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Author Topic:   Animal Weapons?!
toughguy12
Senior Member
posted 03-22-2002 10:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for toughguy12   Click Here to Email toughguy12     Edit/Delete Message
I'd like to know if an enemy army camped around a castle to starve the inhabitants inside, would the defenders ever throw out dead animals to spread disease among the enemy and hope to kill them that way?

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toughguy12

Peter Esser
Senior Member
posted 03-23-2002 08:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Peter Esser   Click Here to Email Peter Esser     Edit/Delete Message
Hello toughguy. Its the other way round.

This "technique" was used by the aggressors. All you needed was a catapult "trebuchet"or slingshot (from 13th cent. on) which was used to throw stones onto the offended castle or town.

This was to spread diseases among the defenders.

(Perhaps your question has been influenced by "Monty Python and The Holy Grail"?)

toughguy12
Senior Member
posted 03-25-2002 07:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for toughguy12   Click Here to Email toughguy12     Edit/Delete Message
Nah. I was just wondering. Thanks anyway.

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toughguy12

toughguy12
Senior Member
posted 03-26-2002 10:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for toughguy12   Click Here to Email toughguy12     Edit/Delete Message
Hey!!!!!! Wait a minute!!! If the attackers threw the animals INSIDE the castle, then they couldn't get in either, because their own troops would succumb under the disease!!!!!

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toughguy12

Gordon
unregistered
posted 03-27-2002 07:28 AM           Edit/Delete Message
Only if they drank the polluted water or ate affected food. The folks inside didn't have a choice since no fresh stuff was coming in, it's not necessarily infectious disease we're talking about here, but dysentry and food poisoning etc.

toughguy12
Senior Member
posted 03-27-2002 08:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for toughguy12   Click Here to Email toughguy12     Edit/Delete Message
Hmmmmmmmmm...............

Peter
Member
posted 03-28-2002 03:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Peter   Click Here to Email Peter     Edit/Delete Message
There is a certified story of the opposite.
A long siege, and castle nearing the end of its supplies.
They stuffed a cow with grain and hurled onto those without, killing several men.
The ruse worked, as the siege was lifted and the castle saved.

Merlin
Senior Member
posted 04-04-2002 05:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Merlin   Click Here to Email Merlin     Edit/Delete Message
Umberto Eco (author of 'The Name of the Rose') tells a similar story in his new roman 'Baudolino' about a siege of Alessandria by Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa in the 12th century. But I think he took the plot from events that took place somewhere else. Do you know the historical source, Peter?

Peter
Member
posted 04-04-2002 02:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Peter   Click Here to Email Peter     Edit/Delete Message
Phew !
It's a bit like the question to Erik, about the silk shirts.
Over the years you read so many snippets of information. That where you came across them just blurs.
This will set me worring for days until I find out where !

All times are PT (US)

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