Java arquebus: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Indonesian matchlock 19th century.jpg|thumb|300x300px|19th century [[Indonesia]]n matchlock, this weapon is smaller and shorter than the Java arquebus, but with similar mechanism. ]]

'''Java arquebus''' refers to long-barreled early [[firearm]] from [[Nusantara (archipelago)|Indonesian archipelago]], dating back to the last quarter of the 15th century. The weapon was used by local armies, albeit in low number compared to total fighting men,<ref>{{Cite book |editor-last=Tarling |editor-first=Nicholas |title=The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia: Volume One, From Early Times to c. 1800 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=19991992 |isbn=97805216637000521355052}}</ref>{{Rp|43387}} before the arrival of [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberian]] explorers ([[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] and [[Spaniards]]) in the 16th century. In historical records, the weapon may be classified as [[arquebus]] or [[musket]].<ref group="Note">Musket originally refers to a heavier variant of the arquebus, capable of penetrating heavy armor (see Arnold, 2001, ''The Renaissance at War'', p. 75-78). Java arquebus is larger than ordinary arquebus and has good penetration ability.</ref>

== Etymology ==

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In ''The Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalboquerque'' "large matchlock"<ref group="Note">Written as ''espingardões'' (plural) or ''espingardão'' (singular).</ref> is frequently mentioned throughout the book. During the first attack of Malacca the approaching Portuguese were shot at by the Moors ([[muslims]]) of Malacca:<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Birch|first=Walter de Gray|url=https://archive.org/details/commentariesgre02unkngoog/page/n7/mode/2up?q|title=The Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalboquerque, Second Viceroy of India, translated from the Portuguese edition of 1774 volume 3|publisher=The Hakluyt Society|year=1875|___location=London}}</ref>{{rp|103}}<blockquote>Two hours before the break of day Afonso Dalboquerque ordered the trumpet to be blown, in order to awaken them, and they embarked immediately with all the rest of the [[Man-at-arms|men-at-arms]] and went on board his ship, and when a general confession had been made, all set out together and came to the mouth of the river just as morning broke, and attacked the bridge, each battalion in the order which had been assigned to it. Then the Moors began to fire upon them with their artillery, which was posted in the [[stockade]]s, and with their large matchlocks wounded some of our men.</blockquote>They are also used when the Portuguese were withdrawing in the first attack:<ref name=":5" />{{rp|108}}<blockquote>When the Moors perceived that they were withdrawing, they began to open fire with large matchlocks, arrows, and [[Blow tube|blowing-tubes]], and wounded some of our men, yet with all the haste they made Afonso Dalboquerque ordered the men to carry off with them fifty large [[Bombard (weapon)|bombards]]<ref group="Note">Bombard is a type of short, large calibre cannon. The Malays of Malacca has bombards which threw leaden shot as large as an ''espera'' — a large old kind of artillery. See Birch, 1875: 121.</ref> that had been captured in the stockades upon the bridge</blockquote>[[Joao de Barros]] described a scene of the conquest in ''Da Asia'':<ref>{{Cite book|last=De Barros|first=João|title=Primeira decada da Asia|year=1552|___location=Lisboa}}</ref><ref name=":2" />{{rp|22}}<blockquote>As soon as the junk had passed the sand-bank and had come to an anchor, a short way from the bridge, the Moorish artillery opened a fire on her. Some guns discharged leadballs at intervals, which passed through both sides of the vessel, doing much execution among the crew. In the heat of the action Antonio d'Abreu, the commander, was struck in the cheek from a fusil (''espingardão''), carrying off the greater number of his teeth.</blockquote>The matchlocks that shoot through both sides of their vessel, had very long barrel and were 18&nbsp;mm in caliber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/fine-malay-matchlock-musket|title=Fine Malay matchlock musket {{!}} Mandarin Mansion|website=www.mandarinmansion.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-10}}</ref>

Historian [[Fernão Lopes de Castanheda]] mentions matchlocks (''espingardão'' — large ''espingarda'' / arquebus), he says that they threw balls, some of stone, and some of iron covered with lead.<ref>{{Cite book|last=De Castanheda|first=Fernão Lopes|title=História do descobrimento & conquista da India pelos portugueses|year=1552|___location=Coimbra}}</ref><ref name=":2" />{{Rp|22}} The son of [[Afonso de Albuquerque]] mentioned the armament of Malacca: There are large matchlocks, poisoned blowing tubes, bows, arrows, armour-plated dresses (''[[Baju Lamina|laudeis de laminas]]''), Javanese lances, and other sorts of weapons.<ref>{{Cite book |last=BrásThe son of Afonso de Albuquerque |url=https://archive.org/details/commentariosdog00unkngoog/page/n165/mode/2up?q |title=ComentáriosCommentários dedo Grande Afonso deDalbuquerque parte III|publisher=Na Regia Officina Typografica Albuquerque|year=15571774 |___location=Lisboa |pages=144}}</ref><ref name=":5" />{{rp|127}} After Malacca was taken by the Portuguese, they captured 3000 of the 5000 muskets which had been furnished from Java.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Egerton|first=W.|title=An Illustrated Handbook of Indian Arms|publisher=W.H. Allen|year=1880}}</ref>{{Rp|96}}

[[File:Vietnam matchlock of Qing period.jpg|thumb|Jiaozhi arquebus of 1739. Note the simple mechanism.]]