The Invention of Gunpowder and Earliest Gunpowder Weapons

Vase Shaped Cannons and Bombards

The earliest depiction of a gunpowder weapon is on a mid-10th century silk banner that shows a fire lance, precursor of the gun. The earliest depiction of a gunpowder weapon is on a mid-10th century silk banner from shows a fire lance, precursor of the gun. The earliest depiction of a gun in China is a sculpture from a cave in Sichuan dating to the 1100s that shows a figure carrying a vase-shaped bombard with flames and a cannonball coming out of it. In the later half of the 13th century, there are two records of military arsenals exploding, the details indicate that gunpowder, small bombs and likely early gunpowder weapons were stored. The historical evidence suggests that Islam acquired, but did not invent, gunpowder sometime after 1240.

The oldest surviving manuscript illustration of a gunpowder weapon in Europe was published in a manuscript by Walter de Millete dated to 1326. The picture shows a vase shaped cannon that fires a vase shaped projectile, ignition is by a slow match, fastened to the end of a cane. There is a royal account of Edward III dated to 1338, that refers ship cannons. A reference from 1331 describes an attack mounted by two Germanic knights on Cividale del Friuli, using gunpowder weapons of some sort. The French raiding party that sacked and burned Southampton in 1338 brought with them a ribaudequin and 48 bolts (but only 3 pounds of gunpowder). The Battle of Crécy in 1346 was one of the first in Europe where cannons were used. In 1350, Petrarch wrote that the presence of cannons on the battlefield was "as common and familiar as other kinds of arms". However, archeological hard evidence is the bottom line. Iron handgonnes dating to the first half of the 14th century have been found in Sweden, Switzerland and Majorica.

Handgonne to Matchlocks

The Handgonne is of great importance as the earliest hand held gunpowder weapon developed in Europe. The word 'gonne' make us think of 'gun' and 'hand gun' which is misleading. These earliest 'gonnes' are best compared to small cannon and most could be manipulated by one or two men while hand held. Invented in ?Europe in the early 1300s, they were used until the early 1500s. Made from wrought iron or cast bronze, gonnes could be held under the arm, over the shoulder or rested on a fork hammered into the ground. Large, heavy gonnes required two men to manipulate.

As barrels grew longer, handgonnes needed a hook to absorb the recoil, and they became known as hackebuts. Other methods to absorb the recoil shock included lengthening the stock, bracing the gonne against the ground, firing over the shoulder, or under the arm with appropriate stock structures added on. Over time, firing from the shoulder became a favorite choice. Corned powder was invented in the early 1400s and catalyzed an even wider use of handgonnes. Moistened gunpowder dries, then is formed into corn granules. Ignition temperature is low and all corn granules can be lit before a significant explosion occurs. The flash pan and the slow match also led to the widespread use of gonnes, as they could now be used in rainy weather. Handgonnes were used extensively in the Hussite Wars of 1426-32.

The serpentine was one of the earliest locks. The snapping matchlock utilized a small serpentine lock and was favored in Japan until c.1800. In the early Renaissance, crossbows were still the superior weapon for distance, accuracy and armor penetration. However, gonnes did not require a long learning period, nor constant training for a soldier to maintain expertise and they lent themselves to mass production. Although developments were underway to do away with the need for a firing match to apply flame to the primer, the musket as the most advanced matchlock achieved worldwide popularity after Spain adopted it for its army in 1520. Finally a weapon with superior armor piercing capability to the crossbow had arrived.

, , , , ,,