Gunpowder Developments

At some time during the 15th century a major innovation in gunpowder technology occurred, and it was probably the result of an accident. When gunpowder got wet it formed hard cakes. Such "spoiled" gunpowder had been considered useless and was discarded. At some point in the mid-15th Century someone hit upon the idea of grinding up the caked powder to see what would happen. Surviving his rather risky experiment (gunpowder goes off at 300 degrees centigrade, which can easily be generated by friction) he discovered that the resulting powdery substance was superior to blended gunpowder. The caking caused all three ingredients to cling together admirably, thereby insuring a proper combination of ingredients which would burn nicely. Moreover, the powder could be stored for long periods without fear that the ingredients would settle out. Some experimentation demonstrated that a fine powder was less effective than a relatively coarse one, due to the fact that coarse powder permits more free oxygen to be present when the charge is tamped in place, thereby enhancing the burning of the powder at its optimal temperature, some 2000 degrees centigrade. Since in its new form, gunpowder took on the consistency of grain, it was called "corned" powder, and in this form eventually became the standard. Sometimes wine, beer, spirits, or even the "urine of a wine-drinking man " were substituted for water in the dampening process, in the belief that these further enhanced the capabilities of gunpowder.

At the same time gunpowder formulae were increasingly approaching the ideal, so that by mid-century blends of approximately 74% saltpeter, 16% sulphur, and 10% charcoal were becoming common. The new formulae and the new production technique were rather more expensive than the old, and were certainly more dangerous, since milling the cake into powder could generate sufficient heat to set off the powder. But the new powder was so superior to the old that it was worth the extra expense and risk. The new powder, in combination with the new, mobile bronze cannon and the professionally trained and disciplined crews gave France the finest artillery in the world. Thus, by 1449, when the French marched out to complete the liberation of their country they did so with the most modern army in the world, and the most professional military force seen in Europe since Antiquity. Not for nothing is Charles VII surnamed "The Well-Served".