The Battle of Plassey was a decisive victory of the British East India Company over a much larger force of the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies on 23 June 1757, under the leadership of Robert Clive. ... Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey in 1757 and captured Calcutta.
Territorial changes: Bengal annexed by the British East India Company
Date: 23 June 1757
Result: British victory

The Battle of Plassey

The Battle of Plassey was a significant battle that took place on June 23, 1757, in the town of Plassey in Bengal, India. It was fought between the forces of the British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, and the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah.

Background:
- The British East India Company had established its presence in India and had gained control over several trading posts and territories.
- The Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, was concerned about the growing influence and power of the British in the region.
- The British had supported one of Siraj-ud-Daulah's rivals, Jagat Seth, in a financial dispute, which further strained their relationship.
- Siraj-ud-Daulah captured the British trading post of Calcutta (now Kolkata) and imprisoned several British officials in a small room known as the Black Hole of Calcutta. Many of them died due to suffocation.

The Battle:
- In response to the capture of Calcutta, the British sent a force under the command of Robert Clive to recapture the city.
- Clive formed an alliance with Mir Jafar, a discontented general in Siraj-ud-Daulah's army, who promised to support the British in the battle.
- The British army consisted of around 3,000 European soldiers and 2,000 Indian sepoys (soldiers), while Siraj-ud-Daulah's army had a much larger force.
- The battlefield was a flat, marshy plain with a small watercourse, which played a crucial role in the battle.
- Clive's strategy was to secure the watercourse and draw the Nawab's forces into a frontal attack.
- The battle began with a British artillery barrage, followed by a charge of the British cavalry.
- Siraj-ud-Daulah's forces were unable to effectively counter the British assault, and many of his soldiers deserted or switched sides.
- Mir Jafar, true to his promise, betrayed the Nawab and withdrew his forces from the battle, leading to a decisive victory for the British.

Aftermath:
- The Battle of Plassey marked a turning point in Indian history, as it established British control over Bengal and laid the foundation for the British Raj in India.
- Siraj-ud-Daulah was captured and executed, and Mir Jafar was installed as the new Nawab of Bengal, serving as a puppet ruler under British control.
- The British East India Company gained significant political and economic power in the region, which paved the way for further British expansion in India.
- The battle also highlighted the military superiority of the British, who had better-trained troops, modern weapons, and a more disciplined army compared to the Indian forces.

Overall, the Battle of Plassey was a crucial event in India's colonial history, as it marked the beginning of British dominance in the subcontinent.