arquebuses

An arquebus is an early portable firearm used in Europe and other regions from the 15th through the 17th centuries. It is a muzzle-loading, smoothbore weapon that fired a lead ball and was typically fired from the shoulder. The most common ignition method was matchlock: a slow-burning cord, held in a lever or serpentine, was brought into contact with the gunpowder in a small pan, igniting the main charge through a touch hole when the trigger was squeezed. These weapons were heavier and less accurate than later muskets but offered a decisive improvement over hand cannon fire, and their relatively simple production allowed broader use.

Arquebuses were issued to infantry alongside pikes in "pike-and-shot" formations, changing battlefield tactics by enabling infantry to engage at longer ranges and with greater firepower before closing with melee. Over time, lighter and more reliable firearms evolved from the arquebus, and by the mid-17th century many armies adopted the flintlock mechanism, culminating in the modern musket. The term arquebus often specifically referred to the shorter, lighter firearm used on a shoulder stock, distinct from earlier, longer hand cannons and from later muskets.

Decline and legacy: By the late 17th to 18th centuries, the arquebus was largely supplanted by flintlock muskets, though the term sometimes persisted in historical descriptions and in some regional weapons for several more decades. Its development marked a key step in the evolution of infantry firearms and contributed to shifts in military organization and tactics.