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Dulle Griet
Ghent cannon
The Dulle Griet at Ghent
Type Bombard
Place of origin Ghent, Holy Roman Empire
Service history
Used by City of Ghent
Production history
Designed First half of the 15th century
Specifications
Mass ~ 16.4 t
Length 498 cm
Barrel length 345 cm
Diameter 90.5 cm (maximum outer diameter)

Shell weight 340 kg
Caliber 64 cm (ball diameter)

The Dulle Griet ("Mad Meg", named after the Flemish folklore figure Dull Gret) is a medieval supergun from Ghent, Belgium. The wrought-iron bombard was constructed in the first half of the 15th century from 32 longitudinal bars enclosed by 61 rings.[1] In 1452, the bombard was employed by the city of Ghent in the siege of Oudenaarde, but fell into the hands of the defenders on the retreat and was only returned to Ghent in 1578.[2] Today, the bombard is set up close to the Friday Market square in the old town.

Besides the Dulle Griet, a number of 15th-century European superguns are known to have been employed primarily in siege warfare, including the wrought-iron Pumhart von Steyr and Mons Meg as well as the cast-bronze Faule Mette, Faule Grete and Grose Bochse.

See also[]

Footnotes[]

References[]

  • Schmidtchen, Volker (1977). "Riesengeschütze des 15. Jahrhunderts. Technische Höchstleistungen ihrer Zeit". pp. 153–173 (164–166). 

External links[]


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