DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.635#0223
CHAPTER XII
BENARES UNDER BRITISH RULE
Benares for a brief period played a very conspicuous
part in the early history of the British empire, and
filled an eventful chapter in the life of the first gover-
nor-general. The treatment of Raja Chet Singh of
Benares by Warren Hastings was one of the principal
indictments against the latter in the famous seven
years' trial.
Under Mogul rule Benares ceased to have any great
political importance, and when that empire crumbled
to pieces after the death of Aurangzib, the city and
district became subject to the Nawab of Oudh. In
1775 Warren Hastings, who had previously interfered
to prevent the Nawab from confiscating the zemindary,
concluded a treaty by which the feudatory rights of
Oudh were transferred to the British Government.
The latter then granted a charter to Raja Chet
Singh confirming him in his possessions, subject to an
annual fixed rent or tribute, and conferring upon him
various rights and privileges which he had not enjoyed
before. These concessions nevertheless did not pre-
vent the Raja from taking advantage of the extra-
ordinary difficulties of Warren Hastings' position to
evade his obligations as a vassal and dependent of the
East India Company.
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BENARES UNDER BRITISH RULE
Benares for a brief period played a very conspicuous
part in the early history of the British empire, and
filled an eventful chapter in the life of the first gover-
nor-general. The treatment of Raja Chet Singh of
Benares by Warren Hastings was one of the principal
indictments against the latter in the famous seven
years' trial.
Under Mogul rule Benares ceased to have any great
political importance, and when that empire crumbled
to pieces after the death of Aurangzib, the city and
district became subject to the Nawab of Oudh. In
1775 Warren Hastings, who had previously interfered
to prevent the Nawab from confiscating the zemindary,
concluded a treaty by which the feudatory rights of
Oudh were transferred to the British Government.
The latter then granted a charter to Raja Chet
Singh confirming him in his possessions, subject to an
annual fixed rent or tribute, and conferring upon him
various rights and privileges which he had not enjoyed
before. These concessions nevertheless did not pre-
vent the Raja from taking advantage of the extra-
ordinary difficulties of Warren Hastings' position to
evade his obligations as a vassal and dependent of the
East India Company.
210