Blenheim to Waterloo

Artillery in the Age of Reason

During the 18th century, improvements in gun casting and boring, in gunpowder, and in artillery doctrine made artillery even more important as a battle-winning weapon.

To counter Marlborough’s victories, the French introduced a special three-barrelled field gun; it was not a success.

Later in the century, J-B Gribeauval transformed French artillery by providing Napoleon Bonaparte, who trained as an artillery officer, with a well-designed artillery system with which to fight the Revolutionary Wars.

This system was to be copied by other countries including America.