Siege machines were developed in the 13th century to attack the solid Castle walls. As the defences of Castles improved so did the weapons of attack and siege machines were developed to attack the solid Castle walls. The trebuchet was the largest and most formidable of the siege machines and was, in essence, a huge catapult.
The trebuchet was used to fire huge projectiles to breach the Castle walls. Large rocks and stones were the main ammunition but there is evidence of more unusual material. Manure and dead animals were also hurled by the machines into the besieged Castle to spread disease - pigs were the animal of choice as they were thought to be more aerodynamic!
See the world's largest trebuchet at Warwick Castle – weighing in at 22 tonnes and standing 18 metres tall, this massive machine will fire twice daily between 17th March - 26th October 2008.
For more information visit: www.warwicksiege.co.uk.
