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Mendha Tope (cannon) Daulatabad, MH.India dreamstime.com
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| Mendha Tope (canon), Daulatabad,fort, Aurangabad, MH. dreamstime.com |
Above image: Cannon with the rear end shaped like ram's head. It is believed to be the second largest cannon in India Pivot is provided at the center of the platform is for rotating the cannon, ............
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| Aurangabad, location map, Maharashtra. maps-india.com |
In the battles fought centuries ago, the introduction of cannon had a big impact on the warring kingdoms and it changed the fate of many of them and of the rulers. Because of its destructive power and diligent use in the warfare their inclusion added a totally different dimension to the battles. Consequently, cannons became an important section of artillery warfare both for offensive and defensive moves of the armies. With the advent of cannon, came different casting techniques, design and construction of forged-welded iron cannons and bronze cannons. The invention of gunpowder, a mix of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), phosphorous and charcoals in China roughly in the 9-10th century and its propellant properties had a direct link with the growth of cannon and its wide use in the battles.
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| Mendha Tope canon, Daulatabad fort, MH dreamstime.com |
The wide use of cannons as part of artillery by the Mogul rulers of Delhi both for the defense of fort and on the battle ground made them a force to reckon with in the Indian subcontinent. Deployment of cannons at vantage points on the forts had become a regular feature. So are the inclusion of a variety of cannons, rockets and also mines with better gunpowder technology, in the Mogul artillery. It was the artillery power and powerful cannons of wide ranges that had a major role in the establishment of the Mogul Empire and their subsequent victories in various battles. In the First Battle of Panipat of 1526 Babur's decisive victory was assured by the successful guidance of Ottoman gun master Ustad Ali Quli, Artillery power established his supremacy.
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Mendha Tope canon, Daulatabad fort, MH dreamstime.com
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Among the cannons produced in India prior to 15th century the ones found in the Daulatabad Fort (also known as Devagiri) a 14th-century structure, are quite interesting. This fort on a hill in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra has produced as many as 288 heavy cannons capable of targeting wide and long range areas. They had a long reach as well because of their effective fire power and proper use of gunpowder or propellent.. This fort had a chequared history, ruled by many dynasties over a long period of time.
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| Mendha Tope cannon, Daulatabad fort trekearth.com |
Above image: This cannon's weight is about 14 tons. It has a firing range of 9 kms.; Daulatabad, also known as Devagiri a 14th-century fort The Mendhatope (Ram Cannon) originally known as Qila Shikan (Breaker of Forts). Cast in bronze the cannon measures 5.30 m in length. The caliber of the cannon is 20 cm. This cannon belongs to Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb (1658 - 1707 A.D.
Daulatabad fort has many interesting features, artifacts, cannons of different sizes, of weight and of metallic compositions - iron, cast-iron, bronze, etc. Among them, the Mendha Tope will never fail to get the attention of the visitors as well as research scholars who study the composition of the alloys used in them, medieval cannon technology their mechanism of transport to higher grounds, etc. The cannon's rear head is cast in the form of a ram’s head. The cannons have two engravings in the sleeves - one is that of Emperor Aurangzeb and the other being the name of an Arab artisan who made it - Muhammad Hussain whose specialty was cannon making. Historians believe that since this cannon belonged to the Mogul ruler, his name was engraved on it as a mark of his '' ownership'' The exact inscription reads thus, ‘Abul Zafar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir Badshah Gazi’. There is an inscription from Holy Quran toward the mouth of this cannon.
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| Brass cannon, Daulatabad fort,IndiaAlamy.com |
.In the Marathi language'' Mendha'' means ram and ''Tope'' means cannon. The ram's head in the rear is a unique feature of this powerful cannon. Besides its amazing shock-absorbing system is a surprise and indicates advanced cannon technology in that period. The cannon can be rotated 180 degrees to aim the target away from the fort, covering a wide range of field for firing. This capability will render the enemy on the offensive powerless to target their fire power towards the fort. Believed to be the second largest cannon in India made of special alloy to resist heat, it is said to be designed in Afghanistan
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| MendhaTope cannon,Daulatabad tombell.net |
People interested in the study of age old cannons come to the Daulatabad fort that it has the largest number of cannons. In the Indian subcontinent, the finest cannons were made, particularly, in the Deccan region. The conical-shaped hill fort of Daulatabad, contributed the most in the area of use of cannons in the battles. In addition to Mendha cannon, there are two more cannons Kala Pahad Cannon and Durga Cannon.
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| cannons of Daulatabad Fort researchgate.net |
Above image: The Daulatabad Fort near Aurangabad, , Maharashtra state, India has the largest number of cannons of various designs and sizes. They are: (a) cast bronze cannon of European origin and Indian (b) bronze and (c) iron guns. There are also bimetallic cannons with bronze/copper barrel and inner iron sleeve: (d)-(f). Examples of such bimetallic guns: (d) unmarked gun in front of the museum, (e) Shri Durga cannon (placed on a platform on top of Daulatabad hills), (f) Mendha cannon (on an elevated/circular platform between Chini Mahal and Rang Mahal). (d) inner iron sleeve, with names inscribed in Sanskrit (Devnagri) and Persian, respectively, on (e) Shri Durga and (f) Mendha
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| The Daulatabad Fort,Aurangabad, India gosahin.com |
Above image: The Daulatabad Fort (9 to 14th century CE), near Aurangabad, Maharashtra on a hill (200 meters tall) was built in 1187 by the first ruler of the Yadhava Dynasty - Billama. One of the strongest forts in India it came under under many dynasties over a period of time. Earlier Daulatabad was known as Devagiri or Deogiri. In. 1308, Sultan Alauddin Khalji ( r. 1296–1316) of the Delhi Sultanate captured and looted vast treasures. The Khaljis were vassals of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi and served the Sultan of Delhi, By 1633 when under the Mogul rule. Aurangzeb took control of the fort in his period he had a huge canon installed to improve its defense. It is called ''Mendha Tope.
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