26 August 2009

This Date In History: First 'Cannon' Fired

August 26, 1326, a date which will live in history. Or not.

I guess it would depend on your definition of a cannon . . . and its "projectile" -- a piece of stone that had been rounded off . . . a bit.

1346: Genoese mercenaries fighting under Philip VI of France are surprised,
unpleasantly, when they are among the first soldiers in history to come under cannon fire. It has been claimed that this battle, which occurred near Crécy in northern France early in the
Hundred Years War, marks the first use of cannon on the battlefield.

Like many claims that reach us through the mists of time, this one is hard to verify and is oft disputed: According to Arab historian Ahmad Y. al-Hassan, the Mamluks
employed the “first cannon in history” against the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260. In the end, it may come down to how the word “cannon” was defined in those days.

A great read. Check it out!




2 comments:

Ran said...

Yeah, so Brent... What exactly did the cannon do to get itself fired?

;-]

Anonymous said...

you are a great patriot and defender of the faith!!! You remind me of that guy jake carlsen who is the hero in "battle of jakes" on the internet from frugal squirrel. keep up the fight jake!!!!