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Battle of Plassey

If a point of time has to be identified from where the British rule in India started, then it has to be Battle of Plassey.



Painting - Battle of Plassey Scene

This battle was fought between
East India Company and Nawab of Bengal

The Battle of Plassey is considered as a starting point of the events that established the era of British dominion and conquest in India.

The battle took place on 23rd June 1757 in Plassey on the banks of river hooghly in the state of Bengal (now West Bengal). This was a decisive battle where East India Company stood victorious.

East India Company army fought under the leadership of Colonel Robert Clive. On the other side it was Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah with his army and his generals.  Small number of French Troops also fought along side the Bengali Army against British Army. 

Mir Jafar_(left)
his Son Mir Miran_(right)
Mir Jafar served as the commander of Bengali forces under Siraj-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal). Mir Jafar betrayed Nawab of Bengal and joined hands with Col. Robert Clive. He was bribed with money and promised by Robert Clive that he will be made Nawab of Bengal. This betrayal of Mir Jafar was the key reason for the British victory. 



Robert Clive meeting Mir Jafar after the battle of Plassey
Painted by Francis Hayman (c. 1762)

Nawab Siraj-ud-Daualah
Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah despite having a very large army 50000+ men was defeated by army of East India Company having around 3000 men due to the betrayal by Mir Jafar. The battle of Plassey lasted for only 11 Hours. 

After the defeat Siraj-ud-Daulah fled the battle field only to be hunted down by men sent by Mir Jafar and was murdered. After the victory, with the support of Robert Clive,  Mir Jafar became the Nawab of Bengal and Robert Clive was made Governor of Bengal.

The battle of Plassey was critical for the East India Company’s triumph over its French rivals also and, in the longer term, to the establishment of British rule in India.

Victory at Plassey opened the doors of India to the British who became rulers from traders. From this year i.e. 1757 till 1947 British ruled India.

Robert Clive
1725 - 1774
In 1760 Robert Clive had bought country estate in County Clare in Great Britain. In 1761 he gave orders for his estate to be renamed as "Plassey", as he had made all his fortune by winning the battle of Plassey.  In 1762 Robert Clive was ennobled as The 1st Baron Clive, of Plassey. Following Irish independence, this estate became state property. In the 1970s a technical college was built at Plassey, which later became Limerick University in Ireland.


Plassey House, Ireland

Plassey, Ireland on Google Maps
University of Limerick

PS: 17 Years after this battle, at the age of 49, Robert Clive committed suicide.

Summary
  • The battle took place on 23rd June 1757
  • The battle lasted for only 11 hours on a single day. 
  • The battle took place on the banks of river hooghly 
  • Colonel Robert Clive was leading the battle from East India Company
  • A small number of French troops (50) were supporting Nawab of Bengal against British
  • Mir Jafar betrayed Siraj-ud-Daulah
  • Mir Jafar singed a secret pact with Robert Clive for not taking adequate action during battle. 
  • Mir Jafar was leading 25000 (aprox) men of the Bengali Army in the battle.
  • Total men from Bengal army exceeded 50,000
  • Mir Jafar was the commander under Siraj-ud-daulah 
  • After battle Mir Jafar was made the Nawab of Bengal 
  • After victorious battle Robert Clive was made the Governor of Bengal 
  • Few days after battle Siraj-ud-daulah was hunted and killed by men of Mir Jafar 
  • This event was a historical turning point from where British become rulers from traders 
  • This battle also marked triumph of British over French, since French fought alongside Bengal Army





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