Editing Catapult (section)

== Medieval catapults ==
[[File:Replica catapult.jpg|right|thumb|Replica of a Petraria Arcatinus]]
[[File:Front of medieval catapult 2 in Mercato San Severino, Italy.JPG|thumb|Petraria Arcatinus catapult in Mercato San Severino, Italy]]
[[File:Catapult 1 Mercato San Severino.jpg|thumb|Catapult 1 Mercato San Severino]]
[[Castle]]s and fortified [[walled cities]] were common during this period and catapults were used as [[siege weapon]]s against them. As well as their use in attempts to breach walls, [[Early thermal weapons|incendiary missiles]], or diseased carcasses or garbage could be catapulted over the walls.

Defensive techniques in the Middle Ages progressed to a point that rendered catapults largely ineffective. The [[Siege of Paris (885–886)|Viking siege of Paris]] (AD 885–6) "saw the employment by both sides of virtually every instrument of siege craft known to the classical world, including a variety of catapults", to little effect, resulting in failure.<ref name= BCH>{{Citation | last = Hacker | first = Barton C | jstor = 3102042 | title = Greek Catapults and Catapult Technology: Science, Technology, and War in Ancient World| journal = Technology and Culture | year = 1968 | volume = 9 | issue = 1 | pages = 34–50 | doi = 10.2307/3102042 | s2cid = 112617914 }}.</ref>

The most widely used catapults throughout the Middle Ages were as follows:<ref name= MAge>{{Citation  |title= Catapults |website= middle-ages.org.uk |url=http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/catapults.htm |url-status= live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924235615/http://middle-ages.org.uk/catapults.htm |archive-date= 2010-09-24}}. {{access denied|date= June 2024}}</ref>

; [[Ballista]]: Ballistae were similar to giant crossbows and were designed to work through torsion. The projectiles were large arrows or darts made from wood with an iron tip. These arrows were then shot "along a flat trajectory" at a target. Ballistae were accurate, but lacked firepower compared with that of a mangonel or trebuchet. Because of their immobility, most ballistae were constructed on site following a siege assessment by the commanding military officer.<ref name= MAge/>
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; [[Springald]]: The springald's design resembles that of the ballista, being a crossbow powered by tension. The springald's frame was more compact, allowing for use inside tighter confines, such as the inside of a castle or tower, but compromising its power.<ref name= MAge/>
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; [[Mangonel]]: This machine was designed to throw heavy projectiles from a "bowl-shaped bucket at the end of its arm". Mangonels were mostly used for “firing various missiles at fortresses, castles, and cities,” with a range of up to {{convert|1,300|ft|abbr=on}}. These missiles included anything from stones to excrement to rotting carcasses. Mangonels were relatively simple to construct, and eventually wheels were added to increase mobility.<ref name= MAge/>
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; [[Onager (siege weapon)|Onager]]: Mangonels are also sometimes referred to as Onagers. Onager catapults initially launched projectiles from a sling, which was later changed to a "bowl-shaped bucket". The word ''Onager'' is derived from the Greek word ''onagros'' for "wild ass", referring to the "kicking motion and force"<ref name= MAge/> that were recreated in the Mangonel's design. Historical records regarding onagers are scarce. The most detailed account of Mangonel use is from "Eric Marsden's translation of a text written by Ammianus Marcellius in the 4th Century AD" describing its construction and combat usage.<ref name= info>{{Citation|url=http://www.catapults.info/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020601094938/http://www.catapults.info/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2002-06-01 |title=Catapults info }}.</ref>
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; [[Trebuchet]]: [[File:MongolsBesiegingACityInTheMiddleEast13thCentury.jpg|thumb|left|Ghaznavid warriors using trebuchet to besiege a city]] Trebuchets were probably the most powerful catapult employed in the Middle Ages. The most commonly used ammunition were stones, but "darts and sharp wooden poles" could be substituted if necessary. The most effective kind of ammunition though involved fire, such as "firebrands, and deadly [[Greek Fire]]". Trebuchets came in two different designs: Traction, which were powered by people, or Counterpoise, where the people were replaced with "a weight on the short end".<ref name= MAge/>  The most famous historical account of trebuchet use dates back to the siege of [[Stirling Castle]] in 1304, when the army of Edward I constructed a giant trebuchet known as [[Warwolf]], which then proceeded to "level a section of [castle] wall, successfully concluding the siege".<ref name= info/>
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; [[Trebuchet|Couillard]]: A simplified trebuchet, where the trebuchet's single counterweight is split, swinging on either side of a central support post.
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; Leonardo da Vinci's catapult: [[Leonardo da Vinci]] sought to improve the efficiency and range of earlier designs. His design incorporated a large wooden [[leaf spring]] as an [[:wikt:accumulator|accumulator]] to power the catapult.{{citation needed |date=February 2011}} Both ends of the bow are connected by a rope, similar to the design of a [[bow and arrow]]. The leaf spring was not used to pull the catapult armature directly, rather the rope was wound around a drum. The catapult armature was attached to this drum which would be turned until enough potential energy was stored in the deformation of the spring. The drum would then be disengaged from the winding mechanism, and the catapult arm would snap around.{{citation needed | date = February 2011}} Though no records exist of this design being built during Leonardo's lifetime, contemporary enthusiasts have reconstructed it.{{citation needed|date=February 2011}}