The Battles of Plassey and Buxar
Two 18th century battles that gave the East India Company first a puppet Nawab of Bengal, then the right to collect its revenue.
What the paper can ask
- Plassey: 23 June 1757, Robert Clive defeated the Nawab of Bengal after a commander in the Nawab's army switched sides.
- Buxar: 22-23 October 1764, Hector Munro's 7,000 beat over 40,000 in a three-ruler alliance of Bengal, Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
- Treaty of Allahabad (1765): the Company got the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa; it took full control in 1772.
Why exams ask
Which Nawab lost which battle, who commanded, and what the Treaty of Allahabad gave are the standard traps.
The full story
At Plassey (23 June 1757) Robert Clive's small Company force defeated the Nawab of Bengal, helped by the treachery of a senior commander in the Nawab's army; a new, pliant Nawab was installed and the Company became the real power in Bengal. At Buxar (22-23 October 1764) Hector Munro beat a combined army of the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
Test yourself
1.In the Battle of Plassey on 23 June 1757, Robert Clive defeated which Nawab of Bengal?
Correct. Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, helped by the betrayal of his commander Mir Jafar.
Not quite. Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, helped by the betrayal of his commander Mir Jafar. It goes into your error book.
2.The Battle of Buxar (1764) was fought between the English East India Company and the combined forces of
Correct. On 22 October 1764 Hector Munro defeated Mir Qasim of Bengal, Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II; the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) followed.
Not quite. On 22 October 1764 Hector Munro defeated Mir Qasim of Bengal, Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II; the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) followed. It goes into your error book.