Cannons were introduced to West Sumatra during the 16th and 17th centuries through trade and international relations with sailors from Portugal, Aceh, and Malacca. As instruments of war, cannons became vital weapons during the Padri War, used by both the Padri faction and the Adat (traditionalist) group.
The arrival of the Dutch colonizers, which further intensified the conflict, also saw the use of cannons particularly at Fort de Kock in Bukittinggi and Fort Van der Capellen in Batusangkar. Therefore, the cannon came to be viewed as a symbol of colonial power.