Battle of Buxar formed a milestone in the history of India. On October 22, 1764, it took place in the town of Buxar, which was located near the Ganges River. The British East India Company fought against a powerful alliance of Indian rulers composed of Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal; Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh; and Shah Alam II, the Mughal Emperor. The victory of the British in this battle gave them control over Bengal and Bihar.

The victory did not merely weaken the Indian rulers but also gave the British a right to collect taxes and regulate trade. The Treaty of Allahabad was soon signed, which marked the beginning of official British dominance in the region. This victory brought the British East India Company as the most commanding force in northern India and opened a new chapter in the colonial history of India.

What was the Battle of Buxar?

The battle of buxar, which took place on 22 October 1764, was a battle between the British East India Company and a formidable coalition of Indian rulers: Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh), and Shah Alam II (the Mughal Emperor). 

It occurred at Buxar, a town near the Ganges River in Bihar. The victory of the British was unequivocal. Victory in this battle gave the British important power in India: they could collect taxes, control trade in major regions, and the battle showed the weakness of Indian rulers who had not united well.

Why Was the Battle of Buxar Fought?

This battle at buxar came out of the conflicts over control and revenue. The Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim, was not happy with the British. The British misused trade permits known as “dastaks,” which enable British traders to escape taxes on their lines of trade. It meant loss of tax money for Mir Qasim and created unfair trading advantages.

He tried to put an end to this, but the British refused to budge. Thereafter, tensions mounted, and an alliance was formed between Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula, and the Mughal Emperor to counter the growing British power. This tussle for supremacy resulted in the battle.

Battle of Buxar Date and Main Participants

The battle occurred on 22 October 1764. The principal forces involved are illustrated in below:

The British had fewer troops but better discipline and planning, while the Indian alliance had more soldiers yet poor coordination.

Major Events of the Battle of Buxar

The battle of Buxar was a very important fight that changed the course of Indian history. Below are the key points that explain what happened during the battle:

• Before the main battle, the British won several smaller fights at places like Katwa and Murshidabad.
• On October 22, 1764, the two armies met at Buxar near the Ganges River in Bihar.
• The Mughal army took an early morning attack from its right led by Mirza Najaf Khan.
• The British soldiers quickly formed strong ranks and stopped the attack.
• The combined armies were defeated by the British forces by midday.
• Shuja-ud-Daula accordingly burned his stores and fled in order to avoid confinement.
• He escaped with his treasures but died afterward in poverty.
• Shah Alam II surrendered and subsequently signed a treaty with the British.
• The British captured many weapons and a large amount of money as war booty.

This victory established the British East India Company as the leading power in Bengal, Bihar, and much of India. Taxes and trade subsequently were officially ceded through the Treaty of Allahabad.

Outcomes of Battle of Buxar

This victory changed history. It destroyed the power of the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal Emperor in the region. The British East India Company became the main power in Bengal and northern India.

The British began to dominate in the collection of revenue and governance. The Treaty of Allahabad in 1765 provided them with a right to collect taxes from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. This was their base to expand power across India.

Consequences of the Battle of Buxar

The Battle of Buxar gave the British East India Company strong control over Bengal and Bihar. It weakened Indian rulers and made the British the main power in the region.

• The British East India Company became the ruler of Bengal and Bihar.
• Indian rulers lost their political and military strength.
• The British controlled trade, revenue, and law enforcement in the area.
• The Treaty of Allahabad legally supported British dominance in these regions.

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Treaty of Allahabad

The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between the British and Indian rulers in August 1765. It gave the Company the Diwani rights, meaning the right to collect taxes in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, and brought a friendly alliance between the Company and Indian rulers such as Shuja-ud-Daula to protect their interests.

This treaty was a legal document that gave the British official control over these lands and marked the beginning of British political rule in India.

Dual Government and Its Impact

The British introduced a dual government system in Bengal after the battle. Power was divided between the British East India Company and the Nawab under this system: the former looked after the collection of revenue, while the latter was entrusted with maintaining law and order.

The whole system produced many troubles:

• The officials of the Company abused their powers for personal gain. 
• Indian industries in silk and cotton collapsed due to the British policy. 
• Peasants were highly taxed and exploited, hence leading to famine and poverty. 
• The experiment at the dual government system miserably failed and was abolished in 1772 by Governor-General Warren Hastings when he made the Company the sole ruler. 

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