Includes bibliographies and index

The Battle of Plassey fought on 23 June 1757 changed the course of Indian history forever. When the short sharp hostilities between the forces of the nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-daulah and East India Company troops led by Robert Clive an ambitious soldier of fortune ended Britain was on its way to becoming the dominant force in the region. The eighteenth century was a time of great political churn in the subcontinent. After the death of Emperor Aurangzeb the Mughal empire began to slowly fracture. In the east the nawabs of Bengal who ruled in the name of the Mughals took the opportunity to break free. By the middle of the century Siraj-ud-daulah succeeded his grandfather Alivardi Khan to the throne of Bengal. The young nawab clashed frequently with the Company as it looked to aggressively expand and safeguard its interests. Their skirmishes led inexorably to Plassey a decisive battle in a mango orchard by the banks of the Bhagirathi-Hugli