25 Most Insane Medieval Weapons

Posted by , Updated on January 30, 2024

You will not believe some of the most insane medieval weapons people have created throughout history. Although it seems to be a rule that the insanity of warfare only increases with time, even hundreds of years ago people were already fairly creative at finding new and improved ways of killing one another. These are the 25 most insane medieval weapons ever used to dish out destruction.

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25

Gun Shield

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mararie/526004841/

Supposedly used by the body guard of Henry VIII, it was basically a wooden shield with a hole for a pistol to stick through.

24

Sword Breaker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swordbreaker_img_3665.jpg

With teeth on the sides meant for catching opponents swords, one flick of the wrist was enough to split them in half.

23

Spring Loaded Triple Dagger

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dague-trident.jpg

Used by fencers in the middle ages, when a button was pressed, two extra blades would flip out.

22

Morning Star

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Klassischer-Flegel.jpg

Sometimes called the holy water sprinkler, this referred to a series of spiked weapons that were often used by peasants…although there were upscale versions as well.

21

Trebuchet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Trebuchet_Castelnaud.jpg

Able to launch things over half a mile, the advent of these super powered catapults made castles slightly less appealing.

20

Dead Animals

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Horse_Skull_side.JPG

On the topic of trebuchets, some of the most popular ammunition included dead animals carcasses. They would be used to spread disease behind castle walls.

19

Scythed Chariot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_charge_of_the_Persian_scythed_chariots_at_the_battle_of_Gaugamela_by_Andre_Castaigne_(1898-1899).jpg

With blades coming out of each wheel, it was used to slice through enemy lines cutting their troops in half.

18

Hunga Munga

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Werpmes_praalwapen_en_statussymbool_TMnr_5633-55.jpg

A weapon used by African tribesman, it was often thrown in a manner similar to a boomerang.

17

Arbalest

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DaVinci_Crossbow.JPG

With the ability to shoot accurately up to half a kilometer this oversized crossbow was sometimes deemed an unfair weapon.

16

Caltrop

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caltrop.jpg

Basically a medieval spike strip, caltrops were used to slow the advance of enemy cavalry.

15

Culverin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coulevriniers.jpg

Before they were turned into massive cannons they were used by medieval horseman as a sort of rifle.

14

Greek Fire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greekfire-madridskylitzes1.jpg

Although even today no one knows what it was made of, this referred to any incendiary material shot from the side of a ship that continued to burn on the surface of the water.

13

Boiling Oil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roberts_Siege_and_Destruction_of_Jerusalem.jpg

Given that invaders often tried scaling castle walls, defenders came up with recipes of their own. If oil wasn’t available, water would suffice.

12

Pike

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bad-war.jpg

Although they were bad for close range combat, a group of pikeman together could pierce through enemy infantry and cavalry fairly easily.

11

Long Bow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Longbow.jpg

Sometimes six feet long, these bows required a lot of strength to pull and were often used to launch multiple arrows at once.

10

Broadsword

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swiss_cavalry_sword.jpg

Often used by knights and cavalry, broadswords could slice off an enemy’s limbs effortlessly.

9

War Hammer

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:War_hammer_IMG_3825.jpg

With the advent of chain mail and other types of armor, swords gave way to hammers and other blunt force type weapons.

8

Battering Ram

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0869-Attack-on-the-walls-of-a-besieged-town-q75-500x412.jpg

Still used by police today, battering rams were medieval siege weapons that started out as huge logs used by a large group of people to literally ram a door down…oftentimes with boiling oil being poured on their heads.

7

Hellburner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hellburners.jpg

It’s basically a suicidally explosive fireship.

6

Mancatcher

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WeaponsForCapturingThieves.jpg

Typically used to pull people down from horseback it was often used to capture royals for a ransom.

5

Claw of Archimedes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parigi_griffe.jpg

Designed to protect the Carthaginian city of Syracuse, whenever a Roman ship got too close it would lift it up and tip it over.

4

Shuriken

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Practice-Shuriken.jpg

While Europe was busy stabbing, slicing, and beating itself to death; the Japanese preferred small, silent and extremely lethal forms of inflicting injury.

3

Flaming Arrows

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M%C5%8Dko_Sh%C5%ABrai_Ekotoba.jpg

Although they may not seem that impressive, having a dozen flaming arrows come flying your way does not make for a fun day.

2

Dead Bodies

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_Ruined_Castle_and_River_-_Thomas_Cole_-_overall.jpg

You’re probably wondering, “Why am I looking at a picture of a river and a castle? Where are the dead bodies?” Well, that’s where they put them…into the river. Rather than climbing over the castle walls, enemies would just dump diseases into the water supply.

1

Lantern Shield

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Laternenschild_01.jpg

Basically the swiss army knife of medieval weapons, it had numerous little blades, serrations, and other dangerous outcroppings attached to it.