Gwalior campaign
Part of theAnglo–Maratha Wars
Death of Major-General Churchill at the battle of Maharajpore.
Date 29 December 1843 Location Gwalior State Result British victory
Belligerents
British East India Company	Maratha Confederacy Gwalior State
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Hugh Gough General Churchill †	Jayajirao Scindia regentTara Scindia
Casualties and losses
979	2,000–3,000

TheGwalior campaign was fought between theBritish andScindia forces inGwalior inIndia, December 1843.

TheMaratha Empire had controlled most of central and northern India but fell to the British in1818, giving the British the control over almost all of theIndian subcontinent. On February 7, 1843,Jankojirao Scindia II theMaharaja ofGwalior died without a direct heir, leading to succession crises and British intervention.^[1]

A young child namedBhagirath (later known by his regnal name Jayajirao Scindia) was appointed as the Maharaja of Gwalior with Mama Sahib being chosen as regent. Jankojirao's widow Tara Bai, however, came under the influence of Dada Khasgiwala, the comptroller of her household, an unscrupulous adventurer who wished to get all power into his own hands. He succeeded in driving Mama Sahib from the state and became minister. He filled all appointments with his relatives, ending in the assemblage of large bodies of troops who threatened an attack on Sironj, where Mama Sahib was then residing. As it was essential to secure peace, the British Government decided to interfere.^[2]

Lord Ellenborough tried installing a regent amenable to British control, and citing instability after Jankoji's death, asked Scindia to reduced their army and infantry, but Tara Bai opposed it and did not comply. Lord Ellenborough then formed theArmy of Exercise nearAgra. After several attempts to negotiate failed, the British advanced in a two-pronged attack which came to be known as first battle of Gwalior. The British, under the command ofGen. Sir Hugh Gough clashed withScindia forces, that were commanded by MaharajaScindia, in two battles on the same day; 29 December 1843.^[1]

The Scindia army had 14 battalions, 1,000 artillerymen with 100 guns, 10,000 cavalry horsemen and infantry of 25,000 foot soldiers stationed atMaharajpura. The British had the40th Regiment of Foot with the2nd and 16th Native Infantry Regiments forming the central column, the39th Regiment of Foot with the 56th Native Infantry Regiment and a field battery forming the left column and the16th Lancers with two troops of horse artillery as well as other artillery forming the right column.^[3]

The centre column advanced to attack where they believed the main enemy force was located. However, during the night the Scindia forces moved and the British were surprised as they came under heavy fire from the Scindia artillery in their new positions. The central column then received the order to take the battery positions, which they did under continuous heavy fire from shot, grape, canister, and chain. The guns were to the south-east of Maharajpore, with two battalions of Scindia troops for each battery, and in Maharajpore with seven battalions for each battery. The British engaged the Gwalior forces in hand-to-hand fighting, both sides taking heavy casualties, and cleared the positions. The Scindia troops fought valiantly making it hard for the British forces to hold the ground. The British finally defeated the Scindia forces, but suffered a huge setback with 979 men killed including General Churchill and top officers, thousands wounded or became physically disabled, and many missing with no records till date. The Gwalior forces were estimated to have lost 2000 to 3000 men.

The Gwalior forces at Punniar (29 December 1843) numbered about 12,000 men and occupied the high ground near Mangore. As the British Army approached, they immediately attacked the troops positions, routing them from the hill.

After the defeat of the Scindia forces in Gwalior, the British disbanded their army and established a force in the state that the Government of Gwalior maintained. A British governor was appointed atGwalior Fort. TheGwalior Star was awarded to veterans of the campaign.

• Conflicts in 1843
• Battles involving British India
• 19th-century military history of the United Kingdom
• 1843 in India
• 1843 in British India
• History of Madhya Pradesh
• Gwalior

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