Venetian cannon inscriptions

[DintheDin]

Hi all,
This post is of documentary nature.
I was always fascinated by the inscriptions and ornaments found on the barrels of pre-20th century guns, especially of those fabricated during late Renaissance/Age of Reason. For years, I like to visit during summer the old picturesque city o Nafplion, Peloponnesus, Greece, where one can find the well preserved fort of Palamidi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palamidi

The fort, in its present form, bears many Vauban style elements (something else that I am a perennial buff).

The fort changed hands many times

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nafplio#Venetian_and_Ottoman_rule

…The city surrendered to the Ottomans in 1540, who renamed it Mora Yenişehri and established it as the seat of a sanjak…
The Venetians retook Nafplio in 1685 and made it the capital of their "Kingdom of the Morea". The Venetians strengthened the city by building the castle of Palamidi, which was in fact the last major construction of the Venetian empire overseas. However, only 80 soldiers were assigned to defend the city and it was easily retaken by the Ottomans in 1715. Palamidi is located on a hill north of the old town. During the Greek War of Independence, it played a major role. It was captured by Staikos Staikopoulos in November 1822.

[DintheDin]

Now, lets come to the point: At the base of the fort, near the seashore, one can find a good number of well preserved Venetian cannons with inscriptions and ornaments worth studying. Trying to find some extensive quotes in the web, I found none, so, I went myself and took my own pictures which I would like to share with you, maybe they'll serve you as a source of inspiration.

Here is the first one, with the lion of San Marco dominating.

[DintheDin]

The second one, is more interesting:

Near the cascavel: The name of the creator

IOANNES FRANCISCVS ALBERGHETVS P.F.F.

In the middle, over the trunnion:

The lion of San Marco and three different coats of arms

Near the muzzle nose:

ANNO MDCLXXXVII (1687)

Please, note that the year of make coincides with the years of Venetian occupation (1685-1715). From the various makes and cannon sizes, my impression is that, from time to time, a Venetian warship was unloading a small portion of its cannons to reinforce the fort's defence.

[DintheDin]

The same gun from a distance

[DintheDin]

Next one:

Lion of San Marco

Year of make (1685)

Name of creator:
MARCANTONIO
NICOLO DI CONTI
FONDITOR PUBLICO
D' ARTIGLIARIE

(public cannon maker)

.F.

-F must be the size of the cannon

[DintheDin]

Last but not least, a Venetian mortar (year of make 1696) and one more in Corfu island

[DintheDin]

To broaden the research:

Venetian cannon in Iraklio harbor fortress, Crete

[Vanvlak]

Very interesting - F. could just be 'fecit' i.e. made by.
The first cannon has an entry in I Cannoni di Venezia. Artiglierie della Serenissima da fortezze e relitti
by Carlo Beltrame, Marco Morin.
The text doesn't explain the origin (i.e. whether offloaded off a ship's artillery set or otherwise), but gives the coat of arms to the left as that of Marco Bembo, one of three officials in charge of the provision/dispensation of artillery in Candia - the other coats of arms do not correspond to the other two in this role.
The p.f.f. on this cannon means 'publicus fonditor fecit' which should either mean made (paid) by public funds or made by the founder using public funds. (all this is from the text, in Italian).
The calibre is 16.5, the weight 6612 gross Venetian pounds.
Thanks for posting the pics - is it easy to get to?

[DintheDin]

Very interesting - F. could just be 'fecit' i.e. made by.
The first cannon has an entry in I Cannoni di Venezia. Artiglierie della Serenissima da fortezze e relitti
by Carlo Beltrame, Marco Morin.
The text doesn't explain the origin (i.e. whether offloaded off a ship's artillery set or otherwise), but gives the coat of arms to the left as that of Marco Bembo, one of three officials in charge of the provision/dispensation of artillery in Candia - the other coats of arms do not correspond to the other two in this role.
The p.f.f. on this cannon means 'publicus fonditor fecit' which should either mean made (paid) by public funds or made by the founder using public funds. (all this is from the text, in Italian).
The calibre is 16.5, the weight 6612 gross Venetian pounds.
Thanks for posting the pics - is it easy to get to?

I have to thank you for this piece of information!
This is the biggest value of this forum!
I appreciate very much your contribution, for sure you spent much time to acquire such detailed knowledge for the subject!

(-is it easy to get to? pls clarify)

[DintheDin]

Lets change century and open sails for Malta

Guns in Malta

http://romeartlover.tripod.com/Malta3.html

[DintheDin]

Beautiful cannon ornaments, also here:

The Canon de 12 de Vallière
 
was a type of cannon designed by French officer Florent-Jean de Vallière (1667–1759), Director-General of the Battalions and Schools of the Artillery.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_de_12_de_Valli%C3%A8re

[miltiades]

very good article Dinos. The details on the barrels are so beautiful

[Vanvlak]

I have to thank you for this piece of information!
This is the biggest value of this forum!
I appreciate very much your contribution, for sure you spent much time to acquire such detailed knowledge for the subject!

(-is it easy to get to? pls clarify)

Thanks - heh, not really - just searched for the Founder's name and Google books delivered   Took more time translating the more interesting bit.
Will see if I can look up the others too later, or tomorrow.
Malta!? That's quite close to home  

[DintheDin]

Will see if I can look up the others too later, or tomorrow.

I'm eager to see what other little gem you may unearth 
By the way, Bembo as I found out, was one of the most ancient families in Venice.
For the cannons: We see the name of the "fondatore" (founder) who produced the guns using public funds.
As it concerns the three coats of arms, shown in several cannons, I wonder if these nobles, were sponsors (of a part) of these funds, or were members of the Council at that time, responsible for military affairs.   

[Stecal]

I have almost these same photos from Nauplion. Wonderful town, been there twice.