trebuchets

Trebuchets are siege engines that launch projectiles by converting stored energy into the rapid motion of a throwing arm. They come in two primary forms: counterweight trebuchets and traction (human-powered) trebuchets. In a counterweight trebuchet, a heavy weight attached to the short end of the arm drops, driving the long end upward and backward to fling a sling that releases a stone or other missile at high speed. Traction trebuchets use several people pulling on ropes to raise the arm; when released, the arm swings and launches the projectile, but they generally generate less force and range than counterweight designs.

Two factors define their performance: the length of the throwing arm and the energy source. The sling increases the effective release velocity, while the pivot allows the arm to accelerate and store much of the energy before release. The result is a long-range projectile capability that could breach walls or damage fortifications, delivering stones, incendiaries, or other missiles.

Historically, traction trebuchets appear in medieval warfare and were eventually surpassed by counterweight versions, which became the dominant siege engine in Europe and the Near East during the later Middle Ages. They required substantial crews and ongoing maintenance but offered greater power and range than earlier devices. Trebuchets were used for sieges to breach walls or to hurl projectiles over fortifications, sometimes from protected positions outside the range of defenders.

In modern times, trebuchets are studied and demonstrated in reconstruction projects and museums to illustrate medieval engineering and siege warfare. They remain a common subject in historical education, literature, and film.