When the lever was pulled down, the locking mechanism released, and the counterweight at the front, packed full of heavy stones, dropped straight down. The stones held in the sturdy cloth sling attached to the rear arm flew powerfully forward.
Whoosh!
It was an attack that used the seesaw principle.
You could trace the most magnificent trajectory.
Crash!
Bang!
The trebuchet is a time-honored siege engine that has been in use since ancient times.
Because gravity adds force to a stone falling from a high arc, it can deliver a powerful blow to an enemy fortress, which is why it remained a useful siege engine even after the cannon appeared.
I had the chance to watch our siege engines launch their attack on Baschurten Castle up close. The cavalry had only taken part in building the encirclement, while the actual siege was led by the infantry.
Unlike the main force, which had already begun the siege, the allied cavalry I led had joined up only yesterday.
