Heads of Bengal

Nawabs of Bengal

1821-1841: Ahmad Ali Khan

-after British Wars > First Anglo-Burmese War (1825-9)) accepts Burmese hegemony over Bengal in place of British
-allowing it to post a resident and maintain a garrison
-and accepts the formal loss of most of eastern Bengal, which is now under direct Burmese rule
-this really isn't much of a difference from British rule
-Murshidabad, less devastated by the Burmese invasion than the rest of Bengal, sees impressive boom
-as a city, becomes quite large and for some time largest city in all Bengal
-successfully ensures Burmese rule is quite light in western Bengal
-sends troops to assist Burmese against Siamese

1841-1864: Mansur Ali Khan †

-comes to throne at age of 11
-puppet of pro-Burmese officials
-is increasingly unhappy with this and seeks to establish himself as the real ruler of Bengal
-establishes correspondence with Maharashtra and the British whose support he seeks to this end
-in 1846 formally overthrows his regency council

-which receives some degree of interference from Burma even though he seeks to reassure them of his loyalty

-this guy who supported overthrow of regency council launches a revolution to overthrow Nawab
-succeeds in part but ultimately he just doesn't have any popular support

-and soldiers ultimately remain loyal

-but this creates power vacuum that Burma wants to take advantage of
-when he gets kicked off that an expedition is coming he takes action

-kicks out the Burmese expedition and Anglo-Marathas come in without Mansur's support

-leading to British Wars > Second Anglo-Burmese War (1847-9))
-after a fight concludes with Bengal becoming independent

-aside from Chittagong which is annexed by British directly despite his oppositoon

-in practice under heavy British influence
-British economic domination grows over the 1850s and this results in a growing crisis
-Mansur tries to slowly overturn this influence and refuses new treaties but slowly his bench goes on British side

-in 1864 Mansur attempts to overthrow British influence
-fails and he ends up killed
-for he prefers death over capture
-reducing it to a British puppet state

1864-1912: Hassan Ali Khan

-pure British puppet

-treaty establishing firm British support

-opponents launch revolution
-under leadership of successor of Derozio

-defeated despite stronger support this time

-results in new treaty further entrenching British position