Calibres de France

[1] The objective was to simplify and codify cannonry, in order to facilitate production.

[1] On 26 September 1526, Francis I wrote about the artillerye de mon calibre ("Artillery of my caliber"), and an even earlier mention is known from 1512.

[1] The Calibres de France were formalized in an ordinance of 1552.

[2] Six standard sizes were defined: the cannon (Canon), the "grand" culverin (Grande couleuvrine), the "bastard" culverin (Couleuvrine bâtarde), the "middle" culverin (Couleuvrine moyenne), the Falconet (Faucon), and the (Fauconneau).

[1] The 6-guns Calibres de France system was still in place at the time of Louis XIII, which was later developed to an 18-guns system.

Coulevrines moyennes ("Middle culverins"), French work at the time of Francis I , 1520, caliber : 82mm and 77mm, length: 295cm, weight 617kg, ammunition : 1.5kg iron ball.
A Fauconneau , which was to become the smallest of the Calibres de France . Bronze, French manufacture, 1510. Caliber: 32mm, length: 106cm, weight: 25kg, ammunition: iron ball.