EMERGENCE OF REGIONAL

POWERS : THE RISE OF

BENGAL, AWADH AND
HYDERABAD
 SUCCESSOR STATES
• By 1761, the mughal empire was an empire only in name as its
weaknesses had enabled the local owners to assert their
independence. Yet the symbolic authority of mughal emperor
continued. The new states did not challenge its rule or authority and
constantly sought its sanction to legitimize their rule.
• The emergence of these states in 18th century represented a
transformation rather than collapse of polity. It signified a
decentralization of power & not a power vacuum or political chaos.
• Bengal, Awadh & Hyderabad were three successor states of mughal
empire, in the sense that they were founded by provincial mughal
governors who never formally severed their links with the centre but
virtually exercised autonomy in matters of execution at local level
 BENGAL
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The province of Bengal gradually became independent of Mughal control

after Murshid Quli Khan became the governor in 1717.
1. Efficient revenue administration: The foundation of Murshid Quli’s power
was his successful revenue administration which even in days of political
chaos made Bengal a revenue surplus area. Quli made the revenue
collection system efficient. He encouraged the development of a few
powerful zamindars at the expense of smaller zamindars. By the time of
Quli’s death in 1727, fifteen largest zamindars were responsible for half of
the revenue of the province.
2. The growing importance of Merchants & Bankers: the constant pressure
on the zamindars to pay revenue on time brought powerful bankers into
great demand. They provided securities at every stage of the transaction
and enjoyed unprecedented patronage of governor, thus providing the
main supportive pillar of his power. The most signficant of whom was
Jagat Seth who eventually became the treasurer of the govt in 1730.
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3. Bengal and the role of trade: bengal always had a lucrative trade and
the political stability & increase in agricultural productivity during
Quli’s regime provided further impetus to such trading activities.
• During the political turmoil of 18th century, traffic through the overland
route partially declined but oceanic trade thrived with the increasing
investment from european companies- the Dutch, French & English.
• Bengal always enjoyed a favorable balance of trade, with surplus
bullion bought in by European companies to buy bengali goods. On
the Indian side, this trade was dominated by merchants and they
enjoyed a cordial relation with state & bureaucracy.

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Murshid Quli (1717-1727) was succeeded by his

grandson Sarfaraz Khan. However, Shujauddin Khan
(Quli’s son-in-law) ousted Sarfaraz Khan. Khan was
supported by the local zamindars, merchants and
Bankers

1739-40: the increasing influence of bankers and

traders became visible when in a coup in 1739, Sarfarz
Khan , the newly appointed Nazim was ousted by his
army commander Alivardi Khan with the help of banking
family of Jagat Seth and a few powerful zamindars.

Alivardi Khan: it was his reign that marked a virtual

break with the Mughals. All major appointments were
now made without any reference to the emperor and
finally, the regular flow of revenue to Delhi was stopped.
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 ALIVARDI KHAN & THE MARATHA
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THREAT
• Maratha threat posed by continuous expansion reached Bengal, Bihar and
Orissa. In 1751, under Alivardi Khan, they reached an agreement with
Maratha’s agreeing to pay Chauth (1/4th of tax collection) for bengal and
handing over Orissa to Maratha’s.

• Alivardi Khan died in 1756: bitter succession war b/w his successor, the
young Siraj-ud-Daula and Ghaseti Begum (Alivardi’s daughter) & Shaukat
Jung. This resulted in intense court factionalism, as the mighty zamindars
& merchants felt threatened by a young nawab.

• This intense court factionalism destablized the administration of Bengal

and the advantage was taken by British East India Company which
acquired a foothold in Bengal politics through the Plassey conspiracy that
ended the rule of Siraj-ud-Daula.
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BATTLE OF PLASSEY: 1757

• 1690- Aurangzeb granted British rights for duty free trade in Bengal for
Rs 3000.
• 1717- Farukh Siyar granted the company the right to carry on duty-free
trade, to rent 38 villages around calcutta and use the royal mint.
However, Murshid Quli refused to rent 38 villages and grant minting
rights.
• 1750’s- British were apprehensive of French presence & victories in
South India & English private trade suffered heavily in 1750’s as a
result of French competition in collusion with Asian merchants.
• 1755- English began renovating their fortifications in Calcutta without
the Nawab’s permission & in utter defiance of his authority began to
offer protection to fugitives from his court.
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• 1756- Siraj-ud-Daula became nawab, took over the british factory in

Kasimbazar. This was followed by Siraj’s attack on calcutta & its
capture on 20th june 1756(black hole tragedy).
• This precipitated a crisis, Robert Clive now arrived with a strong army
from Madras. A dissatisfied faction within Nawab Siraj’s court
consisting of merchant bankers, powerful bankers like Jagat Seth
sided with the British.
• 1757- Battle of Plassey: Siraj defeated by Clive (the war was only a
skirmish) as the military commander of Siraj, i.e Mir Jafar effected a
coup-de-eat with the support of Jagat Seth brothers.

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 CONSEQUENCES OF BATTLE OF
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PLASSEY
1. The plassey battle paved way for British rule in Bengal & India.
2. The war boosted British prestige- in a single stroke raised them to
status of major contender for Indian empire.
3. Revenue from Bengal enabled the British to build a strong army.
4. Plassey Plunder: 2,75,000 pound immediate war indemnity was to be
paid to the british.
a. b/w 1757-1760, the company received 22.5 million rupees from mir jafar.
b. Prior to plassey, trade with bengal was financed from bullion imported
from Europe. After Plassey, bullion was exported from Bengal to China &
other parts of India for trade purposes.
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BATTLE OF BUXAR (1764) AND TREATY
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OF ALLAHABAD (1765)
• 1763- Shah Alam 2 (Mughal emperor), Sujha-ud-Daula (Awadh), Mir Kasim
planned to form a grand alliance to fight against British.
• 1764- Battle of Buxar: an 18th century Indian Army with its segmentary
social organization was in serious disadvantages against a technically
efficient English army with a unified command.
• 1765- Treaty of Allahabad: Shah Alam 2 was treated with respect after the
defeat and the nominal rule of mughal continued. In return, the British were
granted
• Diwani rights (revenue collecting rights) for Bengal, Bihar & Orissa
• British resident was posted at Murshidabad who became the real locus of
power in Bengal province by 1772
• In Awadh, Shuja-ud-daula paid five million rupees to the company. A
british resident was posted in his court & the company was granted duty free
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CHAPTER SUMMARY
Causes of Battle of Plassey
• Assertive nawab who threatened privileges of East India Company
• Anglo-French Rivalry
• Defiance of the nawab’s authority
• Defection of Merchant Bankers who felt threatened by the young Nawab

Significance of Battle of Plassey & Battle of Buxar

• Raised British Prestige
• Plassey Plunder-Boost to the finances of East India Company
• Enabled them to build a strong army
• Treaty of Allahabad: granted them revenue collecting rights.

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