Medieval Artillery

The medieval artillery gathers the heavy weapons used with the Middle Ages. According to the periods, three principal classes of weapons are côtoient: weapons with torsion called also machines with spring, weapons with beam and finally firearms.

General principle

Whatever the type of the used weapon, the goal is to store energy for then brutally releasing it. In a weapon with torsion, it is the mechanical torsion of the parts which will ensure the storage of energy. In the case of the machines with beams, a counterweight which will be high will store potential energy which will be released when this last goes down again. Lastly, in the case of the firearms, energy is released by the brutal hot gas relaxation resulting from the Combustion of the gunpowder, i.e. a Déflagration.

Weapons with torsion

They are known in Europe since the Antiquité since it are already used by the Greek S then the Romain S. They function on the principle of the arc of which they regain the general shape. They are however very great dimensions, so that the force of only one man cannot be enough to ensure the Torsion of the showpiece. The torque is obtained using a cord attached at the two ends and tended by average a mechanics such as a winch. More generally known under the name of catapults, their use knows two alternatives according to the type of projectile sent.

The first sends features which can be ignited or not. It is the case of the Baliste S or heavy scorpion S and of their later improvement, the crossbows of turn which substitute for wood metal like material undergoing torsion. They function exactly on the same principle as the arc.

The second category sends projectiles of the balls type: the cord of the arc will operate a lever finished by a spoon in which are posed the projectiles to send. It is the machine which the Romans knew under the name of Onagre. It is sometimes called balista gréco-Roman. This system to send loads will be abandoned at the 13th century, its performances being supplanted by those of the machines with beam.

Weapons with beam

Weapons with traction

The first known machines with beam functioned without storage of energy. It is made as-used condition of such machines by the Chinese several centuries before the Christian era. The beam consists of a long wood beam called also rod at the end of which a pocket is attached in which the load to be sent is placed. The other end was drawn by a group from man. The beam thus exploited the effect of lever to send the loads. Following their contacts with the Chinese, the Sarrasin S are reflected to also use these machines, which appeared then, by the means of the Croisades, in Europe about the 11th century. They were then known under the name of Pierrière S. This machine will undergo certain improvements, first of all the addition of a counterweight placed on the rod which helps to accelerate the movement of traction operated on the rod. It is then called arranges.

Counterweight weapons

Thereafter, dimensions of the machine grow and the mass of the counterweight increases. The traction of the man is not necessary any more to launch the projectile. It will be used to raise the counterweight before the use of the engines of war. When the counterweight is slackening, the projectile is ejected by action leverage. These machines followed a parallel evolution among buckwheats and Europeans. In fact the machines called Mangonneau X appeared at the beginning of the 12th century. One will associate also later winches called to him wheels with carrier in whom took to seat one or more men to raise the counterweight called also bin .

These machines still grew and the vibrations caused by the counterweight placed on the beam started to affect the precision of the shootings of the machines, to even compromise the stability of the engines of war itself. The parade found by the engingneurs of the time was to articulate the counterweight compared to the rod. The machine is then called Trébuchet. It will be used as arms with seat aiming at destroying the fortifications. These machines can then draw from the balls weighing until 140 kilograms at a distance from a little more than 200 meters.

However the slow rate of shooting of the precision balance (approximately a blow at half an hour) and the labor necessary to its operation (one did not need less than one about sixty serving any professions confused to make it function) prevented to employ it in certain situations. Smaller and compact models were developed such as the Couillard called also crossed out . This last divides the counterweight into two. The latter are located on both sides rod, which was worth its name to him. Appeared at the 14th century, a team from 4 to 8 men is necessary to ensure her operation. It could draw ten blows per hour and send balls of 80 kilograms to 180 meters. As from the 16th century these counterweight machines fall into the lapse of memory, replaced by the firearms.

To synthesize the whole of the information on these engines of wars, here a table which compares the characteristics of each one of these weapons with counterweight:

Firearms

These weapons are based on the explosion of the Gunpowder which followed the same way that weapons with beams: China with the Europe while passing by the the Middle East. The first stops with fire or bombards S appeared at the beginning of the 14th century in Europe. Their presence is in particular attested with the Bataille of Crécy in 1346. Paradoxically, the counterweight weapons and the firearms will cohabit during a little more than two centuries. Indeed, the gunpowder was expensive to acquire and the first pieces of ordnance were dangerous for the people being located around. The gradual control and the continuous development of these weapons will enable them to affirm their superiority compared to the other known artillery machines. About the 16th century, their use is generalized. The later developments of these weapons give the Artillerie ground-to-ground such as we currently know it.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

"Balista with the gun, while passing by the trébuchet"
weapons of seat to the Middle Ages
" Camp of Seat of the Médiévale" Artillery;

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