Why this matters now
Buxar is tested for: Mir Qasim’s reforms (capital to Munger 1763, regularized army, ended Dastak abuse); Patna Massacre 5 Oct 1763 (Mir Qasim killed British prisoners); Battle of Buxar 22 Oct 1764 (Hector Munro vs triple alliance); Treaty of Allahabad 12 Aug 1765 with Robert Clive (Diwani of Bengal-Bihar-Orissa to EIC; Awadh returned to Shuja for Rs 50 lakh + Allahabad + Kara to Shah Alam); the Dual Government of Bengal (1765-72) where EIC had Diwani revenue and Nawab had Nizamat (administration); ended by Warren Hastings 1772.
Mir Qasim’s reforms (1760-63)
After Mir Jafar’s incompetence, EIC replaced him with Mir Qasim Ali Khan in October 1760 in exchange for Burdwan, Midnapore + Chittagong districts.
Mir Qasim’s reforms:
- Moved capital from Murshidabad to Munger (better defensible).
- Reorganised army on European lines; arsenal at Munger producing flintlocks.
- Reformed revenue collection.
- Abolished inland duties for all merchants 1763 — in protest at British misuse of duty-free dastaks (passes meant only for EIC trade).
British protested; tensions escalated.
Patna Massacre + Run-up
- July-Oct 1763: EIC forces under Major Adams defeated Mir Qasim at Katwa, Murshidabad, Giria, Suti, Udhanala. Mir Qasim fled to Awadh.
- 5 October 1763: PATNA MASSACRE — Mir Qasim ordered execution of 150+ British prisoners + commercial officials at Patna by his Swiss-German mercenary Walter Reinhardt “Sombre”.
- Mir Qasim sought refuge with Nawab of Awadh Shuja-ud-Daulah (also Wazir of Mughal Empire).
- Shuja-ud-Daulah + the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II (in exile after Panipat 1761) joined forces with Mir Qasim. Triple alliance vs British.
- Mir Jafar restored as Nawab of Bengal by EIC 1763.
The Battle (22 Oct 1764)
Site: Buxar (Baksar) in Bihar, on the Ganga — about 130 km west of Patna.
Forces:
- British EIC: ~7,072 troops — 857 European infantry + 5,297 sepoys + 918 Indian cavalry. Led by Major Hector Munro (later Sir Hector).
- Triple Alliance: ~40,000 troops — Mir Qasim (cash + few troops) + Shuja-ud-Daulah (main army) + Shah Alam II.
Battle: Munro launched morning attack 22 Oct 1764. Within 3 hours the triple alliance broke. Casualties: British 847 killed/wounded; alliance ~6,000 killed. Mir Qasim fled to Rohilkhand; Shuja-ud-Daulah fled north; Shah Alam II surrendered to British.
Treaty of Allahabad (12 August 1765)
Negotiated by Robert Clive (returned to Calcutta as Governor 1765); ratified at Allahabad. Two treaties:
Treaty with Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh (12 Aug 1765):
- Shuja retained Awadh except Kara + Allahabad (given to Shah Alam II).
- Shuja paid Rs 50 lakh war indemnity to EIC.
- EIC kept army in Awadh paid by Shuja — seed of Subsidiary Alliance.
Treaty with Shah Alam II (16 Aug 1765):
- EIC granted DIWANI of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa — right to collect revenue.
- EIC paid Shah Alam II a tribute of Rs 26 lakh per year.
- Shah Alam II got Kara + Allahabad districts.
- Mughal Emperor symbolically recognised; under EIC protection at Allahabad.
Dual Government of Bengal (1765-72): EIC had Diwani (revenue + civil justice) but Nawab of Bengal Mir Jafar (then Najm-ud-Daulah from Feb 1765) had Nizamat (administration + criminal justice + police). Both authority + responsibility were divided — classic recipe for misrule. Ended by Warren Hastings 1772 who abolished Dual Government + brought entire administration under EIC.
UPSC angle
Know BATTLE OF BUXAR 22 OCT 1764 — Buxar/Baksar Bihar Ganga 130 km west Patna; BRITISH EIC ~7072 troops (857 Eu infantry + 5297 sepoys + 918 Indian cavalry) Maj HECTOR MUNRO vs TRIPLE ALLIANCE ~40000 (MIR QASIM cash few troops + SHUJA-UD-DAULAH Awadh+Wazir Mughal main + SHAH ALAM II Mughal Emperor); MIR QASIM Nawab Bengal Oct 1760 replaced Mir Jafar for Burdwan+Midnapore+Chittagong districts; REFORMS: capital MUNGER, European-line army arsenal flintlocks, ABOLISHED INLAND DUTIES ALL MERCHANTS 1763 against EIC dastak abuse; PATNA MASSACRE 5 OCT 1763 150+ British prisoners killed by Mir Qasim mercenary Walter Reinhardt “Sombre”; Mir Jafar restored 1763; July-Oct 1763 Maj Adams defeated Mir Qasim Katwa+Murshidabad+Giria+Suti+Udhanala; Mir Qasim fled Awadh + alliance with Shuja-ud-Daulah + Shah Alam II (exile post-Panipat 1761); BATTLE: Munro morning attack, within 3 hrs alliance broke, casualties British 847 killed/wounded vs alliance ~6000, Mir Qasim fled Rohilkhand, Shuja-ud-Daulah fled north, SHAH ALAM II SURRENDERED; TREATY OF ALLAHABAD 12 Aug 1765 (Robert Clive Governor returned 1765); TREATY WITH SHUJA-UD-DAULAH 12 Aug 1765: retained Awadh except Kara+Allahabad to Shah Alam, Rs 50 lakh war indemnity to EIC, EIC kept army Awadh paid by Shuja (SEED OF SUBSIDIARY ALLIANCE); TREATY WITH SHAH ALAM II 16 Aug 1765: EIC granted DIWANI OF BENGAL+BIHAR+ORISSA (right to collect revenue), EIC paid Shah Alam Rs 26 lakh/yr tribute, Shah Alam got Kara+Allahabad, Mughal under EIC protection at Allahabad; DUAL GOVERNMENT BENGAL 1765-72 EIC Diwani revenue+civil justice + Nawab Najm-ud-Daulah Feb 1765 NIZAMAT administration+criminal+police = classic misrule; ENDED WARREN HASTINGS 1772.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Battle of Buxar?
22 October 1764 at Buxar (Baksar) in Bihar, on the Ganga ~130 km west of Patna.
Who fought at Buxar?
British EIC under Major Hector Munro (~7,000) vs triple alliance of Mir Qasim (Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Awadh) and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II (~40,000). British won within 3 hours.
What was the Treaty of Allahabad?
Two treaties of 12 August 1765 negotiated by Robert Clive: granted EIC the Diwani (revenue rights) of Bengal-Bihar-Orissa from Shah Alam II + EIC retained army in Awadh paid by Shuja-ud-Daulah (precursor to Subsidiary Alliance).
What was Dual Government of Bengal?
From 1765-72: EIC had Diwani (revenue + civil justice) but Nawab had Nizamat (administration + criminal justice + police). Divided authority and responsibility — led to misrule. Ended by Warren Hastings in 1772.