Leonardo da Vinci designed a scythed chariot with blades attached to its wheels to cut through infantry.
His design belongs to a long military tradition: scythed chariots were known in the ancient world, especially from accounts of Persian and Hellenistic warfare. Leonardo’s version revived and mechanically developed the idea during the Renaissance. The chariot was drawn by horses, while rotating blades extended from the wheel areas.
The mechanism was intended to make the blades spin as the vehicle moved. In theory, this would create a dangerous path through a massed formation. In practice, such a vehicle would have faced major problems, including steering, uneven ground, friendly troops, and the risk of harming the horses or operators.
Leonardo’s drawing is a design study rather than proof that he built or field-tested the machine. It should also be distinguished from his armored tank: the tank emphasizes protection and artillery, whereas the scythed chariot relies on speed and rotating cutting blades.