Battle of Plassey Establishes British Power in Bengal
In the mid-eighteenth century, European trading companies competed fiercely for influence in India while local rulers navigated alliances and conflicts. The British East India Company, under Robert Clive, sought to counter French rivals and secure commercial advantages in Bengal after clashes with Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah. On June 23, 1757, Clive's roughly 3,000 troops confronted the Nawab's army of about 50,000 near the village of Plassey. Betrayal by the Nawab's commander Mir Jafar and other plotters ensured that large portions of the Indian force did not engage, allowing the British a swift victory with minimal casualties. The outcome led to Mir Jafar's installation as a puppet Nawab and granted the Company effective control over Bengal's revenues and administration.