Leonardo da Vinci designed a scythed chariot with rotating blades intended to cut through enemy troops.
His drawing shows a horse-drawn vehicle fitted with long blades that extend from rotating wheels or axles. As the chariot moved, the blades were meant to sweep through nearby soldiers. The design reflects Leonardo’s interest in adapting ancient and medieval battlefield ideas through mechanical systems.
A scythed chariot was not simply a faster cart. Its blades turned the vehicle into a weapon whose effectiveness depended on speed, control, and the ability to avoid obstacles. Such machines could also threaten their own crews and horses, making practical battlefield use difficult. Leonardo’s version is therefore best understood as an engineering proposal rather than a proven weapon.
The concept should not be confused with Leonardo’s armored vehicle, often popularly called a tank. The armored vehicle was a protected platform carrying guns, while the scythed chariot relied on cutting blades mounted on a moving carriage.