How British captured Awadh from Nawab Wajid Ali Shah without war? Debauchery or cowardice? the real reason was…

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the 11th and last King of Awadh, was an enthusiastic patron of dance and music, but also allegedly a debauch, and ultimately paid the price for his carefree and colorful nature by losing his kingdom to the British East India Company.

Nawab Wajid Shah, the ruler of the princely state of Awadh, had everything a monarch could ask for to defend his kingdom. The Nawab had a decently-trained army, and subjects who supported and even adored him to some extent, however, when the time came, he feebly handed over his crown to the invading British and gave up without fighting a war.

According to various historical accounts, Mirza Wajid Ali Shah, the 11th and last King of Awadh, was an enthusiastic patron of dance and music, but also allegedly a debauch, and ultimately paid the price for his carefree and colorful nature by losing his kingdom to the British East India Company.

How British conquered Awadh without war?

The British East India company had set sights on occupying the wealth Awadh kingdom, and the plan was set in motion with the appointment of Colonel James L. Sleeman by British Governor-General Dalhousie, in the court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. While the British had no qualms about occupying Awadh by force, but the invaders wanted to legitimize their occupation by highlighting the king’s incompetence in governing the state.

The British exposed the Nawab as a reckless ruler, who ignored his royal duties to indulge in acts of debauchery. Sleeman found that the king of Awadh was suffering from gonorrhea, a sexually-transmitted disease (STD), and the ailment hindered him from carrying out his governance duties.

Nawab suffered from gonorrhea

In his report, Colonel Sleeman described the Nawab of Awadh as a dim-witted, lazy, and incompetent ruler who always surrounded himself with women, singers, and eunuchs. He also mentioned the king’s hobbies like mushairas, bird and animal fights, kite flying etc, presenting him as a reckless ruler who had no interest in governance, leaving administration of the state in shambles.

The Nawab was aware of Sleeman’s reports, and was trying to get in his good books. However, Sleeman kept sending the reports even as the King tried to curry favor with the British Queen, an effort that was met with complete indifference.  During Dalhousie’s visit to Kanpur in 1850, the king expressed his desire to meet him, but the British administrator turned down the request.

Nawab’s efforts to appease British crown

In 1851, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah sent some items, including the crown of Awadh, to be displayed at an exhibition in London, to which Dalhousie famously commented that it would’ve been better if the king had sent his head along with the crown.

The Nawab kept making efforts to please Dalhousie, sending expensive gifts and donations, and sent his envoy to meet the Governor-General in 1853. However, the meeting was again refused, along with a blunt reply.

The British had given a two-year ultimatum to the Nawab to improve the governance of Awadh, during which he made several efforts to that end, such as installing complaint boxes at public places to address the problems of his subjects. Subordinates and employees were also alerted about their duties, while the king took measure to strengthen his army, fearing an inevitable clash with the British invaders.

However, the British did not see his army as a threat, and considered the Nawab’s troops, who were dressed in uniforms inspired by European soldier, as just pomp and show, meant to add eye candy at royal ceremonies.

Notably, Nawab of Awadh had a female soldiers in his army, called the Pink Battalion, that was always stationed around him, He also a group of African women soldiers as his personal bodyguards.

The ‘treaty’ of surrender

Colonel Sleeman had hoped that the king would ask the British to intervene, however, by 1854, the invaders were preparing to take a decisive step, as Sleeman was replaced by James Outram as Resident, who in his 1855 report stated that Awadh had become paralyzed as a state due to the king’s incompetence and bad governance.

Ultimately, on February 4, 1856, James Outram marched into the Nawab’s palace, carrying an order asking the king to vacate the premises within three days, as soldiers and courtiers welcomed their British overlord with bowed heads. The order also stated that the Nawab would be paid an annual pension of Rs 15 lakh.

“What crime have i committed to deserve this?” the dejected is said have asked the British Resident as his courtiers looked on. But Outram was not there to share the king’s grief, he was a representative of the invaders who had captured his kingdom, without fighting a war.

Treaties are made between equals. What am I now, that I should make peace with the British government? My honour and country are gone. I am left with myself. I don’t want any pension. I will go to England and fall at the feet of the Queen and beg for mercy,” said the helpless king as Outram asked him to sign over his kingdom to the East India Company.

Thus, Mirza Wajid Shah was ousted from Awadh by the British and exiled to Garden Reach in Metiabruz, then a suburb of Kolkata, where he lived out the rest of his life on a generous pension.

Interestingly, the Nawab’s second wife Muhammadi Khanum, better known as Begum Hazrat Mahal, rose against the British East India Company during the 1857 Rebellion as the regent of Awadh, but that is a story for another time.