Bombard (weapon) facts for kids

This bombard was used by the Knights Hospitaller in Rhodes between 1480 and 1500. It helped defend the walls during the Siege of Rhodes. It could fire heavy granite balls weighing 260 kg (573 lb). The bombard itself weighed about 3,325 kg (7,330 lb).

A bombard was a very large cannon or mortar used in the Middle Ages. It was a type of weapon that shot heavy stone balls. People used bombards mainly during sieges, which are long attacks on castles or forts. The word "bombarde" was first used in a French text around the year 1380. This is also where our modern word "bombardment" comes from.

Bombards were usually loaded from the front, which is called "muzzle-loading." They had a very large opening, or "calibre," for the big stone balls. These powerful weapons were designed to throw all sorts of things into enemy forts. This included heavy stone or metal balls. Sometimes, they even launched burning materials. There are also stories of them throwing weighted cloth soaked in quicklime or Greek fire. These were meant to cause damage and fear.

The name "bombard" comes from old Latin and French words. These words came from an even older Greek word. That Greek word meant "to make a humming noise."

Famous Bombards

Many large bombards were built long ago. Some of them are still famous today.

Mons Meg

One very famous bombard is called Mons Meg. It was built around 1449. King James II of Scotland used it. Mons Meg was incredibly powerful. It was used to help break down castle walls. This huge weapon could fire shots weighing 180 kg (397 lb). It was one of the biggest bombards of its time. Today, you can see Mons Meg on display at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

Other Important Bombards

Other well-known bombards were made from wrought iron. This means they were shaped by heating and hammering metal. Examples include the Pumhart von Steyr and Dulle Griet. Some bombards were also made by casting (pouring melted metal into a mold) bronze. These include the Faule Mette, Faule Grete, and Grose Bochse. The Tsar Cannon is another famous bombard from the late 16th century. It was more of a show-piece than a weapon used in battle.

The Dardanelles Gun was built in the Ottoman Empire in 1464. It was made by a person named Munir Ali. This bombard weighed 18.6 tons and was 518 centimeters (about 17 feet) long. It could fire stone balls that were up to 63 centimeters (about 2 feet) across.

Over time, bombards were replaced by newer weapons. These new cannons used smaller iron shells. They also used more powerful gunpowder. This made them more effective in battles.

Gallery

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  "Hand bombard", 1390–1400. This was a smaller version of the weapon.

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  A 200kg wrought iron bombard from around 1450, found in Metz, France. It was made by joining iron bars with iron rings. It fired 6kg stone balls and was 82cm long.

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  The Dardanelles Gun, a very large bombard.

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  Mons Meg at Edinburgh Castle, a famous bombard from the mid-15th century.

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  Some of the huge cannonballs fired by Mons Meg.

Images for kids

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  English Bombards left behind during the Hundred Years' War. You can see them now at Mont Saint-Michel.

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  A bombard from the early 15th century. It is the only surviving bombard used by the Teutonic Knights. It is now at Kwidzyn Castle.

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  An early bombard from the Ming Dynasty in China, made in 1377 AD. It has two sets of "trunnions" (parts that help it pivot).

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  Acehnese guns, including two bombards (closer to the camera).

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  A 15th-century bombard mounted on a carriage, located in Warsaw.

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  A bombard in its position for a siege, in Denmark.

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  A bombard found in the well of Cardiff Castle. It is set up to swivel.

See also

In Spanish: Bombarda (arma) para niños