Rohilla War
Encyclopedia
The First Rohilla War of 1773-1774 was a punitive campaign by Shuja-ud-Daula
, Nawab of Awadh
, against the Rohilla
s, Afghan highlanders settled in Rohilkhand
, northern India. The Nawab was supported by troops of the British East India Company
, in a successful campaign brought about by the Rohillas reneging on a debt to the Nawab.
s, a few years earlier, the Rohillas had appealed for aid to Shuja-ud-Daula, an ally at that time of the British. He promised to assist them in return for a sum of money; but when the Mahrattas were driven off the Rohilla chiefs refused to pay. The Nawab then decided to annex their country, and appealed to Warren Hastings
for assistance, which was given in return for a sum of forty lakh
s of rupees.
Hastings justified his action on the ground that the Rohillas were a danger to the British as uncovering the flank of Awadh
.
in April 1774. The decisive battle, in which Hafiz Rahmat Khan died, was at Miranpur Katra, on 23 April.
.
There was a Second Rohilla War
, in 1794.
. Charges of destroying a nation were brought against Hastings by Edmund Burke
and later Thomas Macaulay.
Shuja-ud-Daula
Shuja-ud-Daula was the Subedar Nawab of Oudh from 5 October 1754 to 26 January 1775, and the son of Muhammad Nasir.Though a minor royal, he is best known for his key roles in two definitive battles in Indian history - the Third Battle of Panipat which ended Maratha domination of India, and the...
, Nawab of Awadh
Nawab of Awadh
The Nawab of Awadh is the title of rulers who governed the state of Awadh in India in the 18th and 19th century. The Nawabs of Awadh originated form Persia-Establishment:...
, against the Rohilla
Rohilla
The Rohilla are a community of Hindi-speaking Pashtun also known as Pathan, historically found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. Most are now also found in Pakistan where they are now part of the Mohajir community. At one time, they form one of the largest Pashtun diaspora community...
s, Afghan highlanders settled in Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand is a region of northwestern Uttar Pradesh state of India.Rohilkhand lies on the upper Ganges alluvial plain and has an area of about 25,000 km²/10,000 square miles...
, northern India. The Nawab was supported by troops of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, in a successful campaign brought about by the Rohillas reneging on a debt to the Nawab.
Background
Having been driven into the mountains by the MarathaMaratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s, a few years earlier, the Rohillas had appealed for aid to Shuja-ud-Daula, an ally at that time of the British. He promised to assist them in return for a sum of money; but when the Mahrattas were driven off the Rohilla chiefs refused to pay. The Nawab then decided to annex their country, and appealed to Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
for assistance, which was given in return for a sum of forty lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
s of rupees.
Hastings justified his action on the ground that the Rohillas were a danger to the British as uncovering the flank of Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
.
Course of the war
The Rohillas under Hafiz Rahmat Ali Khan were defeated by Colonel Alexander ChampionAlexander Champion
Brigadier-General Alexander Champion was Commander-in-Chief, India.-Military career:Champion was commissioned into service for the British East India Company in 1768. He rose through the ranks and was appointed Commander-in-Chief, India in January 1774...
in April 1774. The decisive battle, in which Hafiz Rahmat Khan died, was at Miranpur Katra, on 23 April.
Consequences
Rohilkhand fell to Awadh, was plundered and occupied. The majority of the Rohillas left. They fled across the Ganges in numbers, to start a guerilla war; or emigrated. A Rohilla state under British protection was set up in RampurRampur, Uttar Pradesh
Rampur is a city and a municipality located in Rampur District in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Rampur district is located at Longitude 78-0-54 to 69-0-28 East and Latitude 28-25 to 29-10 North and spans an area of 2,367 km².It also gave its name to a former princely state of British...
.
There was a Second Rohilla War
Second Rohilla War
The Second Rohilla War was a conflict between British India and the Rohillas of Rampur in 1794.The end of the First Rohilla War in 1774 saw Faizullah Khan installed as Nawab of Rampur with the support of the British East India Company. Faizullah Khan was a competent ruler who was succeeded by his...
, in 1794.
Warren Hastings
The war became a matter of Westminster politics during the Impeachment of Warren HastingsImpeachment of Warren Hastings
The Impeachment of Warren Hastings was a failed attempt to impeach the former Governor-General of India Warren Hastings in the Parliament of Great Britain between 1788 and 1795. Hastings was accused of misconduct during his time in Calcutta particularly relating to mismanagement and personal...
. Charges of destroying a nation were brought against Hastings by Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
and later Thomas Macaulay.