In the Middle Ages wagons were used for transport, agricultural work and for wartime purposes. One of the simplest was a two wheeled cart, while hay wagons (haywains) were also to be seen. The oldest, high-wheeled carts had one central axle connected to the undercarriage. From the 14th century on, twin-axled, four-wheeled wagons came into use. The front axle was not steerable, resulting in a very wide turning radius. Wagons did not have a seat for the coachman, who either rode astride one of the horses, or walked alongside the wagon.
In wartime a wagon could be turned into a mobile field palisade, a strategy that became famous especially during the Hussite wars, when the strategy of ‘wagon walls’ won more than one battle for the Calixtines (Hussite forces).
In the Middle Ages wagons were used for transport, agricultural work and for wartime purposes. One of the simplest was a two wheeled cart, while hay wagons (haywains) were also to be seen. The oldest, high-wheeled carts had one central axle connected to the undercarriage. From the 14th century on, twin-axled, four-wheeled wagons came into use. The front axle was not steerable, resulting in a very wide turning radius. Wagons did not have a seat for the coachman, who either rode astride one of the horses, or walked alongside the wagon.
In wartime a wagon could be turned into a mobile field palisade, a strategy that became famous especially during the Hussite wars, when the strategy of ‘wagon walls’ won more than one battle for the Calixtines (Hussite forces).