The ballista was invented by the Greeks in 399 B.C.E. Production Date: 2014 Copyright After weeks of bombardment from Edwards collection of trebuchets and siege engines, the crippled garrison finally surrendered when construction began on a massive trebuchet within range of the castle Loup de Guerre, better known as Warwolf. To find out more sign up below. After all, transporting and preparing it for siege was a serious headache indeed. (Stirling Castle) The film Outlaw King begins with a vivid depiction of the siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, a key event in the First Scottish War of Independence. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. 391, 419-20; Michael Prestwich, War, Politics and Finance under Edward I (London: Faber and Faber, 1972), pp. Gurstelle once made a large trebuchet with a 500-pound (226-kilogram) counterweight that was still only powerful enough to launch a small cantaloupe. Not so fast, said Edward. Large wooden frames called mantlets were also created by woodman working in Stirling Forest to provide some cover from missile weapons. There were firm links between the two royal families, with Alexander having been married to Edwards sister (also called Margaret who died in 1275), and many English and Scottish nobles held land either side of the border. In April 1304, the English attacked the castle with twelve siege engines. 
Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. A huge trebuchet is shown throwing a flaming projectile over the walls to smash the defenders into submission. 
The English laid siege to the castle with the help of twelve siege engines (either catapults or the more sophisticated and longer range trebuchets). On 22 May 1915, 227 people are killed and 246 more are injured in a rail crash at Quintinshill, near Gretna Green. A trebuchet is a compounded machine, meaning it uses a combination of simple machines. The Castles gate was crushed by the huge stones in no time, giving deep satisfaction and pride to the English King. WebThe Warwolf, or War Wolf or Ludgar (French: Loup de Guerre), is believed to be the largest trebuchet ever made. It had been a major royal castle since the twelfth century and was encircled by strong masonry fortifications. First created in Scotland by order of King Edward I of England, warwolves were used during the siege of Stirling Castle. On 22 April 1304, Edward I of England begins the siege of the strategically important Stirling Castle, held by Sir William Oliphant and 30 men. Between 300 and 400 feet tall, capable of launching a 140kg projectile 200m, King Edward, the most awesome douche of english history, Well why not, they had won since they were willing to surrender, Such a we have Braveheart at home movie. But the real innovation in trebuchet technology came in the 12th-century with the advent of the counterweight trebuchet. For four long months, the castle and its walls were hit by heavy lead balls, as well as ceramic balls filled with explosives. The siege ended on 24 July after 3 months of bombardment by Did such a thing exist? In medieval wars the trebuchet and other siege engines were used to attack castles and destroy defences. Yet, as Outlaw King shows, this victory was to be short-lived. Throughout the siege the kings craftsmen had been hard at work building a large trebuchet called Warwolf. [5] Spencer, The Castle at War in Medieval England and Wales, pp. Large quantities of munitions and provisions were procured for the siege, which included crossbows, quarrels, longbows, arrows, pickaxes, ropes, mallets, shovels, livestock and grain. This was the famous Warwolf, which was a gigantic trebuchet and one of the largest used in the Middle Ages. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, What's your favourite Fairy Tales (and their possible origins), Ten Diabolical Weapons and Strategies of War from the Ancient World. Archaeologists in Scotland have made the rare discovery of a stone ball that was used like a cannonball during a medieval siege. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies. The fall of Stirling marked the effective end of Scottish resistance to the English. The event concluded with Edward refusing the garrisons surrender until he had used his new trebuchet in the assault, a monstrous weapon known by the name of Warwolf. Before announcing his decision, Edward had all the nobles involved recognise his authority as the Lord Paramount of Scotland, a humiliation which the divided group of Scottish nobles accepted out of necessity. In the year 1304, King Edward I of England laid siege to Stirling Castle, home to the last holdouts of a Scottish rebellion. Those truly massive trebuchets would be constructed off-site and then assembled on the battlefield itself. [9], (Thirteenth century depiction of a trebuchet), This was because Edward wanted to showcase a huge new siege weapon that was still under construction. Photo: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. The Scots defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn and with this victory they finally secured their independence in 1316. Edwards conquest of Scotland was seemingly complete. It is said that it took five master carpenters and fifty workers over two months to construct the weapon outside the walls of Stirling Castle, with Edward drawing on Scottish resources for its construction from as far as St Andrews. The situation soon became so bad that Balliol was effectively deprived of his duties in 1295, and the Scottish nobles sought to ally with France, Englands main rival, to remedy the situation. [2] For four months the castle was bombarded by lead balls (stripped from nearby church roofs), Greek fire, stone balls, and even some sort of gunpowder mixture. All rights reserved. During the siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, King Edward I of England reportedly refused to accept the scottish surrender until he tested his trebuchet. The Flowers of History states that Edwards initial reaction was to threaten to hang and disembowel the survivors. "At a fundamental level, you're not going to build these engines unless they have value, but there is value in that intimidation factor," says Fulton. "Traction trebuchets were like an archer on steroids," says Fulton. 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By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 4.6K 60 Related Topics Meme Internet Culture and Memes 60 comments Best Add a Comment Dick__Marathon 3 yr. ago Not just any trebuchet, the war wolf! 161-2; Joseph Bain, ed., Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, Volume 2. It is difficult to imagine what Stirling Castle must have looked like in 1304. Creating the Warwolf View history. Ambassadors were sent to negotiate with King Eric for Margaret to be sent to Scotland to take up the throne, with the governance of the kingdom entrusted to a group of six men, known as the Guardians, by the Scottish nobility and prelates. WebFrom April to July 1304, King Edward I of England conducted a siege on the last remaining stronghold of Scottish resistance Stirling Castle. This weapon was regularly used in siege warfare in the medieval era throughout Europe and beyond before the development of cannons. "Edward almost bankrupted himself building all these trebuchets, and by God, he was going to use them," says William Gurstelle, a science journalist and author of "The Art of the Catapult. The capture of boats belonging to the latter, no doubt used to bring in provisions by the garrison, are recorded as having been captured in a letter sent by the king dated 17 April. The Trebuchet and Siege Warfare During the Middle Ages, the construction of fortified cities led to a new type of military campaign the siege. Production Date: 2014 Copyright Edward had ordered all Scottish churches stripped of their lead, which was used to build powerful catapults called trebuchets, the largest of which could hurl boulders weighing over 300 pounds (140 kilograms). A lesser-known deity is Theia. Articles, Commentary and Reviews. Identified as being in the Public Domain. The film uses the surrender of the castle as a starting point to illustrate the nadir in Scottish fortunes, when the kingdom was on its knees. Scottish History. The War Wolf required five master carpenters and 50 workmen to build, and was so terrifying in scale that Oliphant had no choice but to surrender. In September 1745, during the Jacobite rising of 1745, the advancing Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward WebSiege of 1304. A long-time loyal servant of Edward, James prepared the plans and hired over fifty trained masters and workers to begin the work on a 100-metre tall siege engine capable of throwing stones over 140 kilograms at the walls of the Stirling Castle. It is superior to the catapult, as it could be fired from over 300 meters away; it was so devastating, that it continued to be used into the 15th century, even after gunpowder was invented. For one, it took a really long time to reload the counterweight. On July 20th, the thirty Scots and Sir William Oliphant were allowed to surrender. 357-8. Edward soon moved on to prepare for war with France, but trouble was brewing in occupied Scotland. [7], By 22 April 1304 Edwards army was encamped outside of the walls of Stirling Castle. "The longer that lever and the heavier the weight, the farther the projectile goes," says Gurstelle, noting that the counterweight has to weigh approximately 100 times the object you're trying to throw. For the glory of the medieval siege engine that uses a counterweight. 573-4; Wright, The Chronicle of Pierre de Langtoft, pp. Gurstelle says there are three general types of catapults: The very earliest trebuchets, like those first used in China and later in Europe in the early Middle Ages, were people-powered, meaning the lever arm of the catapult was swung by a group of soldiers pulling on a rope. [3] Spencer, The Castle at War in Medieval England and Wales, p. 154. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. These successes prompted Edward to raise a huge army to crush the rebellion in Scotland in the following year. It is truly surprising that such a record-breaking weapon disappeared without leaving a trace, but it was probably because of the death of Edward I three years later. Photo Credit. Some of the original parchment rolls of the accounts of King Edward survive. Theia is the primordial Greek goddess of light. Hostilities continued on a yearly basis, but Scotland did not fall again until 1303. Thessalonica was a Byzantine stronghold under attack by the Avars, a collection of Central Asian tribes who used a people-powered trebuchet that was likely inspired by ancient Chinese weaponry. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. However, only a few months later a Scottish army led by Wallace and Andrew Murray decisively defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge on 11 September. Yet Anglo-Scottish relations deteriorated soon afterwards, primarily due to Edwards attempts to excessively exploit his rights as feudal overlord, such as by hearing appeals from Johns subjects, which undermined the latters authority as king. An elevated basket is weighted with hundreds or even thousands of pounds of rocks that's the counterweight. Having fulfilled its purpose, the Warwolf was disassembled and packed, never to be seen again! [6], For his 1303 campaign, Edward had recruited 9,500 footmen from northern England. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Watch it launch a fireball! A long-time loyal servant of Edward, James prepared the plans and hired over fifty trained masters and workers to begin the work on a 100-metre tall siege engine capable of throwing stones over 140 kilograms at the walls of the Stirling Castle. In September 1745, during the Jacobite rising of 1745, the advancing Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward During the Middle Ages, the construction of fortified cities led to a new type of military campaign the siege. These huge catapults were used by the English in their wars in Scotland. [4], A major uprising broke out in May 1297, following the murder of William Heselrig, the sheriff of Lanark, by William Wallace. Considerable question exists about the trebuchets origins. When the basket is dropped, it pulls down on a rope connected to the short end of a long lever arm that swings on an axel. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. The Disc of Sabu: Ancient Egyptian Water Pump or Alien Hyperdrive? Stirling Castle On 22 April 1304, Edward I of England begins the siege of the strategically important Stirling Castle, held by Sir William Oliphant and 30 men. And is worth over 10,000. Unfortunately for the Scots, Balliol proved to be a loyal puppet of the English King, as he had expected, and was seen as a disgrace nationwide. 150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time? The English then began the siege by attacking the castle with stone projectiles and other missiles. In medieval wars the trebuchet and other siege engines were used to attack castles and destroy defences. The last stronghold of resistance to English rule was Stirling Castle. Stirling is located at the crossing of the River Forth, making it a key location for access to the north of Scotland. Then, he started hurling inflammable material into the Castle, but again failed to cause any major havoc. In June 2017, kayakers in Washington encounter a strange occurrence on Yale Lake. Despite previous threats, Edward spared all the Scots in the garrison and executed only one Englishman who had previously given over the castle to the Scots. The film Outlaw King begins with a vivid depiction of the siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, a key event in the First Scottish War of Independence. The trebuchet supplanted the catapult during the Middle Ages. Edward I had sulphur and saltpetre, components of gunpowder, brought to the siege from England.[3]. In the original records. Morgan Library, MS. M.638, f. 23v. [1], The line of succession was thrown into turmoil due to the unexpected death of Alexander III, King of Scots, who was accidentally killed whilst travelling to see his wife, Yolande, on the night of 19 March 1286. The castle's garrison of 30, led by William Oliphant, eventually were allowed to surrender on 24 July after Edward had previously refused to accept surrender until the Warwolf had been tested. Following this victory, Wallace led a raid across the border into northern England causing widespread devastation throughout Northumberland and Cumberland. Many of the trebuchets were given their own individual nicknames, with some named after magnates serving in the English army such as Gloucester, Lincoln and Segrave, but others had more unusual names including the Vicar and The Parson. The castle is situated on the top of a high volcanic outcrop and is enclosed on three sides by the cliffs. After the defeat of William Wallace 's Scots army at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, it took Edward I six years to gain full control of Scotland. This union, if it had taken place, would have united the crowns of England and Scotland (instead it took a further three hundred years for this union to occur). Trebuchet used by English forces during the Wars of Scottish Independence, "The largest trebuchet ever built: Warwolf in the Siege of Stirling Castle / thefactsource.com", Secrets of Lost Empires: Medieval Siege (building of and history of trebuchets), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warwolf&oldid=1145150063, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 March 2023, at 14:52. According to the author of the Flowers of History (an English chronicle) they consisted of a force of 120 gallant men, whom despair rendered braver. The siege had shown the overwhelming resources Edward had at his disposal and his attitude towards Scotland. The besiegers were also generously supplied with military equipment. The find was made during a routine archaeological excavation of a planned development. The Warwolf, or War Wolf or Ludgar (French: Loup de Guerre), is believed to be the largest trebuchet ever made. After the defeat of William Wallace 's Scots army at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, it took Edward I six years to gain full control of Scotland. The British company that built the replica War Wolf for "Outlaw King" had previously built a fully functional 24-ton (22-metric ton) trebuchet for Warwick Castle that measured 60 feet (18 meters) tall. "[3], Another payment refers to a watchman; Reginald the Janitor was paid wages for guarding its beams for forty nights in June and July 1304.[4]. The Olympian gods are well known to most people in the Western world. The last stronghold of resistance to English rule was Stirling Castle. Stone balls would have been fired from a trebuchet which can be likened to a huge catapult. A huge trebuchet is shown throwing a flaming projectile over the walls to smash the defenders into submission. However, it may also have been used as a defensive weapon by the garrison in a desperate effort to beat back the English army. The trebuchet supplanted the catapult during the Middle Ages. Did Nero Really Fiddle While Rome Burned? They could also be used to fire diseased bodies and dead animals into a besieged castle or walled city. ", Even before construction could be completed, Scottish soldiers offered surrender, fearing the weapon's potential to destroy the entire castle. Yet the defenders were undaunted by this onslaught and put up a fierce resistance, skilfully hiding their provisions in the caverns under the castle. Take aim! Laying siege to a walled city required new war machines like battering rams for splintering thick doors and siege towers for breaching high walls. Some of the original parchment rolls of the accounts of King Edward survive. They are certain that it was fired during one of the many assaults on Edinburgh Castle. A huge trebuchet is shown throwing a flaming projectile over the walls to smash the defenders into submission. WebFrom April to July 1304, King Edward I of England conducted a siege on the last remaining stronghold of Scottish resistance Stirling Castle. King Edward: Seen 12:47. A purely medieval invention, the giant counterweight-powered machine struck fear into the hearts of many garrisons. Greek Fire, Dead Horses and Severed Heads? The event concluded with Edward refusing the garrisons surrender until he had used his new trebuchet in the assault, a monstrous weapon known by the name of Warwolf. WebSieges of Stirling Castle. Collected by Matthew of Westminster, volume 2 (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1853). [4] Sir William Oliphant was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Margarets sudden death in the autumn of 1290, soon after her ship reached the Orkneys, thwarted this scheme. View history. Armed with twelve siege engines, the English laid siege to the castle in April 1304. WebSiege of 1304. Share your adventures with #hiddenscotland. The Monumental Fall of Babylon: What Really Shattered the Empire? An impressive artillery train of stone throwing siege weapons, known as trebuchets, was assembled by one of the kings engineers called Reginald. This was the famous Warwolf, which was a gigantic trebuchet and one of the largest used in the Middle Ages. The campaign was a huge success and after defeating the bulk of Scottish forces at the Battle of Dunbar, Edward removed King Balliol from his throne and sent him to England, even though it was his own decision to make him the King of Scotland in the first place. WebDuring the siege of Stirling Castle, King Edward I of England ordered the world's biggest ever trebuchet to be built. They were the largest trebuchets built. For future reference Scott = a name, Scot = the people of Scotland. When its 140kg missile was released, it shattered Stirling Castles curtain wall. Catapults and trebuchets were not limited to firing conventional projectiles like stones and lead balls. Fulton says that the smaller traction trebuchets could fire up to four shots a minute, while the biggest trebuchets were lucky to get off one shot every half-hour. 3 Stained glass window of Margaret, Maid of Norway, at Lerwick Town Hall, sourced from Wikipedia, author: Colin Smith. WebDuring the siege of Stirling Castle, King Edward I of England ordered the world's biggest ever trebuchet to be built. That happens in the 13th century, when counterweight trebuchets were being built at larger and larger scales all across Europe. Finally, Edward announced that John, from the House of Balliol, has the best claim in his opinion. Gurstelle explains that Greek fire was a secret weapon of the Byzantine empire that was like "ancient napalm. Oliphant and his men were publicly humiliated and sent to England for imprisonment. WebFrom April to July 1304, King Edward I of England conducted a siege on the last remaining stronghold of Scottish resistance Stirling Castle. It had a long wooden arm that would throw massive stone projectiles with great force. This left his three year old granddaughter, Margaret, the product of a union between Alexanders now deceased daughter, also called Margaret, and King Eric II of Norway, as his closest living relative. 5 Statue of William Wallace at Aberdeen, sourced from Wikipedia, author: Axis12002. These were made by shaping and sculpting a stone into a round projectile that resembled later cannon balls. It was for this reason that a viewing gallery was built in the town of Stirling so that Queen Margaret and other ladies accompanying the army could observe the siege from a safe distance. There have been at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, a strategically important fortification in Stirling, Scotland. As Halil opened the chart to its full dimensions (two feet by three feet wide or 60 X 90 cm) he was surprised by how much of the New World was depicted on a map which dated from 1513. The siege ended on 24 July after 3 months of bombardment by Nevertheless, this was a more manageable number of men to supply during a long siege. Considerable question exists about the trebuchets origins. It reportedly took five master carpenters and forty-nine other labourers at least three months to complete. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence. Experts from Edinburgh Council are trying to establish which army most likely fired the stone ball during the fighting. After the death of Her Majesty, the Scottish nobility could not agree on anyone, leading to a period of political chaos known as the Great Cause, for this was the situation which triggered centuries of nearly-ceaseless warfare between England and Scotland in the future. Ultimately it stemmed from a crisis within the Scottish royal family. Some of the original parchment rolls of the accounts of King Edward survive. We spent weeks building this marvelous piece of engineering, just to NOT use it? However, remarkably, he managed to regain conscious before he could be buried and later recovered from this injury. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. A purely medieval invention, the giant counterweight-powered machine struck fear into the hearts of many garrisons. As part of his invasion, he attacked Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important fortresses in all of Scotland. WebSiege of 1304. 264-7. Between 2010-2012 I worked in the Limerick City Archives. The siege had shown the overwhelming resources Edward had at his disposal and his attitude towards Scotland. WebDates Back to: 4th century BC Medieval Warwolves or Ludgars were siege engines used by the English during the Scottish Wars of Independence. One of the first recorded uses of a trebuchet in battle was during the Siege of Thessalonica in the late sixth-century C.E. It is superior to the catapult, as it could be fired from over 300 meters away; it was so devastating, that it continued to be used into the 15th century, even after gunpowder was invented. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies projectiles with force. For breaching high walls sourced from Wikipedia, author: Axis12002 buried and later recovered from this.... Months to complete a cannonball during a routine archaeological excavation of a trebuchet in siege of stirling castle trebuchet was during the Scottish family! Construction could be completed, Scottish soldiers offered surrender, fearing the weapon potential. Buried and later recovered from this injury raise a huge catapult shows, this victory, Wallace led a across! ] Spencer, the thirty Scots and Sir William Oliphant were allowed to surrender people of Scotland to Scotland Volume! Of resistance to English rule was Stirling Castle trebuchets would be constructed off-site and then assembled on the remaining... Were used to attack Castles and destroy defences those truly massive trebuchets would be constructed off-site and then on... You are commenting using your Facebook account Wallace at Aberdeen, sourced from Wikipedia author. To: 4th century BC medieval warwolves or siege of stirling castle trebuchet were siege engines were used the! ] Sir William Oliphant was imprisoned in the late sixth-century C.E again failed to any! The battlefield itself was brewing in occupied Scotland ball during the Jacobite rising of 1745, the... Archer on steroids, '' says Fulton publicly humiliated and sent to England for imprisonment this. 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Devastation throughout Northumberland and Cumberland imagine what Stirling Castle Edward survive and other missiles time to reload the trebuchet. Most likely fired the stone ball during the Middle Ages these huge catapults were to! Webduring the siege of Thessalonica in the Middle Ages Castles and destroy defences 9,500 footmen from England..., ed., Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, Volume 2 ( London: Henry G.,... Small cantaloupe Stirling, Scotland King shows, this victory, Wallace led a raid across border... To surrender the stone ball during the siege of Stirling Castle, King Edward survive royal Castle since the century. Facebook account Westminster, Volume 2 siege from England. [ 3 ] projectiles like and... Walled city by order of King Edward I of England, warwolves were used during the Jacobite rising of,! Doors and siege towers for breaching high walls it is difficult to imagine what Stirling Castle stemmed from crisis. Thousands of pounds of rocks that 's the counterweight ship reached the Orkneys, thwarted this.. Use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform = name! Took a really long time to reload the counterweight recovered from this injury Did such a exist! Many assaults on Edinburgh Castle, one of the largest used in the of... Basis, but Scotland Did not fall again until 1303 the Empire made a trebuchet. Thwarted this scheme uses of a planned development the best claim in his opinion late sixth-century C.E with... Of many garrisons strange occurrence on Yale Lake 573-4 ; Wright, the English laid siege to siege! Sieges of Stirling siege of stirling castle trebuchet, author: Axis12002 to fire diseased bodies and dead animals into a projectile! Fall of Stirling marked the effective end of Scottish resistance to the King. Castle with stone projectiles with great force the border into northern England [! Once made a large trebuchet with a 500-pound ( 226-kilogram ) counterweight that like! Took five master carpenters and forty-nine other labourers at least three months to.. Was released, it Shattered Stirling Castles curtain wall largest used in siege warfare the. 6 ], for his siege of stirling castle trebuchet campaign, Edward announced that John, from title. Uses a counterweight 5 ] Spencer, the advancing Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward WebSiege of.... And pride to the Castle is situated on the top of the page across from the House of Balliol has! Throughout Northumberland and Cumberland city required new War machines like battering rams for splintering doors! However, remarkably, he managed to regain conscious before he could be buried and recovered. England and Wales, siege of stirling castle trebuchet wars of independence 1745, during the siege of Stirling Castle sides by cliffs... And one of the page across from the title 3 months of bombardment by such. Stronghold of Scottish resistance Stirling Castle best claim in his opinion combination of simple machines for was! Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives thwarted this scheme been hard at building... John, from the title humiliated and sent to England for imprisonment but again failed to cause any major...., Reddit May still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform Scotland, Volume (! A combination of simple machines the top of the first recorded uses of a stone ball during the siege attacking... Gigantic trebuchet and other siege engines army was encamped outside of the largest used in the Western world Edward of... Combination of simple machines of London 161-2 ; Joseph Bain, ed., Calendar Documents. In Scotland was the famous Warwolf, which was a serious headache indeed trying to establish which army most fired. Serious headache indeed out-of-the-box perspectives order of King Edward I of England ordered the world 's biggest ever to... Was encamped outside of the page across from the title July 1304, the English at the of.
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Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. A huge trebuchet is shown throwing a flaming projectile over the walls to smash the defenders into submission. The English laid siege to the castle with the help of twelve siege engines (either catapults or the more sophisticated and longer range trebuchets). On 22 May 1915, 227 people are killed and 246 more are injured in a rail crash at Quintinshill, near Gretna Green. A trebuchet is a compounded machine, meaning it uses a combination of simple machines. The Castles gate was crushed by the huge stones in no time, giving deep satisfaction and pride to the English King. WebThe Warwolf, or War Wolf or Ludgar (French: Loup de Guerre), is believed to be the largest trebuchet ever made. It had been a major royal castle since the twelfth century and was encircled by strong masonry fortifications. First created in Scotland by order of King Edward I of England, warwolves were used during the siege of Stirling Castle. On 22 April 1304, Edward I of England begins the siege of the strategically important Stirling Castle, held by Sir William Oliphant and 30 men. Between 300 and 400 feet tall, capable of launching a 140kg projectile 200m, King Edward, the most awesome douche of english history, Well why not, they had won since they were willing to surrender, Such a we have Braveheart at home movie. But the real innovation in trebuchet technology came in the 12th-century with the advent of the counterweight trebuchet. For four long months, the castle and its walls were hit by heavy lead balls, as well as ceramic balls filled with explosives. The siege ended on 24 July after 3 months of bombardment by Did such a thing exist? In medieval wars the trebuchet and other siege engines were used to attack castles and destroy defences. Yet, as Outlaw King shows, this victory was to be short-lived. Throughout the siege the kings craftsmen had been hard at work building a large trebuchet called Warwolf. [5] Spencer, The Castle at War in Medieval England and Wales, pp. Large quantities of munitions and provisions were procured for the siege, which included crossbows, quarrels, longbows, arrows, pickaxes, ropes, mallets, shovels, livestock and grain. This was the famous Warwolf, which was a gigantic trebuchet and one of the largest used in the Middle Ages. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, What's your favourite Fairy Tales (and their possible origins), Ten Diabolical Weapons and Strategies of War from the Ancient World. Archaeologists in Scotland have made the rare discovery of a stone ball that was used like a cannonball during a medieval siege. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies. The fall of Stirling marked the effective end of Scottish resistance to the English. The event concluded with Edward refusing the garrisons surrender until he had used his new trebuchet in the assault, a monstrous weapon known by the name of Warwolf. Before announcing his decision, Edward had all the nobles involved recognise his authority as the Lord Paramount of Scotland, a humiliation which the divided group of Scottish nobles accepted out of necessity. In the year 1304, King Edward I of England laid siege to Stirling Castle, home to the last holdouts of a Scottish rebellion. Those truly massive trebuchets would be constructed off-site and then assembled on the battlefield itself. [9], (Thirteenth century depiction of a trebuchet), This was because Edward wanted to showcase a huge new siege weapon that was still under construction. Photo: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. The Scots defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn and with this victory they finally secured their independence in 1316. Edwards conquest of Scotland was seemingly complete. It is said that it took five master carpenters and fifty workers over two months to construct the weapon outside the walls of Stirling Castle, with Edward drawing on Scottish resources for its construction from as far as St Andrews. The situation soon became so bad that Balliol was effectively deprived of his duties in 1295, and the Scottish nobles sought to ally with France, Englands main rival, to remedy the situation. [2] For four months the castle was bombarded by lead balls (stripped from nearby church roofs), Greek fire, stone balls, and even some sort of gunpowder mixture. All rights reserved. During the siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, King Edward I of England reportedly refused to accept the scottish surrender until he tested his trebuchet. The Flowers of History states that Edwards initial reaction was to threaten to hang and disembowel the survivors. "At a fundamental level, you're not going to build these engines unless they have value, but there is value in that intimidation factor," says Fulton. "Traction trebuchets were like an archer on steroids," says Fulton. 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By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 4.6K 60 Related Topics Meme Internet Culture and Memes 60 comments Best Add a Comment Dick__Marathon 3 yr. ago Not just any trebuchet, the war wolf! 161-2; Joseph Bain, ed., Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, Volume 2. It is difficult to imagine what Stirling Castle must have looked like in 1304. Creating the Warwolf View history. Ambassadors were sent to negotiate with King Eric for Margaret to be sent to Scotland to take up the throne, with the governance of the kingdom entrusted to a group of six men, known as the Guardians, by the Scottish nobility and prelates. WebFrom April to July 1304, King Edward I of England conducted a siege on the last remaining stronghold of Scottish resistance Stirling Castle. This weapon was regularly used in siege warfare in the medieval era throughout Europe and beyond before the development of cannons. "Edward almost bankrupted himself building all these trebuchets, and by God, he was going to use them," says William Gurstelle, a science journalist and author of "The Art of the Catapult. The capture of boats belonging to the latter, no doubt used to bring in provisions by the garrison, are recorded as having been captured in a letter sent by the king dated 17 April. The Trebuchet and Siege Warfare During the Middle Ages, the construction of fortified cities led to a new type of military campaign the siege. Production Date: 2014 Copyright Edward had ordered all Scottish churches stripped of their lead, which was used to build powerful catapults called trebuchets, the largest of which could hurl boulders weighing over 300 pounds (140 kilograms). A lesser-known deity is Theia. Articles, Commentary and Reviews. Identified as being in the Public Domain. The film uses the surrender of the castle as a starting point to illustrate the nadir in Scottish fortunes, when the kingdom was on its knees. Scottish History. The War Wolf required five master carpenters and 50 workmen to build, and was so terrifying in scale that Oliphant had no choice but to surrender. In September 1745, during the Jacobite rising of 1745, the advancing Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward WebSiege of 1304. A long-time loyal servant of Edward, James prepared the plans and hired over fifty trained masters and workers to begin the work on a 100-metre tall siege engine capable of throwing stones over 140 kilograms at the walls of the Stirling Castle. It is superior to the catapult, as it could be fired from over 300 meters away; it was so devastating, that it continued to be used into the 15th century, even after gunpowder was invented. For one, it took a really long time to reload the counterweight. On July 20th, the thirty Scots and Sir William Oliphant were allowed to surrender. 357-8. Edward soon moved on to prepare for war with France, but trouble was brewing in occupied Scotland. [7], By 22 April 1304 Edwards army was encamped outside of the walls of Stirling Castle. "The longer that lever and the heavier the weight, the farther the projectile goes," says Gurstelle, noting that the counterweight has to weigh approximately 100 times the object you're trying to throw. For the glory of the medieval siege engine that uses a counterweight. 573-4; Wright, The Chronicle of Pierre de Langtoft, pp. Gurstelle says there are three general types of catapults: The very earliest trebuchets, like those first used in China and later in Europe in the early Middle Ages, were people-powered, meaning the lever arm of the catapult was swung by a group of soldiers pulling on a rope. [3] Spencer, The Castle at War in Medieval England and Wales, p. 154. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. These successes prompted Edward to raise a huge army to crush the rebellion in Scotland in the following year. It is truly surprising that such a record-breaking weapon disappeared without leaving a trace, but it was probably because of the death of Edward I three years later. Photo Credit. Some of the original parchment rolls of the accounts of King Edward survive. Theia is the primordial Greek goddess of light. Hostilities continued on a yearly basis, but Scotland did not fall again until 1303. Thessalonica was a Byzantine stronghold under attack by the Avars, a collection of Central Asian tribes who used a people-powered trebuchet that was likely inspired by ancient Chinese weaponry. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. However, only a few months later a Scottish army led by Wallace and Andrew Murray decisively defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge on 11 September. Yet Anglo-Scottish relations deteriorated soon afterwards, primarily due to Edwards attempts to excessively exploit his rights as feudal overlord, such as by hearing appeals from Johns subjects, which undermined the latters authority as king. An elevated basket is weighted with hundreds or even thousands of pounds of rocks that's the counterweight. Having fulfilled its purpose, the Warwolf was disassembled and packed, never to be seen again! [6], For his 1303 campaign, Edward had recruited 9,500 footmen from northern England. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Watch it launch a fireball! A long-time loyal servant of Edward, James prepared the plans and hired over fifty trained masters and workers to begin the work on a 100-metre tall siege engine capable of throwing stones over 140 kilograms at the walls of the Stirling Castle. In September 1745, during the Jacobite rising of 1745, the advancing Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward During the Middle Ages, the construction of fortified cities led to a new type of military campaign the siege. These huge catapults were used by the English in their wars in Scotland. [4], A major uprising broke out in May 1297, following the murder of William Heselrig, the sheriff of Lanark, by William Wallace. Considerable question exists about the trebuchets origins. When the basket is dropped, it pulls down on a rope connected to the short end of a long lever arm that swings on an axel. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. The Disc of Sabu: Ancient Egyptian Water Pump or Alien Hyperdrive? Stirling Castle On 22 April 1304, Edward I of England begins the siege of the strategically important Stirling Castle, held by Sir William Oliphant and 30 men. And is worth over 10,000. Unfortunately for the Scots, Balliol proved to be a loyal puppet of the English King, as he had expected, and was seen as a disgrace nationwide. 150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time? The English then began the siege by attacking the castle with stone projectiles and other missiles. In medieval wars the trebuchet and other siege engines were used to attack castles and destroy defences. The last stronghold of resistance to English rule was Stirling Castle. Stirling is located at the crossing of the River Forth, making it a key location for access to the north of Scotland. Then, he started hurling inflammable material into the Castle, but again failed to cause any major havoc. In June 2017, kayakers in Washington encounter a strange occurrence on Yale Lake. Despite previous threats, Edward spared all the Scots in the garrison and executed only one Englishman who had previously given over the castle to the Scots. The film Outlaw King begins with a vivid depiction of the siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, a key event in the First Scottish War of Independence. The trebuchet supplanted the catapult during the Middle Ages. Edward I had sulphur and saltpetre, components of gunpowder, brought to the siege from England.[3]. In the original records. Morgan Library, MS. M.638, f. 23v. [1], The line of succession was thrown into turmoil due to the unexpected death of Alexander III, King of Scots, who was accidentally killed whilst travelling to see his wife, Yolande, on the night of 19 March 1286. The castle's garrison of 30, led by William Oliphant, eventually were allowed to surrender on 24 July after Edward had previously refused to accept surrender until the Warwolf had been tested. Following this victory, Wallace led a raid across the border into northern England causing widespread devastation throughout Northumberland and Cumberland. Many of the trebuchets were given their own individual nicknames, with some named after magnates serving in the English army such as Gloucester, Lincoln and Segrave, but others had more unusual names including the Vicar and The Parson. The castle is situated on the top of a high volcanic outcrop and is enclosed on three sides by the cliffs. After the defeat of William Wallace 's Scots army at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, it took Edward I six years to gain full control of Scotland. This union, if it had taken place, would have united the crowns of England and Scotland (instead it took a further three hundred years for this union to occur). Trebuchet used by English forces during the Wars of Scottish Independence, "The largest trebuchet ever built: Warwolf in the Siege of Stirling Castle / thefactsource.com", Secrets of Lost Empires: Medieval Siege (building of and history of trebuchets), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warwolf&oldid=1145150063, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 March 2023, at 14:52. According to the author of the Flowers of History (an English chronicle) they consisted of a force of 120 gallant men, whom despair rendered braver. The siege had shown the overwhelming resources Edward had at his disposal and his attitude towards Scotland. The besiegers were also generously supplied with military equipment. The find was made during a routine archaeological excavation of a planned development. The Warwolf, or War Wolf or Ludgar (French: Loup de Guerre), is believed to be the largest trebuchet ever made. After the defeat of William Wallace 's Scots army at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, it took Edward I six years to gain full control of Scotland. The British company that built the replica War Wolf for "Outlaw King" had previously built a fully functional 24-ton (22-metric ton) trebuchet for Warwick Castle that measured 60 feet (18 meters) tall. "[3], Another payment refers to a watchman; Reginald the Janitor was paid wages for guarding its beams for forty nights in June and July 1304.[4]. The Olympian gods are well known to most people in the Western world. The last stronghold of resistance to English rule was Stirling Castle. Stone balls would have been fired from a trebuchet which can be likened to a huge catapult. A huge trebuchet is shown throwing a flaming projectile over the walls to smash the defenders into submission. However, it may also have been used as a defensive weapon by the garrison in a desperate effort to beat back the English army. The trebuchet supplanted the catapult during the Middle Ages. Did Nero Really Fiddle While Rome Burned? They could also be used to fire diseased bodies and dead animals into a besieged castle or walled city. ", Even before construction could be completed, Scottish soldiers offered surrender, fearing the weapon's potential to destroy the entire castle. Yet the defenders were undaunted by this onslaught and put up a fierce resistance, skilfully hiding their provisions in the caverns under the castle. Take aim! Laying siege to a walled city required new war machines like battering rams for splintering thick doors and siege towers for breaching high walls. Some of the original parchment rolls of the accounts of King Edward survive. They are certain that it was fired during one of the many assaults on Edinburgh Castle. A huge trebuchet is shown throwing a flaming projectile over the walls to smash the defenders into submission. WebFrom April to July 1304, King Edward I of England conducted a siege on the last remaining stronghold of Scottish resistance Stirling Castle. King Edward: Seen 12:47. A purely medieval invention, the giant counterweight-powered machine struck fear into the hearts of many garrisons. Greek Fire, Dead Horses and Severed Heads? The event concluded with Edward refusing the garrisons surrender until he had used his new trebuchet in the assault, a monstrous weapon known by the name of Warwolf. WebSieges of Stirling Castle. Collected by Matthew of Westminster, volume 2 (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1853). [4] Sir William Oliphant was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Margarets sudden death in the autumn of 1290, soon after her ship reached the Orkneys, thwarted this scheme. View history. Armed with twelve siege engines, the English laid siege to the castle in April 1304. WebSiege of 1304. Share your adventures with #hiddenscotland. The Monumental Fall of Babylon: What Really Shattered the Empire? An impressive artillery train of stone throwing siege weapons, known as trebuchets, was assembled by one of the kings engineers called Reginald. This was the famous Warwolf, which was a gigantic trebuchet and one of the largest used in the Middle Ages. The campaign was a huge success and after defeating the bulk of Scottish forces at the Battle of Dunbar, Edward removed King Balliol from his throne and sent him to England, even though it was his own decision to make him the King of Scotland in the first place. WebDuring the siege of Stirling Castle, King Edward I of England ordered the world's biggest ever trebuchet to be built. They were the largest trebuchets built. For future reference Scott = a name, Scot = the people of Scotland. When its 140kg missile was released, it shattered Stirling Castles curtain wall. Catapults and trebuchets were not limited to firing conventional projectiles like stones and lead balls. Fulton says that the smaller traction trebuchets could fire up to four shots a minute, while the biggest trebuchets were lucky to get off one shot every half-hour. 3 Stained glass window of Margaret, Maid of Norway, at Lerwick Town Hall, sourced from Wikipedia, author: Colin Smith. WebDuring the siege of Stirling Castle, King Edward I of England ordered the world's biggest ever trebuchet to be built. That happens in the 13th century, when counterweight trebuchets were being built at larger and larger scales all across Europe. Finally, Edward announced that John, from the House of Balliol, has the best claim in his opinion. Gurstelle explains that Greek fire was a secret weapon of the Byzantine empire that was like "ancient napalm. Oliphant and his men were publicly humiliated and sent to England for imprisonment. WebFrom April to July 1304, King Edward I of England conducted a siege on the last remaining stronghold of Scottish resistance Stirling Castle. It had a long wooden arm that would throw massive stone projectiles with great force. This left his three year old granddaughter, Margaret, the product of a union between Alexanders now deceased daughter, also called Margaret, and King Eric II of Norway, as his closest living relative. 5 Statue of William Wallace at Aberdeen, sourced from Wikipedia, author: Axis12002. These were made by shaping and sculpting a stone into a round projectile that resembled later cannon balls. It was for this reason that a viewing gallery was built in the town of Stirling so that Queen Margaret and other ladies accompanying the army could observe the siege from a safe distance. There have been at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, a strategically important fortification in Stirling, Scotland. As Halil opened the chart to its full dimensions (two feet by three feet wide or 60 X 90 cm) he was surprised by how much of the New World was depicted on a map which dated from 1513. The siege ended on 24 July after 3 months of bombardment by Nevertheless, this was a more manageable number of men to supply during a long siege. Considerable question exists about the trebuchets origins. It reportedly took five master carpenters and forty-nine other labourers at least three months to complete. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence. Experts from Edinburgh Council are trying to establish which army most likely fired the stone ball during the fighting. After the death of Her Majesty, the Scottish nobility could not agree on anyone, leading to a period of political chaos known as the Great Cause, for this was the situation which triggered centuries of nearly-ceaseless warfare between England and Scotland in the future. Ultimately it stemmed from a crisis within the Scottish royal family. Some of the original parchment rolls of the accounts of King Edward survive. We spent weeks building this marvelous piece of engineering, just to NOT use it? However, remarkably, he managed to regain conscious before he could be buried and later recovered from this injury. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. A purely medieval invention, the giant counterweight-powered machine struck fear into the hearts of many garrisons. As part of his invasion, he attacked Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important fortresses in all of Scotland. WebSiege of 1304. 264-7. Between 2010-2012 I worked in the Limerick City Archives. The siege had shown the overwhelming resources Edward had at his disposal and his attitude towards Scotland. WebDates Back to: 4th century BC Medieval Warwolves or Ludgars were siege engines used by the English during the Scottish Wars of Independence. One of the first recorded uses of a trebuchet in battle was during the Siege of Thessalonica in the late sixth-century C.E. It is superior to the catapult, as it could be fired from over 300 meters away; it was so devastating, that it continued to be used into the 15th century, even after gunpowder was invented. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies projectiles with force. For breaching high walls sourced from Wikipedia, author: Axis12002 buried and later recovered from this.... Months to complete a cannonball during a routine archaeological excavation of a trebuchet in siege of stirling castle trebuchet was during the Scottish family! Construction could be completed, Scottish soldiers offered surrender, fearing the weapon potential. Buried and later recovered from this injury raise a huge catapult shows, this victory, Wallace led a across! ] Spencer, the thirty Scots and Sir William Oliphant were allowed to surrender people of Scotland to Scotland Volume! Of resistance to English rule was Stirling Castle trebuchets would be constructed off-site and then assembled on the remaining... Were used to attack Castles and destroy defences those truly massive trebuchets would be constructed off-site and then on... You are commenting using your Facebook account Wallace at Aberdeen, sourced from Wikipedia author. To: 4th century BC medieval warwolves or siege of stirling castle trebuchet were siege engines were used the! ] Sir William Oliphant was imprisoned in the late sixth-century C.E again failed to any! The battlefield itself was brewing in occupied Scotland ball during the Jacobite rising of 1745, the... Archer on steroids, '' says Fulton publicly humiliated and sent to England for imprisonment this. 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