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In 1304, as Edward The First's siege of Stirling
Castle dragged on, fifty of the King's most skilled carpenters and engineers
arrived quietly to change the course of medieval
siege warfare.
As the besieged Scots watched in awe, a new and colossal weapon rose
slowly from the far end of the battlefield. Resembling a “Giant Seesaw”,
the engine's beam was heavily weighted on one end, while the other held
a massive sling capable of hurling a 250 pound
stone projectile the 200 yards to the castle wall. This medieval weapon,
which historians believe was a trebuchet,
was dubbed Warwolf.
While no physical evidence of this medieval weapon exists today, in
Medieval
Siege , two teams of medieval historians and craftsmen attempt
to build and employ trebuchets against a castle wall at Loch Ness in the
Scottish
Highlands .
Because the exact configuration of Warwolf
is unknown, the teams explore two accepted theories of medieval trebuchet
design : the fixed counterweight and pivoted counterweight.
With scale models, the designers,
medieval historians Renaud Beffeyte and Michael Prestwich along with medieval
armor expert and trebuchet builder Hew Kennedy and engineering professor
Wayne Neel, first demonstrate the physics, advantages and drawbacks of
both designs.
Once at Loch Ness, medieval craftsmen, including timber framers, stonemasons,
carpenters and blacksmiths, using medieval tools and methods, construct,
fire and zero the two massive trebuchets in an attempt to penetrate the
castle wall.
Interspersed throughout the video are interesting and complimentary
scenes and narration on medieval castle design, trades, warfare, science,
history and culture.
If we could have only one resource for trebuchet
design and construction, Secrets
of the Lost Empires II: Medieval Siege is our choice. Beautifully
done, with Nova's perfect balance of artistry and technical accuracy, Medieval
Siege is not only a great primer for the uninitiated, but also
a practical video manual for anyone considering designing and building
a medieval trebuchet
of any size.
Medieval Times Call For Medieval Weapons NOVA Secrets of the Lost
Empires II: Medieval Siege Trebuchet Video Review by TrebuchetStore.com. |