← Explore on the interactive map

Early long-barreled artillery (culverin)

Type Object Region Europe Time c. 1440–1550

Long-barreled bronze or wrought-iron field guns that appeared in Western Europe in the mid-to-late 15th century, with barrel lengths of about 18–25 c…

Timeline

  1. c. 1440–1460Duchy of Burgundy · BurgundyIn the 1440s, Burgundy and the armies of the duchy began equipping wrought-iron guns with longer barrels, forged from iron bars bound together; these outranged shorter-barreled mortars and laid the technical groundwork for the culverin's standardization.
  2. c. 1470–1500Battlefields of France and Italy · ItalyFrom the 1470s the culverin was issued as a standard field artillery piece, with a caliber of about 8–12 cm and a two-wheeled carriage for mobility with the army; it was widely used in the Italian Wars (1494–1559).
  3. c. 1500–1550Western European states · Western EuropeIn the early 16th century states established standardized artillery classifications, with clear divisions of role among the culverin, larger-caliber cannon, and smaller falconet; the long-barrel design influenced artillery development for centuries thereafter.

Sources