Trebuchet Resources

A collection of resources related to Trebuchet building, medieval weapons of mass destruction, siege engineering, and other related items of interest.

• Wikipedia
  The trebuchet is thought to have been invented in China between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. The counterweight trebuchet evolved from the simpler Chinese traction trebuchet. The device reached Europe around 500 AD. It could fling three hundred pound projectiles at incredible speeds into an enemy fortification, quickly obliterating walls and defenses.
• Eccentric Genius: Unconventional Contrivances and Machina Arcana
  Kamden, builder of interesting machines including functional model trebuchets including the Floating Arm and Hanging Counterweight trebuchets
• Ron Toms: trebuchet.com
  Plans, simulators, photos. Rom Toms, inventor of the Floating Arm trebuchet.
• Patrik Djurfeldt: The Visby Trebuchet
  Built in 1995, by the committee of the campaign "Rädda Visby Ringmur" ("Save the Ring-Wall of Visby"). The engine with its 5840 lb counterweighted arm now resides at Gotlands Fornsal (the County Museum of Gotland). Anders Helleteg photo of ring-wall of Visby.
• Experimental Reconstruction Of A Medieval Trébuchet
  Report by Dr. Peter Vemming Hansen describing siege engine work at the Medieval Centre, Denmark.
• Caerphilly Castle, South Wales Trebuchet
• Oxford Stunt Factory
  Hew Kennedy built trebuchet with 3 ton counterweight and interesting projectiles.
• Northern Exposure: "Burning Down the House"
  Famous episode (3-14) where Chris searches for the "right" cow for his trebuchet as part of his new piece of performance art. In the end, he flings a piano instead.

References:

• Chevedden, et al., "The Trebuchet", Scientific American, July 1995, pp 66-71.
• Liang Jieming, Chinese Siege Warfare: Mechanical Artillery & Siege Weapons of Antiquity - An Illustrated History, ISBN 981-05-5380-3
• Donald B. Siano, "Trebuchet Mechanics", Mar. 28, 2001. (pdf download)