Expansion of British Power in India

Expansion of British Power in India

Bengal

Murshid Quli Khan (1717-27)

• In 1717, Murshid Quli Khan was appointed as Bengal's Subedar, i.e,. Governed by the Mughal emperor Farrukh Siyar.

• Grant of the Governorship of Orissa also to him by Farrukh Siyar in 1719.

• He transferred the capital of Bengal from Dacca to Murshidabad.

Shujauddin (1727-39)

• He was the son-in-law of Murshid Quli Khan.

• He was granted the Governorship of Bihar by Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela' in 1733.

Sarfaraj Khan (1739-40)

• He was the son of Shujauddin and was murdered by Alivardi Khan, the Deputy Governor of Bihar, in 1740.

Alivardi Khan (1740-56)

• Legalised his usurpation by receiving a farman from the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela' after paying him Rs. 2 Crores.

• He prevented the English and the French from fortifying their factories at Calcutta and Chandranagor, respectively.

Sirajuddaula (1756-57)

• Alivardi Khan was succeeded by his grandson Sirajuddaula. Sirajuddaula seized the English factory at Kasimbazar.

• On 20th June, 1756, Fort William surrendered, but Roben Clive recovered Calcutta.

• On 2nd Jan. 1757, the Treaty of Alinagar was signed, whereby Siraj conceded practically all the demands. The The 

• British then captured Chandranagore, the French settlement, in March 1757.

• The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757.

• Owing to a conspiracy, the Nawab was defeated.

The following betrayed the Nawab:

• Mir Jafar: Mir Bakshi

• Manikchand: Officer in charge of Calcutta

• Amichand: Rich Sikh merchant

• Jagat Seth: The biggest banker of Bengal

• Khadim Khan: Commanded a large number of the Nawab’s troops.

Mir Jafar (1757-60)

• The company was granted undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.

• It received the zamindari of 24 Parganas.

• Mir Jafar, however, fell into arrears and was forced to abdicate in favour of his son-in-law Mir Qasim.

Mir Qasim (1760-64)

• Mir Qasim ceded Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong.

• He shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger.

• Mir Qasim soon revolted as he was angry with the British for misusing the dastak (free duty passes).

However, having been defeated by the British, he fled to Awadh, where he formed a confederacy with Awadh ruler Shujauddaula and Mughal emperor Shah Alam II.

The Battle of Buxar (1764)

• Mir Qasim, Shujauddaula, and Shah Alam II were defeated by Munro.

• Mir Jafar was again placed on the throne.

Successors of Mir Qasim

• Mir Jafar (1764-65), Nazmuddaulah (1765-66), Saifuddaula (1766-70), Mubaraquddaula (1770-72).

• On Mir Jafar's death, his son Nazmuddaula was placed on the throne and signed a treaty on 20th Feb., 1765 by which the Nawab was to disband most of his army and to administer Bengal through a Deputy Subedar nominated by the Company.

Treaties of Allahabad (1765)

• Clive concluded two separate treaties of Allahabad with Shah Alam II (12 Aug., 1765) and Shujauddaula (16 Aug., 1765).

Dual Government of Bengal (1765-72) The 

• Dual Government of Bengal started in 1765.

• The Company acquired both Diwani and Nizamat rights from Nazmuddaula, the Nawab of Bengal.

• But the company did not take over direct administration and revenue collection.

• Warren Hastings ended the dual system of government in 1772.

Mysore

Haidar Ali (1761-82)

• Haidar Ali began his career as a soldier in the service of the Mysore state. Later, he became the faujdar of Dindigul.

• He established a modern arsenal in Dindigul with the help of the French.

• In 1761, he overthrew the Nanjarajar (the powerful Prime Minister of Wodeyar king Krishnraja I) and usurped power, though he continued to recognise Krishnraja I as the lawful ruler.

First Anglo-Mysore War (1766-69)

• Haider Ali defeated the British. The Treaty of Madras (1769) was signed.

Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84

• Warren Hastings attacked the French port of Mahe, which was in Haidar Ali's territory.

• Haidar Ali led a joint front with Nizam and Maratha and captured Arcot (the Capital of the Carnatic state).

• In 1781, Haidar Ali was defeated at Porto Novo by Eyrecoot.

• He died during the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

Tipu Sultan (1782-99)

• Haidar Ali was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan in 1782.

• He continued the Second Anglo-Mysore War till 1784.

• The Treaty of Mangalore (1784) was signed by Tipu Sultan, which ended the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-92)

• Maratha and Nizam aided the British, and Cornwallis captured Bangalore.

• By the Treaty of Seringapatnam (1792), Tipu ceded half of his territory.

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)

• Lord Wellesley attacked, and Tipu Sultan died.

• Tipu was the only Indian ruler who understood the importance of economic strength as the foundation of military strength.

• Tipu established embassies to France, Turkey, Iran, and Pegu to develop foreign trade.

• Tipu planted a 'tree of liberty' at his capital, Seringapatnam, and became a member of the Jacobin Club.

Punjab

Guru Gobind Singh

• The 10th and the last Guru of the Sikhs transformed the religious sect into a military brotherhood.

• In the confusion and disorder that followed the invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Sikhs increased their military strength and became a strong power.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1792-1839)

• He was the greatest Indian ruler of his time and the founder of the Sikh rule in the Punjab.

• Born in 1780 at Gujranwala, he occupied Lahore in 1799 and made it his capital.

• He conquered Amritsar in 1802, occupied Ludhiana, and after incessant wars, annexed Kangra, Attock, Multan, Kashmir, Hazara, Bannu, Derajat, and Peshawar.

• He died in 1839.

Successors of Ranjit Singh

• Kharak Singh (1839-40), Naunihal Singh (1840), Sher Singh (1841-43), Dalip Singh (1843-49).

• The Sikh power was broken by the British after the death of Ranjit Singh.

First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46)

• Sikhs were defeated in all four battles at Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and Sobraon.

• The Treaty of Lahore (1846) ended the war. Sir Henry Lawrence became the first resident.

Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49)

• Dalhousie annexed Punjab. Sir John Lawrence became the first chief commissioner of Punjab.

Final Thoughts

The journey from regional Indian rulers to British dominance reflects a crucial phase in India's history. From Bengal's early Subedars to Mysore's resistance and Punjab’s fall, each region tells a story of power, ambition, and conflict.

The British skillfully leveraged internal rivalries, strategic treaties, and military strength to expand their influence. Key battles like Plassey and Buxar marked turning points, leading to greater control through dual governance and administrative reforms.

Figures like Haider Ali, Tipu Sultan, and Ranjit Singh showcased resistance, yet the tide eventually turned. Understanding this timeline helps us grasp the foundation of colonial rule and the transformation of India's political landscape.