The British conquest of Bengal began with the Battle of ___________

The British conquest of Bengal began with the Battle of Plassey.

Sirajuddaulah became the Nawab of Bengal after the death of the Alivardi Khan in 1756. Due to the growing power of the Sirajuddaulah, the company was worried whether he will give trade concessions and other related privileges. So they decided to help his rivals to become the Nawab. When Sirajuddaulah came to know about this, he ordered Company to not to involve in the political affairs of his kingdom and to stop fortification and pay the revenues.

When the company didn’t agree to all these terms, he marched against them with 30,000 soldiers to the English factory located at Kassimbazar. He then imprisoned the Company officials, locked the warehouse, disarmed all Englishmen, and blockaded English ships. After this, he marched towards Calcutta to capture the company’s fort.

Hearing all this, the company officials in Madras sent forces strengthened by naval fleets under the command of the Robert Clive. Even after lots of discussion with Nawab, the army under Robert Clive marched against the Sirajuddaulah at Plassey. The Nawab was defeated by the company as they corrupted one of Sirajuddaulah’s commanders, Mir Jafar who never fought the battle. They promised him to make Nawab if they help him to defeat Sirajuddaulah.

The battle of Plassey was considered to be the first battle which the company won in India.