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Xiangyang Siege Artillery (Huihui Pao)

Type Object Region China Time 1267–1273

Heavy catapult and artillery siege engines used by the Mongol-Yuan army in the long siege of Xiangyang-Fancheng against the Southern Song, often call…

Timeline

  1. 1267–1268Xiangyang-Fancheng · HubeiThe Mongol-Yuan and Southern Song fought a prolonged siege at the Han River stronghold of Xiangyang-Fancheng; the Song's strong defenses left the Yuan army urgently needing more powerful long-range breaching engines to suppress the city's defenses.
  2. 1268–1270Yuan army camp outside Xiangyang · HubeiWestern Regions craftsmen Alauddin and others, on Kublai Khan's orders, built 'Huihui pao' that hurled stone projectiles using a counterweighted lever principle; the Yuan army deployed them at the Xiangyang siege front.
  3. 1273Fancheng · HubeiIn the tenth year of Zhiyuan, the Yuan army bombarded Fancheng with giant cannons; once the city fell, Xiangyang was isolated and ultimately surrendered to Yuan, making this battle a key turning point in the Mongol-Yuan destruction of Song.

Sources