Faule Grete

Borrowed by Margrave Frederick I of Brandenburg in 1413, the cannon was instrumental in breaking the opposition of the domestic knighthood within three weeks, allowing Fredrick to lay the foundation for the rise of his Hohenzollern dynasty which later came to rule Prussia and the German Empire. Besides the Faule Grete, a number of 15th-century European large-calibre weapons are known to have been employed primarily in siege warfare, including the wrought-iron Pumhart von Steyr, Dulle Griet and Mons Meg as well as the cast-bronze Grose Bochse (also made by the Teutonic Knights) and Faule Mette.

• Name — Faule Grete • Origin — Marienburg, Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights • Type — Cannon • Is Ranged — yes • Is Bladed — no • Is Explosive — no • Is Artillery — yes • Is Vehicle — no • Is Missile — no • Used By — Margrave Frederick I of Brandenburg • Production Date — 1409 • Weight — 4.6 t • Length — 250 cm • Part Length — 150 cm • Cartridge Weight — 170 kg • Caliber — 50 cm (ball diameter) • Illustration — Bronze bombard of the Knights Hospitaller cast in 1480. The Faule Grete was arguably similar in shape, although larger in size.