The Warwolf, also known as Ludgar, was the most legendary trebuchet of the medieval period, designed by the English during the Siege of Stirling Castle in 1304. This giant siege weapon represented the pinnacle of medieval engineering, capable of demolishing stone walls with a single strike. Built under the orders of King Edward I of England, the Warwolf wasn’t just a weapon — it was a psychological tool of warfare, meant to terrify defenders and show the raw power of a mechanized siege. Its sheer size and effectiveness made it the most powerful trebuchet ever constructed during the Middle Ages.
Siege of Stirling Castle
King Edward I of England commissioned the construction of the Warwolf trebuchet during a time when castle sieges were a dominant strategy in medieval warfare. Designed specifically for the Siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, this massive siege engine was part of England’s campaign during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
The Warwolf became legendary for its enormous size and the immense power with which it could launch massive stones, capable of demolishing castle walls. It stood out as one of the most formidable weapons of the Middle Ages, built not only for destruction but also to instill fear in enemy forces.
Construction of Warwolf
The construction of the Warwolf was a monumental undertaking that required significant manpower and resources. King Edward I appointed five master carpenters, who together oversaw a team of 49 skilled laborers to bring the massive siege engine to life.
Work began and was completed in 1304, with the entire project taking approximately three months. Once finished, the Warwolf was recognized as the largest trebuchet in Europe—a true marvel of medieval engineering.
The scale of the weapon was so vast that, when dismantled, it required 30 wagons to transport its components. This legendary giant trebuchet could launch enormous stones at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour, capable of devastating even the strongest castle fortifications.
Warwolf Height and Power
There are no historical sources that detail the exact dimensions of the Warwolf siege engine. However, modern scholars have created estimates depending on the work involved and the power required to demolish the curtain walls of the Stirling Castle.
Based on these estimates, the Warwolf must have stood at least 300 feet to 400 feet tall. Given its height, the siege engine also had the ability to toss stones up to a greater distance.
Modern estimates calculate that the Warwolf could throw stones with immense power at walls as far as 200 yards away.
Use of Warwolf
Edward, I had the Warwolf built specifically for use during the Siege of Stirling Castle in 1304.
Even as the siege engine was being built, the defenders of the castle saw the mighty structure and decided to surrender. However, Edward refused to accept their truce offer. He famously asked them to return to the castle so that he could still test the Warwolf.
Stones weighing up to 300 pounds were then hurled against the walls and gatehouse of the castle. The gatehouse was completely demolished and the stones thrown by Warwolf also destroyed the curtain walls where they hit.
Historical Mentions of Warwolf
Despite being a weapon of extraordinary size and power, there are very few mentions of the Warwolf in history. The existing mentions of the mighty siege engine come directly from the historical documents of King Edward’s court.
In these documents, evidence exists of the payment to certain workers and court members for their efforts in the construction of the Warwolf.
One specific mention also states the total cost of having the Warwolf built, which was £40. Other than these, no other mentions of the Warwolf survive in any historic sources from the age or from later centuries.
