India, once hailed as the “Golden Bird” for its immense wealth and prosperity, fell under British rule for over 200 years. Many powerful rulers attempted to conquer India but failed—including Alexander the Great, who returned empty-handed, and Muhammad Ghori, who lost 16 battles before finally gaining a foothold. Even the mighty Mughals took decades to dominate parts of India. So how did the British, coming from across the ocean, succeed where many had failed?
This article unravels the step-by-step strategy that enabled the British East India Company to conquer, loot, and rule the Indian subcontinent.
The Arrival of the British East India Company
On 31 December 1600, 25 English merchants formed the “Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies,” later known as the East India Company. Initially, they set up a trading post in Indonesia, but fierce competition from the Dutch and Spanish forced them to seek new territories.
In 1608, Captain William Hawkins arrived at Surat. The Mughal Empire, led by Emperor Jahangir, controlled much of India. Hawkins traveled to Agra in 1609 seeking trade rights but was denied, as the Portuguese had already paid taxes for exclusive trading rights. The British then set up a trading factory in Machilipatnam (modern-day Andhra Pradesh), where Mughal influence was limited.
Battle of Swally (1612): Breaking the Portuguese Monopoly
The British clashed with the Portuguese in 1612 near the port of Swally. When the Portuguese arrested two British traders, Captain Thomas Best of the Royal Navy sought help from Sardar Khan, the governor of Surat. With his support, the British defeated the Portuguese and secured trading rights in Surat. By 1613, they established a permanent trading factory.
Diplomat Sir Thomas Roe later persuaded Jahangir to grant the British expanded trade privileges in exchange for taxes. This marked the beginning of large-scale British settlement and factory construction across India.
The Expansion Begins: Factories and Fortresses
With Mughal approval, the British expanded into Bengal, Madras, and Odisha, trading in silk, salt, tea, and cotton. In 1658, they had 45 factories in Cossimbazar (Bengal). King Charles II of England granted the Company the right to rule over acquired territories, form a private army, and implement its own laws.
This empowerment allowed them to push deeper into India and negotiate directly with regional rulers like Bengal’s Shaista Khan. Although the British faced occasional pushback, they gradually strengthened their position.
Aurangzeb vs. East India Company
In the 1680s, under Governor Josiah Child, the Company ignored existing treaties and expanded trade illegally. In retaliation, Shaista Khan raised taxes. Child refused to comply, leading to a war in 1686. The British sent 19 ships and 600 soldiers but were defeated by Mughal forces. Their factories were destroyed, and officers arrested. Aurangzeb allowed them back only after they paid a fine of Rs 50 lakh.
After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, the Mughal Empire weakened and fragmented, which the British and other European powers quickly exploited.
The Carnatic Wars (1746–1763)
As Mughals lost control, the French, led by Joseph François Dupleix, began gaining influence in Pondicherry and Chandan Nagar. This led to the Carnatic Wars between Britain and France. The British ultimately emerged victorious, weakening French influence in India.
In 1756, Siraj ud-Daulah became Nawab of Bengal and opposed British expansion. He attacked Fort William in Calcutta, causing the infamous “Black Hole of Calcutta” tragedy. In retaliation, the British, under Robert Clive, allied with Mir Jafar and wealthy banker Jagat Seth to defeat Siraj in the Battle of Plassey (1757). The British won and installed Mir Jafar as a puppet ruler.
Battle of Buxar (1764): British Power Cemented
Mir Jafar was replaced by Mir Qasim, who later rebelled. He allied with Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh) and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. The combined forces lost to the British in the Battle of Buxar. This victory granted the East India Company Diwani rights (tax collection) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa under the Treaty of Allahabad.
Robert Clive became Governor of Bengal, and massive revenues started flowing to Britain.
The Anglo-Maratha Wars
Following the death of Maratha Peshwa Madhavrao in 1772, internal divisions weakened the Maratha Empire. Raghunath Rao sought British support to become Peshwa, signing the Treaty of Surat. In return, the British gained territory, triggering the First Anglo-Maratha War.
After many skirmishes, the Treaty of Salbai (1782) maintained peace. However, internal Maratha rivalries led to the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803), which the British won. In 1818, after the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the British crushed remaining resistance and took full control of Maratha territories.
Doctrine of Lapse and Indian Discontent
Introduced by Lord Dalhousie, the Doctrine of Lapse allowed the British to annex any princely state without a male heir. Using this policy, they captured Satara, Nagpur, Jhansi, and more. These actions created massive resentment among Indian rulers and citizens alike.
The Revolt of 1857: India Strikes Back
By the early 1800s, heavy taxation and cultural interference caused widespread anger. In 1857, mysterious chapatis and lotus flowers circulated among villagers and soldiers—a symbolic call for unity.
The immediate trigger came from new rifle cartridges rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat, offending both Hindu and Muslim soldiers. Mangal Pandey fired the first shot in Meerut. Revolts spread across India, led by Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Sahib, Tatya Tope, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and others.
Though initially successful, the revolt lacked coordination and resources. The British crushed it, executing leaders and exiling Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. This uprising is remembered as India’s First War of Independence.
The Crown Takes Over: British Raj Begins
After the revolt, the British Crown dissolved the East India Company through the Government of India Act (1858). All Company assets and territories were transferred to Queen Victoria, marking the beginning of the British Raj. Lord Canning was appointed as the first Viceroy of India.
Under the Indian Councils Act (1861), a few Indians were included in governance, but they held no real power. Farmers paid high taxes, often on their own land. Landlords and Indian elites collaborated with the British, further weakening resistance.
Conclusion
The British conquest of India was not a result of sheer military power alone. It was a long game—strategically using trade, diplomacy, bribery, manipulation, internal divisions, and selective warfare. By the time India realized the full extent of British ambitions, it was already too late.
However, resistance never stopped. It simmered, evolved, and one day, exploded into a movement that would ultimately win India its freedom in 1947.
“They came as traders, stayed as rulers, and left as looters.”
By Himansh Kumar | June 25, 2025
