The Battle of Buxar

The Battle of Buxar was a pivotal battle fought on October 22, 1764 between the British East India Company and a combined army of the Mughal Empire, the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim, and the Raja of Benares, Raja Shuja-ud-Daulah. The battle took place near the town of Buxar, which is located in the present-day state of Bihar, India.

The Buxar war is considered a turning point in Indian history as it marked the beginning of British rule in India.

Causes of Battle of Buxar

The Battle of Buxar was fought as a result of a number of complex causes and factors. The primary cause was the East India Company’s growing influence and control over Bengal, which was then a province of the Mughal Empire. Here are some specific causes that led to the battle of Buxar:

• Revenue collection: The East India Company had been granted trading rights in Bengal by the Mughal emperor, but they were also attempting to gain control over revenue collection in the region. This was a source of conflict between the Company and the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim, who wanted to maintain control over the revenue of his own province.
• Political power struggle: The East India Company was expanding its power and influence in Bengal, which was seen as a threat by the Nawab, who wanted to maintain his own authority in the region. This led to a power struggle between the Company and the Nawab.
• Economic interests: The East India Company was interested in controlling the Bengal economy, which was then the richest province in India and the center of trade and industry. They wanted to have control over the resources and wealth of the region to further their own economic interests.

The East India Company had a strong military presence in Bengal and was looking to expand its control over the region. The Nawab saw this as a threat to his own power and sought to resist the Company’s expansion.

The Nawab then formed an alliance with the Raja of Benares and the Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II, in order to oppose the British expansion. This was a diplomatic move to strengthen his position against the British.

• The British East India Company, under the command of Major Hector Munro, advanced towards Buxar with an army of around 3,000 soldiers. They were met by a combined army of the Mughal Empire, the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim, and the Raja of Benares, Raja Shuja-ud-Daulah, which had around 50,000 soldiers.
• The battle began with the Nawab’s army attacking the British, but they were repulsed by the Company’s superior firepower. The British then counterattacked and broke through the Nawab’s center.
• The Raja of Benares, Raja Shuja-ud-Daulah, then launched a surprise attack on the British from the rear, but the Company’s soldiers managed to hold their ground and repel the attack.
• The Nawab’s army was then forced to retreat, and the British were able to capture Buxar.
• The British then pursued the Nawab’s army, which was in disarray, and inflicted heavy casualties on them.
• The Nawab’s army was defeated and the British emerged victorious in the battle.

Results of Battle of Buxar

The Battle of Buxar was a significant event in Indian history for several reasons:

• It marked the beginning of British rule in India: The British East India Company emerged victorious in the battle and established control over much of present-day India. This marked the beginning of British rule in India and the decline of the Mughal Empire.
• It expanded the British territorial control: The victory at Buxar gave the British control over the provinces of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, which were among the wealthiest and most populous regions in India at the time. This greatly expanded their territorial control and made them the dominant power in India.
• It had a major impact on the Indian economy: The British control over Bengal allowed them to control the resources and wealth of the region, which had a major impact on the Indian economy. The British began to drain wealth from Bengal, which led to a decline in the region’s economy and a rise in poverty.
• It was a turning point in Indian history: The Battle of Buxar marked a turning point in Indian history as it marked the beginning of British rule in India. It also set the stage for a series of wars and conflicts between the British and various other Indian kingdoms and states that continued for several decades.
• It was a turning point in the history of the East India Company: The Battle of Buxar marked the beginning of a new era for the East India Company, which went from being a trading company to a territorial power and it established the company as the dominant power in India.

Treaty of Allahabad

After Buxar war the Treaty of Allahabad was signed on August 9, 1765, between Shah Alam II, the Mughal emperor, and Robert Clive, the Governor of Bengal for the East India Company.

The main terms of the treaty were:

• Shah Alam II ceded control of the provinces of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company.
• The East India Company agreed to pay an annual tribute of Rs. 26 Lakhs to the Mughal emperor and guarantee his rights over other parts of the Mughal Empire.
• The East India Company was also granted the right to collect revenue in the ceded provinces and to maintain a military presence there.
• The East India Company also agreed to support the Mughal emperor’s claim to the throne and to provide him with a subsidy for his maintenance.

The treaty of Allahabad was the first of a series of treaties that the British East India Company signed with Indian rulers in the 18th century, which greatly expanded its territorial control in India.

In conclusion, The Battle of Buxar was a significant event in Indian history that took place on October 22, 1764. The battle was fought between the British East India Company and a combined army of the Mughal Empire, the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim and the Raja of Benares, Raja Shuja-ud-Daulah. The British emerged victorious in the battle, and established control over much of present-day India. The Battle of Buxar marked the beginning of British rule in India, the decline of the Mughal Empire, and it set the stage for further British expansion in India.