By Jordan Bell

1
Trebuchets

• By Jordan Bell

2
Contents

• 1 Anatomy of the Ancient Seige Engine The
  Trebuchet
• 2 History of the Trebuchet
• 3 Science of the Trebuchet
• 4 The Trebuchets Purpose
• 5 How a Trebuchet Works
• 6 Who Used the Trebuchet
• 7 Digital Photo - Parts
• 8 Digital Photo How it was Built
• 9 Digital Photo In Use
• !0 Conclusion
• 11Bibliography

3
Anatomy of the Ancient Siege Engine - the
Trebuchet

• In medieval times made from wood
• Long pivoting beam - verge
• Very heavy counterweight swinging from hinge at
  one end
• Sling connected to verge
• Can be on wheels or not
• Struts support throwing arm (verge)
• Early machines powered by hand
• Weight could even be 20 tons of ballast stones,
  sand and lead
• Threw projectiles as heavy as 300 kilograms

4
History of the Trebuchet

• Trebuchet originated in Germany
• Brought back to Europe by the Crusaders
• Lasted 100 years after introduction of gunpowder
• In England called an Ingenium
• Used all over Europe in parts of Mediterranean
  and Asia
• It is believed that the first trebuchets were
  used in China in the 7th century
• 12th century first counterpoise trebuchets
  appeared
• Throughout the middle ages and well into the 17th
  century they dominated the theatres of war

5
Science of the Trebuchet

• Potential energy when weight is raised
• Potential energy when verge is downwards
• Kinetic energy when weight is falling
• Kinetic energy when arms are moving
• Principles of leverage
• Methods of propulsion
• Gravity makes weight fall downwards
• Pushing force when verge throws projectile

6
The Trebuchets Purpose

• Used in warfare
• Sometimes used to spread disease in beseiged
  castles
• Threw greek fire, dead flesh, severed heads, live
  POWs, dead animals, heavy stones, messengers,
  beehives, casks of tar and spies
• Had advantages in long range attack
• Could crush castle walls
• Further range than catapult so could crush them
  before they could get to close
• Powerful seige weapon

7
How a Trebuchet Works

• Verge was lowered
• Weight was raised
• Projectile is put in sling
• People stand clear
• Men pull on ropes connected to weight
• Weight drops due to pulling
• Short arm goes down and verge flies upward
• Projectile is released from sling and flies
  toward target
• Target is crushed by projectile

8
Who used the Trebuchet

• Engineers
• Scientists
• Carpenters
• Quarrymen
• Craftsmen
• Knights in battle
• Magister tormentorum

9
Parts
10
How it was Built
11
In Use
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Conclusion

• Ancient seige engine
• From Medieval times
• Great war machine
• Changed the way they fought
• Very reliable weapon
• Most used weapon
• One of the most important weapons of medieval
  times

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Trebuchets
was presented by Jordan Bell
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• Books
• Maule D, 1998, Knights and Castles, Dorling
  Kindersley
• Internet Sites http//MEMBERS.iinet.NET.AU
• www.MIDDElALDER.com

Bibliography