Editing Ballista (section)

== Middle Ages ==
With the [[decline of the Roman Empire]], resources to build and maintain these complex machines became very scarce, so the ballista was likely supplanted initially by the simpler and cheaper [[Onager (siege weapon)|onager]] and the more efficient [[springald]].

[[File:Siege of Carlisle 1315.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.8|Detail from [[Royal_charter#United_Kingdom|Royal charter]] awarded to Carlisle, showing the operation of a ballista (in the tower) by the city's garrison.]]

However, while it remained less and less popular as more efficient siege engines such as the [[trebuchet]] and the [[mangonel]] became widespread, the Ballista still retained some use in Medieval Siege Warfare, especially by city and castle garrisons, until it became finally extinguished by the more convenient medieval canons, already omnipresent in all major European Catholic cities by the first half of the 14th century.

The Littere Wallie records the existence of 4 "balistas ad turrimi" at "Duluithelan" [Dolwyddelan] Castle in 1280,<ref>Littere Wallie, liber A, folio 88, 319. LITTERA PER QUAM GRIFFINUS FILIUS TUDERI CONSTABULARIUS CASTRI DULUITHELAN LIBERAUIT WILLELMO DE BRITANNIA ACALATORI DOMINI REGIS QUASDAM ARMATURAS.</ref> one "balistam de tur" at "Rothelano"[Rhuddlan] castle<ref>Littere Wallie, liber A, folio 88, 318. CIROGRAPHUM PER QUOD WILLELMUS DE CHYKOUN LIBERAUIT DOMINO REGINALDO DE GREY TUNC JUSTICIARIO DOMINI REGIS CESTRIEI QUASDAM MUNICIONES.</ref> and one "magnam ballistam" at "Bere Blada" Castle [Castell y Bere?] in 1286.<ref>Littere Wallie, liber A, folio 188, 320. LITTERA PER QUAM DOMINUS WALTERUS DE HUNTERCUMB RECEPIT PER MANUS PHILIPPI DE SAY CLERICI DOMINI REGIS
[sic] APUD CASTRUM DE BERE BLADA ET UTENSILIA ET ARMA ET
ALIAS PLURES RES.</ref> These all being held under the authority of the English Crown.

In remote and seemingly "savage" places like Ireland, however, where cannons were rare and personal firearms were almost non-existent, ballistae had recorded use well into late 15th century.<ref>Heath, Ian. Armies of Middle Ages, vol. 1, p. 18. "Ordinary siege engines of the trebuchet and ballista varieties remained in Ireland until at least the late 15th century, arrow-firing engines being recorded, for example, in 1478. Cannon were introduced in small numbers by the English in the 14th century. One very small gun accompanied Lionel of Antwerp in 1361, while Richard II had at least 6 small ones in his expedition of 1394-5, and 32 cannon during his 1399 expedition, which were deposited in Dublin Castle on his return to England, seemingly unused. The first actual use of light guns in Ireland seems to date as late as 1488, when Gerald FitzGerald, Earl of Kildare, used them against Balrath castle. Heavy guns are only first recorded used in 1495, this time by the Lord Deputy against Waterford". </ref> 

While not a direct descendant mechanically, the concept and naming continues on as [[arbalest]] crossbows (''arcus'' 'bow' + ballista).