FIRST HALF OF SIXTEENTH CENTURY—WARS OF CHARLES V. (1521-44). In the wars of Francis T. of France and the Emperor Charles V., artillery began to establish a reputation as a weapon. 'the materiel, personnel, and draft were still very crude, but guns began to he used effectively on the field of battle. The conical-shaped bombards and vases gradually disappeared during this period. and were replaced, in the siege-train, by eulverins (1S-pounders) drawn by oxen: and in field artillery by cannon (2-, 4-, 6-, and S-pound ers, from the weight of the projectiles thrown) called 'falcons,"falconets,' and `rakers.' Tt took many years to devise a carriage which would serve both for transportation and for service. This was gradually developed during the prog less of the Franco-Spanish wars. The personnel for this 'field artillery' was supplied by tempo rary detail from adjacent fortresses or by hired or impressed civilians. Drivers and animals for
transportation were obtained in the same way. The loss of guns in battle was common, because of their immobility. A temporary retirement meant the capture of the guns, and an advance made them useless, as they were then masked by the infantry. The first battle in which artillery played an important part in the general result was at Marignano ( 1 5 1 5 ) , where the French had about 350 guns. The Swiss infantry were unable to stand the fire of this artillery, which covered an important crossing. The result was a French victory. At Pavia (1525) the French would have probably won another victory, had their artillery not been masked by their own troops at a critical juncture of the battle.