Why this matters now
Anglo-Nepalese War is tested for: Gorkha expansion under Bahadur Shah + Prithvinarayan Shah 1742-1814 (3.5x territorial expansion); border disputes with EIC over Butwal + Sheoraj (Gorakhpur district); Lord Moira (later Marquess of Hastings) GG 1813-23 declared war 1 Nov 1814; 4-pronged invasion (Marley + Wood + Ochterlony + Gillespie); Major-General Rollo Gillespie killed at Battle of Nalapani 31 Oct 1814; Treaty of Sugauli 4 March 1816; Nepal lost 1/3 territory; British Resident at Kathmandu; Gorkha regiments (Bal Bhadra Kunwar tradition).
Context (1742-1814)
- 1742-78: Prithvinarayan Shah unified Nepal — founded Shah dynasty at Kathmandu 1768.
- 1778-1814: Successors (Bahadur Shah, Bhimsen Thapa) expanded Gorkha kingdom west to Kangra + Sutlej + east to Teesta + Sikkim. 3.5x territorial expansion.
- 1801-04: Disputes with EIC over Butwal, Sheoraj (Gorakhpur district) annexed by Gorkhas.
- 1814: Gorkha forces attacked Bhutwal + killed Indian police. Lord Moira (later Marquess of Hastings, Governor-General 1813-23) declared war 1 November 1814.
War (1814-16)
British strategy: 4-pronged invasion of Nepal:
- Maj Gen John Sullivan Wood — Gorakhpur to Nawakot.
- Maj Gen Bennet Marley — Patna to Kathmandu.
- Maj Gen Rollo Gillespie — Saharanpur to Nalapani.
- Maj Gen David Ochterlony — Ludhiana to Malaun.
| Date | Battle |
|---|---|
| 31 Oct 1814 | BATTLE OF NALAPANI (Khalanga) — Bal Bhadra Kunwar’s 600 Gorkhas held off Gillespie’s 4,400 British. Gillespie killed; British eventually captured fort after siege. |
| Nov 1814 - April 1815 | Wood + Marley campaigns inconclusive. |
| Jan-Apr 1815 | Ochterlony’s sustained campaign — captured Almora 27 April 1815. Won Kumaon + Garhwal. |
| 15 May 1815 | Battle of Malaun — Ochterlony forced surrender of Amar Singh Thapa. |
| Dec 1815 | Treaty of Sugauli drafted (initial Nepali rejection then accepted). |
| Feb 1816 | Ochterlony advanced again; captured Makwanpur 28 Feb 1816. |
| 4 March 1816 | TREATY OF SUGAULI ratified. |
Treaty of Sugauli (4 March 1816)
Signed at Sugauli (now Bihar). Nepal ceded ~1/3 of its territory:
- Sikkim — ceded to British (transferred to Sikkim ruler by separate treaty).
- Garhwal — British direct administration (Kumaon Commissionership).
- Kumaon — British direct administration.
- Western Tarai (some returned later in 1857 Rana sympathy reward).
- British Resident at Kathmandu — first being Edward Gardner.
- Nepal would not employ Europeans without British consent.
- Gorkha could enlist in British army (legal basis for Gorkha regiments).
Aftermath:
- Gorkha regiments raised; recruitment from Sirmoor + Nasiri Battalion (later Royal Garhwal Rifles + 11 Gorkha Rifles). Currently 7 Gorkha Rifles in Indian Army + 4 in British Army.
- British Resident at Kathmandu until 1947; Nepal a princely-equivalent state under loose British supervision.
- Bhimsen Thapa dominated Nepali politics 1806-37.
- Jung Bahadur Rana seized power 1846 (Kot Massacre); Rana oligarchy until 1951.
- Nepal sided with British in 1857 Revolt — rewarded with Tarai districts.
- India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship 31 July 1950 built on Sugauli framework.
UPSC angle
Know ANGLO-NEPALESE WAR 1 NOV 1814 - 4 MARCH 1816 vs GORKHA KINGDOM Nepal King GIRVAN YUDDHA BIKRAM SHAH; CONTEXT 1742-78 PRITHVINARAYAN SHAH unified Nepal Shah dynasty 1768, 1778-1814 (Bahadur Shah+BHIMSEN THAPA) 3.5x territorial expansion Kangra+Sutlej+Teesta+Sikkim; 1801-04 disputes EIC Butwal+Sheoraj (Gorakhpur district); 1814 Gorkha attacked Bhutwal killed Indian police; LORD MOIRA (Marquess of Hastings GG 1813-23) declared war 1 NOV 1814; 4-PRONGED INVASION: Maj Gen John Sullivan WOOD Gorakhpur-Nawakot, Maj Gen Bennet MARLEY Patna-Kathmandu, Maj Gen Rollo GILLESPIE Saharanpur-Nalapani, Maj Gen David OCHTERLONY Ludhiana-Malaun; BATTLE OF NALAPANI (Khalanga) 31 OCT 1814 BAL BHADRA KUNWAR 600 Gorkhas held Gillespie 4400 British GILLESPIE KILLED British eventually captured fort siege; Wood+Marley inconclusive Nov 1814-April 1815; OCHTERLONY sustained Jan-Apr 1815 captured ALMORA 27 April 1815 won Kumaon+Garhwal; Battle of Malaun 15 May 1815 Ochterlony forced surrender Amar Singh Thapa; Treaty Sugauli drafted Dec 1815 initial rejection then accepted; Ochterlony advanced again captured Makwanpur 28 Feb 1816; TREATY OF SUGAULI RATIFIED 4 MARCH 1816 Sugauli Bihar; Nepal ceded ~1/3 territory: SIKKIM (transferred to ruler), GARHWAL+KUMAON British direct admin, Western Tarai (some returned 1857 Rana reward), BRITISH RESIDENT AT KATHMANDU first Edward Gardner, Nepal no Europeans without British consent, Gorkha legal enlistment BRITISH ARMY = GORKHA REGIMENTS (Sirmoor+Nasiri Battalion later Royal Garhwal Rifles+11 Gorkha Rifles; currently 7 GORKHA RIFLES INDIAN ARMY + 4 BRITISH ARMY); British Resident Kathmandu until 1947; Bhimsen Thapa dominated 1806-37; JUNG BAHADUR RANA seized power 1846 KOT MASSACRE Rana oligarchy until 1951; Nepal SIDED with British 1857 Revolt rewarded Tarai districts; INDIA-NEPAL TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP 31 July 1950 built Sugauli framework.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Anglo-Nepalese War?
From 1 November 1814 to 4 March 1816 — declared by Lord Moira (Marquess of Hastings) after Gorkha border encroachments on Bihar + Awadh.
What was the Battle of Nalapani?
Fought 31 October 1814 — Bal Bhadra Kunwar’s 600 Gorkhas held off Maj-Gen Rollo Gillespie’s 4,400 British force at Nalapani (Khalanga) fort. Gillespie was killed. British captured the fort after extended siege.
What did the Treaty of Sugauli give the British?
Sikkim, Kumaon, Garhwal + Western Tarai — about 1/3 of Nepal’s territory. Also: a British Resident at Kathmandu + legal basis for Gorkha enlistment in the British Indian Army.
What are Gorkha Regiments?
Infantry regiments of the Indian Army recruited from Nepali Gorkha population, legally authorised by the 1816 Treaty. Currently 7 Gorkha Rifles in the Indian Army + 4 in the British Army.