History Caltrop

a 16th-century caltrop

they known romans tribulus or murex ferreus, latter meaning jagged iron (literally iron jagged thing ). used in battle of carrhae in 53 bc.

the late roman writer vegetius, referring in work de re militari scythed chariots, wrote:

the armed chariots used in war antiochus , mithridates @ first terrified romans, afterwards made jest of them. chariot of sort not meet plain , level ground, least obstruction stops it. , if 1 of horses either killed or wounded, falls enemy s hands. roman soldiers rendered them useless chiefly following contrivance: @ instant engagement began, strewed field of battle caltrops, , horses drew chariots, running full speed on them, infallibly destroyed. caltrop device composed of 4 spikes or points arranged in whatever manner thrown on ground, rests on 3 , presents fourth upright.

another example of use of caltrops found in jamestown, virginia, in united states:

undoubtedly unusual weapon or military device surviving seventeenth-century virginia known caltrop, single example of has been found @ jamestown. amounts spread iron tripod 3 inches long leg sticking vertically upward, throw down, 1 spike sticks up. ... there no doubt inscrutable indian treading on caltrop shocked noisy comment. ... fact 1 has been found seem suggest used little, if @ all. military equipment designed european wars, caltrop’s presence in virginia must considered in light of possible attacks spaniards assaults indians.

exploding gunpowder caltrops yuan dynasty @ national museum of china

the japanese version of caltrop called makibishi. makibishi sharp spiked objects used in feudal japan slow pursuers , used in defence of samurai fortifications. iron makibishi called tetsubishi, while makibishi made dried seed pod of water chestnut, formed natural type of makibashi called tennenbishi. both types of makibishi penetrate thin soles of shoes, such waraji sandals, commonly worn in feudal japan.