The Genesis of British Fortifications in Mughal India: Fort William in Kolkata

The first British fortification built in the Mughal part of India was Fort William, constructed in 1696 in what is now Kolkata. This fort was established to protect the British trading interests in Bengal, which at the time was under Mughal influence.

The Context of British Trade in Mughal India

The English merchants first landed in the port of Surat in Gujarat, a province of the Mughal empire, during the reign of Akbar and Jahangir. In 1717, an English physician successfully treated the emperor, leading to the grant of a firman (decree) by the emperor, granting the East India Company trading rights. At this point, the company did not have its own land, port, or any defensive structure to protect the port.

The company received its first piece of land in the island of Bombay from Charles II as part of a dowry in 1662. This was later followed by the construction of a British fort in Bombay, but this was not in Mughal land. Similarly, Fort St. George in Madras was also not under Mughal rule, as that part of India was never under their control.

Fort William in Bengal

Technically, Bengal was still under Mughal rule in 1690, with emperors Aurangzeb governing until 1707. Kolkata, now known as Kolkata, was a British settlement based on the purchase of three villages from a local landowner in 1692. The first Fort William was constructed much later, located closer to the Writers Building and Lal Dighi (Red Tank) in modern-day BBD Bagh.

This fort was built to defend against Maratha raiders (known as bargee) who were active due to the collapse of Mughal power after Aurangzeb's death in 1707. The Marathas sought to take over Mughal rule. The fort featured a rudimentary circular ditch that was later converted into the Lower and Upper Circulars in British Kolkata.

Fort William and Political Dynamics

In the 1750s, the region was technically under the emperor but in reality ruled by the Nawab of Bengal, Ali Vardi Khan, who was virtually independent. He paid nominal dues and respect to the Mughal emperor, who ruled only Delhi and its surroundings. The old Fort William was destroyed in 1756 by Ali Vardi Khan's grandson, Siraj-ud-daulah, who objected to the British fortifying without permission and taking on commercial rights that they didn't have legally.

This period marked the beginning of a series of conflicts, with the British East India Company battling the French in Chandernagore, part of the Seven Years War from 1756 to 1763. The British wanted freedom of action and saw opportunity in the chaos. The Battle of Plassey was won through treachery, with the company buying the Nawab's general. This was analogous to the historical event where the Stanleys switched sides at Bosworth, with Robert Clive taking the role of the Company. Just like Clive, who did not make himself Nawab but placed puppets in power, the British consolidated their hold on Bengal, eventually becoming the de facto rulers of the region.

In 1773, the British Parliament officially recognized the East India Company as the Nawab of Bengal, both by the Sultan of Delhi and the British government. This marked a significant shift in the political map, as the Company consolidated its rule over Bengal, making Fort William a pivotal symbol of British dominance in Mughal lands.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is accurate to claim Fort William as the first British fort in Mughal lands, especially considering that Bengal, at the time of its construction, was nominally under Mughal rule but effectively ruled by the Nawab. This fort exemplifies the gradual expansion of British influence and the complex political landscape of 17th and 18th century India.