Greek Fire : The deadliest weapon of medieval era

"Greek Fire" was an ancient weapon invented and used by Byzantine Empire in battles. Western Roman Empire fell to the barbarians in 476 AD but its eastern counter part also known as Byzantine Empire lasted thousand years more. Greek Fire was one of the key factors which helped this empire to sustain so long. Byzantine warships equipped with flamethrower devastated enemy ships for centuries. The incendiary grenades (Yes grenades, These grenades were the early version of modern grenades. Small ceramic pots filled with the sticky liquid substance and thrown at enemies like modern grenades) secured its walls from invaders many times.

Greek Fire

How the name Greek Fire derived nobody knows. Historians assumed it got that name because of the influence of Greek culture on Byzantine Empire.

The formula of Greek Fire was lost. Byzantines were so protective about it, nobody ever succeeded to steal it from them. So, after the empire fell in 1453, it went to grave with its makers. Though modern scientists may have recognized some of the ingredients by its nature (Like Naphtha) but the process of making and other ingredients are still a mystery.

Ceramic Grenade

Why it was so successful and feared by the enemies of the Byzantine Empire? The reason was its nature. Greek Fire was not like ordinary fire. It had some special characteristics. Here are two main characteristics :

1. The fire couldn't be doused by water.

2. It was a sticky liquid substance.

Because of those characteristics,  when Byzantine Navy fired Greek Fire by using flamethrowers on enemy wooden ships (That time all ships were made of wood), it was devastating for that ship. The fire couldn't be doused by water and it was liquid so quickly spread to the whole ship. Finally it was sticky so it sticked to the targets and burnt it whole.

Arbalest Flamethrower (Reconstruction)

Similarly in field combat when the grenades burst the sticky liquid substances spread everywhere and started burning humans and animals alike.

Greek Fire may lost but its legacy didn't. As per the devastation it was the most feared and deadliest weapon of medieval period. There was no doubt about it.