At Plassey (23 June 1757) Robert Clive's small Company force defeated the Nawab of Bengal, helped by the treachery of a senior commander in the Nawab's army; a new, pliant Nawab was installed and the Company became the real power in Bengal. At Buxar (22-23 October 1764) Hector Munro beat a combined army of the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
Key facts
- Plassey: 23 June 1757, Robert Clive defeated the Nawab of Bengal after a commander in the Nawab's army switched sides.
- Buxar: 22-23 October 1764, Hector Munro's 7,000 beat over 40,000 in a three-ruler alliance of Bengal, Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
- Treaty of Allahabad (1765): the Company got the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa; it took full control in 1772.
Why exams ask about it
Which Nawab lost which battle, who commanded, and what the Treaty of Allahabad gave are the standard traps.
Pakka yaad trick
Plassey came first (1757) and was won by politics; Buxar (1764) was the real fight and won the revenue. P before B in time, B for the big battle.