Places Where Military Devices Can Be Seen
Anyone who wishes to see a wide variety of weapons and military instruments would hardly find better places than Raab (Rab) and Komárom (Kmaga). These strong frontier fortresses were not only important defensive cities but also storehouses of many kinds of warlike engines, used both for attack and defence. In these places, a careful observer could study the tools by which towns were guarded, breaches defended, and assaults resisted Private Golfing Tour Turkey.
The variety of instruments kept there shows how much skill and thought were applied to warfare in earlier times, especially in regions that were often threatened by enemy armies.
Weapons Used by Soldiers and Guards
The Morning Star and Hand Weapons
One notable weapon used by the sentinels was the Morning Star. This was a heavy club fitted with spikes or iron points. It was especially useful during an assault, when enemies attempted to enter a town through a breach in the walls or through a gate. The Morning Star was effective in close combat, where swords or long weapons were difficult to use.
This weapon could crush armor, break shields, and strike fear into attackers who tried to force their way into a narrow passage.
Fire Weapons and Burning Devices
Earthen Pots and Wildfire Weapons
Among the most dangerous instruments were earthen pots filled with sticky and burning materials. These pots were thrown among the enemy during an assault. When they broke, the burning substance spread quickly, clung to clothing and armor, and caused great confusion and injury. Such weapons were especially feared, as the fire was difficult to extinguish The City of Rab (Javrinum).
Another similar device was known as the Wurf Kugel, or throwing ball. This was filled with wildfire and combustible matter and thrown by hand. Once it struck a target, it stuck fast and continued to burn, making it a powerful weapon against soldiers gathered closely together.
Traps and Obstacles for Attackers
Hidden Planks and Hooked Devices
Defensive warfare also made use of traps placed outside the walls. One such device was called a Lehn Brader, or hooked plank. This was laid on the outer side of the fortifications and lightly covered with earth so that attackers could not see it. When soldiers advanced, they stepped onto these hidden planks, where the hooks wounded them and tangled their feet, causing falls and confusion during an assault.
These devices were particularly effective when attackers were rushing forward quickly and could not stop to examine the ground.
Defenses Against Cavalry
Cheval de Frise and Chain Shot
To protect against horsemen, defenders used the Spanish Rider, also known as the Cheval de Frise. This was a wooden frame fitted with long spikes, laid across roads or open ground. Horses refused to cross them, and cavalry charges were thus stopped before they could reach the walls.
In addition, defenders kept various kinds of chain-shot, which were fired from cannons. These consisted of two iron balls joined by a chain and were designed to tear through enemy ranks or destroy equipment.
The Importance of Such Instruments
A Reflection of Military Skill
All these engines and instruments show the care, ingenuity, and experience of soldiers who had long defended these frontier cities. They reflect a time when warfare depended not only on courage but also on clever devices and careful preparation. In places like Raab and Komárom, the art of defense was studied and practiced with great seriousness, making them living museums of early modern military science.
