Cite
MLA
“Battle of Manihari.” Hindu History, 2026, https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/battle-of-manihari-1756/. Accessed .
APA
Hindu History. (2026). Battle of Manihari. Retrieved , from https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/battle-of-manihari-1756/
Shaukat Jang was shot dead in the fighting and Purnea passed to Siraj ud-Daulah.
01Two grandsons of Alivardi
Alivardi Khan died in April 1756 and left Bengal to his grandson Siraj ud-Daulah. Another grandson, Shaukat Jang, held Purnea, the rich district north of the Ganga. Courtiers who disliked Siraj, Mir Jafar among them, wrote to Shaukat Jang, and he obtained an imperial sanad for the subahdari of Bengal through the wazir at Delhi. He then sent Siraj an insulting letter. Siraj had just come back from taking Fort William from the English. He marched north at once.
02The fight in the marsh
Shaukat Jang took up a position behind a swamp near Manihari, on the road from Rajmahal into Purnea, with only one causeway across it. His cavalry charged across without order. The Nawab’s guns, served by Mohanlal’s men, broke them on the far side. Shaukat Jang, by most accounts drunk and badly advised, rode into the fight on an elephant and was killed by a musket ball in the forehead. His army scattered. Siraj sent Mohanlal’s officers to take over Purnea and its treasure.
It was Siraj ud-Daulah’s last victory. The nobles who had backed Shaukat Jang turned next to the English, and eight months later came Plassey.
