British conquest of Sindh
British conquest of Sindh | |||||||||
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Part of Company rule in India | |||||||||
A painting depicting combat on the city of Miani by Edward Armitage | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
East India Company | Talpurs of Sindh | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Captain James Outram Sir Charles Napier[1] Captain Sir Thomas Maitland |
Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur Hoshu Sheedi † | ||||||||
Units involved | |||||||||
36th Jacob's Horse and HMS AlgerineHMS Wellesley (1815) | Unknown/Local Units | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
8,800[2] | 45,000[2] | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
520[3] | 4,000[4] |
The British conquest of Sindh was a successful British military campaign and conquest of Sindh into the
With the Royal Navy capturing the strategic outpost and Karachi, the British Army engaged in successfully capturing Sindh and Punjab that allowed protecting India from Persian or Afghan conquests while protecting British interests in Northwest India.
Background
The British East India company became involved in the region of Sindh (in what is modern day Pakistan), under the authority of Lord Ellenborough. In 1809, The Amirs of Sindh signed a treaty of "friendship" with the British, who established a local representative in the city of Hyderabad. With this arrival of British influence within the region, the Amirs of the Sindh lessened their internal struggles and turned instead to face this foreign presence.[6] In 1838, the British representative had the Amirs sign a political residency treaty, allowing a British residency in the city of Hyderabad, which paved the way for further British involvement in the area. This same treaty also stipulated that the British would assist in negotiating the differences held between the rulers of the Sindh and those of the Punjab.[7] Soon after, this would be taken a step further in the signing of a treaty pushed by the British that if needed British troops would be stationed permanently in the Sindh region for ‘the protection of the Amirs’. The Amirs however would have to pay for a British resident in Hyderabad, who would negotiate all relations between the British and the Amirs.[8]
In 1841, the British appointed Charles Napier for service in India at the age of 59. The following year Napier arrived in Bombay on 26 August. Upon his arrival he was told of the situation that existed between the British and the Amirs, and that the Amirs were making trouble for the British. On 10 September 1842 Napier arrived in the Sindh.[9] Under Napier, British control saw some charity on their occupation of Sindh and the territory of the Amirs. There was a belief that the British were, in fact, improving life for many in the area, as they saw the Amirs as overly wealthy rulers over a poor people.[10] Napier was also very much of a mind to expand and tighten British control. Previously Outram had been in charge of negotiations between the British and the Amirs and had been very lenient towards the Amirs, which they appreciated greatly. Napier, on the other hand, not only longed for campaign, but was also very authoritarian with regard to the British rule in the area, and wanted to see full control by the British.[11] Napier himself was charged by Ellenborough to look into the matter of the Amirs’ duplicity, to find evidence of their suspicious behaviour, and to compile it into a report which he would submit to Ellenborough.[12] However, due to the fact that Napier was fresh to the Sindh and knew none of the language which would allow him to understand the pieces of alleged evidence against the Amirs, he was left with a difficult task.[13]
Invasion
Miani
On 16 February 1843 Sir Charles Napier came to Matiari from Hala. He was commanding 2800 soldiers with 12 cannons. On the other side Talpur army was consisted of 2200 soldiers with 15 cannons. Army of Sindh began to gather at the bank of Phuleli near Miani but there was no sufficient arrangements for providing ammunition to the army. East India Company army consisted of soldiers belonging to Bombay, Pune and Madras.
After a political heatup, the
Hyderabad
On 24 March 1843 British troops, led by Sir Charles Napier, set out from Hyderabad to meet Sher Mohammad. After marching for some time, the British forces came upon the Amir's army.
After almost an hour of fire between both sides, Napier began to see an opportunity to break through a weak spot in the Amir's lines. The Scinde Horse and
Aftermath
After the cities of Miani and Hyderabad were captured, the British won and there was a consequent annexation later.
However troubles quickly arose. Captain James Outram, who had been sent back to England following his posting in the Sindh, began to plead the case of the Amirs in England. Coupled with the new victory, stark criticism arose in England towards both Ellenborough and Napier, who wrote, pleading their own case and arguing over the details of their dealings with the Amirs.[17] The authorities in England were not pleased with the annexation of the Sindh, and had in mind to restore the territory to the Amirs. However, thinking that the process of returning the Sindh to its original owners would be difficult and that the forced resignation of Ellenborough and Napier would cause further criticism from England, the ownerships of the Sindh would remain with the British.[17] The government in England did write to Napier and Ellenbourough, condemning the annexation and their actions. The actual province of Sindh was not as prosperous as Napier had hoped after capture, and for many years the British gained very little from its possession.[18]
References
- ISBN 978-0-559-94134-4.
- ^ a b Sir Charles James Napier - Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
- ^ The History of British India: A Chronology by John F. Riddick
- ^ Moon, The British Conquest and Dominion of India, p. 574.
- ISBN 969-0-01424-2.
- ^ Wallis, A History of the British Conquest of Afghanistan and Western India, 1838 to 1849, p. 111.
- ^ Wallis, A History of the British Conquest of Afghanistan and Western India, 1838 to 1849, p. 113.
- ^ Wallis, A History of the British Conquest of Afghanistan and Western India, 1838 to 1849, p. 112.
- ^ Duarte, A History of British Relations with Sind, 1613–1843, pp. 403–404.
- ^ Duarte,A History of British Relations with Sind, 1613–1843, p. 405.
- ^ Moon, The British Conquest and Dominion of India, p. 567.
- ^ Moon, The British Conquest and Dominion of India, p. 565.
- ^ Moon, The British Conquest and Dominion of India, pp. 565–566.
- ^ a b Lambrick, Sir Charles Napier and Sind, p. 161.
- ^ Lambrick, Sir Charles Napier and Sind, p. 163.
- ^ Lambrick, Sir Charles Napier and Sind, p. 164–165.
- ^ a b Moon, The British Conquest and Dominion of India, p. 575.
- ^ Moon, The British Conquest and Dominion of India, p. 576.