Topic summary

Battle of Buxar

Battle of Buxar
BelligerentsGreat BritainMughal Empire
Bengal Subah
Oudh State
Kashi KingdomCommanders and leadersSir Hector MunroShah Alam II
Najaf Khan
Mir Qasim
Shuja-ud-Daula
Balwant SinghStrength 17,072 40,112Casualties and losses 289 killed
499 wounded
85 missing 2,000 killed
4,000 wounded

The Battle of Buxar was fought between 22 and 23 October 1764, between the forces of the British East India Company, under the command of Major Hector Munro, against the combined armies of Shah Alam II, the Emperor of the Mughal Empire; Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal; Balwant Singh, the Maharaja of the Benares State; Shuja-ud-daula, the Nawab of Awadh.

The battle was fought at Buxar, a "strong fortified town" within the territory of Bihar, located on the banks of the Ganges river about 130 kilometres (81 mi) west of Patna; it was a challenging victory for the British East India Company. The war was brought to an end by the Treaty of Allahabad in 1765. The defeated Indian rulers were forced to sign the treaty, granting the East India Company Diwani rights, which allowed them to collect revenue from the territories of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa on behalf of the Mughal emperor.