Leonardo da Vinci (b. 1452, Vinci, d. 1519)

The Art of War

The use of the cannon created a series of problems not easily resolved. The elevation of the cylinder began to assume a critical importance as precision in firing increased; the rack system used at the time restricted this movement (as it only permitted a few predetermined positions) and Leonardo therefore studied and elaborated a system to allow a cannon's trajectory to be adjusted with greater accuracy. This was of great importance infield battles, where the cannons aim had to be adjusted rapidly and precisely.

The introduction of the cannon, as a natural consequence, meant that fortresses needed to be protected from bombardment; during the Middle Ages, citadels had been built with impregnability from attack by man as their only requirement. Castles, which had by high walls and battlements, were often in places not easily accessible, but attack with cannon meant that this was of little importance if the garrison did not have similar arms to defend themselves.

Leonardo, following the steps of Leon Battista Alberti and Giuliano da Sangallo, began to modify the architecture of fortresses, which were reduced in height and built with ramparts strong enough to support the weight of the artillery necessary for defense.

The defending ordnance had also to be designed in such a fashion as to be hidden from the attackers, whilst have the greatest possible coverage possible. Ballistics into an important science and the designs of Leonardo clearly show how he had studied various possible trajectories of fire, coming to the conclusion that a parabolic one is the truest and most precise.

[ Leonardo in Florence ]
[ His Years in Milan ]
[ His Roman Sojourn ]
[ Leonardo in France ]
[ Flight and Freedom ]
[ Leonardo the Engineer ]
...[ Leonardo and Warcraft ]
...[ Leonardo and Water ]
...[ Entertainments ]
...[ Mechanics ]
[ The Portrait of Mona Lisa ]