Child's War
Encyclopedia
Child's War - a war between English East India Company and Mughal Empire
which lasted from 1686 to 1690.
In 1682 English East India Company sent William Hedges to Shaista Khan
, the Mughal governor of Bengal
in order to obtain a firman
, an imperial directive that would grant England regular trading privileges throughout the Mughal empire.
However, the company's governor in London, Sir Josiah Child, interfered with Hedges's mission, causing Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
to break off the negotiations. After that Child started war with the Mughals.
Admiral Nicholson was sent out in 1685 with twelve ships of war, carrying 200 pieces of cannon and a body of 600 men, to be reinforced by 400 from Madras. His instructions were to seize and fortify Chittagong
, for which purpose 200 additional guns were placed on board, to demand the cession of the surrounding territory, to conciliate the Zamindar
s, to establish a mint, and to enter into a treaty with the ruler of Arakan
. But the fleet was dispersed during the voyage, and several of the vessels, instead of steering for Chittagong, entered the Hooghly
, and being joined by the Madras troops, anchored off the Company’s factory.
The arrival of so formidable an expedition alarmed Shaista Khan
, and he offered to compromise his differences with the English; but an unforeseen event brought the negotiation to an abrupt close. Three English soldiers, strolling through the marketplace of Hooghly, quarrelled with Mughal
officials, and were severely beaten. After that the English admiral opened fire on the town and burnt down 500 houses.
In 1686 new negotiations started in Chuttanutty which the Mughals prolonged till their troops could be assembled to attack the English encampment, and Engish commander Job Charnock retired with his soldiers and establishments to the island of Ingelee, at the mouth of Hooghly River. It was a low and deadly swamp, covered with long grass, without any fresh water. In three months one half of the English troops were dead from disease.
In 1688 an English fleet was employed for blockading the Mogul harbours on the western coast of India and ships with piligrims to Mecca
were captured. After that Emperor Aurangzeb decided to resume negotiations with the English. However, the Company sent out reinforcements commanded Captain Heath who on his arrival disallowed the treaty then pending and proceeded to Balasore
which he bombarded and burnt. He then sailed to Chittagong; but finding the fortifications stronger than be had anticipated, landed at Madras.
After that Emperor Aurangzeb issued orders for the extirpation of the English, and the confiscation of their property. The English possessions were reduced to the fortified towns of Madras and Bombay.
In 1689 the Mughal fleet commanded by the Sidi Yaqub
took Bombay. After a year of resistance, the English surrendered, and in 1690 the company sent envoys to Aurangzeb's camp to plead for a pardon. The company's envoys had to prostrate themselves before the emperor, pay a large indemnity, and promise better behavior in the future. The emperor withdrew his troops and the company subsequently reestablished itself in Bombay and set up a new base in Calcutta.
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
which lasted from 1686 to 1690.
In 1682 English East India Company sent William Hedges to Shaista Khan
Shaista Khan
Mirza Abu Talib, better known by his title Shaista Khan , was a Subahdar and general in the army of the Mughal Empire. A maternal uncle to Emperor Aurangzeb, he served as the Mughal governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688, and was a key figure during the rule of his nephew, the emperor...
, the Mughal governor of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
in order to obtain a firman
Firman
A firman is a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, including the Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, State of Hyderabad, and Iran under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The word firman comes from the meaning "decree" or "order"...
, an imperial directive that would grant England regular trading privileges throughout the Mughal empire.
However, the company's governor in London, Sir Josiah Child, interfered with Hedges's mission, causing Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
to break off the negotiations. After that Child started war with the Mughals.
Admiral Nicholson was sent out in 1685 with twelve ships of war, carrying 200 pieces of cannon and a body of 600 men, to be reinforced by 400 from Madras. His instructions were to seize and fortify Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
, for which purpose 200 additional guns were placed on board, to demand the cession of the surrounding territory, to conciliate the Zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
s, to establish a mint, and to enter into a treaty with the ruler of Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
. But the fleet was dispersed during the voyage, and several of the vessels, instead of steering for Chittagong, entered the Hooghly
Hugli-Chuchura
Hugli-Chuchura is a city in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies on the Hooghly River, 35 km north of Kolkata . It is located in the district of Hugli and is home to the district headquarters. Chuchura houses the Commissioner of the Burdwan Range...
, and being joined by the Madras troops, anchored off the Company’s factory.
The arrival of so formidable an expedition alarmed Shaista Khan
Shaista Khan
Mirza Abu Talib, better known by his title Shaista Khan , was a Subahdar and general in the army of the Mughal Empire. A maternal uncle to Emperor Aurangzeb, he served as the Mughal governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688, and was a key figure during the rule of his nephew, the emperor...
, and he offered to compromise his differences with the English; but an unforeseen event brought the negotiation to an abrupt close. Three English soldiers, strolling through the marketplace of Hooghly, quarrelled with Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
officials, and were severely beaten. After that the English admiral opened fire on the town and burnt down 500 houses.
In 1686 new negotiations started in Chuttanutty which the Mughals prolonged till their troops could be assembled to attack the English encampment, and Engish commander Job Charnock retired with his soldiers and establishments to the island of Ingelee, at the mouth of Hooghly River. It was a low and deadly swamp, covered with long grass, without any fresh water. In three months one half of the English troops were dead from disease.
In 1688 an English fleet was employed for blockading the Mogul harbours on the western coast of India and ships with piligrims to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
were captured. After that Emperor Aurangzeb decided to resume negotiations with the English. However, the Company sent out reinforcements commanded Captain Heath who on his arrival disallowed the treaty then pending and proceeded to Balasore
Balasore
Balasore is a strategically located city in the state of Orissa, about north of the state capital Bhubaneswar, in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore district. It is best known for Chandipur beach. It is also the site of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense...
which he bombarded and burnt. He then sailed to Chittagong; but finding the fortifications stronger than be had anticipated, landed at Madras.
After that Emperor Aurangzeb issued orders for the extirpation of the English, and the confiscation of their property. The English possessions were reduced to the fortified towns of Madras and Bombay.
In 1689 the Mughal fleet commanded by the Sidi Yaqub
Sidi Yaqub
Sidi Yaqub, was a Mughal Admiral from Murud Janjira, he fought the British East India Company during the Child's War. and later when the Ganj-i-Sawai and other Mughal vessels, were captured by the pirates: Henry Every and the fallen Thomas Tew....
took Bombay. After a year of resistance, the English surrendered, and in 1690 the company sent envoys to Aurangzeb's camp to plead for a pardon. The company's envoys had to prostrate themselves before the emperor, pay a large indemnity, and promise better behavior in the future. The emperor withdrew his troops and the company subsequently reestablished itself in Bombay and set up a new base in Calcutta.