Battle of Plassey

The 1757 battle in Bengal in which the British East India Company defeated Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah, beginning the Company’s political dominance in India.

Mir Jafar: A Bengali commander who became nawab after conspiring with the British East India Company against Siraj ud-Daulah. His defection deprived Siraj ud-Daulah of much of his army during the battle.
Siraj ud-Daulah: The nawab of Bengal who ruled from 1756 until his defeat and death in 1757. His conflict with the company over its conduct and fortifications precipitated the battle.
Battle of Buxar: The 1764 battle in which the East India Company defeated a coalition of Indian rulers. It consolidated the company’s military position after its initial gains at Plassey.
Battle of Wandiwash: The 1760 battle in which British forces defeated the French in southern India during the Seven Years’ War. Unlike Plassey’s decisive local alliance, Wandiwash weakened France’s military challenge in India.
Robert Clive: A British East India Company officer who led the company’s forces at Plassey. He negotiated with conspirators and commanded the company army in the battle.
Fort William: A fortified English East India Company settlement in Calcutta, now Kolkata. The company’s unauthorized strengthening of the fort heightened tensions with Siraj ud-Daulah.
Treaty of Allahabad: The 1765 agreements that granted the East India Company revenue-collection rights in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. They converted the company’s post-Plassey power into formal fiscal authority.
Battle of Panipat (1761): The 1761 battle in which Ahmad Shah Durrani defeated the Maratha Confederacy near Panipat. Its immense armies and direct military contest contrast with Plassey’s small force and political conspiracy.
Jagat Seth: A wealthy banking family in Bengal that financed rulers and wielded major political influence. The family supported the conspiracy that helped the company secure victory.
Black Hole of Calcutta: The name given to the reported imprisonment and deaths of captives after Siraj ud-Daulah captured Calcutta in 1756. The episode became a company justification for its campaign against the nawab.

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