Decline of Mughal Rule and the Battle of Plassey
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Bahadur Shah Zafar succeeded Aurangzeb Alamgir |
The death of Alamgir in 1707 is generally regarded as the beginning of the gradual decline and ultimate fall of the once extensive, prosperous and powerful Mughal Empires. Although it took nearly 150 years before the House of Babur finally disappeared from the scene, the cracks which appeared at Alamgir’s death widened.
Revolts during
the 17th Century Mughal
Empire
Aurangzeb Alamgir was
succeeded by his son, Bahadur Shah Zafar (1707-1712), who
momentarily revived the Mughal Empire. But the Marahattas power
increased and they became the unchallenged rulers of the Deccan. In
the province of Punjab, Sikh power under Guru Govind Singh become a
force to reckon with. One of the reasons for springing up of power
centers apart from Delhi was quick change in the succession of
Empires. That is from 1707 to 1857, nearly seventeen kings were
throned and dethroned.
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Nadir Shah |
The weakening Mughal Empire invited havoc in the form of Nadir Shah, a Persian King in 1738-39. On his orders a general massacre of the citizens of Delhi was carried out resulting in the death of 30,000 people. Another threat to the Mughal Empire came from Afghans of Rohilkhand, lying Northeast of Delhi. By the middle of 18th century the Rohillas become independent of the Mughal rule. At the same time the Jats also raised their heads against the central rule.
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Nawab Siraj-ud Daulah of Bengal |
Taking advantage of this chaotic situation, East India Company began strengthening its military capabilities and along with Hindu traders and money lenders conspired against Nawab Siraj-ud Daulah of Bengal to take over his principality. The battle of Plassey of 1757 is considered a major breakthrough for the British in the Sub-Continent.
British Fort -
St. George
Tipu Sultan of
Mysore
In the 19th century, Muslims
like Sayyed Ahmed and Shah Ismail carried out jihad against the
Sikhs, and Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan in the Deccan against the
British, however, they failed in their efforts to stop the downfall
of the Muslim rule. The final crunch came after the war of 1857,
when the Mughal rule officially came to an end and India came under
the direct rule of the British crown.
It paved the way for the company’s rule in Bengal and from
there later on whole of India came under company’s rule.