The Medieval Cannon 1326–1494 (New Vanguard, 273)

The Medieval Cannon 1326–1494 (New Vanguard, 273)

<p>The first illustration of a cannon in Europe can be dated quite precisely to 1326. This book explores the development of gunpowder, the earliest appearance of cast-bronze cannon in Western Europe, followed by the design and development of the wrought-iron cannon. The wrought-iron hoop-and-stave method of barrel construction was a system that came to dominate medieval artillery design both large and small until the end of the 15th century, and saw the cannon used not only as a prestige weapon, but start to be used as a practical and terrifying weapon on the medieval battlefield. In 1453, the Ottomans' conquest of Constantinople, with their extensive artillery, marked the triumph of medieval firepower.</p><p>The book will focus on the technology and tactics of early European artillery on both sea and land, and assess its impact on medieval warfare.</p>