After the decline of the Mughal Empire, Bihar came under the control of the Nawabs of Bengal, who ruled Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa as semi-independent rulers while nominally acknowledging Mughal sovereignty.
Table of Contents
Rise of the Nawabs
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In 1717 CE, Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar granted the governorship of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to Murshid Quli Khan.
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The Nawabs of Bengal made Murshidabad their capital, but Bihar remained an important revenue-yielding region.
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Bihar’s fertile land and resources made it one of the wealthiest provinces of the Nawab’s dominion.
Administration and Economy
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Bihar was administered as a subah (province) under the Nawabs, with revenue officials posted across districts.
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Heavy land revenue demands were made, as Bihar was considered a major source of income for the Bengal Nawabs.
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Bihar’s indigo, saltpetre, opium, silk, and textiles attracted great interest from European traders, especially the English East India Company.
Relations with the Europeans
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The English East India Company, French, and Dutch competed for trade privileges in Bihar, especially in Patna, which was a major commercial hub.
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Saltpetre trade from Patna was highly profitable and a major cause of conflict between European powers.
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Gradually, the English East India Company became the dominant trading force in the region.
Decline of Nawabi Control
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The later Nawabs like Alivardi Khan (1740–1756 CE) tried to maintain control but faced constant Maratha raids (Bargi attacks) that devastated Bihar.
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After Alivardi Khan’s death, his successor Siraj-ud-Daulah faced growing English interference.
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Following the Battle of Plassey (1757 CE), Bengal and Bihar came under English influence.
The Battle of Buxar (1764 CE)
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The final blow to Nawabi control came with the Battle of Buxar (1764 CE), fought near Buxar in Bihar.
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The English East India Company defeated the combined forces of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh), and Mughal emperor Shah Alam II.
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This victory gave the English the Diwani rights (1765 CE) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, marking the beginning of British rule in Bihar.
Legacy
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Under the Nawabs of Bengal, Bihar was a rich province but heavily exploited for revenue.
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The rise of European trading companies in Bihar during this period shifted its political and economic destiny.
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The Battle of Buxar was the turning point, making Bihar one of the earliest regions to come under direct British administration.