June 23, 1757 · India Theater
June 23, 1757
In a mango grove beside the Bhagirathi River, Robert Clive's 3,000 men faced Siraj ud-Daulah's 50,000-strong army — including 53 French-trained artillery pieces and French advisors. The battle was settled less by combat than by treachery: Clive had secretly bribed Mir Jafar, the Nawab's chief general, to betray his master. Mir Jafar held his 45,000 men back. The Nawab fled. Clive won Bengal in an afternoon.
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