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{{Short description|Battle of the Bengal War (Battle of Buxar)}}
{{Short description|1764 battle of the Bengal War}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict= Battle of Buxar
| conflict         = Battle of Buxar
|partof= [[Bengal War]]
| partof           = the [[Bengal War]]
|image=Battle of Buxar -Crown and company- Arthur Edward Mainwaring pg.144.jpg
| image             = Sir Hector Munro by David Martin.jpg
|image_size=300px
| caption          = Portrait of [[Hector Munro, 8th Laird of Novar|Hector Munro]] with the battle in the background
|date= 22/23 October 1764
| date             = 22–23 October 1764
|place= Near [[Buxar]] |result= [[English East India Company]] victory
| place             = [[Buxar]], [[Bihar]]
|combatant1= [[Mughal Empire]]<ref name="History of the Freedom Movement in India">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n_Vi8sSjgYsC&pg=PA2 | title=History Of The Freedom Movement In India (1857–1947) | publisher=New Age International | author=Sen, Sailendra Nath | year=2009 | isbn=9788122425765 | page=2}}</ref>
| coordinates      = {{coord|25|34|N|83|59|E|region:IN-BR_type:event|display=inline,title}}
*[[Nawab of multan|Multan Subah]]
| result           = British victory{{Bulleted list|[[Treaty of Allahabad]]}}
*[[Durrani]] and [[Rohilla]] Factions
| combatant1        = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Great Britain}}{{Bulleted list|{{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1707).svg}} [[East India Company]]}}
|combatant2= [[English East India Company]]
| combatant2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Mughal Empire.png}} [[Mughal Empire]]<ref name="History of the Freedom Movement in India">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n_Vi8sSjgYsC&pg=PA2|title=History Of The Freedom Movement In India (1857–1947)|publisher=New Age International|author=Sen, Sailendra Nath|year=2009|isbn=9788122425765|page=2}}</ref><br />{{flagicon image|Bengal subah flag (Nautical).svg}} [[Bengal Subah]] <br />{{flagicon image|अवध ध्वज.gif}} [[Oudh State]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Royal House of Benares.svg}} [[Banaras State|Kashi Kingdom]]
|commander1= '''[[Shah Alam II]]'''<ref name="History of the Freedom Movement in India" />
| commander1        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1707).svg}} [[Hector Munro, 8th laird of Novar|Sir Hector Munro]]
*[[Amar Balach]]
| commander2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Mughal Empire.png}} [[Shah Alam II]]{{Surrendered}}<ref name="History of the Freedom Movement in India" /><br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Mughal Empire.png}} [[Mirza Najaf Khan|Najaf Khan]] <br />{{flagicon image|Bengal subah flag (Nautical).svg}} [[Mir Qasim]]<br />{{flagicon image|अवध ध्वज.gif}} [[Shuja-ud-Daula]] <br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Royal House of Benares.svg}} [[Maharaja Balwant Singh of Benares|Balwant Singh]]
*[[Mirza Najaf Khan]]
| strength1        = 17,072
*[[Mir Qasim]]
| strength2        = 40,112
*[[Shuja-ud-Daula]]
| casualties1      = 289 killed <br /> 499 wounded <br /> 85 missing<ref name=Fortescue102 /><ref name=Black160/>
*[[Raja Balwant Singh]]
| casualties2      = 2,000 killed <br /> 4,000 wounded<ref name="Fortescue102">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7a-6PwAACAAJ | title=Fortescue's History of the British Army | publisher=Naval & Military Press | date=2004 | last=John William | author-link=John William Fortescue | volume=2 | isbn=978-1-84342-715-5}}</ref>
|commander2= [[Hector Munro, 8th of Novar|Hector Munro of Novar]]
| campaignbox      = {{Campaignbox Bengal War}}
|Major Robert Munroe <br/>;
|strength1=40,000<br />140 [[cannon]]s
|strength2=7,072<br />30 [[cannon]]s
|casualties1=Disputed<br>British claim:<ref name="Fortescue102">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7a-6PwAACAAJ | title=Fortescue's History of the British Army - | publisher=Naval & Military Press | date=29 February 2004 | last=John William | author-link=John William Fortescue | volume=2 | isbn=978-1-84342-715-5}}</ref><br />2,000 killed
|casualties2=1,000 killed, wounded or missing<ref name=Fortescue102 /><ref name="Black160">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=neUKEvaYPZYC | title=The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: Renaissance to Revolution, 1492-1792 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | date=28 March 1996 | author=Black, Jeremy | editor=Wyse, Liz | volume=2 | location=[[Cambridge, England|Cambridge]] | page=160 | isbn=978-0-521-47033-9}}</ref>
}}
{{Campaignbox
| title = [[Seven Years' War]]<br />[[Bengal War]]
| name = Campaignbox Bengal War
| listclass = hlist
| battles =
* [[Battle of Plassey]]
* [[Battle of Patna (1760)]]
* [[Battle of Gaya (1760)]]
* [[Battle of Sirpur]]
* [[Battle of Birpur]]
* [[Battle of Siwan]]
* [[Battle of Gheria]]
* [[Battle of Katwa]]
* [[Battle of Patna]]
* [[Battle of Udaynala (1763)]]
* Battle of Buxar
* [[Battle of Patna (1764)]]
* [[Battle of Kora (1765)]]
}}
}}


The '''Battle of Buxar''' was fought on 22/23 October 1764, between the forces under the command of the British [[East India Company]], led by [[Hector Munro, 8th of Novar|Hector Munro]], and the combined armies of [[Mir Qasim]], Nawab of Bengal till 1764; the [[Nawab of Awadh]] [[Shuja-ud-Daula]]; and the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Shah Alam II]] accompanied by [[Balwant Singh of Benares|Raja Balwant Singh of Kashi.]]<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Modern History (1707–1947) |author=Parshotam Mehra |isbn=0-19-561552-2 |year=1985 |publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref> The battle was fought at [[Buxar]], a "small fortified town" within the territory of [[Bihar]], located on the banks of the [[Ganga|Ganga river]] about {{convert|130|km}} west of [[Patna]]; it was a decisive victory for the British [[East India Company]]. The war had been brought to an end by the [[Treaty of Allahabad]] in 1765.
The '''Battle of Buxar''' was fought between 22 and 23 October 1764, between the forces of the [[British East India Company]], under the command of Major [[Hector Munro, 8th of Novar|Hector Munro]], against the combined armies of [[Shah Alam II]], the [[List of emperors of the Mughal Empire|Emperor of the Mughal Empire]]; [[Mir Qasim]], the [[Nawab of Bengal]]; [[Maharaja Balwant Singh of Benares|Balwant Singh]], the Maharaja of the [[Benares State]]; [[Shuja-ud-Daula|Shuja-ud-daula]], the [[Nawab of Awadh]].<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Modern History (1707–1947) |author=Parshotam Mehra |isbn=0-19-561552-2 |year=1985 |publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref>
 
The battle was fought at [[Buxar]], a "strong fortified town" within the territory of [[Bihar]], located on the banks of the [[Gangas|Ganges river]] about {{convert|130|km}} west of [[Patna]]; it was a challenging victory for the British [[East India Company]]. The war was brought to an end by the [[Treaty of Allahabad]] in 1765.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zaman |first=Faridah |date=2015 |title=Colonizing the Sacred: Allahabad and the Company State, 1797–1857 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43553588 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=74 |issue=2 |pages=347–367 |doi=10.1017/S0021911815000017 |jstor=43553588 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The defeated Indian rulers were forced to sign the treaty, granting the East India Company [[Dewan|Diwani]] rights, which allowed them to collect revenue from the territories of [[Bengal]], [[Bihar]], and [[Orissa]] on behalf of the Mughal emperor.


==Battle==
==The Battle==
The British army engaged in the fighting numbered 7,072<ref name="Cust1858">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DoZCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA113 | title=Annals of the Wars of the Eighteenth Century: 1760–1783 | publisher=Mitchell's Military Library | last=Cust | first=Edward | author-link=Edward Cust | year=1858 | volume=III | location=London | page=113}}</ref> comprising 859 British, 5,297 Indian [[sepoy]]s and 918 Indian [[cavalry]]. The alliance army's numbers were estimated to be over 40,000. According to other sources{{who|date=August 2017}}, the combined army of the Mughals, Awadh [[Mir Qasim]] and raja Balwant singh of banares consisting of 40,000 men was defeated by a British army comprising 10,000 men. The Nawabs had virtually lost their military power after the battle of Buxar.
The East India Company troops engaged in the fighting numbered 17,072:<ref name="Cust1858">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DoZCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA113 | title=Annals of the Wars of the Eighteenth Century: 1760–1783 | publisher=Mitchell's Mibdglitiry Library | last=Cust | first=Edward | author-link=Edward Cust | year=1858 | volume=III | location=London | page=113}}</ref> 1,859 British regulars, 5,297 Indian [[sepoy]]s and 9,189 Indian [[cavalry]]. Whereas the Mughal Empire and alliance armies were estimated to be over 40,000.


The lack of basic co-ordination among the major three disparate allies was responsible for their decisive defeat.
[[Mirza Najaf Khan]] commanded the right flank of the Mughal imperial army and was the first to advance his forces against Major [[Hector Munro, 8th of Novar|Hector Munro]] at daybreak; the British lines formed within twenty minutes and reversed the advance of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]]s. According to the British, [[Durrani]] and [[Rohilla]] cavalry were also present and fought during the battle in various skirmishes. But by midday, the battle was over and [[Shuja-ud-Daula]] blew up large [[tumbrel|tumbrils]] and three massive magazines of gunpowder.


[[Mirza Najaf Khan]] commanded the right flank of the Mughal imperial army and was the first to advance his forces against Major [[Hector Munro, 8th of Novar|Hector Munro]] at daybreak; the British lines formed within twenty minutes and reversed the advance of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]]s. According to the British, [[Durrani]] and [[Rohilla]] cavalry were also present and fought during the battle in various skirmishes. But by midday, the battle was over and [[Shuja-ud-Daula]] blew up large tumbrils and three massive magazines of gunpowder.
Munro divided his army into various columns and particularly pursued the Mughal [[Grand Vizier]] [[Shuja-ud-Daula]], the [[Nawab of Awadh]], who responded by blowing up his boat-bridge after crossing the river, thus abandoning the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Shah Alam II]] and members of his own regiment. [[Mir Qasim]] also fled with his 3 million rupees worth of gemstones and later died in poverty in 1777. Mirza Najaf Khan reorganised formations around [[Shah Alam II]], who retreated and then chose to negotiate with the victorious British.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Sonal |date=2017 |title=Micro-history Lost in a Global Narrative? Revisiting the Grant of the "Diwani" to the English East India Company |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26380344 |journal=Social Scientist |volume=45 |issue=3/4 |pages=41–51 |jstor=26380344 }}</ref>
[[File:IGI1908India1765a.jpg|thumb|Political map of the Indian Subcontinent in the year 1765, ''green'' indicating territories loyal to emperor Shah Alam.]]


Munro divided his army into various columns and particularly pursued the Mughal [[Grand Vizier]] [[Shuja-ud-Daula]] the [[Nawab of Awadh]] and [[Balwant Singh of Benares|Balwant singh]] who responded by blowing up his boat-bridge after crossing the river, thus abandoning the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Shah Alam II]] and members of his own regiment. [[Mir Qasim]] also fled with his 3 million rupees worth of [[Gemstone]]s and later died in poverty in 1777. Mirza Najaf Khan reorganised formations around [[Shah Alam II]], who retreated and then chose to negotiate with the victorious British.
The historian [[John William Fortescue]] stated that the British casualties totalled 847: 39 killed and 64 wounded from the European regiments and 250 killed, 435 wounded and 85 missing from the East India Company's sepoys.<ref name=Fortescue102 /> He also stated that the three Indian allies suffered 2,000 dead and that many more were wounded.<ref name=Fortescue102 /> Another source says that there were 69 European and 664 sepoy casualties on the British side and 6,000 casualties on the Mughal side.<ref name="Black160">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=neUKEvaYPZYC | title=The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: Renaissance to Revolution, 1492–1792 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | date=28 March 1996 | author=Black, Jeremy | editor=Wyse, Liz | volume=2 | location=[[Cambridge, England|Cambridge]] | page=160 | isbn=978-0-521-47033-9}}</ref> The victors captured 133 pieces of artillery and over 1 million rupees of cash. Immediately after the battle, Munro decided to assist the [[Maratha]]s, who were described as a "warlike race", well known for their relentless rivalry and unwavering hatred towards [[Mughal Empire]], [[Durrani Empire]], Rohilla Chieftaincies, different [[Nawab]]s of the [[Indian subcontinent|subcontinent]] (most notably, [[Nawab of Bengal]] and [[Nawab of Awadh]]), [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] and short lived [[Sultanate of Mysore]].


Historian [[John William Fortescue]] claimed that the British casualties totalled 847: 39 killed and 64 wounded from the European regiments and 250 killed, 435 wounded and 85 missing from the East India Company's sepoys.<ref name=Fortescue102 /> He also claimed that the three Indian allies suffered 2,000 dead and that many more were wounded.<ref name=Fortescue102 /> Another source says that there were 69 European and 664 sepoy casualties on the British side and 6,000 casualties on the Mughal side.<ref name=Black160/> The victors captured 133 pieces of artillery and over 1 million rupees of cash. Immediately after the battle, Munro decided to assist the [[Maratha]]s, who were described as a "warlike race", well known for their relentless and unwavering hatred towards the [[Mughal Empire]] and its [[Nawab]]s and [[Sultanate of Mysore|Mysore]].
According to one [[Brigadier general|brigadier-general]] H. Biddulph, "the European infantry was composed of the Bengal European Battalion, two weak companies of the Bombay European Battalion, and small detachments of Marines and of H.M. 84th, 89th and 96th Regiments. The only officers killed were Lt. Francis Spilsbury of the 96th Foot and Ensign Richard Thompson of the Bengal European Battalion."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Biddulph |first=H |date=1941 |title=571. The Battle of Buxar, 1764 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44220683 |journal=Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research |publisher=Society for Army Historical Research |volume=29 |issue=79 |pages=174 |jstor=44220683 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cadell |first=P.R. |date=1941 |title=560. The Battle of Buxar, 1764 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44228260 |journal=Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research |publisher=Society for Army Historical Research |volume=20 |issue=78 |page=113 |jstor=44228260}}</ref>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
The British victory at Buxar had "at one fell swoop", disposed of the three main scions of Mughal power in Upper India. Mir Kasim [Qasim] disappeared into impoverished obscurity. Shah Alam realigned himself with the British, and Shah Shuja [Shuja-ud-Daula] fled west hotly pursued by the victors. The whole Ganges valley lay at the company's mercy; Shah Shuja eventually surrendered; henceforth company troops became the power-brokers throughout Oudh as well as Bihar".<ref name="Keay2010">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XpdgQt6Tc54C | title=The Honourable Company | publisher=HarperCollins UK | date=8 July 2010 | last=Keay | first=John | author-link=John Keay | edition=Paperback | location=London | page=374 | isbn=978-0-00-739554-5}}</ref>
The Battle of Buxar had far-reaching consequences that reshaped the political landscape of colonial India. Its aftermath witnessed significant shifts in power dynamics and set the stage for British dominance in the Bengal region. Following their victory over the combined forces of the [[Nawabs of Bengal|Nawab of Bengal]], the [[Nawab of Awadh]], and the [[Mughal emperors|Mughal Emperor]]—the three main scions—the [[East India Company|British East India Company]] emerged as the preeminent power in Bengal. The battle was the beginning of the end for the Mughal Empire's political control, as the Company continued to consolidate its influence over vast territories.<ref name=":0" /> However, this rise to power came with various challenges, especially from the [[zamindars of Bihar]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Maharatna |first=Paramita |date=2012 |title=The Zamindars of Bihar: Their Resistance to Colonial Rule between 1765-1781 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156363 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |publisher=Indian History Congress |volume=73 |pages=1435 |jstor=44156363 }}</ref>
 
[[Mir Qasim]] disappeared into impoverished obscurity. [[Shah Alam II]] surrendered himself to the British, and [[Shuja-ud-Daula]] fled west hotly pursued by the victors. The whole Ganges valley lay at the company's mercy; Shuja-ud-Daula eventually surrendered.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bryant |first=G.J. |date=2004 |title=Asymmetric Warfare: The British Experience in Eighteenth-Century India |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3397474 |journal=The Journal of Military History |volume=68 |issue=2 |pages=431–469 |doi=10.1353/jmh.2004.0019 |jstor=3397474 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 1765, the British East India Company was granted the right to collect taxes from Bengal-Bihar. Eventually, in 1773, the East India company abolished local rule and took complete control of the province of Bengal-Bihar.<ref name="Keay2010">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XpdgQt6Tc54C | title=The Honourable Company | publisher=HarperCollins UK | date=8 July 2010 | last=Keay | first=John | author-link=John Keay| location=London | page=374 | isbn=978-0-00-739554-5}}</ref> The battle exposed the inherent weaknesses and divisions among the Indian rulers. The lack of unity and coordination between the Nawabs and the Mughal Emperor made it easier for the British to defeat them. This further exacerbated the fragmentation of political power in India and paved the way for British rule on the subcontinent.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Shah Alam II, Mughal emperor of india, reviewing the East India Companys troops.jpg|The [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Shah Alam II]], as a prisoner of the [[British East India Company]], 1781
File:Shah Alam II, Mughal Emperor of India, reviewing the East India Company's troops, 1781.jpg|1894 illustration of Shah Alam II reviewing the British East India Company's troops in 1781
File:The Navab's arrival before Clive's position.jpg|The [[Nawab of Bengal]], [[Mir Qasim]]
File:The Navab's arrival before Clive's position.jpg|The [[Nawab of Bengal]], [[Mir Qasim]]
File:अवध के नवाब शुजाउद्दौला.jpg|[[Shuja-ud-Daula]] served as the leading [[Nawab]] [[Vizier]] of the [[Mughal Empire]], he was lifelong of [[Shah Alam II]].
File:अवध के नवाब शुजाउद्दौला.jpg|[[Shuja-ud-Daula]] served as the leading [[Nawab]] [[Vizier]] of the [[Mughal Empire]], he was lifelong of [[Shah Alam II]].
File:Mughal amir horseback large c hi.jpg|[[Mirza Najaf Khan]] Baloch, the commander-in-chief of the [[Mughal Army]].
File:IGI1908India1765a.jpg|Political map of the Indian Subcontinent in the year 1765.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150113120926/http://livelystories.com/2013/09/13/battle-of-buxar/ A detailed description of the Battle of Buxar]


{{Mughal Empire|state=expanded}}
{{Mughal Empire|state=expanded}}
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{{Patna Division topics}}
{{Patna Division topics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord missing|Bihar}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Buxar}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buxar}}
[[Category:British East India Company]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Indian kingdoms]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Bengal Subah]]
[[Category:Battles involving Bengal]]
[[Category:Military history of Bengal]]
[[Category:Battles involving the British East India Company]]
[[Category:Battles involving the British East India Company]]
[[Category:1764 in India]]
[[Category:1764 in India]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1764]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1764]]
[[Category:History of Bihar]]
[[Category:History of Bihar]]
[[Category:1764 in the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:1760s in the Mughal Empire]]

Latest revision as of 04:02, 29 April 2026


Battle of Buxar
Part of the Bengal War

Portrait of Hector Munro with the battle in the background
Date22–23 October 1764
Location
Buxar, Bihar
25°34′N 83°59′E / 25.567°N 83.983°E / 25.567; 83.983
Result British victory
Belligerents
 Great Britain Mughal Empire[1]
Bengal Subah
Oudh State
Kashi Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Sir Hector Munro Shah Alam IITemplate:Surrendered[1]
Najaf Khan
Mir Qasim
Shuja-ud-Daula
Balwant Singh
Strength
17,072 40,112
Casualties and losses
289 killed
499 wounded
85 missing[2][3]		 2,000 killed
4,000 wounded[2]
Template:Campaignbox Bengal War

The Battle of Buxar was fought between 22 and 23 October 1764, between the forces of the British East India Company, under the command of Major Hector Munro, against the combined armies of Shah Alam II, the Emperor of the Mughal Empire; Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal; Balwant Singh, the Maharaja of the Benares State; Shuja-ud-daula, the Nawab of Awadh.[4]

The battle was fought at Buxar, a "strong fortified town" within the territory of Bihar, located on the banks of the Ganges river about 130 kilometres (81 mi) west of Patna; it was a challenging victory for the British East India Company. The war was brought to an end by the Treaty of Allahabad in 1765.[5] The defeated Indian rulers were forced to sign the treaty, granting the East India Company Diwani rights, which allowed them to collect revenue from the territories of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa on behalf of the Mughal emperor.

The Battle[edit | edit source]

The East India Company troops engaged in the fighting numbered 17,072:[6] 1,859 British regulars, 5,297 Indian sepoys and 9,189 Indian cavalry. Whereas the Mughal Empire and alliance armies were estimated to be over 40,000.

Mirza Najaf Khan commanded the right flank of the Mughal imperial army and was the first to advance his forces against Major Hector Munro at daybreak; the British lines formed within twenty minutes and reversed the advance of the Mughals. According to the British, Durrani and Rohilla cavalry were also present and fought during the battle in various skirmishes. But by midday, the battle was over and Shuja-ud-Daula blew up large tumbrils and three massive magazines of gunpowder.

Munro divided his army into various columns and particularly pursued the Mughal Grand Vizier Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh, who responded by blowing up his boat-bridge after crossing the river, thus abandoning the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II and members of his own regiment. Mir Qasim also fled with his 3 million rupees worth of gemstones and later died in poverty in 1777. Mirza Najaf Khan reorganised formations around Shah Alam II, who retreated and then chose to negotiate with the victorious British.[7]

Political map of the Indian Subcontinent in the year 1765, green indicating territories loyal to emperor Shah Alam.

The historian John William Fortescue stated that the British casualties totalled 847: 39 killed and 64 wounded from the European regiments and 250 killed, 435 wounded and 85 missing from the East India Company's sepoys.[2] He also stated that the three Indian allies suffered 2,000 dead and that many more were wounded.[2] Another source says that there were 69 European and 664 sepoy casualties on the British side and 6,000 casualties on the Mughal side.[3] The victors captured 133 pieces of artillery and over 1 million rupees of cash. Immediately after the battle, Munro decided to assist the Marathas, who were described as a "warlike race", well known for their relentless rivalry and unwavering hatred towards Mughal Empire, Durrani Empire, Rohilla Chieftaincies, different Nawabs of the subcontinent (most notably, Nawab of Bengal and Nawab of Awadh), Nizam of Hyderabad and short lived Sultanate of Mysore.

According to one brigadier-general H. Biddulph, "the European infantry was composed of the Bengal European Battalion, two weak companies of the Bombay European Battalion, and small detachments of Marines and of H.M. 84th, 89th and 96th Regiments. The only officers killed were Lt. Francis Spilsbury of the 96th Foot and Ensign Richard Thompson of the Bengal European Battalion."[8][9]

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

The Battle of Buxar had far-reaching consequences that reshaped the political landscape of colonial India. Its aftermath witnessed significant shifts in power dynamics and set the stage for British dominance in the Bengal region. Following their victory over the combined forces of the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal Emperor—the three main scions—the British East India Company emerged as the preeminent power in Bengal. The battle was the beginning of the end for the Mughal Empire's political control, as the Company continued to consolidate its influence over vast territories.[7] However, this rise to power came with various challenges, especially from the zamindars of Bihar.[10]

Mir Qasim disappeared into impoverished obscurity. Shah Alam II surrendered himself to the British, and Shuja-ud-Daula fled west hotly pursued by the victors. The whole Ganges valley lay at the company's mercy; Shuja-ud-Daula eventually surrendered.[11] In 1765, the British East India Company was granted the right to collect taxes from Bengal-Bihar. Eventually, in 1773, the East India company abolished local rule and took complete control of the province of Bengal-Bihar.[12] The battle exposed the inherent weaknesses and divisions among the Indian rulers. The lack of unity and coordination between the Nawabs and the Mughal Emperor made it easier for the British to defeat them. This further exacerbated the fragmentation of political power in India and paved the way for British rule on the subcontinent.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sen, Sailendra Nath (2009). History Of The Freedom Movement In India (1857–1947). New Age International. p. 2. ISBN 9788122425765.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 John William (2004). Fortescue's History of the British Army. Vol. 2. Naval & Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-715-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Black, Jeremy (28 March 1996). Wyse, Liz (ed.). The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: Renaissance to Revolution, 1492–1792. Vol. 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-521-47033-9.
  4. ↑ Parshotam Mehra (1985). A Dictionary of Modern History (1707–1947). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-561552-2.
  5. ↑ Zaman, Faridah (2015). "Colonizing the Sacred: Allahabad and the Company State, 1797–1857". The Journal of Asian Studies. 74 (2): 347–367. doi:10.1017/S0021911815000017. JSTOR 43553588.
  6. ↑ Cust, Edward (1858). Annals of the Wars of the Eighteenth Century: 1760–1783. Vol. III. London: Mitchell's Mibdglitiry Library. p. 113.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Singh, Sonal (2017). "Micro-history Lost in a Global Narrative? Revisiting the Grant of the "Diwani" to the English East India Company". Social Scientist. 45 (3/4): 41–51. JSTOR 26380344.
  8. ↑ Biddulph, H (1941). "571. The Battle of Buxar, 1764". Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research. 29 (79). Society for Army Historical Research: 174. JSTOR 44220683.
  9. ↑ Cadell, P.R. (1941). "560. The Battle of Buxar, 1764". Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research. 20 (78). Society for Army Historical Research: 113. JSTOR 44228260.
  10. ↑ Maharatna, Paramita (2012). "The Zamindars of Bihar: Their Resistance to Colonial Rule between 1765-1781". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 73. Indian History Congress: 1435. JSTOR 44156363.
  11. ↑ Bryant, G.J. (2004). "Asymmetric Warfare: The British Experience in Eighteenth-Century India". The Journal of Military History. 68 (2): 431–469. doi:10.1353/jmh.2004.0019. JSTOR 3397474.
  12. ↑ Keay, John (8 July 2010). The Honourable Company. London: HarperCollins UK. p. 374. ISBN 978-0-00-739554-5.
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