This article covers one of the weirdest siege weapons ever. The siege hook. Here you will see what a siege hook is and how it was used. You also get to see how effective a siege hook really was.
So now, before we begin there is something we have to establish first. What is a siege hook?
A siege hook was a weapon used in antiquity and medieval times to breach castle walls or to pull down enemy soldiers from fortifications. It consisted of a long pole with a hook or claw-like device attached to the end, often made of metal. The hook was used to grab onto castle battlements or other structures and pull them down, or to catch and pull enemy soldiers from the walls. Siege hooks were often used in combination with other weapons and tools in a siege to weaken enemy defenses and gain entry into a fortress.
Now that you have a clear definition of what a siege hook is. Let’s explore this siege weapon a little more. Starting with its history and origin.
Origin And History Of The Siege Hook
The origin of the siege hook can be traced back to ancient times. Back then it was used as a tool for hunting and fishing. Over time, the siege hook evolved into a weapon used in warfare, specifically during medieval times. It was commonly used during sieges of castles and fortresses, where it was used to breach walls and fortifications or to pull down enemy soldiers.
A version of siege hooks was also used in naval warfare to catch and pull enemy ships. The design of the siege hook varied depending on its intended use, but it typically consisted of a long wooden or metal pole with a hook or claw-like device attached to the end.
Although the records show extensive use in the Middle Ages the siege hook was also used in Ancient times. For example …
Famous Use Of Siege Hooks
One of the more famous uses of siege hooks as a weapon was during the Roman siege of Ambracia. It is described by the Greek historian Polybius:
… as the rams vigorously battered the walls, and the long poles with their iron sickles tore off the battlements …
– by the Greek historian Polybius in his Histories
Now, let’s take a look at how the siege hook was used.
How The Siege Hook Was Used
The use of the siege hook was relatively simple. But not that easy to pull off.
It was primarily used to breach castle walls and fortifications during a siege. Soldiers would use the hook to grab onto the walls or other structures, such as towers or parapets, and pull them down.
This allowed the attacking army to gain entry into the fortress. The hook was also used to catch and pull down enemy soldiers who were defending the walls. In naval warfare, siege hooks were used to catch and pull enemy ships closer to the attacker’s vessel.
Now, using it in the heat of battle was not that easy. Although the principle behind it made sense.
Can The Siege Hook Be Used Against Stone Walls?
Yes, the siege hook was still useful against stone fortifications during a siege.
The hook was typically made of metal and could be used to pull down stone battlements or to pry apart stones in a wall. The hook could also be used to grab onto other structures, such as wooden supports or beams, that were used to reinforce stone walls. While stone fortifications were generally more difficult to breach than other types of fortifications, the siege hook was still a useful tool in a siege and could be used in combination with other weapons and tactics to weaken the enemy’s defenses.
Why The Siege Hook Stopped Being Used
As with most siege weapons this can be blamed on gunpowder weapons. So, why did the siege hook stop being used?
The siege hook began to lose its effectiveness with the advent of gunpowder and modern warfare tactics. As cannons (like the Great Turkish Bombard) and other firearms became more common, they could be used to breach walls and fortifications from a distance, without the need for soldiers to scale the walls and use siege hooks.
The reason was: Better weapons came around that made the siege hook obsolete.
In Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you learned a thing or two. See you at the next one. I suggest taking a look at how sapping was used as a weapon in sieges by clicking here.
Take care!