Bengal's Forgotten Maratha Conquest

The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · Oct 4, 2026 · 8m · transcript

While history books focus on the British East India Company’s slow grind for control over Bengal, there was a sudden, violent shock in 1756 that nearly erased Calcutta from the map. This episode explores the Maratha invasion led by Raghuji Bhonsle and his general Balram Singh, who swept down from the Deccan not as allies of the Nawabs, but as independent warlords demanding tribute. We trace how this campaign exposed the fragility of the Nawab’s rule under Siraj-ud-Daulah and forced Robert Clive to make desperate, opportunistic moves during his first sojourn in India. By examining the…