Gwalior Campaign
Encyclopedia
The Gwalior Campaign was fought between British
and Marathan forces in Gwalior in India
, December 1843.
controlled much of central and northern India and had fallen to the British in 1818 giving the British control over almost all of the Indian subcontinent. The Maharaja
of Gwalior had died and a young child appointed as the Maharaja with British support. However, Marathas in Gwalior
saw the failed British campaign
in Afghanistan
as opportunity to regain independence and removed the young Maharaja. Lord Ellenborough
, foreseeing the possibility of the Marathas in Gwalior making an attempt for independence had formed the Army of Exercise near Agra
. After attempts to negotiate failed, the British advanced in a two pronged attack. The British, under the command of Gen. Sir Hugh Gough
clashed with Marathan forces, under the command of Maharaja Scindiah, in two battles on the same day; December 29, 1843.
. The British faced them with troops from the 40th Regiment of Foot
with the 2nd
and 16th Native Infantry Regiments forming the central column, the 39th Regiment of Foot
with the 56th Native Infantry Regiment and a filed battery forming the left column and the 16th Lancers
with two troops of horse artillery as well as other artillery forming the right column.
The centre column advanced to attack to where the believed the main enemy force was located. However, during the night the Marathans had moved and the British were surprised as they came under heavy fire from the Marathan artillery in their new positions. The central column then received the order to take the battery positions which they did under continuous heavy fire from shot, grape, canister and chain. The guns were to the South-East Maharajpore with two battalions of Marathan troops for each battery and in Maharajpore with seven battalions for each battery and the British fought hand to hand with the Marathans, both sides taking heavy casualties, to clear the positions. The Marathans fought intensely and few escaped the battle. The British finally defeated the Marathans with 797 men killed, wounded or missing. The Marathans were estimated to have lost 3000 to 4000 men.
. The British soldiers who participated in the campaign were awarded a medal; the Gwalior Star
.
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
and Marathan forces in Gwalior in India
Company rule in India
Company rule in India refers to the rule or dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent...
, December 1843.
Background
The Maratha EmpireMaratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
controlled much of central and northern India and had fallen to the British in 1818 giving the British control over almost all of the Indian subcontinent. The Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Gwalior had died and a young child appointed as the Maharaja with British support. However, Marathas in Gwalior
Gwalior state
Gwalior State was an Indian kingdom and princely state ruled by the Maratha dynasty. The state took its name from the old town of Gwalior, which, although never the actual capital, was an important place because of its strategic location and the strength of its fort. The state was founded in the...
saw the failed British campaign
First Anglo-Afghan War
The First Anglo-Afghan War was fought between British India and Afghanistan from 1839 to 1842. It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between the United Kingdom and Russia, and also marked one of the worst...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
as opportunity to regain independence and removed the young Maharaja. Lord Ellenborough
Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough
Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough GCB, PC was a British Tory politician. He was four times President of the Board of Control and also served as Governor-General of India between 1842 and 1844.-Background and education:...
, foreseeing the possibility of the Marathas in Gwalior making an attempt for independence had formed the Army of Exercise near Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
. After attempts to negotiate failed, the British advanced in a two pronged attack. The British, under the command of Gen. Sir Hugh Gough
Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough
Field Marshal Sir Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough, KP, GCSI, KCB, PC , was an Irish British Army officer. He was said to have commanded in more general actions than any other British officer of the 19th century except the Duke of Wellington.- Early career :Born at Woodstown House, Co...
clashed with Marathan forces, under the command of Maharaja Scindiah, in two battles on the same day; December 29, 1843.
The Battle of Maharajpore
The Marathan army had 14 battalion, 1 000 artillery men with 60 guns and 6 000 cavalry at MaharajporeMaharajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Maharajpur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Chhatarpur district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Betel leaf cultivation is one of the major source of revenue.-Geography:...
. The British faced them with troops from the 40th Regiment of Foot
40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot
The 40th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1717 and amalgamated into The Prince of Wales's Volunteers in 1881.-Formation:...
with the 2nd
2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry
The 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry, commonly shortened to 2nd Rajputs, was a regiment of the British Indian Army, with an origin in 1798 and amalgamated with five other Rajput regiments in 1922.-History:...
and 16th Native Infantry Regiments forming the central column, the 39th Regiment of Foot
39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot
The 39th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1719 and amalgamated into The Dorsetshire Regiment in 1881.The regiment was raised by Colonel Richard Coote in Ireland in August 1702...
with the 56th Native Infantry Regiment and a filed battery forming the left column and the 16th Lancers
16th The Queen's Lancers
The 16th The Queen's Lancers was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1759. It saw service for two centuries, before being amalgamated into the 16th/5th Lancers in 1922.-History:...
with two troops of horse artillery as well as other artillery forming the right column.
The centre column advanced to attack to where the believed the main enemy force was located. However, during the night the Marathans had moved and the British were surprised as they came under heavy fire from the Marathan artillery in their new positions. The central column then received the order to take the battery positions which they did under continuous heavy fire from shot, grape, canister and chain. The guns were to the South-East Maharajpore with two battalions of Marathan troops for each battery and in Maharajpore with seven battalions for each battery and the British fought hand to hand with the Marathans, both sides taking heavy casualties, to clear the positions. The Marathans fought intensely and few escaped the battle. The British finally defeated the Marathans with 797 men killed, wounded or missing. The Marathans were estimated to have lost 3000 to 4000 men.
The Battle of Punniar
The Marathan at Punniar (29th December 1843) numbered about 12 000 men and occupied the high ground near Mangore. As the British army approached they immediately attacked the Marathan positions driving them from the hill.Aftermath
After the defeat of the Marathan forces in Gwalior the British disbanded their army and established a force in the state that the government of Gwalior maintained. A British governor was appointed at Gwalior fortGwalior Fort
ċċċċċt̪--122.177.251.15 13:02, 20 November 2011 --122.177.251.15 13:02, 20 November 2011 --122.177.251.15 13:02, 20 November 2011 Gwalior Fort in Gwalior, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, stands on an isolated rock, overlooking the Gwalior town, and contains a number of historic...
. The British soldiers who participated in the campaign were awarded a medal; the Gwalior Star
Gwalior Star
The Gwalior Star is a campaign award presented to the soldiers of the British Army, by the Honorable East India Company, who took part in the 1843 Gwalior Campaign.-History:...
.