pulled down into loading position by ropes and a windlass. When it was released, the counterweight swung down, the arm flew up and away went the missile. The sling gave it extra power. The firing range could be altered by changing the weight of stones in the box.

The mangonel was another weapon used in siege warfare. It worked on a different principle from the trebuchet but it, too, could throw a sizable stone from its spoon-shaped arm. To provide power, the throwing arm was fixed into a tightly twisted skein made of two heavy rope cables. It was hauled back against the “twist” of the cables by a windlass and secured by a catch. When it was released, the arm flew up with great force and hit the cross frame at the top of the machine. The stone sailed on and crashed into its target.

These engines of war were much too large to be moved any distance. Instead, they were brought dismantled to the scene of the attack and then put together. Each beam and bolt was marked and they could be erected and taken down quickly.

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