<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (May 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (May 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> During the early modern age, these hand - held cannons evolved into the flintlock rifle, then the breech loader and finally the automatic weapon . </P> <P> In 1356 the Imperial - Spanish army had equipped units with handguns called arquebusiers . They had handguns which were more accurate, lighter, and portable than their 12th - century brothers from Europe . They were used in the Battle of Pavia in 1525 and proved to have dominated over King Francis I knights . </P>

When was the first gun invented and by whom