Basilisk (cannon)
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The basilisk was a very heavy bronze cannon employed during the Late Middle Ages. The barrel of a basilisk could weigh up to 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) and could have a calibre of up to 5 inches (13 cm).[1] On average they were around 10 feet long,[2] though some, like Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol, were almost three times that length.
The basilisk got its name from the mythological basilisk: a fire-breathing venomous serpent that could cause large-scale destruction and kill its victims with its glance alone.[3] It was thought that the very sight of its 160 lb shot would be enough to scare the enemy to death.[4]
In 1588 the
Due to its large size, the basilisk fell out of favour of European generals, who preferred lighter, more accurate artillery in the late 16th century.[6] A late example is the Maltese Gun, built in Holland in 1607 and, like many of its contemporaries, fitted with a replacement carriage during the Napoleonic Wars.[7]
See also
Further reading
References
- ^ "NPS Interpretive Series: Artillery Through the Ages". Archived from the original on 2007-07-05. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ^ "Medieval Glossary - Basilisk (Cannon)". shadowedrealm.com. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ^ "Medieval Bestiary : Basilisk". bestiary.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ^ "History of the Scots Greys". regimental-art.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ISBN 9780788107450. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ^ "basilisk | weapon | Britannica.com". britannica.com. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ^ "Royal Armouries Collections Online | Subjects | Item". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2008-10-18.