The Battle of Plassey, one of the most decisive events in the history of Bengal, and India, was fought on this day. The British East India Company defeated the nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah and virtually took Bengal over. Within a century, the company would rule the vast majority of Indian territory.
The battle was fought between the company army, led by Robert Clive, and Siraj, who had captured Kolkata exactly a year ago. Clive recaptured Kolkata and began to march towards Murshidabad, Siraj’s seat, and was met by Siraj at Palashi, by the Hooghly, about 150km from Kolkata.
Siraj’s army numbered 50,000, and was also bolstered by artillerymen sent by the French, as the battle also mirrored the Seven Years War being fought in Europe then. Clive commanded a force of 3,000. But Siraj was crushed because most of his generals and followers, including Mir Jafar, had made a secret pact with Clive and deserted the nawab. Rain also played its part.
Siraj would be killed and Mir Jafar, a puppet in the hands of the British, would be installed on the Bengal throne.