Website design By BotEap.comThe history of the world is the history of war and India is no exception. Since the times of the ancient epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, warfare as a culture has dominated Indian history. First there was what is known as the Hindu period, when Hindu kings ruled almost the entire subcontinent and beyond, such as Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia, followed by the Muslim period, when progressively over a period of 9 centuries Hindus converted in the governed and the Muslims in the rulers.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Muslim period ended when the British came to India to trade, forming the East India Company. It is one of the wonders of history that a company that came to trade, in a matter of 100 years, became the ruler of the subcontinent. This was because of a superior application of military technology, as well as a single-minded devotion to the King of England and country. This was another period in Indian history when war was the epitome of dominance. War was the centerpiece and key to the dominance of the East India Company. It was only in 1858, after the mutiny of 1857 by some sepoys of the Company’s army, that the Company’s government was abolished and the administration of the subcontinent was assumed by the crown itself. Queen Victoria was then designated empress of Hindustan.

Website design By BotEap.comThe English became the rulers of this vast area which at the time had a population of around 250 million. The English produced caliber soldiers, who adapted to Indian conditions better than the Indians themselves. Through superior tactics and devotion, they were able to defeat the Indians (both Muslim and Hindu) decisively. There were some men who played a major role in this establishment of English rule and two of the most prominent are Sir Robert Clive and two brothers Richard and Arthur Wellesley.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Wellesleys

Website design By BotEap.comThe role of the Wellesleys is the stuff of which legends are made. They had no Indian blood, but both deserve the epithet “great.” Richard Wellesley was the Governor General of India, while his brother Arthur Wellesley was a military genius. Arthur Wellesley later became the 1st Duke of Wellington and led the English and Prussian force as Field Marshal against Napoleon at Waterloo (1815) and defeated him. The Napoleonic years ended and later Arthur Wellesley also became Prime Minister of England.

Website design By BotEap.comRichard Wellesley was always a bit jealous of his brother, but his contribution to British rule in India was immense. He presided over English rule in India from Calcutta and proved himself a genius. In his plan to wrest India from the Indians, he was assisted by his brother Arthur, who put Ricardo’s dream into practice and in a series of military campaigns defeated the leading Indian kings of the day. This was in the 18th/early 19th century.

Website design By BotEap.comArthur Wellesley is bracketed along with the greats of world history in the pantheon of great warriors and conquerors like Alexander the Great and Chengiz Khan. However, he was a knightly soldier who fought war as a noble profession and treated the vanquished with compassion. The only act he can be held guilty of was ordering him to shoot Tippu’s pet tigers. All the tigers were shot dead.

Website design By BotEap.comArthur Wellesley landed in India at the end of the 18th century. He had an advantage since his brother was the governor general. This was the time when Tippu Sultan had sown terror among Hindus and Christians in the Malabar region. His father, Hyder Ali, had deposed the Hindu ruler of Mysore and crowned himself sultan. He too had attacked Madras. The English did not love Tippu Sultan and the decision was made to remove him. Part of this decision was the culmination of performances by Hindus before the Governor-General complaining about the atrocities committed by Tippu.

Website design By BotEap.comCampaigns of the 1st Duke of Wellesley in India

Website design By BotEap.comArthur Wellesley began his military career in 1787 as a commissioned officer in the infantry. In 1796 he sailed for India and landed at Madras. His decision was largely influenced by the fact that his brother was Governor General of India. He was part of the 33rd Infantry Regiment that moved to India to fight Tippu Sultan, who had unleashed a reign of terror.

Website design By BotEap.comArthur Wellesley on his arrival took stock of the situation and made an assessment of Tippu Sultan’s military capabilities. In a service paper filed with the Staff College, she was informed that his view of Tippu was that of a bigoted ruler, and on the advice of his brother, she was charged with defeating Tippu and restoring the dynasty. Hindu. He was also of the opinion that Tippu had little to no concept of attack tactics and initiative in a campaign. It was proven that he was right.

Website design By BotEap.comArthur Wellesley plucked up his courage and prepared for what is known as the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799). In this campaign Wellesley marched with his force from Madras towards Mysore. The army covered 10-15 miles a day and was accompanied by servants, comfort women, shopkeepers, and cooks. Tippu found out about the advance of the army, but decided to lock himself in his fortress. This is a difficult action to understand since offense is the best form of defense. He could have moved against the Company force, but the waiting game of him hiding in his fortress gave the Company army the initiative.

Website design By BotEap.comWellesley surrounded the Seringapatnam fort and ordered an assault. the fort was breached and Tippu was killed fighting. Wellesley had removed the biggest obstacle to English rule in the south. He was appointed Governor of Seringapatam and also promoted to Major General. It was a great victory. The Hindu ruler was reinstated and Arthur was congratulated by his brother Richard.

Website design By BotEap.comA look at the map of South India will show that Wellesley marched almost 300 km from Madras to fight Tippu and there is no doubt that, despite coming from a cold area like England, he adapted to the rigors of the subcontinent and the heat. from the south. India in particular with aplomb.

Website design By BotEap.comArthur now received the task from his brother to destroy the Maratha Confederacy. The mantle of the rulers of India had fallen on the Marathas after the Mughal government collapsed and they had to be controlled. The duke took part in the Second Maratha War (1803-5) and once again displayed his military genius.

Website design By BotEap.comIn the early 19th century, the Marathas were a divided lot. Indore’s ruler Holkar had fled to the British for help. Arthur Wellesley took it upon himself to curb the power of Peshwa Baji Rao II. Arthur began his campaign in 1803. He was a major general at the time. This is known as the Deccan campaign and it began with an assault on Ahmednagar, which he brought down on August 12, 1803. This was a significant move as Ahmednagar was a lynchpin for the supply chain of the Maratha army.

Website design By BotEap.comWellesley now marched towards try with a force of 4500 soldiers. Scindia and Peshwa opposed him with a force of 10,500. In a bloody battle, the English won and more than 6,000 Maratha soldiers were killed. The British also suffered 1,600 dead, but this victory effectively sealed Maratha dominance. Subsequently, on Wellesley’s orders, the British force under Colonel Stevenson occupied Burhanpur (now in Madhya Pradesh).

Website design By BotEap.comThe Marathas were preparing for one last adventure and Bhosle with a force of 40,000 opposed the English in what is known as the Battle of Argaon. This battle on 29 November resulted in over 5,000 Maratha being killed against only about 350 English dead. It was a decisive victory and once again Wellington showed his genius as a soldier.

Website design By BotEap.comArthur continued his march and surrounded the fortress of Bhosle and captured it. The Marathas again suffered heavy casualties and over 4,000 were killed by a handful of English soldiers.

Website design By BotEap.comWellesley decimated the Marathas, who then sued for peace. At the end of the year, Scindia signed the Treaty of Arjungaon, ceding extensive rights to the English.

Website design By BotEap.comEvaluation of Arthur Wellesley’s campaigns in India

Website design By BotEap.comWhen we study Arthur Wellesley’s military campaigns in India, we realize that he led a campaign that stretched over two thousand miles. Although Wellesley returned after the Second Maratha War, the effect of his military campaigns was stupendous. He defeated the Indian generals and kings at his own game and put the Raj of the East India Company on a firm footing. The Company became the supreme power in India and all credit must go to the First Duke of Wellington. Later, when the duke met Napoleon in battle, he was a field marshal and he won there too. So in case Tippu and the Marathas were defeated by him, it was no shame as they faced a man with a razor sharp brain and a military strategist. Indian generals failed to appraise Arthur Wellesley, who along with his brother Richard laid the foundations of the Raj.

Website design By BotEap.comOne can endlessly debate whether the Raj was good or bad for India, but what cannot be debated is that men like Arthur Wellesley beat the Indians fairly and fairly. There is no doubt that on the strength of his military campaigns in India alone, the First Duke of Wellington deserves the title of “great”.