Leonardo da Vinci designed a scythed chariot with rotating blades intended to cut through enemy soldiers.
The concept combined a horse-drawn chariot with long blades mounted on a rotating mechanism. As the vehicle moved, the blades would sweep around it, creating a dangerous zone for nearby infantry. Leonardo’s drawing is generally dated to the late 15th century, when military engineers often revisited weapons described in ancient sources.
The design was not an original invention in the broad historical sense. Scythed chariots had been associated with ancient armies, especially Persian forces, long before Leonardo. Leonardo’s contribution was a Renaissance mechanical redesign using gears and rotating components to make the blades move continuously.
The machine was never demonstrated in battle. Its exposed blades could endanger friendly troops and animals, while controlling the chariot would have been difficult. The design is therefore best understood as an example of Leonardo’s experimental military engineering rather than a proven weapon.