Maratha invasions of Bengal
| Maratha invasions of Bengal | |||||||||
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| Part of the decline of the Mughal Empire | |||||||||
A Maratha Ditch, constricted around forts and factories as protection against Maratha raids | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Supported by: Afghan rebels |
Bengal Subah Supported by: Peshwa | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Raghuji I |
Alivardi Khan Commanders:
Balaji Baji Rao Pilaji Jadav Malhar Holkar | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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First invasion: 10,000 or 12,000 or 20,000 cavalry Second invasion: 50,000 cavalry or 75,000 Third invasion: 20,000 cavalry Fourth invasion: Barabati: 14,000 or 20,000 cavalry 25,000 infantry 300 guns Naubatpur: 12,000 Bhagalpur: 5,000–6,000 Cuttack: 8,000 cavalry 20,000 infantry Fifth invasion: Bihar: 5,000 cavalry 7,000 infantry Cuttack: 7,000–8,000 Balasore: 40,000 Midnapore: 12,000 cavalry |
First invasion: 23,000–26,000 Second invasion: 70,000 cavalry 100,000 musketeers Third invasion: Unknown Fourth invasion: Barabati: 400 Naubatpur: 14,000 or 20,000 Bhagalpur: 600 Cuttack: 7,000–8,000 cavalry 12,000 infantry Fifth invasion: Burdwan: 8,000 Midnapore: 5,000–6,000 cavalry | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Dutch East India Company factory in Bengal and Bihar, estimated that 400,000 civilians in Western Bengal and Bihar died in the overall conflict. (approx. 1.4% of Bengal's population killed.) | |||||||||
The Maratha invasions of Bengal (1742–1751), were the a series of raids by the Maratha forces in the Bengal Subah (Bengal, Bihar, parts of modern Orissa), after the successful campaign in the Carnatic region at the Battle of Trichinopoly. The campaigns were carried out under Raghuji I of Nagpur. Between April 1742 to March 1751, the Marathas invaded Bengal five times in 1742, 1743, 1744, 1745 and 1748 respectively, causing widespread economic losses in the Bengal Subah.
The resurgent Maratha Empire emerging from Maharashtra quickly repulsed the Mughals and subjugated them to the confines of Delhi. It was during this period they were at the doorsteps of the independent Bengal Subah, particularly Orissa. They conducted raids within Bengal and plundered cities and villages and caused widespread devastation. However, due to their relentless attacks and raids the Nawab would be more partial towards signing the treaty eventually agreeing to cede Orissa to the Maratha Empire to ensure peace for both states.