The World's Four Earliest Known Cannon Depictions

broadaxe · 3rd April 2012, 06:17 PM

Hmmm, thinking of it, you are right about the amount of powder required back then, as during the first 100 years of gunnery the blackpowder was relatively weak. The gunners were in the process of trial & error, experiencing with the percentage of ingredients. By 1420 they made a big leap by graining the powder, hence enhancing greatly its potencial.
The short-barreled bombards with the smaller-diameter burning cell look basically the same as early 1800's mortar (aside of position of the trunnions), like this one from the walls of Acre.

Matchlock · 3rd April 2012, 07:19 PM

Yeah, mortars interestingly somehow always looked as if they were of much earlier date than they actually were.

m

Matchlock · 15th April 2012, 07:09 PM

I have found another depiction of a small cannon firing stone balls (Steinbüchse), mounted on a carriage and dating from the first half of the 14th century, in an illuminated manuscript mimiature, ca. 1344, the latter two parts including the attached miniature added ca. 1400:

Oxford University, Ms. Bodl. 264, fol. 255r.

Best,
Michael

broadaxe · 15th April 2012, 07:30 PM

Interesting enough, the cannon is depicted next to a trebuchet.

Matchlock · 15th April 2012, 07:48 PM

Right, obviously meaning to represent the more advanced technology.

m

3rd April 2012, 06:17 PM	#1
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	Hmmm, thinking of it, you are right about the amount of powder required back then, as during the first 100 years of gunnery the blackpowder was relatively weak. The gunners were in the process of trial & error, experiencing with the percentage of ingredients. By 1420 they made a big leap by graining the powder, hence enhancing greatly its potencial. The short-barreled bombards with the smaller-diameter burning cell look basically the same as early 1800's mortar (aside of position of the trunnions), like this one from the walls of Acre. Attached Images

15th April 2012, 07:09 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	I have found another depiction of a small cannon firing stone balls (Steinbüchse), mounted on a carriage and dating from the first half of the 14th century, in an illuminated manuscript mimiature, ca. 1344, the latter two parts including the attached miniature added ca. 1400: Oxford University, Ms. Bodl. 264, fol. 255r. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 16th April 2012 at 03:39 PM.

3rd April 2012, 07:19 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Yeah, mortars interestingly somehow always looked as if they were of much earlier date than they actually were. m

15th April 2012, 07:30 PM	#4
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	Interesting enough, the cannon is depicted next to a trebuchet.

15th April 2012, 07:48 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Right, obviously meaning to represent the more advanced technology. m