PERIOD III, 



FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF FIREARMS TO 

 FREDERICK THE GREAT. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Introduction of Firearms. 



The military art about the middle of the fifteenth cen- 

 tury was in a state of transition, and various influences 

 were beginning to so affect it as in time to produce a 

 complete revolution in the manner of conducting war, 

 and to pave the way for the system at present in use. 



The English infantry and the Swiss pikemen had given 

 a severe blow to chivalry, and it only required the intro- 

 duction of missile weapons, of suflBcient force to pierce 

 the massive defences of the men-at-arms, to deprive 

 them of their great prestige, and to bring them more on 

 a level with the other forces. 



The changes, however, were very gradual, for it took 

 many years for the invention of gunpowder to be so 

 utilised, and the weapons adapted to it to be so improved, 

 as to render its use more effective than the old projectile 

 weapons, which had been brought to perfection. Con- 

 sequently we find for a very long period both types 

 of missile weapons used contemporaneously in most 

 aimies.' 



Heavy cannon are first mentioned in the year 1301, 

 when the town of Amberg, in Germany, had constructed 

 a large gun.* Ghent had them in 1313 ; Florence in 

 ' Daniel, i. 319. " Demmin, 52. 



