mangonels

Mangonels are a class of siege engines developed in the ancient world and widely used through the medieval period. They are a type of catapult that launches projectiles using torsion power, typically with a short throwing arm and a receptacle such as a bucket or trough to hold the payload. The design is optimized for heavy, arcing projectiles rather than long-range accuracy.

Operation and design details vary, but most mangonels employ a bundle of twisted cords, sinew, or hair-like fibers as the torsion source. The cords are twisted by a winch or crank, storing mechanical energy. The throwing arm is pulled back and secured, and when released, the stored energy drives the arm forward in a rising arc, hurling the projectile over walls or fortifications. The payload is placed in a bowl, cup, or trough at the end of the arm, which differentiates mangonels from other catapult designs that use a sling.

Terminology can be inconsistent in historical sources. In some traditions, mangonel refers specifically to a forked or wheel-based torsion catapult that launches from a trough, while in others the term is used more broadly to describe torsion-powered siege engines, sometimes overlapping with what is called an onager. Nevertheless, the distinguishing feature of the mangonel is the bowl or trough for the projectile and the high-arcing flight it produces, as opposed to the counterweight-driven trebuchet.

Usage and impact: mangonels were employed by various medieval armies for bombarding walls, delivering stones, pots of incendiaries, or other heavy projectiles during sieges. They gradually declined as counterweight trebuchets offered greater range and accuracy, but remained part of siege warfare in some regions into the late Middle Ages.