The trebuchet was probably the most powerful of all mechanical artillery pieces. It used counterpoise as its power source and the one pictured here has wheels, an innovation that substantially increased its range. A trebuchet’s wheels were not so much for transportation and most siege engines of the medieval period were constructed at the sites of sieges. The trebuchet is probably the only artillery piece from the medieval period that was as good or better than those of the classical period. Trebuchets are believed to be medieval inventions.

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