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7/16/2025, 2:44:55 AM
The Byzantine Empire had flamethrowers and hand grenades.
>Portable flamethrowers: the emperor Leon VI (886– 912) claimed to have invented a small, hand- held mechanism for hurling Greek fire against an enemy ship, a “siphon” that could be used by marines from behind the safety of iron shields (Naval Warfare 63–64).
> Greek fire could be placed in hand- held vessels, lit by a fuse, that were hurled and ignited wooden targets upon impact. When the Turks were besieging the city of Mantzikert in 1054, a soldier from the Byzantine garrison rode out and, using one of these devices, incinerated the enemy’s main siege engine. The Turks gave up and left (Michael Attaleiates, History 46–47)
>Portable flamethrowers: the emperor Leon VI (886– 912) claimed to have invented a small, hand- held mechanism for hurling Greek fire against an enemy ship, a “siphon” that could be used by marines from behind the safety of iron shields (Naval Warfare 63–64).
> Greek fire could be placed in hand- held vessels, lit by a fuse, that were hurled and ignited wooden targets upon impact. When the Turks were besieging the city of Mantzikert in 1054, a soldier from the Byzantine garrison rode out and, using one of these devices, incinerated the enemy’s main siege engine. The Turks gave up and left (Michael Attaleiates, History 46–47)
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