Did you know? Hernan Cortes was the last European commander to have used a trebuchet catapult as a siege weapon in 1521 when he besieged the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. By then trebuchets were no longer in use in Europe. What made him do it? Very funny story, I explain... 
According to conquistador Bernal Diaz there was a man in Cortes' unit who was a bit of a braggart and kept boasting about serving in the Italian Wars and fighting at Garigliano for the legendary Spanish El Gran Capitan Gonzalo de Cordoba against the French.
Not only did this man boast about his supposed military prowess and heroism in the Italian Wars but he also claimed that during his stay in Italy, he obtained profound knowledge of war-engines and siege weapons, and knew how to construct them!
This man boasted that with his knowledge he could construct a powerful catapult that would make the Aztecs capitulate and make them beg for mercy in mere two days! He kept talking and talking about it and eventually talked Cortes into it, "for this man was a great talker" (Diaz).
The Spanish followed this man's plan and brought lime and stone and wood, and carpenters and nails and all that was needed for constructing this mighty catapult. They made two slings of strong rope and cords, and brought up great stones to use them for ammunition.
This monster of a catapult was finally ready to fire. But when they finally placed a suitable stone and discharged it, there was a great disappointment! All the stone did was to rise to the height of the catapult and fall back to its original place! Cortez was very annoyed!
He wasn't just annoyed at the man who talked him into it, but also at himself for believing his supposed engineering knowledge! He said that the man had proved that nothing was more prejudical to war than talk and had the catapult destroyed!
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