The Development of Mechanical Artillery during the Crusades
Paper by Michael S. Fulton
Given at The Art of Siege Warfare and Military Architecture from the Classical World to the Middle Ages conference, University of Haifa, in 2017
Medieval mechanical artillery has interested historians for centuries. Unlike the classical and Renaissance periods, from which comprehensive technical treatises and detailed descriptions have survived, scholars have been forced to rely primarily on a collection of vague references found in narrative accounts to discern the power of medieval artillery. Far too often these studies fixate on the most sensationalized accounts and dramatic depictions of destruction, leading to a skewed impression that these engines were more powerful than they were in reality.
Advertisement
By taking into consideration all of the available evidence and looking past obvious exaggerations, by analyzing less celebrated anecdotes and comparing different types of sources, it is possible to reveal a more accurate picture of the development of these engines. Taking the period and geographic context of the Crusades as an example, this paper will trace the advancement of artillery technology in the Levant during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It will reveal that these engines were initially light antipersonnel weapons – traction trebuchets; that sometime around the late twelfth century, heavier engines – counterweight trebuchets – came to supplement the traditional variety; but it was not until the late thirteenth century that these became particularly destructive engines, and even then their effect was less dramatic than is often suggested. By better understanding these engines, we can more accurately appreciate their role in medieval poliorcetics.
Michael S Fulton is a historian and archaeologist of the crusade period. He is a History Instructor at Langara College and the author of Siege Warfare during the Crusades. To learn more about Michael, please visit his Academia.edu page.
The Development of Mechanical Artillery during the Crusades
Paper by Michael S. Fulton
Given at The Art of Siege Warfare and Military Architecture from the Classical World to the Middle Ages conference, University of Haifa, in 2017
Medieval mechanical artillery has interested historians for centuries. Unlike the classical and Renaissance periods, from which comprehensive technical treatises and detailed descriptions have survived, scholars have been forced to rely primarily on a collection of vague references found in narrative accounts to discern the power of medieval artillery. Far too often these studies fixate on the most sensationalized accounts and dramatic depictions of destruction, leading to a skewed impression that these engines were more powerful than they were in reality.
Michael S Fulton is a historian and archaeologist of the crusade period. He is a History Instructor at Langara College and the author of Siege Warfare during the Crusades. To learn more about Michael, please visit his Academia.edu page.
Top Image: Archivio di Stato di Lucca MS.107
Related Posts
Subscribe to Medievalverse