If you follow English football, you must be familiar with the famous cannon on the crest of Arsenal Football Club.
But what if I told you that this iconic symbol might have a very real Indian connection?
Yes, the cannon on Arsenal’s badge is said to have been inspired by a massive Mughal-era gun that once stood proudly in England after being brought from India.
Let’s dive into this fascinating story.
The Story Behind Arsenal’s Cannon
Arsenal Football Club was founded in Woolwich, London—an area closely tied to the Royal Arsenal and the Royal Artillery Barracks. Naturally, cannons were everywhere.
But right in front of those barracks once stood a very special one. Not a regular cannon. Not something you could just roll out for a local parade.
This was Aurangzeb’s gun.
A bronze giant.
It weighed a jaw-dropping 17.5 tons, was almost 5 meters long, and had a caliber of 8 inches. The barrel even carried an inscription: “Muhammad, Aurangzeb, Alamgir”—the name of the sixth Mughal Emperor who ordered it to be built in 1677.
Imagine walking past that every day if you were a young footballer or fan in Woolwich. No wonder the cannon became such a strong local symbol.
From India to England
So how did this Mughal beast of a cannon end up in London?
That’s where the story gets even crazier.
After Aurangzeb’s death, the Mughal Empire began to lose its grip. The gun changed hands multiple times and eventually found itself in the possession of the Jat rulers of Bharatpur.
Fast forward to the 19th century. The British East India Company was expanding its power in India. With Tipu Sultan gone, their main challenge came from the Marathas.
One name stood tall among them: Yashwant Rao Holkar, a brilliant military mind.
In 1804, Holkar sought help from Ranjit Singh of Bharatpur. Together, they resisted the British. At the heart of their defense stood Aurangzeb’s cannon, roaring from the walls of Deeg Fort.
For three months, the British under Lord Lake tried—and failed—to breach Bharatpur. Even one of their most experienced commanders couldn’t handle the resistance.
That’s how powerful this gun’s reputation was.
The Fall of Bharatpur
But history wasn’t always kind.
By 1825, the British were determined to capture Bharatpur once and for all. This time, the job was given to Stapleton Cotton, Lord Combermere, under direct orders from none other than Arthur Wellesley (the man who later defeated Napoleon).
After a brutal siege, the fort fell in January 1826. And with it, Aurangzeb’s mighty gun was captured.
A year later, Cotton shipped the cannon back to England as a war trophy.
Once in London, the wooden carriage was replaced by a cast-iron one. By 1828, it was mounted proudly in front of the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.
There it stood for nearly 180 years—a reminder of the Mughal Empire’s craftsmanship and Britain’s colonial conquests.
Arsenal’s Roots in Woolwich
Now here’s where the football connection kicks in.
Arsenal Football Club, originally called Dial Square, was founded in 1886 by munitions workers in Woolwich. The club was literally born in the shadow of the Royal Arsenal and the barracks.
If you were a local football fan at the time, what was the symbol that dominated your neighborhood?
That massive cannon.
It’s not far-fetched to imagine that Arsenal’s founders took inspiration from the real artillery pieces around them—especially Aurangzeb’s legendary gun, standing just across the road.
The first Arsenal logo even featured three cannons, pointing upwards, representing the Royal Arsenal heritage. Over time, it evolved into the single cannon we know today.
But the roots? They go all the way back to Woolwich. And Woolwich had Aurangzeb’s gun.
A Forgotten Connection
The cannon stayed outside the Woolwich barracks until 2007, when it was finally removed. By then, Arsenal had long since moved to North London, first to Highbury and now to the Emirates.
But the symbol stuck. The cannon became part of the club’s DNA.
Think about it: one of England’s biggest football clubs, known worldwide, carries a logo that may have been directly inspired by a Mughal weapon forged in India over 300 years ago.
Crazy, right?
Football history is full of these hidden links. What looks like just a logo often has stories that connect continents, empires, and centuries.
Did It Inspire Arsenal’s Crest?
Here’s where history and football collide.
Arsenal was founded in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. Their first logo? A cannon.
Now, with Aurangzeb’s gun standing right outside the Royal Artillery Barracks at the time, it’s hard not to connect the dots.
Did the club’s founders see the Indian cannon and think: “That’s the perfect symbol for us Gunners”?
We may never know for sure. But the timing, the location, and the symbolism all line up perfectly.
Legacy of Aurangzeb’s Gun
The cannon stayed in Woolwich until 2007, when it was moved for preservation.
For almost 200 years, it was more than just a weapon. It was a reminder of history, conquest, and craftsmanship.
And maybe, just maybe, it helped shape the identity of one of the biggest football clubs in the world.
FAQs
Q: Did an Indian cannon really inspire Arsenal’s logo?
Yes, Aurangzeb’s gun stood in Woolwich near Royal Arsenal, likely inspiring the club’s famous crest.
Q: Where is Aurangzeb’s cannon today?
It was kept in front of the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich until 2007, and is now preserved.
Q: Why is Arsenal called “The Gunners”?
Because the club was founded by munitions workers in Woolwich, the cannon became their natural symbol.
Conclusion
Arsenal’s crest tells a bigger story than most people realize.
Behind that simple cannon lies a tale of empires, wars, and cultural exchange. A tale that begins in Aurangzeb’s India and ends on the shirts of legends like Thierry Henry and Bukayo Saka.
So the next time someone asks why Arsenal’s nickname is “The Gunners,” you’ve got the ultimate story to tell.
From Deeg Fort to the Emirates Stadium.
From Aurangzeb’s orders in 1677 to Premier League football in 2025.
That’s the journey of the cannon.
That’s the journey of Arsenal’s identity.
