Battle of Buxar, 1764 and the Treaty of Allahabad, 1765
Modern History › British Conquest of Bengal · Topic 4.6
At Buxar on 22 October 1764 the Company under Hector Munro defeated the combined armies of Mir Kasim, Shuja-ud-daula of Awadh and Shah Alam II. By the Treaty of Allahabad (August 1765) Clive obtained the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and made Awadh a buffer state.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · British Conquest of Bengal
At a Glance
- What it is The decisive battle that made the Company a great north Indian power, and the treaties that followed
- Battle Buxar, 22 October 1764, Major Hector Munro
- Defeated Mir Kasim, Shuja-ud-daula of Awadh and Shah Alam II
- Treaties Allahabad, August 1765: Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: British Conquest of Bengal
Where Does It Fit?
This is the sixth topic of the category on the British conquest of Bengal. The previous topic described Mir Kasim and the dastak dispute. This topic covers the war and the settlement. The next topic describes the dual government that Clive set up. Previous topic: Mir Kasim and the Treaty of 1760.
How Did the War of 1763 Begin?
The Nawab-Company tussle over transit duty led to the outbreak of war between the English and Mir Kasim in 1763, as explained in Mir Kasim and the Treaty of 1760. The English gained successive victories at Katwah, Murshidabad, Giria, Sooty and Munger. Mir Kasim fled to Awadh and formed a confederacy with the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-daula, and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II, with the aim of recovering Bengal from the English.
What Happened at Buxar?
The combined armies of Mir Kasim, the Nawab of Awadh and Shah Alam II were defeated by the English forces under Major Hector Munro at Buxar on 22 October 1764 in a closely contested battle. The English campaign against Mir Kasim was short but decisive.
The importance of the battle lay in the fact that not only the Nawab of Bengal but also the Mughal emperor of India was defeated by the English. The victory made the English a great power in northern India and contenders for supremacy over the whole country. Sources disagree on the numbers engaged and the losses, so none is stated here.
After the battle, Mir Jafar, who had been made Nawab again in 1763 when relations between Mir Kasim and the Company became strained, agreed to hand over the districts of Midnapore, Burdwan and Chittagong to the English for the upkeep of their army. The English were also allowed duty-free trade in Bengal except for a duty of two per cent on salt. After Mir Jafar’s death, his minor son Najim-ud-daula was appointed Nawab, but real power lay with the naib-subahdar, who could be appointed or dismissed by the English.
Mir Kasim spent the rest of his life as a homeless wanderer and died in June 1777.
What Did the Treaty of Allahabad Provide?
Robert Clive concluded two treaties at Allahabad in August 1765, one with the Nawab of Awadh and one with the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II.
| Party | Terms |
|---|---|
| Nawab Shuja-ud-daula | Surrender Allahabad and Kara to the emperor Shah Alam II; pay Rs 50 lakh to the Company as war indemnity; give Balwant Singh, zamindar of Banaras, full possession of his estate |
| Emperor Shah Alam II | Reside at Allahabad under the Company’s protection; issue a farman granting the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the Company in return for an annual payment of Rs 26 lakh; a provision of Rs 53 lakh was made to the Company in return for the nizamat functions (military defence, police and administration of justice) of those provinces |
Why Did Clive Not Annex Awadh?
Clive did not want to annex Awadh because that would have placed the Company under an obligation to protect a long land frontier against Afghan and Maratha invasions. The treaty made the Nawab a firm friend of the Company and turned Awadh into a buffer state.
Clive’s arrangement with Shah Alam II was also practical. It made the emperor a useful rubber stamp for the Company, and the emperor’s farman legalised the Company’s political gains in Bengal.
What Was the Importance of Buxar?
One historian, G.B. Malleson, ranked Buxar among the most decisive battles ever fought. In his view, the victory saved Bengal and advanced the British frontier to Allahabad. It also bound the rulers of Awadh to the conqueror by ties of admiration, gratitude and reliance for the next ninety-four years.
As an analytical comparison, Battle of Plassey, 1757 gave the Company control through a conspiracy, while Buxar gave it a clear military victory over three powers at once. The Diwani of 1765 then gave it a legal claim to the revenues. Dual Government in Bengal, 1765-72 shows how Clive used that claim.
| Event | Year | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Plassey | 1757 | Mir Jafar made Nawab; Company gains in Bengal |
| Treaty of 1760 | 1760 | Mir Kasim made Nawab; three districts ceded |
| Buxar | 1764 | Nawab, Awadh and emperor defeated |
| Treaty of Allahabad | 1765 | Diwani to the Company; Awadh a buffer state |
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Most important Bengal battle after Plassey Buxar is often asked together with Plassey in Prelims and Mains
- Direct facts The treaty terms and the Diwani grant are standard questions
- Link to dual government The Diwani is the base of the next topic
What Came Next?
The next topic covers dual government in Bengal from 1765 to 1772. Next topic: Dual Government in Bengal, 1765-72.
Key People and Terms
- Diwani The right to collect revenue
- Nizamat The functions of military defence, police and justice
- Buffer state A state between two powers that reduces risk of clash
- Hector Munro The British major who won at Buxar
- Rubber stamp A body that only approves what another decides
- Indemnity Compensation paid for war losses
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Battle of Buxar: 22 October 1764; Major Hector Munro.
- Defeated: Mir Kasim, Shuja-ud-daula, Shah Alam II.
- Treaty of Allahabad: August 1765; Diwani for Rs 26 lakh a year.
- Nizamat cost: Rs 53 lakh provided to the Company.
- Awadh became a buffer state; indemnity Rs 50 lakh.
Do Not Confuse With
- Diwani and nizamat Diwani was revenue; nizamat was defence, police and justice
- Buxar and Plassey Plassey (1757) was won by conspiracy; Buxar (1764) was a hard-fought military win
- The two Allahabad treaties One with the Nawab of Awadh, one with Shah Alam II
Memory Hook
Buxar broke three powers, Allahabad paid the bill in revenue.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the importance of Buxar and the Diwani. These points add depth.
- Military significance The Company beat the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Awadh and the emperor in one battle
- Legal cover The emperor’s farman made the Company’s revenue rights lawful
- Strategic choice Clive kept Awadh as a buffer state and avoided a long frontier
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Why is the Battle of Buxar considered more decisive than the Battle of Plassey?”
How to Answer
- Describe Buxar Combined armies, date and commander.
- Consequences Treaty of Allahabad, Diwani and buffer state.
- Compare Plassey gave influence; Buxar gave legal rights and defeated the emperor.
- Conclude Say that Buxar confirmed what Plassey began.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Battle of Buxar fought?
The Battle of Buxar was fought on 22 October 1764 at Buxar in Bihar, where Major Hector Munro's English forces defeated the combined armies of Mir Kasim, the Nawab of Awadh Shuja-ud-daula, and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II in a closely contested battle.
Why was the Battle of Buxar important?
Buxar was important because not only the Nawab of Bengal but also the Mughal emperor was defeated by the English. The victory made the Company a great power in northern India and a contender for supremacy over the whole country.
What was the Treaty of Allahabad?
The Treaty of Allahabad, concluded by Robert Clive in August 1765, consisted of two treaties, one with Shuja-ud-daula of Awadh and one with Shah Alam II. The emperor issued a farman granting the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa for Rs 26 lakh a year.
What did the Nawab of Awadh agree to in 1765?
Shuja-ud-daula agreed to surrender Allahabad and Kara to Shah Alam II, pay Rs 50 lakh to the Company as war indemnity, and give Balwant Singh, zamindar of Banaras, full possession of his estate. The treaty made him a firm friend of the Company.
Why did Clive not annex Awadh?
Clive did not annex Awadh because it would have obliged the Company to protect a long land frontier against Afghan and Maratha invasions. Leaving Awadh under its Nawab turned it into a buffer state and kept the Company's commitments limited.
What is the difference between Diwani and Nizamat?
Diwani is the right to collect revenue, which Shah Alam II granted to the Company in 1765. Nizamat covers military defence, police and the administration of justice, and a provision of Rs 53 lakh was made to the Company in return for taking on these functions.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Hector Munro led the English forces at the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
It was fought on 22 October 1764.
2 Shuja-ud-daula, Nawab of Awadh, fought on the side of the English at Buxar.
He joined Mir Kasim and Shah Alam II against the English.
3 By the Treaty of Allahabad, Shah Alam II granted the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the Company.
It was in return for Rs 26 lakh a year.
4 Clive annexed Awadh after Buxar.
He kept it as a buffer state under its Nawab.
5 Mir Kasim died in June 1777 as a wanderer.
He fled Bengal after the 1763 war.
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