Arquebus

An arquebus is a long-barreled firearm that was developed in the late 15th century and which saw early use in battles in EuropeArnold, Thomas (2001), The Renaissance at War, Cassell & Co, ISBN 978-0-304-35270-8 and the Ottoman Empire,Ágoston, Gábor (2008), Guns for the Sultan: Military Power and the Weapons Industry in the Ottoman Empire, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-60391-1 but also managed to reach places as far as Japan.Echoes of History – Shadows – Episode 1: Civil War in Feudal Japan: The Sengoku Period
From the mid 16th century onward, the musket, which had been invented in the early 1500s and was a heavier weapon, became more common for infantries. Though originally distinct, later modifications made to the muskets turned the two weapons indistinguishable from each other, and they became known indiscriminately as muskets.Chase, K. W. (2003). Firearms: A global history to 1700. Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-82274-9.
An infantryman armed with an arquebus is called an arquebusier.
==History==
By 1500, many standing armies in Europe had already created units of arquebusiers, including the Papal States under the control of Rodrigo Borgia. A great number of arquebusiers provided security throughout Rome.Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood A contingent of them was mobilized to aid Cesare Borgia's forces during the siege of Monteriggioni, where they were able to seriously wound Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the shoulder and abdomen, tipping the attack in their favor.Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Vilified
In 1502, during a visit by his fellow Templar Fiora Cavazza, the engineer Gaspar de la Croix tinkered with an arquebus, pausing at times to aim it out of his front window at the passing crowd, before making more adjustments.Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Rome: Chapter 1 – Fiora Cavazza: Spare Parts Around 1503, Baltasar de Silva organized a division of arquebusiers as an ambush for now Templar-turncoat Fiora Cavazza, luring her into warehouse where the arquebusiers were hidden, though a team of Assassins was able to shoot down the enemies and rescue her.Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Rome: Chapter 1 – Fiora Cavazza: Moving Target
Later that year, a number of French arquebusiers under Charles de la Motte were key factors in a trap set by Charles and Cesare Borgia for the Assassins of Rome. Though the Assassin apprentice team of Francesco Vecellio was able to kill several arquebusiers with bows, this broke their cover and led to them being overwhelmed by the combined Templar forces.Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Rome: Chapter 3 – Francesco Vecellio: Cover Fire Though the Assassin team escaped to the roof of an inn, another contingent of arquebusiers surrounded and fired upon them from nearby buildings, wiping out virtually all of them.Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Rome: Chapter 3 – Francesco Vecellio: Marathon 
Arquebusiers continued to be used by the Templar forces around 1511. Leandros made use of them as protection in a stronghold near Masyaf while the Byzantines used them to protect any Assassin Dens they captured in Constantinople, as well as the rooftops of Derinkuyu.Assassin's Creed: Revelations
In 1543,Echoes of History – Shadows – Episode 3: Portuguese Missionaries in Japan first contact was made between the Portuguese and the Japanese on Japan's southern shores, bringing, among other things, firearms. The Japanese quickly developed their own versions and soon deployed this new armament into the battlefields. Oda Nobunaga's armies were among the first to use the arquebus in Japan due to his deep trade relations with the Portuguese, contributing to the higher bodycount of the battles of the Sengoku period, compared to those of previous eras. Yasuke, a samurai in Nobunaga's service, used the arquebus alongside his melee weapons.
==Gallery==
Guard-arquebusier-ACB.png|An arquebusier
Arquebusiers development concept.jpg|Concept art of a Borgia arquebusier
Vilified 11 v.png|Arquebusiers during the Siege of Monteriggioni
ACR Ottoman Rifleman.png|Ezio facing an Ottoman rifleman
ACR Byzantine Rifleman.png|Ezio facing a Byzantine rifleman
Spare Parts.jpg |Gaspar de la Croix aiming an arquebus
==Behind the scenes==
The arquebus is a weapon that first appeared in the 2010 video game Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, where it was only used by enemy soldiers. It will be a usable weapon for protagonist Yasuke in the 2024 video game Assassin's Creed: Shadows.
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 
*Assassin's Creed: Revelations
*Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
*Echoes of History 
*Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game 
*Assassin's Creed: Shadows
==References==
Category:Firearms
Category:Types of firearms