From trading post to territorial empire — the Battle of Plassey, Battle of Buxar, and the policies (Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse) that expanded Company rule.
The transformation of the English East India Company from a trading concern into the paramount political power in India unfolded over roughly a century (1757-1857), through a combination of military victories, diplomatic policies, and annexation doctrines.
| Battle | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Plassey | 1757 | Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal) with the help of Mir Jafar's betrayal — laid the foundation of British political power in India |
| Battle of Buxar | 1764 | British defeated the combined forces of Mir Qasim (Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (Awadh), and Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor) — established British supremacy over eastern India |
| Treaty of Allahabad | 1765 | Following Buxar — Company obtained Diwani rights (revenue collection) of Bengal, Bihar, Odisha from Shah Alam II |
Four wars against Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore; the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799) ended with Tipu Sultan's death at Seringapatam, breaking the last major regional resistance in the south.
Three wars against the Maratha Confederacy; the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18) ended Maratha power completely, with Peshwa Baji Rao II's surrender — leaving the British as the dominant power across most of India.
Two wars against the Sikh Empire following Ranjit Singh's death; the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) led to the annexation of Punjab under Lord Dalhousie.
| Policy | Introduced By | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidiary Alliance | Lord Wellesley (1798) | Indian ruler had to accept a British Resident and British troops (paid for by the ruler) at their court, surrendering foreign policy control in return for "protection"; Hyderabad was the first state to accept it |
| Doctrine of Lapse | Lord Dalhousie (1848-56) | If a ruler died without a natural (biological) heir, the state would "lapse" (be annexed) to the Company — adopted heirs were not recognised; used to annex Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur, and others |
| Annexation on grounds of misgovernance | Lord Dalhousie | Awadh annexed in 1856 citing misrule — a major grievance leading up to the Revolt of 1857 |
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