Previse 2025: Anglo Wars in India

The term "Anglo-Wars in India" refers to a series of conflicts fought between the British East India Company (EIC) and various Indian kingdoms and empires over a period of about two centuries, from the 17th to the 19th centuries. These wars played a pivotal role in establishing British colonial rule over the Indian subcontinent.

Battle of Plassey 1757

• Fought between the East India Company led by Robert Clive vs. the Nawab of Bengal (Siraj-Ud-Daulah).
• It was a historic turning point for the British in India as EIC won and established the political and military supremacy of the British in Bengal.

Battle of Buxar 1764

• The British East India Company led by Hector Munro vs the combined armies of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal); Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh); and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
• The English won and Treaty of Allahabad 1765 was signed which established British supremacy in North India. 

The Carnatic Wars

First Carnatic War (1740-48)

• The First Carnatic War was an extension of the Anglo-French War caused by the Austrian War of Succession.
• The Battle of St. Thome (in Madras) was fought among the French forces, the Nawab of Carnatic Anwar-ud-din and the British.
• It ended in 1748 when the Treaty of Aix-La Chapelle was signed.

Second Carnatic War (1749-54)

• Nizam-ul-Mulk, the Mughal governor of the Deccan died in 1748.
• Nasir Jang, the son of the Nizam acceded to the throne of Hyderabad which was opposed by Muzaffar Jang, grandson of the Nawab.
• Anwar-ud-Din had been appointed Nawab of the Carnatic in 1743 which was resented by Chanda Sahib.
• The French supported Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib while the English sided with Nasir Jang and Anwar-ud-din.
• Muzaffar Jang, Chanda Sahib and the French defeated and killed Anwar- ud-din at the Battle of Ambur (near Vellore). 
• Robert Clive suddenly raided Arcot and Chanda Sahib was executed by Muhammad Ali who was later installed as the Nawab of Carnatic.

Third Carnatic War (1758-63)

• The French under Count Thomas Arthur de Lally captured the English forts of St. David and Vizianagaram in 1758.
• The English General Eyre Coote routed the French army under Count de Lally at Wandiwash. 

Anglo-Mysore Wars

First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-69)

• It started when the East India Company joined the Nizam of Hyderabad against Hyder Ali in return for the cession of the Northern Sarkars.
• The British, Marathas and the Nizam declared war on Mysore.
• Hyder Ali took Marathas and the Nizam to his side which resulted in his victory and the Treaty of Madras was signed.

Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84)

• The Marathas attacked Mysore in 1771, and the British refused to honour the Treaty of Madras.
• But Hyder Ali made an alliance with the Nizam and the Marathas and defeated the British forces in Arcot.
• Treaty of Mangalore was signed.

Third Anglo-Mysore War (1786-92)

• Tipu Sultan succeeded Hyder Ali and took French help in modernizing the military.
• Tipu declared war on Travancore in 1789, a friendly state of the British.
• The English were led by Lord Cornwallis and war ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam. 

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)

• Tipu refused to accept the Subsidiary Alliance of Lord Wellesley, due to which the English, along with Marathas and Nizams, attacked Tipu.
• The British won at Seringapatam and Tipu’s territories were divided between the British and the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Anglo-Maratha War

First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1779)

• The death of Madhav Rao resulted in infighting, and Nana Phadnavis granted a port on the west coast to the French.
• The Marathas, under Mahadji Shinde, won against the English at the battle of Wadgaon.

Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-05)

• In the Battle of Poona, Yashwant Rao Holkar defeated the Peshwas and the Scindias.
• Baji Rao II sought British protection and signed the Treaty of Bassein.
• Scindias and the Bhonsles rejected this treaty, and a second Anglo-Maratha war started.
• Large parts of central India came under British control.

Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18)

• It was started due to the British conflict with the Pindaris.
• The Maratha chiefs Peshwa Bajirao II, Malharrao Holkar and Mudhoji II Bhonsle forged a united front against the English but the British won decisively.

Anglo-Afghan War

First Anglo-Afghan War

• Governor General Lord Auckland ordered the invasion of Afghanistan in 1838 due to growing Persian and Russian influences.
• The fortress of Ghazni was breached and the British restored Shah Shuja to the throne.
• New governor-general of India, Lord Ellenborough, retreated from Afghanistan, Dost Moḥammad was restored to the throne in 1843 and the Treaty of Peshawar (non-interference) was signed.
• The death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839 and the end of the First Anglo-Afghan War gave way to a series of Anglo-Sikh Wars. 

Second Anglo-Afghan War

• Under Viceroy Lytton, the British attacked Afghanistan, and Sher Ali fled his capital in 1878.
• Sher Ali’s son, Yakub Khan, signed the ‘Treaty of Gandamak’ for peace.
• In 1880, Ripon replaced Lytton as the Viceroy and the policy of non-interference was continued.

Anglo-Sikh War

First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46)

• After the death of Ranjit Singh, the Sikh forces crossed the Sutlej and took the offensive against the English forces.
• Maharaja Duleep Singh was against the British but the latter won and the Lahore Treaty was signed. 

Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49)

• The battle was fought near Chenab and was won by the British forces.
• The famous Koh-i-Noor diamond went into British hands. 

Next Post