Culverin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A culverin is a medieval cannon of relatively long barrel and light construction that fired solid round shot projectiles at long ranges along a flat trajectory. Round shot refers to the classic solid spherical cannonball. The culverin was adapted for use by the French in the 15th century, and later adapted for naval use by the English in the late 16th century. The Culverin was used to bombard targets from a distance.
The term "culverin" is derived from the Latin, colubra, or snake, due to the curved handles. It was also the term for a medieval musket used in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Overall, the culverin was a significant advantage over the ballista, which was the "light artillery" unit of the previous eras. Since it fired a ball of iron and relied on gunpowder for propulsion, the heavier ball meant a more stable flight and the gunpowder propulsion meant a faster and farther-ranged weapon.
The culverin was later replaced by the field gun once technology had advanced to the point where cannonballs had become explosive.
