Java arquebusrefer to long primitive firearm from Indonesian archipelago, dating back to the last quarter of 15th century. The weapon was used by local armies, albeit in low number compared to total fighting men, before the arrival of Iberian explorers in the 16th century. In historical records the weapon may be classified as arquebus or musket.
Etymology
The term "Java arquebus" is a translation of Chinese word 爪哇銃. In local language the weapon was known by various names, bedil or bedhil is more commonly used. However, this term has a broad meaning - it may refer to various type of firearms and gunpowder weapon, from small matchlock pistol to large siege guns. The term bedil comes from wedil and wediluppu in Tamil language. In its original form, these words refer to gunpowder blast and saltpeter, respectively. But after being absorbed into bedil in Malay language, and in a number of other cultures in the archipelago, that Tamil vocabulary is used to refer to all types of weapons that use gunpowder. In Javanese and Balinese the term bedil and bedhil is known, in Sundanese the term is bedil, in Batak it is known as bodil, in Makasarese, badili, in Buginese, balili, in Dayak language, badil, in Tagalog, baril, in Bisayan, bádil, in Bikol languages, badil, and Malay people call it badel or bedil.
History
The knowledge of making gunpowder-based weapon in Nusantara archipelago has been known after the failed Mongol invasion of Java. This resulted in the development of small swivel guns such as cetbang and lantaka. Pole gun was recorded as being used by Java in 1413. However the knowledge of making "true" firearms came much later, after the middle of 15th century. It was brought by the Islamic nations of West Asia, most probably the Arabs. The precise year of introduction is unknown, but it may be safely concluded to be no earlier than 1460.
Java
The kingdom of Majapahit pioneered the use of gunpowder-based weapon in the Nusantara archipelago. One account mentions the use of firearm in a battle against Giri forces circa 1500-1506:
"... wadya Majapahit ambedili, dene wadya Giri pada pating jengkelang ora kelar nadhahi tibaning mimis..." "... Majapahit troops shooting their firearms, while Giri troops fell dead because they couldn't withstand being pierced by bullets..." - Serat Darmagandhul
This type of arquebus have similarity to the Vietnamese arquebus of the 17th century. The weapon is very long, may reach 2.2 m in length, and had its own folding bipod. Tome Pires' 1515 account tells the army of Gusti Pati, viceroy of Batara Brawijaya, numbered 200,000 men, 2,000 of which are horsemen and 4,000 musketeers. Duarte Barbosa ca. 1510 said that the inhabitants of Java are great masters in casting artillery and very good artillerymen. They make many one-pounder cannons, long muskets, spingarde, schioppi, Greek fire, guns, and other fire-works. Every place are considered excellent in casting artillery, and in the knowledge of using it.
Malay peninsula
The Portuguese found various gunpowder weapons after the 1511 conquest of Malacca. It is known that the Malays of Malacca obtained arms from Java. In The Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalboquerque "large matchlock" is frequently mentioned throughout the book. During the first attack of Malacca the approaching Portuguese were shot at by the Moors of Malacca:
"Two hours before the break of day Afonso Dalboquerque ordered the trumpet to be blown, in order to awaken them, and they embarked immediately with all the rest of the men-at-arms and went on board his ship, and when a general confession had been made, all set out together and came to the mouth of the river just as morning broke, and attacked the bridge, each battalion in the order which had been assigned to it. Then the Moors began to fire upon them with their artillery, which was posted in the stockades, and with their large matchlocks wounded some of our men."
They are also used when the Portuguese were withdrawing in the first attack:
"When the Moors perceived that they were withdrawing, they began to open fire with large matchlocks, arrows, and blowing-tubes, and wounded some of our men, yet with all the haste they made Afonso Dalboquerque ordered the men to carry off with them fifty large bombards that had been captured in the stockades upon the bridge"
Joao de Barros described a scene of the conquest in Da Asia:
"As soon as the junk had passed the sand-bank and had come to an anchor, a short way from the bridge, the Moorish artillery opened a fire on her. Some guns discharged leadballs at intervals, which passed through both sides of the vessel, doing much execution among the crew. In the heat of the action Antonio d'Abreu, the commander, was struck in the cheek from a fusil, carrying off the greater number of his teeth."
The matchlocks that shoot through both sides of their vessel, had very long barrel and were 18 mm in caliber. Historian Fernão Lopes de Castanheda mentions matchlocks, he says that they threw balls, some of stone, and some of iron covered with lead. The son of Afonso de Albuquerque mentioned the armament of Malacca: There are large matchlocks, poisoned blowing tubes, bows, arrows, armour-plated dresses, Javanese lances, and other sorts of weapons. After Malacca was taken by the Portuguese, they captured 3000 of the 5000 muskets which had been furnished from Java.
Indochina
was considered by the Ming to have produced particularly advanced matchlocks during the 16–17th century, surpassing even Ottoman, Japanese, and European firearms. European observers of the Lê–Mạc War and later Trịnh–Nguyễn War also noted the proficiency of matchlock making by the Vietnamese. The Vietnamese matchlock was said to have been able to pierce several layers of iron armour, kill two to five men in one shot, yet also fire quietly for a weapon of its caliber. The Chinese called this weapon Jiao Chong, and noted its similarity to Zhua Wa Chong/Java arquebus.
