Balwant Singh: Difference between revisions

Following this settlement, Balwant Singh concentrated on consolidating his authority. Taking advantage of the continued difficulties faced by his suzerain between 1752 and 1754, he strengthened his position further by transferring his capital from Gangapore to Ramnagar on the southern bank of the Ganges, where he constructed a substantial stone fort. He also began planning the incorporation of the fertile belt surrounding Benares, bounded by the Ganges in the north, the Karamnasa River in the east, the Son River and the Kaimur Hills in the south, thereby laying the territorial foundations of the Benares Raj.

Following the transfer of his capital to Ramnagar, Balwant Singh embarked upon an ambitious programme of territorial expansion designed to transform the Benares Raj into a cohesive regional power. His immediate objective was the strategically important hill fortress of Bijaygarh, but before attempting its conquest he systematically subdued the intermediate strongholds controlled by local chiefs.

In early 1753, Balwant Singh captured the fort of Patita in the pargana of Bhagwant by exploiting the advanced age of its governor, Jayaait Khan, and launching a sudden attack. Shortly afterwards, he turned against the formidable stone fort of Latifpur in the Kupsa Hills. Taking advantage of a succession dispute following the death of its ruler, Malik Farrukh, Balwant Singh invaded Ahraura, where Malik Ahmad was killed while attempting to escape. Malik Ehsan abandoned Latifpur, enabling Balwant Singh's forces to occupy both the fort and its surrounding territory with little resistance.

Having secured these approaches, Balwant Singh directed his attention towards Bijaygarh. Unable to withstand his advance, Vijay Singh, the governor of the fortress, negotiated its surrender in December 1753 in return for a payment of ₹50,000. Early in 1754 Balwant Singh captured the neighbouring fort of Agore on the banks of the Son River, extending the southern frontier of the Benares Raj into the forested and hilly tracts bordering the Son valley.

These military successes alarmed Nawab Safdar Jang, who marched to Benares in February 1754 to suppress the increasingly independent Raja. Balwant Singh avoided direct confrontation by crossing the Ganges and taking refuge at Chandrauti, east of Benares. Before decisive action could be taken, however, Safdar Jang was compelled by political developments elsewhere to abandon the campaign, allowing Balwant Singh to retain his gains.

Balwant Singh subsequently consolidated his eastern frontier. In 1754 he intervened in a dispute between his uncle Dasa Ram and Daim Khan, the zamindar of Keyra Mangror, eventually bringing the estate under his authority. To legitimize the acquisition, he obtained official recognition from Raja Jankiram, the Naib Subahdar of Patna, agreeing to pay an annual tribute of ₹7,000. He further strengthened his claim by securing a rent-free imperial grant (''madad-i-ma'ash'') of the entire pargana from Emperor Alamgir II, which was later reaffirmed by Emperor Shah Alam II.

His administrative expansion continued in 1755 when he extended direct control over the sarkar of Jaunpur, reducing the autonomy of many lesser zamindars by placing their estates under the supervision of his own officials. He then moved against Himmat Bahadur, the zamindar of Garwara, and Shaikh Kabul Muhammad of Machhlishahr, both of whom had earlier supported Sahib Zaman Khan during the Afghan occupation. Using the expulsion of one of Himmat Bahadur's retainers as a pretext, Balwant Singh launched a campaign against Garwara. Although Himmat Bahadur escaped after his fortifications were breached by artillery, the resistance continued under his son Sukhnandan Singh until Balwant Singh pacified the region by granting Garwara to Budh Singh at an annual revenue assessment of ₹80,000. Later that year he attacked Machhlishahr, treacherously captured Shaikh Kabul Muhammad, and incorporated the zamindari into his dominions.