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Attacking and Defending a Castle, Giant Crossbow
Around 1486, Leonardo drew several designs for a giant crossbow. The figure atop the machine gives an indication of scale. The weapon was cranked with winding gears. It had two different firing mechanisms - the simplest of which involved releasing a holding pin by striking it with a mallet The arbalest was a late variation of the medieval European crossbow. A larger weapon, the arbalest had a steel bow. Since an arbalest was much larger than earlier crossbows, and because of the greater tensile strength of steel, it had a greater force. Index Fire Battering Ram Catapult Giant crossbow Underground mines Under siege Belfry Tower The Curtain Wall The Portcullis The Gatehouse The Drawbridge Over The Moat Oil, Water, Stones Arrows
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European
medieval giant crossbows saved many a Castle from siege. Crossbows were brought
to England by the Normans in 1066 and soon became an important weapon in
history. 
The
Ballista was an invaluable Medieval siege attack, and indeed defence, weapon
which was similar to a giant crossbow and worked by using tension.