The art of War

Mechanical tools and war machines

By Archivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 4. Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 4. (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

The Codex Trivulzianus contains various military drawings, including fortifications of bastions and moats (p. 13), ships with armoured prows (p. 3), assault engines (p. 27), a crane (p. 63), caltrops (p. 98), an imaginary crossbow (p. 99) and other mechanisms for attack or defence of uncertain interpretation (p. 4). The drawings are often accompanied by texts. Of specific interest are the pages dedicated to metal casting, particularly of the bombard (pp. 52-56), or those where Leonardo discusses ‘Greek fire’ and shows the fireball with spikes (p. 48).

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 3. Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 3. (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Ship with armoured prow.

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 13. Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 13. (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Bastion overlooking the castle moat.

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 27 (bound upside down). Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 27 (bound upside down). (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Assault engine. Moat. Tower.

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 48 (bound upside down). Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 48 (bound upside down). (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Fireball equipped with needles and notes on the “nature of the effect of the noise of the bombard”.

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 53 (bound upside down). Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 53 (bound upside down). (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Forms for casting bombards.

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 59. Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 59. (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Notes on the bombards fusion.

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 63. Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 63. (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Crane with adjustable arm.

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 96. Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 96. (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Notes on caltrops (weapons made up of four or more metallic spikes, to be thrown on the ground for slowing down the advance of enemy troops).

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 98. Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 98. (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

Caltrops (weapons made up of four or more metallic spikes, to be thrown on the ground for slowing down the advance of enemy troops).

Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 99. Codex Trivulzianus 2162, p. 99. (1487-1490) by Leonardo da VinciArchivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana

A crossbow.

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