What weapons were used in the Crusades?

Answer 1

The Crusades lasted many decades and the development of weapons changed drastically over this time. At first, standard weapons like long swords, maces, spears, and arrows were used. By the end of the crusades the use of gunpowder and explosives were used, but still very much in its infancy. Things like early cannons and whatnot were used heavily in the navy and even some on the battlefield.

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In relation to Sieges:

When the knights were attacked in a Crusade they used huge siege weapons. The ballista was the simplest weapon. It was like a giant crossbow that could shoot arrows a distance of 350-450 yards in length. The mangonel was called a wild donkey by the Romans. It was a medium range catapult. The trebuchet was the most powerful siege weapon. It was a catapult that could fling rocks long range. A battering ram was a log cut from a heavy tree. The battering ram got its name because the Romans said it looked like a ram. It was then tied onto a penthouse to protect the knight from arrows and it took twelve men to swing it. All these siege weapons were used to get into Jerusalem by the knights of the Crusades. Other knights would try to dig under ground and then set fire to the wall supports underground in hopes that the wall would collapse. Another way knights tried to get into Jerusalem was to put long ladders against the wall and trying to climb them without being pushed over or having boiling liquids poured onto them, or being killed by a knight on the wall. The knights also built huge staircases, called siege towers, that were pushed against the wall and the knights walked up the staircases. When they actually reached Jerusalem however, they waited awhile before attacking to starve their enemy, but it didn't work so they just attacked. The knights captured towers built on the walls. When the knights got inside the walls of Jerusalem they killed people walking street or inside buildings.

Answer 2

Weapons used in the Crusades included swords, spears, bows and arrows, crossbows, and siege weapons like catapults and trebuchets. Knights typically used swords and lances while foot soldiers used spears, bows, and crossbows. Siege weapons were used to breach castle walls during sieges.