|
A mangonel was a type of catapult or siege machine used in the medieval period to throw projectiles at a castle's walls. The mangonel had better accuracy than a trebuchet (which was introduced later, shortly before the discovery and widespread usage of gunpowder). The mangonel threw projectiles on a lower trajectory and at a higher velocity than the trebuchet with the intention of destroying walls, rather than hurling projectiles over them. However, it was more suited to field battles. Replica catapult at Château des Baux, France For the handheld Y-shaped weapon, see slingshot. ...
Replica battering ram at Château des Baux, France. ...
The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...
For other uses, see Castle (disambiguation). ...
For the typeface, see Trebuchet MS. Trebuchet at Château des Baux, France. ...
Smokeless powder Gunpowder is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot gas which can be used as a propellant in firearms and fireworks. ...
Origins
The mangonel as described here is a medieval version of an Ancient Roman catapult nicknamed the onager, because of the way it kicked like a mule when discharged. It had a long arm with an indent in it. This indent held the ammunition, and when released the ammunition was let loose. A similar and perhaps older device was nicknamed the scorpion because of its resemblance to a scorpion's tail and sting. Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ...
Sketch of an Onager, from Antique technology by Diels. ...
Superfamilies Pseudochactoidea Buthoidea Chaeriloidea Chactoidea Iuroidea Scorpionoidea See classification for families. ...
The onager's power is derived from twisted sinew ropes, similar to those in a ballista, but an onager has only one arm while the ballista has two. The Romans greatly improved the onager's maneuverability by adding wheels to its base. The wheels and the onager's light weight made it easy to move. Coils of rope used for long-line fishing A rope (IPA: ) is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. ...
The ballista (Latin, from Greek ballistēs, from ballein to throw, plural ballistae) was a powerful ancient crossbow, although employing several loops of twisted skeins to power it, it used torsion (instead of a prod). ...
The word mangonel is derived from the Greek word 'magganon' which means "an engine of war", but was first used in medieval accounts of sieges. The exact type of engine described by the name mangonel is still a matter of doubt.
Use in battle Mangonels shot heavy projectiles from a bowl-shaped bucket at the end of the arm. The bucket could launch more rocks than a sling; this made it different from an onager. In combat, mangonels hurled rocks, burning objects (fire pots, vessels filled with flammable materials that created a fireball on impact), or anything else readily available to the attacking and defending forces. The more unusual types of projectile included dead, and often partially decomposed, carcasses of animals or people, used to intimidate, demoralize, and spread disease among the besieged. This tactic often proved effective. The short supply of food, which was often of low quality or rotting, combined with the cramped living space of the defenders, poor hygiene, and vermin infestations provided an ideal scenario for the spread of disease. It should be noted, however, that the mangonel's principle role in battle, particularly medieval battle, was to knock down a castle or city's walls and infrastructure, not to kill/demoralize troops. Its unpredictable, yet powerful strikes were best suited to hitting broad, non-moving targets such as buildings or walls. The trebuchet, with its large arcing throw and lower range/velocity, was much better suited to the demoralizing/diseasing tactics described above, being able to throw the objects over the walls and into the defender's town. Mangonels might also have thrown burning sand at enemies. The hot sand would enter openings in armor, leading to painful burning or death.
In addition to laying enemy castles to waste during sieges, the mangonel was also eventually adapted to provide cover for troops on the battlefield. This tactic was first devised and employed by Alexander the Great. A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition, often accompanied by an assault. ...
A troop is a military unit. ...
For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ...
Despite its low accuracy, the versatility and maneuverability of the mangonel ensured that it was the most popular siege catapult used during the medieval period.
Fictional References - Mangonel also refers to a 'mech from the Age of Destruction version of the MechWarrior: Dark Age collectible miniature game by WizKids, Inc.
- The Mangonel is a playable siege unit in Medieval II: Total War: Kingdoms where it fires barrels that explode in mid-air, raining down flaming debris on enemy troops.
- The Mangonel is a siege unit in Age of Kings where it fires rocks. It is upgradeable to the Onager and then finally, the Siege Onager.
WizKids, Inc. ...
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (or simply Age of Kings) is a real-time strategy game set in the middle ages, released in 1999. ...
External links
References |
Feeds |
Contact