Java arquebus

Java arquebus refer to long primitive firearm from Nusantara archipelago, dating back to the last quarter of 15th century. The weapon was used by local armies, albeit in low number, before the arrival of Iberian explorers (Portuguese and Spaniard) in the 16th century. In historical records the weapon may be classified as arquebus or musket.

19th century Indonesian matchlock, this weapon is smaller and shorter than the Java arquebus, but with similar mechanism.

Etymology

The term "Java arquebus" is a translation of Chinese word 爪哇銃 (Zua Wa Chong).^[1] In local language the weapon was known by various names, bedil or bedhil is more commonly used. However, this term has a broad meaning - it may refer to various type of firearms and gunpowder weapon, from small matchlock pistol to large siege guns. The term bedil comes from wedil or wediyal in Tamil language.^[2] In its original form, these words refer to gunpowder or gunpowder explosion. But after being absorbed into bedil in Malay, and in a number of other cultures in the archipelago, that Tamil vocabulary is used to refer to all types of firearms that use gunpowder. In Javanese the term balin and bedhil is known, in Sundanese the term is bedil, in Batak it is known as bodil, in Makasarese, badili, in Buginese, balili, in Dayak language, badil, in Tagalog, baril, and Malay people call it badel or bedil.^[2][3][4]

History

The knowledge of making gunpowder-based weapon in Nusantara archipelago has been known after the failed Mongol invasion of Java (1293 A.D.).^[5] This resulted in the development of small swivel guns such as cetbang and lantaka.^[6] However the knowledge of making firearms came much later, after the middle of 15th century. It was brought by the Islamic 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.^[7]: 23

Java

The kingdom of Majapahit pioneered the use of gunpowder-based weapon in the Nusantara archipelago. One account mentions the use of firearm in a battle against Giri forces in 1470s:

"... wadya Majapahit ambedili, dene wadya Giri pada pating jengkelang ora kelar nadhahi tibaning mimis ..."

"... Majapahit troops shooting their firearms (bedil=firearm), while Giri troops fell dead because they couldn't withstand being pierced by bullets (mimis=ball bullet)..."

- Serat Darmagandhul

 

Detail of the firing mechanism.

This type of arquebus have similarity to the Vietnamese arquebus of the 17th century. The weapon is very long, may reach 2.2 m in length, and had its own folding bipod.^[1] Tome Pires' 1515 account tells the army of Gusti Pati, viceroy of Batara Brawijaya, numbered 200,000 men, 2,000 of which are horsemen and 4,000 musketeers.^[8] Duarte Barbosa ca. 1510 said that the inhabitants of Java are great masters in casting artillery and very good artillerymen. They make many one-pounder cannons (cetbang or rentaka), long muskets, and other fire-works. Every place are considered excellent in casting artillery, and in the knowledge of using it.^[9]

Malay peninsula

The Portuguese found various gunpowder weapons after the 1511 conquest of Malacca. It is known that the Malays of Malacca obtained arms from Java.^{[7]: 21–22}

Joao de Barros desrcibed a scene of the conquest in Da Asia:^[10]

"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, carrying off the greater number of his teeth."

The matchlocks that shoot through both sides of their vessel, had very long barrel and were 18 mm in caliber.^[11]

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.^{[12][7]: 22} The son of Afonso de Albuquerque mentioned the armament of Malacca: There are large matchlocks, poisoned blowing tubes, bows, arrows, armour-plated dresses, Javanese lances, and other sorts of weapons.^[13] After Malacca was taken by the Portuguese, they captured 3000 of the 5000 muskets which had been furnished from Java.^[14]: 96

 

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 call this weapon as Jiao Chong (交銃, lit. Jiaozhi Arquebus), and noted its similarity to Zhua Wa Chong/Java arquebus.^[1]

See also

• Tanegashima (gun)
• Istinggar
• Punt gun
• Elephant gun
• Bedil
• Timeline of the gunpowder age
• History of gunpowder

References

1. Tiaoyuan, Li (1969). South Vietnamese Notes. Guangju Book Office.
2. Kern, H. (January 1902). "Oorsprong van het Maleisch Woord Bedil". Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia. 54: 311–312.
3. Syahri, Aswandi (6 August 2018). "Kitab Ilmu Bedil Melayu". Jantung Melayu. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
4. Rahmawati, Siska (2016). "Peristilahan Persenjataan Tradisional Masyarakat Melayu di Kabupaten Sambas". Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran Khatulistiwa. 5.
5. Song Lian. History of Yuan.
6. Ooi, Keat Gin (2004). Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781576077702.
7. Crawfurd, John (1856). A Descriptive Dictionary of the Indian Islands and Adjacent Countries. Bradbury and Evans.
8. Pires, Tome. Suma Oriental. The Hakluyt Society. ISBN 9784000085052.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public ___domain.
9. Barosa, Duarte (1866). A Description of the Coasts of East Africa and Malabar in the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century. The Hakluyt Society.
10. de Barros, João (1552). Primeira decada da Asia. Lisboa.
11. "Fine Malay matchlock musket | Mandarin Mansion". www.mandarinmansion.com. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
12. de Castanheda, Fernão Lopes (1552). História do descobrimento & conquista da India pelos portugueses. Coimbra.
13. The son of Afonso de Albuquerque (1557). Comentários de Afonso de Albuquerque. Lisboa.
14. Egerton, W. (1880). An Illustrated Handbook of Indian Arms. W.H. Allen.