The Horrifying Insect Weapon That Ruined Battlefields
Wasps of war
In 1289, Duke Albert I of Austria amassed his ducal army and marched against the lands of a neighboring family. History knows this as a feud between rival houses in Austria but the size of the armies were more indicative of a full scale war. Duke Albert allegedly marched from his castle at the head of a force 15,000 soldiers strong.
The target of his aggression were possessions of the Kőszegi family who held a series of castles and fortresses in the nearby wooded hills. With the local lords hesitant to throw their blood and treasure behind a private war, Duke Albert felt confident in his ability to take possession of the castles on his own.
When his army crashed upon the walls of a nearby fortress, they were met by something he had not anticipated: bees. And lots of them.
From the walls came a deluge of boiling water, fiery coals and live beehives. Once the bees were unleashed upon the field, chaos ensued. The stinging insects took the skies and the army of Duke Albert broke and fled the field.
Imagine marching in the heat, lugging chain mail and gleaming plate armor towards the walls of an enemy fortress. The heat and fear is oppressive. Clouds of arrows are raining down but friendly shield bearers are keeping most of them at bay.
