Java arquebus: Difference between revisions

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== History ==

The knowledge of making gunpowder-based weapon in Nusantara archipelago has been known after the failed [[Mongol invasion of Java]] (1293 A.D.).<ref>Song Lian. [[History of Yuan]].</ref> This resulted in the development of small swivel guns such as [[cetbang]] and [[lantaka]].<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|last=Ooi|first=Keat Gin|title=Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2004|isbn=9781576077702|___location=|pages=}}</ref> [[Hand cannon|Pole gun]] ([[bedil tombak]]) was recorded as being used by Java in 1413.<ref>Mayers (1876). "Chinese explorations of the Indian Ocean during the fifteenth century". ''The China Review''. '''IV''': p. 178.</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Manguin|first=Pierre-Yves|date=1976|title=L'Artillerie legere nousantarienne: A propos de six canons conserves dans des collections portugaises|url=|journal=Arts Asiatiques|volume=32|pages=233-268|via=}}</ref>{{Rp|245}} However the knowledge of making "true" firearms came much later, after the middle of 15th century. It was brought by the [[Islam]]ic nations of West Asia, most probably the [[Arabs]]. The precise year of introduction is unknown, but it may be safely concluded to be no earlier than 1460.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|23}}

=== Java ===

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The Portuguese found various gunpowder weapons after the [[Capture of Malacca (1511)|1511 conquest of Malacca]]. It is known that the Malays of Malacca obtained arms from Java.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Crawfurd|first=John|title=A Descriptive Dictionary of the Indian Islands and Adjacent Countries|publisher=Bradbury and Evans|year=1856|isbn=|___location=|pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|21-22}}

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 Muslims of Malacca:<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Albuquerque|first=Afonso de|title=The Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalboquerque, Second Viceroy of India, translated from the Portuguese edition of 1774|publisher=The Hakluyt society|year=1875|isbn=|___location=London|pages=}}</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|stockades]], 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.</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|publisher=|year=1552|isbn=|___location=Lisboa|pages=}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><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|publisher=|year=1552|isbn=|___location=Coimbra|pages=}}</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=The son of Afonso de Albuquerque|title=Comentários de Afonso de Albuquerque|publisher=|year=1557|isbn=|___location=Lisboa|pages=}}</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|isbn=|___location=|pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|96}}

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

=== Indochina ===

[[Đại Việt]] was considered by the Ming to have produced particularly advanced matchlocks during the 16–17th century, surpassing even Ottoman, Japanese, and European firearms. European observers of the [[Lê–Mạc War]] and later [[Trịnh–Nguyễn War]] also noted the proficiency of matchlock making by the Vietnamese. The Vietnamese matchlock was said to have been able to pierce several layers of iron armour, kill two to five men in one shot, yet also fire quietly for a weapon of its caliber. The Chinese called this weapon Jiao Chong (交銃, lit. Jiaozhi Arquebus), and noted its similarity to Zhua Wa Chong/Java arquebus.<ref name=":0" /><ref group="Note">It is to be noted that the Vietnamese (Jiaozhi) arquebus may refer to several kind of matchlock weapon: Arquebus in the model of istinggar, arquebus with bipod under the barrel, arquebus with tripod and swivel mount, and [[jingal]]-styled arquebus.</ref>

== Notes ==

<references group="Note" />

== See also ==

{{Portal|Indonesia}}|Malaysia|Vietnam

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*[[Bedil tombak]]

*[[Tanegashima (gun)]]