An Introduction to the Buxar War
With the arrival of Europeans in India, British East India steadily conquered several Indian territories. The Battle of Buxar is one such challenge between the British army and the Indians which led the British to rule India for the next 183 years. The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764 to mark the end of the rule of a Nawab over Bengal. In the article, we will be covering the important details of the battle of Buxar along with the major parties involved and result as well as causes of the battles etc.
What was the Buxar Battle?
The Buxar war was fought at Buxar on October 22, 1764, in northeastern India between the British East India Company, led by Major Hector Munro, and the combined army of an association of Indian States including Bengal, Awadh, and the Mughal Empire. This Battle of Buxar confined British power over Bengal and Bihar after their initial achievement at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and marked the end of the endeavor to rule Bengal through a puppet Nawab. Hereafter the company regained control. The British success at Buxar led to a large area of the Indian subcontinent coming under British control.
Battle of Buxar: History
The decisive Battle of Buxar was fought between British and Indian forces. It was fought in a town on the banks of the Ganges River. Mir Kasim, the Governor-General of Bengal, wanted to abolish the control of British rule. He formed an association with the Nawab of Oudh and Shah Alam II, the Mughal emperor. The combined Indian armies conquered Bengal and clashed with British troops, led by Major Hector Munro, in October 1764. This decisive Battle of Plassey resulted in the British victory. As a result of this victory, in 1765, the Treaty of Allahabad was signed by Robert Clive with the Nawab of Oudh and Shah Alam II. The treaty effectively authorized the British East India Company's control over the whole of Bengal.
Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula was put back to Awadh, with a dominant force and assurance of security, the emperor Shah Alam alleviated with Allahabad and a tribute and the partitions drawn at the boundary of Bihar. He took a decisive step in Bengal. In consideration for restoring Shah Alam to Allahabad, he received the privilege of the Diwani or revenue authority in Bengal and Bihar to the Company. This had previously been adored by the nawab, so there was a dual government, the nawab maintaining judicial and army functions, whereas the British East India Company was making use of the revenue. The Company was assimilated and became the Mughal revenue agent for Bengal and Bihar. There was as yet no consideration of direct administration, and the revenue was collected by a Muhammad Reza Khan, appointed by the company as Deputy Nawab at that time.
But this system made the British East India Company the virtual ruler of Bengal since it already possessed decisive military power. The Nawabs were left with the control of the judicial administration. He was later compelled to lend this over to the Company's deputy-nawab so that its control gets completed virtually. Despite this, the British East India Company was again on the verge of bankruptcy, which forced the Britishers to make further initiatives at reform. On one hand, Warren Hastings was appointed with a mandate for reform; whereas, on the other side, an appeal was made to the British state for a loan. This marks the initiation of state control of the Company and the thirteen-year governorship of Warren Hastings.
The first important work of Warren Hasting was that of an organizer. Prior to the initiation of the Regulating Act, he put the complete Bengal administration in sequence. The Indian deputies who had collected the revenue on behalf of the Company were overthrown and their places were captured by a Board of Revenue in Kolkata and English collectors in the districts. This marks the true beginning of the British administration in India.
Battle of Buxar Causes
The Battle of Buxar began after the Battle of Plassey. It happened when Mir Qasim received authority to become the Nawab of Bengal. The underlying reason for the Battle of Buxar was the conflict between the Britishers and Mir Qasim. Mir Qasim was an imperial ruler and was the power and intelligence of all Nawabs. He began some transformation, under which there was a cost reduction on administration and palaces. The firelocks and guns were also manufactured. There was a continuous payment of salaries, new taxes were imposed and the capital was shifted from Monghyar to Murshidabad, which distracted the British nobles and officers.
The Britishers wanted to control Mir like a puppet, But, he always wanted to keep himself away from the British power. This resulted in several conflicts between Mir and the Britishers. Before the Battle of Buxar, Mir was defeated in three successive battles (between June to September 1763) which eventually forced him to take off Allahabad where he met Shuja-ud-Daulah. For the time being, after the attainment of power as the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II was willing to merge several states as one physically stronger empire, which included Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. But, he also could not control the British and was under the defense of Shuja-ud-Daulah who always wanted to defeat the British power in Bengal.
Therefore, the primary cause of conflict between the English and the three rulers was the share of Bengal. Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah, and Shah Alam II hold hands to fight against the English to establish their supremacy over the whole of Bengal and minimize the British power. On 23rd October 1764, they declared war against the English at the battleground Katkauli, 6 kilometers from Buxar. This was a war that was fought for just a few hours but observed as one of the most important wars in Indian History.
What Were The Reasons for the Battle of Buxar?
This critical Battle of Buxar confirmed British rule over Bengal and marked the termination of the attempt to rule Bengal through a victim nawab. This battle resulted in the Treaty of Allahabad, 1765 in which the Mughal Emperor abdicated supremacy of Bengal to the British. Lord Robert Clive, the conqueror at the Battle of Plassey, became the first governor of Bengal.
What Were The Results of Battle of Buxar?
The Battle of Buxar made the British East India Company the emperor of Bengal since it already had decisive military power. All that was left to the Nawab was the power of the judicial administration. But he was later compelled to lend this to the Company in 1793. Thus the company's control was completed practically.
Regardless of this, the East India Company was again prepared for bankruptcy, which compelled the British to make further initiatives at reform. Perhaps, on one side Warren Hastings was appointed with a mandate for reform; whereas, on the other side, an appeal was made to the British state for a loan. The result was the beginnings of state control of the Company. This made Warren Hastings the Governor-General of Bengal from 1772 to 1785.
Conclusion
Thus, we can say that Bengal was known as the first state that was occupied by the Britishers because of its economical significance. Britishers wanted a puppet ruler in Bengal so that they could trade without interruption. The Nawabs of Bengal were said to be the most efficient rulers who didn't want Britishers to misuse the Farman issued to them in 1717. Because of the increasing tussle between them, two major battles took place namely Battle of Plassey and Battle of Buxar which acted as a turning point in Indian history.
FAQs on Battle of Buxar
1. What was the Battle of Buxar and when was it fought?
The Battle of Buxar was a decisive conflict fought on October 22, 1764, near the town of Buxar in Bihar. It was fought between the forces of the British East India Company, led by Major Hector Munro, and the combined armies of Mir Qasim (the deposed Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (the Nawab of Awadh), and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. Its outcome firmly established British military and political supremacy in Northern India.
2. What were the main causes that led to the Battle of Buxar?
The primary causes of the Battle of Buxar stemmed from the conflict between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim. Key reasons include:
Misuse of Trade Privileges: The Company officials were misusing their trade privileges (dastaks), which led to huge revenue losses for the Nawab.
Nawab's Assertion of Sovereignty: Mir Qasim attempted to assert his authority by abolishing all duties on internal trade, placing Indian merchants on an equal footing with the British, which the Company opposed.
Shifting of Capital: Mir Qasim shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger to distance himself from the Company's influence in Calcutta.
Formation of an Alliance: After being defeated by the British, Mir Qasim fled and formed a military alliance with Shuja-ud-Daula and Shah Alam II to drive the British out of Bengal.
3. Who won the Battle of Buxar and what was the immediate result?
The British East India Company, under the command of Major Hector Munro, decisively won the Battle of Buxar. The immediate result was the complete defeat and dispersal of the powerful Indian alliance. This victory showcased the superior military discipline and strategy of the British forces and left the Mughal Emperor and the Nawab of Awadh at the mercy of the Company.
4. What was the significance of the Treaty of Allahabad signed after the Battle of Buxar?
The Treaty of Allahabad, signed in 1765 by Robert Clive, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, and the Nawab of Awadh, was a major political consequence of the battle. Its most significant outcome was the granting of the Diwani rights—the right to collect revenue from the provinces of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa—to the British East India Company. This formalised British control over the region's finances and administration, marking a crucial step in their transition from a trading company to a ruling power.
5. How did the Battle of Buxar differ in importance from the Battle of Plassey?
While both battles were pivotal, the Battle of Buxar is often considered more significant for establishing British rule. The Battle of Plassey (1757) was won largely through conspiracy and betrayal, not just military strength. In contrast, the Battle of Buxar was a clear military victory against the combined forces of two major Indian powers and the Mughal Emperor himself. It legitimized British power and demonstrated their military superiority, paving the way for direct political control.
6. What were the key reasons for the defeat of the much larger Indian army at Buxar?
The defeat of the larger Indian force was due to several factors that highlight the differences between the two armies. The primary reasons were:
Superior British Discipline and Tactics: The Company's army was better trained, more disciplined, and employed advanced European military tactics.
Lack of Coordination: The Indian alliance suffered from a lack of coordination and a unified command. The three allies had different objectives and did not fight as a cohesive unit.
Effective British Leadership: Major Hector Munro provided decisive and unified leadership, which was absent on the Indian side.
Use of Modern Artillery: The British had superior firepower and used their artillery much more effectively during the battle.
7. How did the outcome of the Battle of Buxar establish the British as the supreme power in Northern India?
The victory at Buxar was a turning point. By defeating the Mughal Emperor, the ruler of the most powerful state in Northern India (Awadh), and the former Nawab of Bengal simultaneously, the British established unchallenged military dominance. The subsequent Treaty of Allahabad legally transferred financial and administrative power (Diwani) to the Company. This gave them the resources to maintain a large army and control the politics of the region, effectively making them the real masters of Bengal and the supreme political power in Northern India.
8. What was the system of 'Dual Government' introduced in Bengal after the Battle of Buxar?
The 'Dual Government' was a system introduced in Bengal by Robert Clive in 1765. Under this system, the administration was divided into two parts:
Diwani (Revenue): The right to collect revenue and control finances was held by the British East India Company.
Nizamat (Administration): The administrative and judicial responsibilities were theoretically left with the Nawab of Bengal.
In practice, the Company held all the real power without any of the responsibility, while the Nawab had all the responsibility with no real power or resources. This system proved disastrous for the people of Bengal.
