Venetian 12-pounder Sagre

Alternate title

Cannon cast by Beretta for Venetian service

Manufacturer Beretta

Date1571

Period16th century

Classification(s)

Armaments / Artillery

Object TypeCannon; Naval Gun

Registration NumberMMM 004250

DescriptionDated ca. 1571 (re-inscribed in 1756).
Possibly granted to the Order of St. John as aid or spoils some time after the Battle of Lepanto. One can note the lion of Saint Mark up and behind the muzzle, as well as an 1756 inscription fore of the cascabel by which time the gun may have attained a purely ceremonial role.
Material

Bronze

Place of Manufacture

Venetian

Dimensions50.9cm (trunnions) x 347cmCuratorial RemarksCould be a cannon cast by Beretta for the Venetian fleet before the battle of Lepanto in fall 1571, and which at some point may have been taken as loot by opposing forces only to be captured by Maltese vessels during the magistracy of Emanuel Pinto da Fonseca.Published ReferencesThe Malta Times' 22 March 1889 p. 2; 'The Sunday Times of Malta' 27 January 1952 p.7

Alternate ID Numbers

Inventory Card: 41154-5
HM Object Number: 85900
Other: 26507 (Palace Armoury card number); PA AT/004 (Palace Armoury Inventory number); 139 (British Inventory)

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