Archaeologists have uncovered rare weapons on King Hans’ 15th-century flagship, shedding light on early naval warfare.
Phillip Short and Brendan Foley recover a gun bed from the wreck of Gribshunden, 2021.
Archaeologists working on the wreck of the Gripshunden, the flagship of King Hans (John, in English) of Denmark and Norway, have uncovered Europe’s oldest known naval artillery. The 15th-century ship sank in the Baltic Sea in 1495, and recent dives have revealed a remarkable cache of wrought-iron guns, offering fresh insight into the dawn of heavily armed warships and the rise of European colonial power.
The discovery
The research team, led by Lund University, located several artillery pieces within the wreck, including small wrought-iron breech-loading cannons. Radiocarbon dating and stylistic analysis confirm these are the earliest examples of naval artillery found in Europe. The find shows how Scandinavian monarchs were among the first to experiment with arming ships as floating gun platforms.
Historical context
The Gripshunden was carrying King Hans en route to negotiate his claim to the Swedish throne when fire broke out, sinking the vessel off Ronneby in southern Sweden. Its preservation in the brackish Baltic has provided archaeologists with an unusually intact example of a late medieval warship, predating vessels such as the Mary Rose by several decades.
Significance
Researchers say the artillery illustrates how naval power in the late 1400s began shifting from traditional boarding tactics to ship-borne firepower. This transition paved the way for European maritime expansion and colonisation in the following century. The find also underscores the Gripshunden’s role as a pioneer in naval technology.
Next steps
The ongoing excavation aims to recover more artefacts and document the ship’s construction. By studying the Gripshunden, archaeologists hope to better understand how warfare at sea was transformed at the threshold of Europe’s global expansion.
Fact file
Gribshunden, or Griffen (English: "Griffin-Hound" or "Griffin"), also known by several variant names, including Gribshund, Gripshunden, Gripshund, Griff, and Griffone, was a Danish warship, the flagship of Hans (John), King of Denmark (r. 1481–1513). Gribshunden sank in 1495 after an explosion while in the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Ronneby in southeastern Sweden; the ship is one of the best-preserved wrecks yet discovered from the late medieval period.
