Jaivana Cannon
The Jaivana Cannon (Hindi: जयवाण) is a large 18th-century cannon preserved at Jaigarh Fort, in Rajasthan, India. At the time of its manufacture in 1720, it was the world's largest cannon on wheels.[1]
History
The Jaivana was manufactured during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1699–1743) at a foundry in Jaigarh.[2][3] The cannon was fired only once, with a charge of Script error: No such module "convert". of gunpowder, and when fired was claimed to have covered a distance of about Script error: No such module "convert"..[4][5] It is said that the projectile fired from it made a small lake in Chaksu, though this is clearly an embellished legend and could not have physically happened.
The cannon is now located at the Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur, at Script error: No such module "Coordinates"..
Technical data
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The barrel has floral design. An elephant rests on the tip of the barrel and a pair of peacocks are carved in the centre. A pair of ducks also decorates the rear of the barrel.
Jaivana rests on a high two-wheeled carriage. The wheels are Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter. The carriage is equipped with two removable additional wheels for transport. The removable wheels are Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter. It is mounted on wheels and has the mechanism of two back wheels mounted on roller pin bearings, to turn it 360° and fire in any direction. A tin shed was built to protect the cannon against weather.
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The uses and range of the cannon and cannonballs vary over different sources.
The Jaivana Cannon was only fired once by Jai Singh II, as a test-fire in 1720. The most exaggerated myth claims that the weapon had a range of Script error: No such module "convert"., other sources say it is 35, 22 and Script error: No such module "convert"., although the exact range could perhaps never be determined without adequate scientific computation.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Most sources, including local tourist guides agree that it was fired in the direction of Chaksu.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The impact is said by many locals and tourist guides to be powerful enough to have caused a depression where a pond can be seen today. Legend has it that after it fired, pregnant women living nearby suffered miscarriages.[6]
See also
- Tsar Cannon
- List of the largest cannon by caliber
- The Pride and the Passion, a 1957 fictional historical film drama with a large siege cannon that has a nearly identical carriage and similar size barrel.
References
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Further reading
- R.S. Khangarot, P.S. Nathawat- Jaigarh the invincible fort of Amber(1990), Raj Kmar Parnami, RBSA Publishers, Jaipur
- http://www.journeymart.com/DExplorer/AsiaIS/India/india_addon/fortspalaces/jaigarh.asp