The 18th-century French king Louis XIV added a Latin inscription to his cannons: “ultima ratio regum” or “the last argument of kings.”

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Pirate School: 5 Things You Can Shoot from a Cannon

For centuries, heavy metal cannons were the epitome of military weaponry. Massive cannons were stationed at forts across the world, while smaller and more-portable guns accompanied troops and naval (and pirate) vessels. While the simple iron cannonball was the most common fodder for these tools of