After a series of articles about the history of creation and about the mortars themselves, in fact, several readers immediately turned to us, ardent fans of artillery. With the demand to continue the historical series of stories about Russian artillery in general. About the first gunners, about the first guns, about the first victories and defeats. Mortars, they say, are great, but a mortar is a special case of a mortar, and so on.
We took the hint, but artillery is a global thing. If comparable with anything, then with melee weapons and small arms. And here before us there were so many specialists on this stage that Shirokorad alone is enough to not grasp the topic at all. Themselves as fans of the grab guns and beat off. Nevertheless, let's try, since today there is a place to hold on to guns and howitzers.
We will begin a story about the appearance of artillery in Russia and smoothly move on to the particulars - large calibers. It is about the appearance, not the creation. Although we foresee the objections of the inhabitants of almost all large cities in which museums have ancient weapons. How so? Medieval gunsmiths did not hesitate to cast their own names on the cannons. And these names were Russian.
Can not argue with that. Only now the Russian artillery began even earlier. Not much, but earlier. And the cannons that can be seen in abundance in our cities today are really ours. Moreover, if you carefully consider these tools, it becomes clear that each of them is unique. Made in a single copy and most even have a proper name.
The first guns in Russia appeared, most likely, under Dmitry Donskoy (1350-1389). The mention of this can be found in at least two sources: the Golitsinskaya and Voskresenskaya annals.
It's impossible to tell about the guns themselves. Of the "tactical and technical characteristics" of the guns, one can reliably speak only from one entry in the Resurrection Chronicle. Fire firing was then conducted not with cast iron, but with stone cannonballs. "… as if I can chatyre men with a strong uplift."
It is not difficult to imagine the weight of such a "shell". Four men will be able to lift and load the weapon with a stone of 80-100 kilograms. From here you can imagine the caliber of this weapon.
Moreover, there you can find out about the firing range of the gun. "One and a half shot". In the Middle Ages in Russia, shooting was called the firing range of the main weapon of that time - a bow. Considering that the archer's firing range in the 14th century did not exceed 120-150 meters (according to British sources, English archers fired at 185 meters), we get an approximate range of a gun shot - 200-250 meters.
True, one should also mention another, more accurate date of the appearance of guns in our country. But it is impossible to speak of this date as the first appearance of artillery in Russia. Rather, it is the first source where a specific date for the delivery of guns to one of the principalities is indicated. We are talking about the Golitsin Chronicle.
"Summer 6897 was taken from the German armata to Russia and fiery shooting, and from that hour enlightened to shoot from them."
According to the chronology that existed then, 6897 from the creation of the world corresponds to 1389. Many historians consider this date to be the beginning of Russian artillery. Basically, the date itself is not that important. It is important that Russia received modern (at that time) weapons. And not only received, but also began to produce such guns on their own. Our ancestors learned quickly. This has to be admitted.
Today, there is no reliable evidence of independent production of guns in Russia at the beginning of the 15th century. However, by indirect indications, it can be argued that such a production existed. In the annals of that time, you can find many references to the use of artillery in the internecine wars of the Russian princes. Artillery was used in the siege of cities. In 1408, Muscovites used cannons in the Tatars' raid on the principality.
Even the first "technogenic" catastrophe in Russia happened precisely in the military industry. In 1400, a major fire broke out in Moscow. And, as modern experts would say, it happened from a violation of the production process. In the annals it is said that the fire occurred "from the making of gunpowder."
Another proof of our own production can be considered the story of the first sabotage associated with artillery. A saboteur (or a traitor, if you like) became just the first Russian artilleryman, whose name is mentioned in the annals.
The name of this person is Upadysh. Novgorod gunner, who, during the internecine war between Novgorod and Moscow in 1471, went over to the side of the Muscovites. For one night Upadysh practically deprived the Novgorodians of artillery. He managed to hammer 55 guns with wedges! Such a sabotage could only be carried out by a person who well understood the specifics of artillery and the possibility of quickly repairing guns of that time.
The first weapon that we can see today in the museum (Artillery Museum in St. Petersburg) and which we can confidently speak of as being made in Russia is the pishchal of master Yakov. The handstand was cast in 1485.
Why squeak? Russian masters did not really think about names. In fact, everything is historically simple. In Russia, buffoons "squeaked". They "squeaked", or rather played, on pipes and horns. The pipe, you know, is a cylinder with a bell at the end. Very similar in shape to a cannon. And since the buffoons staggered all over Russia, the name was transferred quite normally. And what else to call a product that looks like a pipe and “stinks with stinking smoke and confuses the power of a thunderous spirit”? This is where the name came from.
This name stuck for the first samples of medium and long-barreled artillery. And then for the individual weapon of a soldier of that era. True, in this case, you can find additional, not very sonorous names, such as "undersized" or "samopal".
But back to the Russian artillery. Master Yakov could not appear out of nowhere. To become a master, one must work as an apprentice oneself. And here, quite unexpectedly, a well-known name pops up. Moreover, the well-known is in a completely different hypostasis.
Many Muscovites and guests of the capital looked with pleasure at the Assumption Cathedral, which was built by the Italian architect Ridolfo Aristotle Fioravanti. The ingenious architect was invited to Russia by Prince Ivan III in 1475. But few know that Fioravanti is not only a brilliant architect, but also an outstanding military engineer.
In addition to the construction of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin (1475-79), he participated in several military campaigns of Muscovites as the chief of artillery! And this is over the age of 60 (born in 1415). Artillery commander Aristotle Fioravanti was on campaigns to Novgorod (1477-78), Kazan (1485) and Tver (1485).
But this is not the main thing! Fioravanti, being an excellent engineer, brought up a whole galaxy of Russian gunsmiths. Precisely foundry workers. The same Jacob, mentioned above, was a student of Aristotle Fioravanti. And the "cannon hut" that arose after the death of Aristotle in Moscow in 1488 is largely his merit.
Unfortunately, the name of this person has been forgotten today. Even the grave is unknown. Although, according to some sources, he died in Russia. At least, after the campaign to Tver, the name Fioravanti does not appear anywhere else.
Talking about the Russian artillery of that period, one cannot fail to mention one more little-known fact. In Russia there was a whole class of gunners-gunners! True, the estate is not numerous. Look at the extract from the decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich: "Which of the Pushkar and cannon and bell artisans of the Pushkar order are children, and brothers, and nephews, and those Pushkar and artisan children, and brothers, and nephews past the Pushkar order in other orders in no rank in the service was not ordered."
Thus, it is clear that gunners and cannon-casting masters served for life. Moreover, the service passed from father to son. It was quite difficult to become a member of the estate. To enter this class, in addition to special training in the production or use of guns, liberty was required. Even the fact that only a special Pushkar order could judge the gunner is very indicative.
In 1631, there were only 3,573 gunners in all Russian cities (82). They lived in special Pushkar settlements or right in the fortresses. In peacetime, they were used to carry out guard and messenger service, reconnaissance and other garrison and serf services and duties. In addition, they were engaged in craft and trade. Gunners were controlled by centurions or heads. They were appointed to the post by the Pushkar order.
By the way, gunners, as sovereign service people, earned good money. The fact is indicative enough to understand the value of these specialists. So, under Ivan the Terrible, the gunner received 2 rubles per hryvnia per year and half an octopus of flour per month. And the Moscow gunners also "on good cloth, the price is 2 rubles cloth" per year!
The question immediately arises about the privileges of Muscovites. The explanation is simple. Among other things, the duties of the Moscow gunners included participation in the annual artillery shows. This is the "invention" of Ivan the Terrible. And it represents something similar to modern shooting ranges. Accordingly, the gunners were supposed to look like dandies.
The shooting took place in winter. Where the Vagankovskoye cemetery is now located, targets were lined up. Wooden huts, covered with sand inside. Not far from the positions, "tribunes" were set up for the king, retinue, foreign ambassadors and people. And then "window dressing", as they would say today. Or maneuvers.
Gunners competed in speed and accuracy of fire. They fired from a variety of weapons. And the king and everyone else clearly saw not only the training of the gunners themselves, but the disadvantages or advantages of the guns.
In reality, what happened today can be called "people's trials." In such conditions, the notorious "human facts" will no longer work. The people see everything. And foreign ambassadors were in a hurry to inform their sovereigns about the power of Moscow. And the winning gunners became famous and respected people.
Belonging to the elite class was highly valued by the gunners themselves. Let me give you an example that shows their fighting spirit and bravery in battle. These people were proud of their own profession. This pride is akin to the pride of modern paratroopers, marines, special forces …
1578. Siege of the city of Wenden by the Russian army under the leadership of governors Golitsin and Sheremetyev. The Russian commanders learned that fresh forces were coming to the aid of the besieged. Some of the commanders are removed from the camp together with the troops at night and leave. A smaller part remains, together with the gunners, who did not abandon their guns and took an unequal battle, which ended in the defeat of the Russian troops.
"Wolves", cast in 1579, stand in the courtyard of Gripsholm Castle near Stockholm. These are the trophies captured by the Swedes during the Livonian War.
In the end, I would like to add about some innovations that Russian artillery, already at the first stage of its existence, introduced into the world artillery science. And also to answer one question that is often asked by visitors to the Moscow Kremlin. The question of the Tsar Cannon.
The largest-caliber cannon in the history of artillery in the world is located on the Ivanovskaya Square of the Kremlin. A monument of foundry of world importance. The Tsar Cannon was cast at the Cannon Yard in 1586 by the Russian master Andrey Chokhov.
The length of the gun is 5.34 m, the outer diameter of the barrel is 120 cm. Caliber - 890 mm. Weight - 39, 31 tons. On the left side there is an inscription: "The cannon was made by the cannon literary Ondrej Chokhov". Now the powerful weapon is on a decorative cast-iron gun carriage, and nearby are hollow decorative cast-iron cannonballs weighing 1.97 tons, cast in 1835.
The tool is cast from bronze, the carriage is cast-iron. At the vent on the right side, Fyodor Ivanovich is depicted riding a horse in a crown and with a scepter in his hand. Above the image there is an inscription: "By God's grace, the Tsar, Grand Duke Fyodor Ivanovich, Sovereign Autocrat of All Great Russia."
By the way, according to one of the versions, it was the image of Fyodor Ivanovich that became the reason for the appearance of the name itself - "tsar". The version is beautiful, but … "one of".
The tool is not decorative, as "experts" often say. Working tool. Moreover, specialists from the Dzerzhinsky Military Artillery Academy in 1980 examined this weapon. Conclusion: the cannon is a bombard and is designed to fire stone cannonballs. The approximate weight of the stone core is up to 819 kilograms. The presence of powder particles in the barrel indicates that the gun was fired! It is impossible to establish the number of shots, so we can confidently speak of at least one shot.
It is known from chronicles and other sources that the cannon was located not in the Kremlin, but on Red Square, in the area of Execution Ground. The trunk lay on the log deck. A little later, the flooring was replaced with stone.
It was impossible to move such a weapon on any campaigns. 200 (!) Horses were dragging the cannon to the Execution Ground on wooden logs. Hence, a defensive weapon. And here the authors will take the liberty of disagreeing with the conclusions of the professional gunners.
You didn't need to shoot cannonballs for defense! The Tsar Cannon was supposed to shoot "shot". In the modern version - buckshot. Cores are needed to break down walls. But buckshot is for the destruction of large masses of troops. It is possible that the buckshot really consisted of stones of small diameter. And in some works you can read another name for the Tsar Cannon - "Russian Shotgun".
Now about whether we lagged behind Europe or not. In the Artillery Museum today you can see a pishchal that "turns" many "historical facts". Here is an entry in the museum's catalog, compiled in 1877:
"… the locking mechanism consists of a solid mechanical wedge moving in a transverse horizontal hole. The movement of the wedge is carried out by rotating the handle, put on the end of the vertical axis, protruding above the upper cut of the breech of the tool, and the gear, mounted on this axis, having a clutch with teeth, cut on the plane of the wedge, makes the latter take forward motion in one direction or the other. For loading, a round hole is attached to the wedge, which coincides with the axis of the channel of the tool at a known position of the locking mechanism."
Experts have already understood what they are talking about. This is a breech-loading cannon with a wedge breechblock! And this cannon was created in 1615! Something similar in European museums was created at least half a century later! Late 17th century. Moreover, upon closer examination of the barrel of the squeak, it is clear that there are three fuses. Moreover, two fuses are riveted. And this is direct evidence that the gun was at war. The working tool of the Russian gunners!
By the way, the famous cannon king Friedrich Krupp, who precisely by the introduction of the wedge breech ensured the flourishing of his company in the 19th century, tried to buy this pishchal when visiting the Artillery Museum at the end of the 19th century. Unfortunately, the name of the master is unknown. According to legend, not historically confirmed, the pishchal was made by the same master Andrei Chokhov. And this is not the only such 17th century cannon in the museum …
The importance of artillery for battle in Russia was immediately understood. Moreover, Russian gunners not only copied Western models, but went further. Technically, the tools of the Muscovites were no worse, and sometimes, as can be seen from the above examples, better than the European ones.
And the military leaders of that time highly appreciated the gunners. And for their part, they also introduced some innovations that were new to the West. It is believed that, for example, the regimental artillery was created by the Swedish king Gustav-Adolphus in the first quarter of the 17th century.
To which we have an answer. The very name "pishchal or regimental cannon" can be found in the documents of Russian archives already in the 16th century. And at the beginning of the 17th century, each rifleman or soldier regiment had its own battery of 6-8 squeaks!
Moreover, already at the time of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, corps artillery appeared in Russia.
At the "Discharge tent", which is an analogue of the modern headquarters of the corps commander, a "Big regimental outfit" appeared. In fact, it was the corps commander's artillery reserve.
Speaking about how advanced the pushkar business was in Russia, one can say one thing: artillery was held in high esteem. Let not in such quantities as those of the same Swedes (corrected by the efforts of the tsar-bombardier Pyotr Alekseevich Romanov), but to say that we were "behind all of Europe", the language does not turn.
