What rotating military vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design with blades for cutting troops?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a scythed chariot with rotating blades intended to cut through opposing troops.

His drawing shows a horse-drawn vehicle carrying a large rotating assembly fitted with blades. The mechanism was meant to turn as the chariot advanced, creating a dangerous sweeping weapon against soldiers nearby.

The idea was not entirely new: scythed chariots were known from ancient warfare, especially in accounts of Persian and Hellenistic armies. Leonardo’s design reflects Renaissance efforts to study, redraw, and mechanically elaborate older military concepts.

The chariot was a proposal rather than a documented battlefield success. Its complexity, dependence on horses, and danger to friendly troops would have made practical use difficult. It is distinct from Leonardo’s armored vehicle, which relied on protection and cannon fire.