Previous Year Question
Consider the following events and arrange them in chronological order.
I. Battle of Mudki
II. Battle of Porto Novo
III. Battle of Shakarkheda
IV. Battle of Bedara
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
Code:
I, II, III, IV
III, IV, II, I
IV, III, II, I
II, III, IV, I
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
The correct chronological order is Battle of Shakarkheda (1724) → Battle of Bedara (1759) → Battle of Porto Novo (1781) → Battle of Mudki (1845).
The earliest was the Battle of Shakarkheda in 1724 CE. It was fought in the Deccan between Nizam-ul-Mulk and Mubariz Khan. Nizam-ul-Mulk defeated Mubariz Khan, who was killed in the battle.
The victory decisively strengthened the position of Nizam-ul-Mulk in the Deccan. Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah subsequently recognised him as Viceroy of the Deccan and honoured him with the title Asaf Jah. The event was closely connected with the rise of Asaf Jahi authority in Hyderabad.
Next came the Battle of Bedara in 1759 CE. It is also known as the Battle of Biderra or Chinsurah. It was fought between the English and the Dutch in Bengal, and the Dutch military force was decisively defeated by the English.
After this defeat, the Dutch political and military challenge in India was considerably weakened. They continued commercial activities, but their capacity to challenge the growing English supremacy in Bengal was effectively lost.
The third event was the Battle of Porto Novo in 1781 CE. It was fought between Hyder Ali and the English during the Second Anglo-Mysore War. The English army under Sir Eyre Coote defeated Hyder Ali's forces.
The latest was the Battle of Mudki on 18 December 1845. It was one of the first major battles of the First Anglo-Sikh War. The Sikh army confronted the British-Indian force commanded by Sir Hugh Gough and was ultimately forced to withdraw.