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Author
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Topic: Animal Weapons?!
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toughguy12
Senior Member
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posted 03-22-2002 10:35 PM
  
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?------------------
toughguy12 |
Peter Esser
Senior Member
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posted 03-23-2002 08:18 AM
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
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posted 03-25-2002 07:52 PM
Nah. I was just wondering. Thanks anyway.------------------
toughguy12 |
toughguy12
Senior Member
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posted 03-26-2002 10:45 PM
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!!!!!------------------
toughguy12 |
Gordon
unregistered
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posted 03-27-2002 07:28 AM
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
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posted 03-27-2002 08:58 PM
Hmmmmmmmmm............... |
Peter
Moderator
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posted 03-28-2002 03:28 PM
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
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posted 04-04-2002 05:18 AM
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
Moderator
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posted 04-04-2002 02:14 PM
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 ! |
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