Falaise in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
L’apparition des armes à feu
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Firearms are introduced
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
1. L’apparition des armes à feu / Firearms are introduced Marker
Le XIVe siècle voit l'émergence du canon en Europe, qui utilise la poudre, un mélange de soufre, de salpêtre et de charbon. Si les premiers canons sont peu fiables, le fracas de leurs tirs, inconnu alors, peut effrayer l'adversaire. Les premières armes à feu individuelles apparaissent à la même époque.
Des améliorations technologiques régulières amènent l'artillerie à poudre à un niveau d'efficacité redoutable au milieu du XVe siècle. A la fin de ce siècle, c'est devenu une arme décisive, sur les champs de bataille comme dans la guerre de siège. Toutefois, le canon médiéval reste dangereux à manier. Les éclatements sont fréquents. Canonnier est un métier à haut risque ! Un traité d'artillerie du XVe siècle recommande aux artilleurs, «plus que autres gens de guerre», d'avoir toujours leur âme en paix avec Dieu, au cas où...
Le «Baton à Feu»
Arme à feu portative rudimentaire composée d'un tube de métal. Elle projette de petites billes de pierre ou de plomb. Longue à charger, imprécise et de faible portée, elle est aussi dangereuse: outre les ratés, elle éclate fréquemment dans les mains
this page online
La Couleuvrine
La couleuvrine, apparue en France au XVe siècle, est une petite bombarde portative. Elle peut être placée sur un affut fixe derrière une archère-canonnière pour renforcer efficacement la défense des remparts. Son tube est composé de douelles en fer ou en bronze fixées les unes aux autres et cerclées de fer ou de cuir à la manière d'un tonneau. Elle tire des balles de plomb appelées plommées.
L’adaptation du château de Falaise à l’emploi du canon
L'apparition du canon fait adapter les meurtrières du château pour intégrer la nouvelle arme au système défensif. Au départ, on ajoute simplement des orifices circulaires aux anciennes archères à fente verticale. Ils permettent la visée et l'évacuation des fumées de tir. Ces nouvelles ouvertures sont appelées archères-canonnières.
Les archères-canonnières de cette tour ont été créées durant la Guerre de Cent Ans, juste avant ou lors de l'occupation anglaise du château (1418-1450).
Titres - Bâton à Feu - Couleuvrine
Apparition - XIVe Siècle - XVe Siècle
Longueur De L'arme - Tube=50 Cm - Affût: 200 cm/Canon: 114cm
Projectiles - Billes De Pierre Puis De Plomb (15 À 30g) - Balles De Plomb (1kg)
Calibre - ≤20 mm - 50 mm
Poids - 2-4 Kg - 50 kg
Portée Maximale (Moyenne) - 100 m - Plusieurs Centaines de Mètres
Portée
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
2. L’apparition des armes à feu / Firearms are introduced Marker
Cannons appeared in appeared in Europe in the 14th century. They used powder, a mixture of sulphur, saltpetre and coal. Early cannons were not very reliable, but the sound of their blast, which was something unknown at that time, was able to frighten the enemy. The first individual firearms emerged at the same time.
Regular technical improvements helped powder-based artillery to achieve a formidable level of efficiency in the middle of the 15th century. By the end of it, firearms had become a key weapon both on battlefields and during sieges. However, medieval cannons were still dangerous to operate. There were frequent explosions. Being a gunner was a high-risk profession! A treatise on artillery from the 15th century recommended gunners, "more so than any other fighters" to always make their peace with God, just in case...
"Fire Stick"
The "fire stick" was a rudimentary portable firearm made of a metal tube. It was used to fire small stone or lead pellets. It took a long time to load, was inaccurate and had a small range. It could miss its target and was also dangerous as it frequently blew up in the user's hands.
The Culverin
The culverin, which appeared in France in the 15th century, was a small portable bombard. It could be placed on a fixed mounting
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
3. Arrow/gun slit in the castle wall
Adapting Falaise Castle to the use of Cannons
The introduction of cannons led to the castle's arrow slits being adapted to accommodate this new weapon into its defensive armoury. This was done initially by adding round holes to the old vertical arrow slits. They made it possible to take aim and clear smoke after firing. These new openings were combined arrow/gun slits.
The arrow/gun slits in this tower were created during the 100 Years' War, just before or during the castle's occupation by the English (1418-1450).
Titles - "Fire Stick" - Culverin
First Appearance - 14th Century - 15th Century
Length - Tube: Approximately 20 Inches - Mounting: 6.5 Feet/Canon: 3.7 Feet
Projectiles - Stone, Then Lead Pellets (Up to an Ounce) - Calibre - ≤20 mm - 50 mm
Weight - 4-8 Pounds - 110 Pounds
Maximum Range - 110 Yards - Several Hundred Yards
Effective Range - 55 Yards - 270 yards
Erected by Conseil Général du Calvados, Norman Connections, interreg, Region Basse-Normandie.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles.
Location. 48° 53.61′ N, 0° 12.153′ W. Marker is in Falaise, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is at the intersection of Place Guillaume le Conquérant and Rue Blacher on Place Guillaume le Conquérant. The marker is located on the grounds of the Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13 Pl Guillaume le Conquérant, Falaise, Normandie 14700, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Les Graffiti / Graffiti (a few steps from this marker); Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant / William the Conqueror’s Castle (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant / William the Conqueror’s Castle (within shouting distance of this marker); Le Redent / The Redan (within shouting distance of this marker); La bataille de Normandie / The Battle of Normandy (within shouting distance of this marker); La Basse Cour / The Lower Yard (within shouting distance of this marker); Le champ de bataille de Falaise / The Battlefield at Falaise (within shouting distance of this marker); Objectif Falaise / Objective Falaise (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Falaise.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
