Castles & knights
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Mangonel. (2022). In Q-files Encyclopedia, History, Castles & knights. Retrieved from
https://www.q-files.com/history/castles-knights/mangonel
"Mangonel." History, Castles & knights, Q-files Encyclopedia, 10 Feb. 2022.
https://www.q-files.com/history/castles-knights/mangonel.
Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
Mangonel 2022. History, Castles & knights. Retrieved 19 March 2024, from
https://www.q-files.com/history/castles-knights/mangonel
History, Castles & knights, s.v. "Mangonel," accessed March 19, 2024.
https://www.q-files.com/history/castles-knights/mangonel
Mangonel
The mangonel was a type of catapult, used for smashing the walls of a castle during a siege. It consisted of an arm and bucket mounted on a wooden frame. The power was provided by a tightly-wound rope. The mangonel was smaller and easier to move into position than a trebuchet—which was introduced into siege warfare later—but it had a poorer accuracy. The mangonel hurled missiles on a lower trajectory but with a greater force than the trebuchet, so it was more suitable for destroying walls, rather than hurling missiles over them.
How it worked
Only two men were needed to operate a mangonel. One winched the arm back, twisting the rope, while another locked the arm into position and loaded a missile into the cup. When released, the twisted rope sprang back, thrusting the arm forwards. It slammed into a padded beam, sending the missile onwards with force. Rocks and fire pots (vessels filled with flammable materials that created a fireball on impact) were the most commonly used missiles. The mangonel was particularly effective for smashing walls, but could also be used in battle to harass enemy troops.
Consultant: Philip Parker