16th Century

By the early 16th century hand-held firearms were being used in battles. They were basic, heavy to carry, slow to load, fired only short distances and were largely inaccurate.

Battle of Pavia

This battle was the first battle in which infantry armed with firearms (harquebusiers) were victorious over fully armoured knights. Metal plate armour proved no defence against bullets.

Associated objects

Basket hilted sword

Basket hilted sword. English, about 1540

Dates from 1540 | Object number: IX.4427
Battle of Pavia

The battle of Pavia in 1525 was the first significant victory for infantry with firearms over fully armoured knights on the battlefield.

Dates from 1525 | Object number: I.142
Buckler of wood

A wooden English buckler from Wrexham of about 1540.

Dates from 1540 | Object number: V.105
Field armour of Sir John Smythe

Field armour of Sir John Smythe. English, Greenwich, about 1585

Dates from 1585 | Object number: II.84, III.1430, III.1431, VI.51, VI.115, VI.116
Horned helmet

The horned helmet was part of a gift from the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I to King Henry VIII of England.

Dates from 1514 | Object number: IV.22
Lion armour

A 16th century armour embossed with lions heads. It is the finest decorated armour in the Royal Armouries collection.

Dates from 1550 | Object number: II.89
Southampton armour

Three-quarter field armour of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. Probably French, about 1600

Dates from 1600 | Object number: II.360