The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c14.46

v4.c14.46

His next objective was the fortress of Kālinjar.¹ Rājā Bīr Singh Bundelā² had been summoned to court and, instead of obeying the summons, had taken refuge with Rājā Kīrat Singh of Kālinjar, who had refused to surrender him. Sher Shāh determined to reduce Kīrat Singh to obedience and, on reaching Kālinjar, invested the fortress. The siege lasted for nearly a year, and at length, when the parallels had approached the walls, Sher Shāh ascended a high tower in the line of circumvallation, ordered one of his officers to bring a supply of loaded shells, or, more probably, rockets, and amused himself in the meantime by shooting arrows into the town. When the rockets were brought one of them was fired against the gate of the town, but rebounded and fell into and ignited a heap of ammunition by which the king was standing. Sher Shāh was most severely burned by the explosion and was carried to his tent. Here he summoned his nobles and commanded them to capture the fortress while he yet lived. About the time of the evening prayer it was reported to him that Kālinjar had been taken by storm and its garrison put to the sword, and on learning this he died content on 22 May, 1545.