on 6 june 1857, at the time of the rebellion by forces of the east india company at cawnpore, the british contingent had taken refuge at an entrenchment in the northern part of the town. amid the prevailing chaos in cawnpore, nana and his forces entered the british magazine in the northern part of the town. however, once he entered the magazine, nana sahib announced that he was a participant in the rebellion against the company, and intended to be a vassal of bahadur shah ii.