Regional Kingdoms and

Expansion of British Rule in

India-I
Regional Kingdoms
Successor States

• Awadh
• Bengal
• Hyderabad
• Mysore
• Rajput States
• Carnatic State

Rebel States

• Marathas
• Jats
• Rohillas
• Punjab- Sikhs
 Bengal
• Murshid Quli Khan was the Diwan of Bengal under Aurangzeb and was
made the Governor of Bengal under Farruksiyar.

• His appointment as subadar of Bengal in 1717 strengthened his

position immensely by giving him, for the first time in any province, the
joint powers of the Diwan and the Nazim.

• He shifted his capital to a central town in Bengal which was renamed

Murshidabad.
• He abolished the system of separate offices of the Nazim and the Diwan and combined both the
offices. By combining these two posts he wanted to strengthen the power of the governor.

• Sarfaraz was nominated by Murshid Quli as his successor. However, he was deposed by his father
Shujauddin Muhammad Khan.

• The way Murshid Quli tried to develop a system of administration of his own was also pursued by
Shuja. He also developed ties of loyalty with different local power groups to retain his control over
the province.

• In 1739-4 Alivardi Khan came to power who killed Sarfaraz Khan, the legitimate successor to
Shujauddin, and seized power. Alivardi was backed by the Zamindars and bankers.

• It was Alivardi's reign, which 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.

• In 1756 Siraj-ud-daula became the Nawab of Bengal on the death of his grandfather Alivardi
Khan.
 Hyderabad
• Chin Qilich Khan was first appointed a subadar (in charge of province) by
the Mughal emperor in 1713.

• But only after a military victory over his rival Mughal appointee in 1724
that he could take effective charge of the Deccan.

• Subsequently, he removed the Mughal officials in Hyderabad and

installed his own men. He also assumed the right of making treaties, wars
and granting Mansabs and titles. He, later, assumed the title of Nizam-
ul-Mulk Asaf-Jah and governed the Deccan as an independent ruler .
 Awadh
• Saadat Khan was the governor of Awadh in 1722. He had helped in overthrowing of the Sayyid
Brothers.

• He was able to subdued rebellions by the local rajas and chiefs within a year and was conferred
with the title of Burhan-ul-Mulk by Muhammed Shah in appreciation. He tried to build a power
base in Awadh.

• In order to consolidate his position, he suppressed the rebellious of local Zamindars and chieftains
and systematised the revenue collection.

• Saadat, nominated his son-in-law Safdar Jung as his successor without asking for imperial
sanction. He reorganized the revenue arrangements of the province.

• Safdar Jang's successor Shuja-ud-daula achieved greater success in consolidating the expanding
frontiers of the province and in adjusting the relations of his independent Suba with the Mughal
empire.
 Mysore
• Originally a vice- royalty under the Vijaynagara empire in the sixteenth century, Mysore was
gradually transformed into an autonomous principality by the Wodeyar dynasty.

• Its centralised military power began to increase from the late seventeenth century under
Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar (1672-1704), but it reached its real period of glory under Haidar Ali.

• Haidar Ali had started his career as a junior officer in the Mysore army and gradually rose to
prominence.

• By 1761, he took over political power in Mysore by ousting the corrupt prime minister; Nanjraj,
who had in the meanwhile usurped real power in the kingdom by reducing the Wodeyar king
into a mere titular head.
• Haider’s son Tipu Sultan succeeded him after his death in 1792.

• New calendar, new coinage system & new scales of weights & measures.

• French revolution: Planted a 'Tree of Liberty' at Seringapatam & he became

a member of a ‘Jacobian Club’. He sent ambassadors to France to bring in
European technology, went on to build a navy, with ambition to participate
in oceanic trade.

• He was the only one who understand the threat of the English.

• Tried to establish modern navy

 Carnatic

• One of the subahs of Mughal Deccan & thus came under Nizam.

• Deputy governor known as Nawab of Carnatic. Made his office

hereditary

• Nawab Saadatullah Khan made his nephew Dost Ali his successor
without approval of Nizam

• Founder of Nawayath dynasty

 Rajput States
• Raja Sawai Jai Singh Amber (1699-1743)

• Distinguished statesman, law maker, astronomer & reformer

• Man of Science & arts

• Founded Jaipur: Made it a seat of science

• Observatories in Ujjain, Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi & Mathura

• He drew up a set of tables, entitled Zij Muhammad Shahi, to enable people to

make astronomical observations.
• Euclid's "Elements of Geometry", translated into Sanskrit & also several
works on trigonometry, & Napier's work on the construction & use of
logarithms.

• Law to reduce expenditure on daughter’s marriage.

 Jats
• Agriculturists, lived in around Delhi, Agra & Mathura.

• The first revolt of the Jat peasants took place in 1669 and the emperor himself
had to proceed to suppress this rebellion. In 1686 the Jats revolted again; this
time the Mughal imperial power was able to achieved some success against
them, but failed to curb their power completely.

• The Jat state of Bharatpur was set by Churaman & Badan Singh.

• Reached its highest glory under the Suraj Mal (1756-1763).

• Extended his authority from the Ganga in the east to Chambal in the south,
Subah of Agra in the west to Subah of Delhi in north.
 Bangash Pathans and Rohillas
• Muhammad Khan Bangash, an Afghan adventurer, established his
control over territory around Farrukhabad (during the reign of Farrukh
Siyar & Mohammad shah).

• The region is identified as modern Aligarh & Kanpur.

• Ali Muhammad Khan carved out a separate principality, known as

Rohilkhand.

• With its capital 1st at Aolan in Bareilly & later at Rampur.

Expansion of British Power
 The Anglo-French Rivalry
Commercial and political
Political rivalry in Europe.
rivalry in India.

The Anglo-
French rivalry
was a result
of

Commercial entities The weakness of the Indian

wanted to stem out competition. political units.
 MAHRATTAS

NIZAM’S

S
DOMINIONS C AR
CI R
E RN
RTH
NO

PA
RU
BEDNOR

KU
Madras
MYSORE

T
Coorg

O
MALABAR Pondicherry

C
Cochin
R
A Tanjore

TRAVANCORE
 Long history of conflicts.

Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453)

for control over France.

The French Revolutionary Wars

and the Napoleonic Wars.

War for Austrian

Succession (1740-1748).

Seven Years War (1756-63).

 Why was Carnatic a bone of
contention?
There was not much scope in the West
French activities were concentrated
(under the powerful Marathas) and
in Pondicherry.
East (Bengal under Alivardi Khan).

French had begun to gain influence in

Mysore and the Carnatic.

The Austrian War of Succession (1740-48)

 War of Austrian Succession :1740-1748

France, Prussia, Spain, Bavaria, Britain, Habsburg, Hanover, Dutch

Sicily, Naples, Genoa, Sweden Republic, Saxony, Sardinia, Russia

The French did not want the aggression to

reach India.

Dupleix advised the English to

maintain neutrality.

The English seized some French ships

off South-East coast of India.
 First Carnatic War (1746-1748)
• A French navy from Mauritius arrived under La Bourdonnais, invaded Fort St.
George (Madras) and captured it.

• English appealed to the Nawab of Carnatic, Anwaruddin. The Nawab asked

the French to leave Madras but the latter neglected the advice.

• Battle of St.Thomas (1746): The Nawab sent an army to fight the French on
the banks of River Adyar near St. Thomas.

• The French sent a small and efficient army led by Captain Paradise.

• The Nawab’s forces suffered a decisive defeat due to lack of technological

development.
 Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle
(October,1748)
The treaty
Signatories –
focused largely
Britain, France,
on the
Dutch, Spain,
European
Austria, Sardinia,
theatre of the
Genoa, Modena.
war.

The French,
It brought the
Madras was in return, got
Austrian War of
handed back to their territories
Succession to a
the English. in North
conclusion.
America.
Outcome-

• French Superiority had been clearly displayed.

• Dupleix had given ample proof of his extraordinary skill &

diplomacy.

• Brought out the importance of naval power as an important

factor.
 Second Carnatic War (1749-1754)
• Civil Wars in Hyderabad & Carnatic on the issue of succession.

• Interfering in the local dynastic dispute.

• In Carnatic, Chanda Sahib (son in law of former Nawab, Dost

Ali) vs Anwar-ud-din (the Nawab)

• In Hyderabad, Muzaffar Jang (grand son) vs Nasir Jang (son)

 Dost Ali
Nizam-ul-Mulk

Anwar-ud-din (one
Chanda Sahib
of Nizam’s officers)
(son-in-law of Dost
was appointed as the
Muzaffar Jung Ali) opposed
Nasir Jung (Son) Nawab of the
(grandson) Anwar-ud-din’s
Carnatic by the
succession.
Nizam in 1743.

Got English support Got French support

Got English support Got French support

• The combined armies of Muzaffar Jang, Chanda Sahib and the French defeated and killed Anwar-ud-din at
the Battle of Ambur (3rd August, 1749).

• Chanda Sahib was appointed as the Nawab, while Muhammad Ali (son of Anwar-ud-din) fled to Trichinopoly.

• French and Chanda Sahib’s forces surrounded the Trichinopoly fort.

• Nasir Jang also lost his life in 1750.

Nasir Jung was killed and Muzaffar Jung emerged victorious
with French support.

Dupleix was appointed governor of Mughal territories to the

south of the River Krishna.

Territories near Pondicherry and Masulipatnam were ceded to

the French.

French acquired the Northern Circars from the Nizam.

French army under captain Bussy was stationed at

Nawab’s court.

Muzaffar Jung was killed within a couple of months.

Later, Muzaffar’s uncle, Salabat Jung became the

new Nizam.
 The English gain momentum – Siege of Arcot (1751)

• Robert Clive suggested a sudden raid on Arcot (the capital of the Carnatic) to
divert the pressure from Trichinopoly.

• It forced Chanda Sahib to return to Arcot.

• Trichinopoly was relieved of its siege by the combined army of Mysore,

Tanjore, Maratha and Robert Clive.

• Chanda Sahib was executed in the island of Srirangam.

• Muhammad Ali was installed as the Nawab of Carnatic.

 Charles Robert Godeheu opened
The French Godeheu succeeded negotiations and
authorities recalled Dupleix as the French signed the Treaty of
Dupleix in 1754 Governor-General Pondicherry (1754),
due to heavy in India. ending the Second
financial losses. Carnatic war.

Both the companies

promised that they Bussy’s stay at
would not interfere in Hyderabad was
the internal matters accepted by both
of the Indian rulers. the sides.

The Treaty was

Both the parties
signed between
returned the
the French and the
conquered parts to
British.
each other.
 Third Carnatic War (1758-1763)
• Outbreak of the Seven Years War (1756-63) in Europe, soon turned into
a global war.

France, Austria, Saxony, Prussia, Hanover,

VS
Sweden and Russia Great Britain.

• Britain and France were once again on opposite sides and their rivalry
echoed in India.
 Course

• Arthur de Lally captured the English forts of St. David and Vizianagaram
in 1758.

• Lally did not get the naval support at time, so Madras was lost.

• English became offensive and inflicted heavy losses on the French fleet
under Admiral D’Ache at Masulipatnam.
 Battle of Wandiwash (1760)
• General Eyre Coote of the English totally routed the French
army under Arthur de Lally

• Pondicherry was gallantly defended by Lally, but he surrendered

on January 16, 1761.

• The loss of Pondicherry, Gingee and Mahe, curbed the French

power completely.

• Lally was taken as prisoner of war to London.

 Lally’s Mistakes
Bussy was recalled from
the Hyderabad Nizam's
court, which was a
blunder .
Arthur De Lally was He maintained
rude and overbearing the fear
. with the
in his conduct of threats and
subordinates punishment in
the army .
The English quickly sent
Had a very low opinion As a result, the an army to the Northern
of the company's French army Circars and concluded a
servants in was badly treaty with the Nizam.
Pondicherry. demoralized.

The French influence in

Deccan was lost.
Outcome-

• French possessions in India were made protectorate states

• Pondicherry & few other territories were returned.

• No fortification allowed, No standing army

• French confined to only few areas

• This sealed French ambitions in India.

 Reasons for French Defeat

Lethargy and
French East India Directors were
Bureaucratic English EIC was a
Company was a Appointed by
Control over Private entity
State Undertaking Crown
Company

Failed to The British had the

Opening up of Also couldn’t build
understand advantage as they
different fronts by strong navy like
complex political had partial control
the French the English
situations in India over Bengal.
 Dependency on its Government

The English Company was an

Majority of the capital was
independent commercial
contributed to by
corporation whose Directors
the French monarch. invested in its welfare.

Structure of Companies
Directors were nominated by
the King, mostly negligent.

Financial position of the . Its shareholders were more

The British company’s
Company suffered badly. interested in bargaining for
shareholders were active in
higher dividends and were less
promoting the interests of the
interested in the expansion of
company.
the company

The French
company's dividends were
guaranteed by the
government.
 War Year Results Treaty

Treaty of
First Carnatic 1746 - The French were
Aix-La-
War 1748 victorious
Chapelle
The French gained
control over Northern
Second 1749 - Treaty of
Circars, the English
Carnatic War 1754 Pondicherry
gained control over
the Carnatic region

Third Carnatic 1758 - The French influence

Treaty of Paris
War 1763 in Deccan was lost
Conquest of Bengal
 Authority of
In 1651, the first English factory was set up on
Nawabs over the
Richest present-day banks of River Hughli with warehouse and
province Bihar, Odisha offices.
and In 1696, it began to build a fort around its
Bangladesh. settlement.

The Company persuaded merchants and

traders to come and settle near the factory.
60% of the
British imports In 1698, they got zamindari rights over
from Asia the villages of Sutanuti, Kalikata,
Gobindpur.
consisted of
Bengal goods. Established
Calcutta.
• The officials of the Company made rampant misuse of its trade privileges that
adversely affected the Nawab’s finances.

• 1756: Alivardi died & was succeeded by his 23 year-old grandson, Siraj-ud-
daulah.

• Suspicious of the large profits made by the European companies in India, asked
them to trade on similar terms like Murshid times.

• When the British & the French started improving their fortifications in anticipation
of another war between them, he immediately ordered them to stop such
activities as they had been done without permission.

• French agreed but not the English.

• When the British refused to cease their constructions, the Nawab led a
detachment of 3000 men to surround the fort & factory of Cossimbazar & took
several British officials as prisoners, before moving to Calcutta.
• The city was occupied on 16 June by Siraj’s force & the Fort William surrendered after a
brief siege on 20 June 1756.

• Black Hole Tragedy: The prisoners who were captured at the siege of Calcutta were
transferred by Siraj to the care of the officers of his guard, who confined them to the
common dungeon of Fort William.

• The conspiracy and retaliation Present as an Portray Siraj- Create a

example of ud-daula as a British public
British monster opinion in
heroism and directly favour of wars
the Nawab's responsible of the East
callousness. for the deaths. India
Company.
• The troop sent under Clive was initially meant to oust the French from
the Deccan but was diverted to Bengal after the Black Hole tragedy.

• In February 1757, Robert Clive arrived with a strong naval force.

• Treaty of Alinagar: Restore to the English their former privileges of trade,

Grant permission to fortify Calcutta and Pay compensation amount for
the losses suffered by the English.
Robert Clive entered into agreement with the leading man of Nawab’s Court:

• Mir Jafar (Mir Bakshi)

• Jagat Seth: A marwari banker.

• Omi Chand or Amir Chand : A rich merchant.

• Manik Chand: Officer in charge of Calcutta.

• Rai Durlabh: He was the treasurer of Nawab.

• Ghaseti Begum: The rich maternal aunt of Nawab.

 Battle of Plassey -23 June 1757

• About 30 km from Murshidabad.

• Battle only in name: The battle was merely a skirmish but in its results
was one of the most decisive battles of Indian history as it paved the
way for the foundation of British rule.

• Only Mir Madan & Mohan Lal fought.

• Nawab was put to death by Mir Jafar’s son Miran.

Concession given by Mir Jafar-
• Large sums of money plus the Zamindari of 24 parganas to the English.

Historical Importance-

Rich revenue of
Paved the way for Boosted British
Mir Jafar became a Bengal enable them
the British mastery of prestige & status of a
puppet in the hands to organize a strong
Bengal & eventually major contender for
of Clive army & meet the cost
to whole India. the Indian Empire.
of conquest.

Control over Bengal

Regarded as a
played a decisive Main rivals, the
starting point of
role in the Anglo- French, were ousted.
British rule in India.
French war.
Summary
Summary
Summary
Summary