Artillery of Bengal - Cannons from Our History (11th-18th century)
|| Artillery of Bengal - Cannons from our History (11th-18th century) ||
★ 11th Century (Pala Empire) :
The prominent city of Gauda called Bangarh or Devikot was built more than 1500 years ago centering on the two Dinajpur of West Bengal and Naogaon of Bangladesh. It is associated with memories from the Mahabharata era to the Pala-Sena period. The structure, Architecture and spirituality of this huge city have been discussed earlier.
The Gaudiya Pala Empire on its highest expansion under rule of Gaudeshwara Paramabhattaraka Devapala (810-850 AD)
The Military Strategy of this ancient Gauda was discussed in the year 2000. The holy river Punarbhava of Purana has passed by Bangarh. Local children suddenly discover some black spherical objects from the banks of this river. Achintyakrishna Goswami Mahashay, a Historian, was a Professor at Balurghat College at that time. He bought some of those spherical objects and kept them in the Museum for research.
Later, when the spherical objects break down, the combustible material comes out. Although believed to be in small numbers, they were used as military weapons in the Pala-Sena period. Which is an example of one of the aspects in the history of Bengal and India.
Throughout the historical novels of Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, we find references to an ammunition called "Agnikanduka" brought by the Tibetan monk Vinayadhara in a Buddhist monastery of Gauda during the reign of Pala Emperor Nayapala. Which may have some practical connection with this event.
However, after the death of Professor Achintyakrishna Goswami, the mystery of this ancient ammunition was suppressed. And the ammunition of Bangarh remains a mystery. If this subject is researched again in the future, then the application of combustible material in the war strategy of Gaur will undoubtedly give a new dimension.
★ 12th Century :
At the very end of 12th century, Maharaja Ram Malla (1185-1209 CE) first introduced firearms in Mallabhum military to resist the upcoming Turkic invasion. He was a valiant, mighty king and built many forts for the purpose of making Bishnupur a strong military base. Make multiple weapons. In this time the Karmakāras of Mallabhum started working on cannon technology. He improved Bishnupur so much in fortifications, armaments and military strength that even his most powerful enemies seldom dared to attack him.
★ 13th Century :
The first ever cannons were used for battle in 1294 in the 'Battle of Khaniya'. Maharaj Dakshin Ray of the Bhati-Bangla kingdom literally destroyed the invaders of Delhi Sultanate with frontal cannon bombing. The lines of 'Rāẏamaṅgala' is known to take -
"হীরা বাঘে সাজিয়া রায় হইল সওয়ার ।
পৃষ্ঠে ঢাল কাটারি কোমরে যমধার ।।৩৩৮
দুই তরকছ বাধা পরিপূর্ণ বাণ ।
কোপেতে কম্পিত রায় করেতে কামান ।।৩৩৯
★16 th Century :
【1】 In the 16th century, Cannons were used by the Bhurishrestha army to suppress the upcoming Afghan invasion. Pancha-Gaudeshwar Maharaja Rudranarayan, the 8th Monarch of Bhurishrestha kingdom first introduced artillery in Bhurishrestha for protection of the northern front. In the 'Battle of Tribeni' (1575 AD) the artillery of Bhurishrestha completely annihilated the Karrani Afghan forces in the banks of Bhagirathi. Owing to this victory Maharaja Rudranarayan wrested the control of Saptagram port. He built a temple at Tribeni and a Ghaat at Gajagiri on the banks of Ganga.
【2】 Raibaghini Bhavashankari paid special attention to the military affairs of Bhurishrestha. She had an personal hand cannon named - "Rudrāgniśhakti" (রুদ্রাগ্নিশক্তি/रुद्राग्निशक्ति) which she used against the Lohani Afghan invasion from the Odishah Sultanate in the Battle of Bhashuri. Leading the Hastibāhinī, she literally wiped out the Pathan invaders by shots of her hand cannon Rudragnishakti.
【3】 Maharaja Dharimalla of Mallabhum carried out extensive military reforms in the kingdom. Thinking about the horrors of the Mughal invasion in upcoming days, he emphasized on the preparation of modern technology cannons, guns and various firearms. His son Prince Bir Hambir Malla Deva defeated the Karrani Pathan forces of Dawood Khan Karrani with a barrage of artillery fire in the Battle of Mundamala Ghat (1575 AD).
∆ The Dalamardana (Dalmadal) Cannon of Bishnupur :
During the reign of Maharaja Hambir Malla Deva in Mallabhum, many cannon construction experts with the title 'Miradāhā' were brought to Bishnupur from Delhi. The work of making cannon started with the help of local blacksmith assistants. Cannons were cast in the huge laterite desert "Kāmānaḍhālā" adjacent to the royal palace. Iron was collected by melting locally obtained laterite stones.
During this time several local cannons were made in Mallabhum, such as 'Charka-Bijzli', 'Baghamuha', 'Gorak', 'Jhulzhara' etc. Craftsman Janardhan Karmakar built the famous "Dalmadal" or "Dalmardan" cannon, which still stands at Bishnupur and proclaims the glory of Mallabhum. 3.8 m in length. 63 more rings on 63 rings of iron, another 637 on it made of 169 pairs of rings. The diameter of the muzzle is 29.2 cm. Arrangement of fire with a round hole in a 5 × 4 cm rectangle above the waist.
The name is derived from 'Dalmadal', a shrine of Dharmathakur in Shankharibazar mahalla, the old palace of the Malla kings. The name Dalmadal Dharmashila is also supported in the "Shunyapurana" by Ramai Pandit. In all, the Mallabhum kingdom had a total of 2700 cannons (both moveable & immovable), which posed a challenge to the Mughal Empire. During the British rule, innumerable cannons of Bishnupur were looted by loading wagons. At that time many cannons were buried under the ground everywhere in Bishnupur for fear of being abducted, which has not been recovered yet.
★ 16th-17th Century :
The end of 16th and beginning of 17th century was the greatest period in the history of cannon warfare. Appeasing the Portuguese hāramādas of coastal region, the Kings recruited them into their own army who prominently led Artillery against Mughals. Heavy artillery was particularly prevalent, but smaller and lighter artillery were more suitable for moving combat or sudden attack. Just as the Bengal Monarchy bought various types of Cannons from the Europeans, it also made many types of cannons with the help of Bengali artisans. Just as iron cannons were made, so were large cannons made of brass. Seeing the variety of cannons and cannon balls used in Bengal, it seems that the Bengal Royalty, scientists and artisans used to think a lot about cannons.
【1】 Rayashrestha Maharaja Pratapaditya of Jessore Empire recruited the Portuguese General Fransisco Rodda to led the artillery. He had a strong fort at Gaṛh Mukundpur and built a factory for making cannons & cannon balls at a place called Kushali. There are at least four types of cannon balls in Maharaja Pratapaditya's Jessore army used were: (1) full metal shell, (2) iron sheath prominent stone shells, (3) only stone shells, and (4) iron coated clay shells.
Whole metal shells were usually made of iron. The situation never sometimes heavy metals are also used. Pratapaditya was the first to use an iron-clad clay ball. This kind of bullets were made by burning earthen balls and bringing them in iron shells. These bullets were relatively humble, making it easy to fire long distances. Again, because they are made of clay, the cost of making them is less and the lack of materials. There are at least four types of cannon balls in Pratapaditya's Jessore army used were: (1) full metal shell, (2) iron sheath prominent stone shells, (3) only stone shells, and (4) iron coated clay shells.
Whole metal shells were usually made of iron. The situation never sometimes heavy metals are also used. Maharaja Pratapaditya was the first to use an iron-clad clay ball in artillery. This kind of bullets were made by burning earthen balls and bringing them in iron shells. These bullets were relatively humble, making it easy to fire long distances. Again, because they are made of clay, the cost of making them is less and the lack of materials.
【2】 Maharaj Kedarnath Deva Ray of Bikrampur kingdom recruited the Portuguese General Domingo Carvalho as the governor of Sandwip island & to lead the artillery. The conflict erupted when the Mughal general Man Singh Kacchawa led an attack towards the Sandwip island with Mughal forces. In the Battle of Sandwip (1602 AD), while the Banghali forces of Bikrampur were slaying the Mughals, the Arakanese ruler Selim Shah (Ming Rahzgi) attacked from Arakan to capture Sandwip with a large fleet. This time Maharaja Kedar Ray sent the mighty Baṅghāl Kōṣhā boats equipped with a number of 100 Cannons and guns.
The Hand-Cannons of Maharaja Kedarnath Deva Ray [Kedar Ray] of Bikrampur, Rajabari, Dhaka, Im. 1926
The Portuguese Commander D Carvalho had already taken control of Sandwip, acknowledging Maharaj Kedar's subordination. At this time there is a stock of Bikrampur army in Sandwip. This was the biggest and most devastating naval war in the entire medieval history of India. Arakan was defeated to Bikrampur in the war and absolute Bengal domination spread over the entire North of the Baṅgōpasāgara (Bay of Bengal).
The inscription on the cannon is in pure Bengali script having engraved – “SarakāraSwādyutaTr̥rcchakhi
Pa(ra)maSēnandāmbikanaHājāra” and the period 1002 Baṅgābda (1595 AD)
【3】 Madhavpasha is the last capital of the Chandradwip kingdom. There is an ancient lake called Durgasagar, which was established by the mother of Raja Jayanarayana. Maharaja Kandarpanarayan Basu Ray, the lord of Chandradwip, had in his army two types of forces, immovable-artillery and movable-artillery, with which he suppressed the Mughal and Firingi (Portuguese) pirates and established a sovereign kingdom by defeating the Mughals. His cannon was located near Madhabpasha Bazar, where a brass cannon is still present. The state of Kochbihar in North Bengal also had artillery. However, according to Surendramohan Bose's research, 4 cannons of Kochbihar state are mentioned.
★ 18th Century :
【1】 In the eighteenth century, Maharaja Sitaram Ray established an independent Bhushana kingdom in Bengal (Bhati-Bangla) against the Mughal Empire. Sitaram knew that his clash with the Mughals was inevitable. So he began to strengthen the Bhushana army and improve the artillery. King Sitaram had two huge cannons called "Kaale" and "Jhumjhum" which caused a great deal of panic among the Mughals.
In 1613, the Mughal general Mir Abu Torap was defeated by Raja Sitaram Ray by guerrilla tactics. Unwilling to give up, Abu Torap appointed his Pathan General Pir Khan to subdue Sitaram. Under the direction of Maharaja Sitaram, the Bhushana army set up cannons on the banks of the Madhumati river and deployed troops in the forest between Madhumati and Barasia.
Maharaja Sitaram's troops landed on the shores of Barasia to fight the Mughal army. In the devastating battle, King Sitaram's devastating cannon "Kaale" hit the right target and completely destroyed the Mughal army camp. The Mughal forces were defeated by the artillery shelling of the Bhushana forces and the commander of Maharaja Sitaram, Senadhipati Ramrup Ghosh (Mēnā Hāthi) beheaded and killed Mir Abu Torap.
【2】 Cannons on the Hindu Resistance against Bargi Invasion :
● Mallabhum : When the Maratha Bargi invasion of Eastern India began in the middle of the eighteenth century, cannons played an essential role in the internal defense of the Hindu kingdoms of Bengal. In 1842, under the leadership of Bhaskar Pandit, the Bargis started advancing towards Bishnupur, destroying the fort of Mandaran. Bargis along with their Pindari and Pathan companions led by Mir Habib Ispahani, looted and demolished many Hindu temples and killed civilins in several regions of Odisha, Bihar and Purulia-Howrah.
Maharaja Gopal Singha Malla Deva was ruling Mallabhum that time, who earlier had fought and defeated the Nawab of Murshidabad, Suza-uddin Muhammad Khan. At this time the war of the Mallas with Bargis became inevitable. The Malla army fought valiantly all day and destroyed the Bargis. Kumar Krishna Singha Malla Deva, the eldest son of the Maharaja Gopal Singha Malla Deva, had slain the highest number of Bargi invaders by firing the Devastating Cannon called Dalmadal.
At the last watch of the night, when fall of the fort seemed certain, the Royal Malla Cavalry roared at the behest of Maharaja Gopal Singha Dev. The invincible Maratha Bargi forces were crushed by multiple shelling of huge Malla Artillery. Many Maratha Bargis were killed on the battlefield and Bhaskar Pandit fled with the rest of his army.
● Dinajpur : Maharaja Ramnath Dattaray, the ruler of Dinajpur, made significant use of Cannons to prevent the Bargi attack in Northern Bengal. In 1722 he defeated the invading Nawabi forces of Murshidabad led by Syed Muhammad Khan and protected the Hindu sovereignty of Dinajpur. As the Bargis gradually advanced towards the Ganges after occupying the Rajmahal, Raja Ramnath deployed a total of 10 cannons in the frontier areas of the state along the banks of the Ganges. Due to the well-organized defense system of the artillery on the border, the Maratha Bargi forces were never able to cross the Ganges and Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Rangpur escaped the horrors of the attack.
📜■ Sources :
1) 'The Beginning of the Military History of Bengal' - Prof. Priyadarshan Sensharma.
2) P. C. Ray: History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Indian Chemical Society, Calcutta (1956).
3) R. Balasubramanian, Indian J. History Sci. 37, 115 (2002).
4) Iqtidar Alam Khan (2004). Gunpowder And Firearms: Warfare In Medieval India. Oxford University Press.
5) 'Mallabhum-Bishnupar' - Manoranjan Chandra
6) 'History of Jessore-Khulna' - Satish Chandra Mitra.
7) 'Raybaghini and Bhurishrestha Rajkahini' - Bidhubhushan Bhattacharya.
6) 'Pratna Parikrama Mallabhum', Editor- Shri Jaladhar Haldar.
9) 'Paschim Rarha or Bankura culture' - Maniklal Singha.
10) 'Rayamangal' kavya - Krishna Ram Das.
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