📌 Topic 03 of 6 · Chapter 12 · Advent of Europeans & British Expansion
Battle of Plassey (1757) & Battle of Buxar (1764)
Siraj-ud-Daulah, Mir Jafar, Robert Clive, Treaty of Allahabad — British conquest of Bengal.
⚔️ Battle of Plassey (June 23, 1757)
Background:
- Siraj-ud-Daulah became Nawab of Bengal in 1756 — young, impulsive
- Siraj captured Calcutta (June 1756) — Black Hole of Calcutta incident (June 20, 1756)
- Robert Clive recaptured Calcutta (January 1757)
- Clive conspired with Mir Jafar (Siraj’s commander-in-chief) — promised him the Nawabship
The Battle:
- Fought on June 23, 1757 at Plassey (near Murshidabad, Bengal)
- British forces: ~3,000 (including 800 Europeans)
- Siraj’s forces: ~50,000 (but Mir Jafar’s contingent did not fight)
- Mir Jafar betrayed Siraj — his forces stood aside
- British won decisively; Siraj fled and was later killed
- Mir Jafar made puppet Nawab of Bengal
⭐ Significance of Plassey: The Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British political rule in India. Bengal’s enormous wealth financed British expansion across India. Robert Clive became the first British Governor of Bengal. The battle was more a conspiracy than a military victory — Mir Jafar’s betrayal was decisive.
⚔️ Battle of Buxar (October 22, 1764)
Background:
- Mir Qasim (Mir Jafar’s son-in-law) replaced Mir Jafar as Nawab
- Mir Qasim tried to reform Bengal’s administration — clashed with EIC
- Mir Qasim formed a triple alliance with Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh) and Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor)
The Battle:
- Fought on October 22, 1764 at Buxar (Bihar)
- British under Major Hector Munro defeated the triple alliance
- More decisive than Plassey — British defeated three major Indian powers combined
📜 Treaty of Allahabad (1765)
- Signed between Robert Clive and Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor)
- Shah Alam II granted Diwani (revenue collection rights) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to EIC
- EIC paid Shah Alam II Rs. 26 lakh annually
- This was a turning point — EIC now had legal authority to collect revenue from these provinces
- Led to the Dual Government in Bengal — EIC collected revenue; Nawab handled civil/criminal administration
📝 Exam Tip:
• Battle of Plassey = June 23, 1757 = Clive vs Siraj-ud-Daulah = Mir Jafar betrayed
• Black Hole of Calcutta = June 20, 1756 = Siraj captured Calcutta
• Battle of Buxar = October 22, 1764 = British vs triple alliance = more decisive
• Treaty of Allahabad = 1765 = Diwani of Bengal granted to EIC
• Diwani = revenue collection rights (not sovereignty)
• Battle of Plassey = June 23, 1757 = Clive vs Siraj-ud-Daulah = Mir Jafar betrayed
• Black Hole of Calcutta = June 20, 1756 = Siraj captured Calcutta
• Battle of Buxar = October 22, 1764 = British vs triple alliance = more decisive
• Treaty of Allahabad = 1765 = Diwani of Bengal granted to EIC
• Diwani = revenue collection rights (not sovereignty)