gunfounder

Updated: May 9, 2025

Italy, on the contrary, was the first country to adopt the system of mercenary troops, which demanded a wholly different organization; and the early intro- duction of firearms did its part in making war a democratic pursuit, not only because the strongest castles were unable to withstand a bombardment, but because the skill of the engineer, of the gunfounder, and of the artillerist men belonging to another class than the nobility was now of the first importance in a campaign.

Jacob Burckhardt - The Civilisation of the Renaissance in Italy