The Private Army of the British East India Company

Before the days of the Raj, British India was ruled by a private corporation: The Honourable East India Company. The Company, which began in India as a purely mercantile institution, eventually came to control vast territories across the subcontinent. These wild frontiers and busy cities required garrisons to defend them, and the expansion of Company interests demanded the ability to wage war. To do this, the Company commanded a massive private army. Made up of both European and Indian soldiers, and working in close- if not always frictionless- tandem with H.M.'s regiments, it was a fascinating institution that only came to an end with the massive Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and the dissolution of Company rule.
In this video, I discuss the organization of this army, and the way in which it related to government forces.
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[@oldgysgt]

During the Indian mutiny of 1857 a large number of retired native Indian Sepoys came out of retirement and fought on the side of the British. It may have been because old loyalties die hard, or it may have been the realization that if the British East Indian Company was forced out of India, the retirement pay of the Sepoys would come to a screeching halt.

[@Xo-3130]

Or it could just be because at that point the concept of a shared Indian identity wasn't quite there as India had many kingdom, ethnic groups and many different interests that went against one another because that's what humans do.

[@oldgysgt]

@@Xo-3130; you have a point there. Most people don't realize that before British rule, India was not a unified nation. It was a collection of independent states each ruled by some type of local despot. The British conquered some, and bought off the rest.

[@Xo-3130]

@@oldgysgt Didn't some of the local despots pay or gifted land to the British as a means to get an ally against their enemies?

[@oldgysgt]

@@Xo-3130; yes they did.

[@Xo-3130]

@@oldgysgt Politics. One day you are giving your new friends lands and money for helping you defeat your rivals... The next day you are giving them money because somewhere down the line you are now their vassal. Eh, it's not like any of them (even the British at first) saw that it would end up like that.

[@jasip1000]

Imagine Google or Apple soldiers coming to your land 😤

[@robkitchen5344]

I've imagined it often.........but don't hold your breath......they "socialize their militaristic resource accusitions by political corruption

[@jasip1000]

Pasha Staravoitau yes there is always some mercenary, willing to do the dirty shit.

[@clothar23]

@OligarchySlayer Yep the First Nations of North America have benefited greatly from their European Conquerors and the governmental system they brought with them.

[@TheAaronChand]

Yep as someone with a Hindu Indian background I was born premature in Canada. In the west. That's exactly how it went down imagine Google Apple Amzon or Wal Mart settling in a country with it's own army for example in Africa. And slowly with it's own army which included the local populations as some of its soliders. Taking control of the whole Country.

[@drinks1019]

Roses are Red Violets are blue The google death squads Are coming for you

[@kibomandzaro3454]

'It's just good bussiness'- Lord Cutler Beckett

[@SCARRIOR]

@Abhirath Narasimhan you win or lose

[@commander31able60]

the biggest PMC in the world, way before PMCs were cool.

[@dylancarroll4623]

Ganga Din but the soldiers would be on military contract with the trading company.

[@BigHenFor]

PMC are as cool as cowpats.

[@DreadBirate]

PMCs were never cool

[@commander31able60]

@@DreadBirate clearly you weren't around between 2005 and 2012, in the days of Blackwater, Soldier of Fortune magazine, etc.

[@AeneasGemini]

Except that they weren't a private military corporation, they were a corporation who had a private military. Difference being that the government didn't hire them for military purposes (like they did privateers), they just gave them free reign to do whatever they wanted to make money

[@ethanhatcher5533]

Well, you know the East India army would have lost at Assaye and Gawilghur if it wasn’t for Richard Sharpe

[@ChestOfDoom]

The british empire would have lost to napoloen had it not been for Richard Sharpe

[@TheManofthecross]

@@ChestOfDoom fails.

[@TheManofthecross]

fails

[@dragonsword7370]

He knew how to kill officers, whether in grey coats, blue coats, red coats and even white coats. Something about buggering they're horse?

[@elmamiihen2153]

Buggering a horse. Now that's soldiering.

[@teddy112ful]

Not to forget that the Company also had its own navy.

[@user-oq2rk7ep8f]

And that faced a mutiny too.

[@fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu]

I'm glad KZbin recommended your channel to me - no offense to other history content creators, but there's a lot of dilettantism floating around, whereas you seem very passionate and attentive to detail. I've never really been interested in the British Empire but I will be watching all your stuff now, due to the quality; the excitement you have for the subject is contagious.

[@BrandonF]

Well thank you! I am glad to hear that.

[@wahlex841]

Ah yes, East India Company, being megacorp before it was cool.

[@thschnick]

I think the United East India Company beat them to it.

[@gentlebabarian]

Dutch east india company was earlier

[@hwinangkoso]

The british is always one of the first to do something, but never the best in doing it.

[@lordwunglerbeckett]

Excuse me?

[@toadfaceass]

@@hwinangkoso lol what?

[@noodles8638]

I read somewhere, that the East India Company, was the richest company in the world at the time, tea, opium, spices, having a private army and a navy. Being English I've seen the schools they built in Hertford, just north of London, for the children of the E.I.C. and the architecture is unbelievable, no expense was spared, I haven't looked into it, but I think Hertford was an important place for the company, London being where their main office in England would have been.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@The_Honourable_Company]

It was actually the VOC if I am not wrong But the honourable East India company was certainly one of the richest

[@grendelgrendelsson5493]

Many people don't realise how many Indian soldiers remained loyal in 1857. It is often described as an attempt at independence but this doesn't really ring true. The Sikhs remained loyal as did Pathan units and the majority of the Moslem units. It was just a big lump of confusion for everyone involved!

[@Xo-3130]

Many because people mistakenly use the modern idea of India when talking about Indian history. For centuries before India was more of a bunch of kingdoms each looking for their own interests and having their own rivalries. The British was seen by many of them as a tool to stay in power, as a powerful ally aganist rivals, or as a better then the previous rulers (again depending on the kingdom)

[@grendelgrendelsson5493]

@@Xo-3130 Spot on mate. My mum's dad was killed serving in a British battalion attached to the Indian Army. His letters home are full of admiration for the Indian troops he served with.

[@caomhan84]

Yep....Indians today try and act like the British just up and took them over and stole everything from them, without looking at ALL the people in their own country that allowed it to happen, and looked after their own selfish interests and petty rivalries. And the people that got the British involved because they had a succession crisis and wanted some clout. 1857 was a massive clusterf*ck that could've and probably should've succeeded, especially when you read various memoirs of British soldiers and civilians that were actually there. It didn't because, well....India in the 19th century was a massive clusterf*ck itself.

[@alecblunden8615]

Agreed. The notion that it was a "revolution" is an anachronistic attribution of current feelings to a totally different world. The first and most enduring legacy of the Raj was and is the concept of "India" itself.

[@reinhardsmirnofsky2507]

@@alecblunden8615 Well said! The British Raj was a boon in disguise, as many Indians still agree, even though most don't share the sentiment owing to nationalistic pride or for whatever reason; the reality is, India today wouldn't be what it is, if it weren't for the British.

[@thschnick]

Wow who knew that a military was rocking short shorts before the Rhodesians.

[@leifewald5117]

“Here’s the story of Rhodesia a land that’s fair and great..on the 11th of November..an independent state”

[@amorosogombe9650]

When you see the buildings of the raj in Dehli, mainly converted into government offices now, you can picture how stupendously wealthy the East India company was. It was fabulously rich.

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

Rich from excessive exploitation and loot from the people of India.

[@EdgyDabs47]

@@piyushjaiswal9283 Not loot. Opium.

[@gunarsmiezis9321]

The british east india company quite well shows how companies can rival states and people

[@samallen3564]

Would you ever do a video on the Hanoverian Army. A subject closely linked to the British army due to such conflicts as the Peninsula War, the 100 Days Campaign of 1815 and other conflicts of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Hanoverian's are not really ever mentioned in history so it would be very interesting to see a video about them. Brilliant video by the way, keep up the amazing work.

[@clockworkmultiverse92]

I second this notion.

[@kelvinktfong]

The Hanoverian army wasn’t v distinguished😌

[@samallen3564]

Kelvin Fong Oh no not at all really, unless you include the King's German Legion but I think it'll still make and investing topic

[@kelvinktfong]

Gen. Sam Allen ECM the KGL would make a better topic. The KGL promoted strictly on merit. Wellington relied on them in Spain and at Waterloo. The would be absorbed into the Hanoverian army and then into their German army. I think the Wermacht had unit’s descended from KGL.

[@samallen3564]

Kelvin Fong A KGL video would be amazing actually but I still think I'd like to see what came before them

[@gaslightstudiosrebooted3432]

Up far sooner than expected! Great work

[@BrandonF]

Indeed! Here's hoping the trend continues!

[@gaslightstudiosrebooted3432]

Brandon F. I hope so too. Best of luck in your new career as a full time KZbinr

[@bradleyelliott1461]

Good stuff man, Sepoys deserve far more recognition and respect than society gives them today. Love the great work!

[@BrandonF]

Especially in the later years, with their involvement in the World Wars!

[@spartanumismatics8165]

They've gained a lot a respect including in both world wars, it's just depending on who you're talking about

[@The_Honourable_Company]

@@spartanumismatics8165 especially those people who say that the Sepoys or people who joined the side of the Raj'and Doug he for it were traitors or mere mercenaries That very notion still exists in the subcontinent till this day

[@thedamnyankee1]

"This military force is Fully operational!" --Queen Victoria.

[@danielasontomankind3536]

I thought that it was a Darth Vader.who said that, lol

[@thepuffin4050]

@@danielasontomankind3536 r/wooosh

[@Valencetheshireman927]

Long live the empire!

[@diablog1621]

A very good video to go with extra credit's video on the opium wars

[@peteraga1979]

1857 revolt was the First War of Independence for United India, not a Mutiny as many people like to call it. The East India and its staff were oppressors and illegal settlers. In other words thief’s!

[@corvuscrow5485]

Always happy to see something about East India Company, not enough of this around. 👌👍

[@pranav_chalotra]

Any Indian in comments section...?? Although I am an Indian.. I am deeply interested in British Conquest of India as History Lover... This video is really informative and interesting.

[@pranav_chalotra]

@Abhirath Narasimhan yeah absolutely

[@nsms1297]

@@pranav_chalotra but we should have tried like americans to get independence. Many betrayed us and joined british

[@harleyokeefe5193]

@@nsms1297 they did what was right by them, you can’t ask for any more than that. You may call them traitors but to them you where traitors.

[@Valencetheshireman927]

@@nsms1297 You tried to get independence during the Indian mutiny and you failed.

[@genghiskhan6809]

@@nsms1297 For it’s time, serving the British was too good of a deal not to take because the caste offered zero room for social mobility or the advancement of either or both wealth and prestige. Looking at it from the options they readily knew, I can’t blame most of them for staying loyal to Britain.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Excellent run down, nicely done!

[@jesswilliam5346]

I have always been interested in the East India Company's army, thanks for making a video about it.

[@Grenadier_]

well done 😄👍 i enjoyed this very much

[@Apollo890]

An ancestor of mine served in the East India Companies Bengal Army starting as an Ensign in 1783 and Finishing as a Colonel in 1820.

[@kishwarfatema6354]

Don't feel proud bro.Your ancestors are all pirates, they looted hundreds of country.Shame on you.

[@Apollo890]

Indeed shame on me, My ancestor leading the Charge of the Bengal Cavalry at The Battle of Laswar 1st November 1803 is too glorious for words, shame on me for not knowing about it sooner.

[@udayrathod3786]

@Britannia India was largest economy until you pirates arrived. Its third world because of your grandfather all that millions of people who died and who are still suffering were because of your greed. They were no different than Nazis. There is no pride in it.

[@udayrathod3786]

@Britannia According to British economist Angus Maddison, India's share of the world economy went from 24.4% in 1700 to 4.2% in 1950. Concept of India existed even before British, how the fuck they came up with that name even before reaching India. Original name is Bharat, entire subcontinent was called Bharat, firstly United by Maurya Empire in 2n century BC and land area of Maurya were larger than British ever occupied. Bharat is also mentioned in Mahabharata the sacred text of Hinduism.

[@udayrathod3786]

@Britannia study about your divide and rule policy, your education system is too ashamed to teach you your true history. British have killed more people in India than Hitler and Stalin combined. Just check out "does Britain own reparation - Shashi Tharoor" on Oxford's KZbin channel

[@mudyinsquall]

Great video thanks!

[@ajmaloleary3553]

Fantastic video. Thank you.

[@arthurwellesley3654]

Was looking forward to you doing a video on this subject.

[@HighSpeedNoDrag]

Outstanding presentation, Subscribed.

[@marctim1000]

Really interesting channel, been looking for a while for a victorian era history series

[@joeboyd8702]

Thanks for uploading. This was really interesting.

[@iaskranti27]

Love from India 🇮🇳 great research

[@Tareltonlives]

As an Indophile and Anglophile, I am fascinated by the conquest of India

[@Tareltonlives]

Funny enough, both the Indians and British minimize the Indian contribution to the conquest. If it really was that black and white, the British would have been slaughtered and driven back to Blighty.

[@Tareltonlives]

Richard Holmes is awesome. Love his books

[@sharadowasdr]

I hope to see a comparison between the British East India Company army and its French counterpart.

[@ldblokland463]

I'd rather see it's other counterpart, the VOC (Dutch East India Company)

[@shuyuei6448]

Fascinating as always

[@Pindrop22]

Well done! Learned a lot from this

[@wilhelminelichtenau4552]

Excellent - great to hear such a thorough and informative overview. Thanks for making the common sense comment -but nowadays apparently often ignored fact- that you will find many different views and comments about Indians serving in the army and you cannot use these comments to generalise. Very refreshing to have common sense without ideology

[@Phowok]

Very nice video, informative and interesting, thank you very much my good sir.

[@ADogNamedStay]

I enjoyed this, you should do it more often.

[@gabrielhoffman4897]

Brandon F. , Brazil is hier, and we love your channel! Do some vidoes about Brazilian military of 19th century!

[@zaclang6472]

For every British soldier there were 2000+ Indians - never in human history have so many been ruled by so few. One British officer wrote that "if the Indians wanted to get rid of us they would simply each have to throw a handful of dirt at us, and we would be buried alive."

[@roh-mj6em]

But British have modern arms so it's obvious.

[@zaclang6472]

@@roh-mj6em Most of the weapons in British India were in the hands of Indians and they only had rifles and cannons anyway.

[@roh-mj6em]

@@zaclang6472 not Indians but people working for British to get income.

[@roh-mj6em]

We know how many Chinese got defeated by small number of europens or its same across World. Anyone with modern arms have advantage over others.

[@zaclang6472]

@@roh-mj6em They were Indians - yes. How were they not Indians? Just because they helped the British doesn't mean they stopped being Indian. You massively exaggerate the benefits of slightly better weapons. If they were trying to fight the British with swords and arrows - then maybe, but it wasn't like that. Having a slightly better musket, really doesn't count for much when you are massively outnumbered - when you outnumber a better armed enemy 100-to-one, it really doesn't take that much at all to overpower them. But the fact is, that there usually wasn't much resistance, and the Indians did the job of policing themselves (for the British) anyway.

[@jacobscott1433]

Really liked the video! I was actually starting research for a new pseudo-fantasy adventure novel set in India around 1880. This came out and it gave me a lot of good pointers as well as an idea into the pre-imperial/company history of the subcontinent. Thanks!

[@cardboardbox191]

If you pull it off I'd be intreated.

[@thorshammer8033]

Damn good presentation

[@frostysnoman9091]

Last year I learned my 4th great-grandfather served the Crown in the Mutiny of 1857. Since then I have become very fascinated in the subject of Her Majesty's Army in India. I would like to hear more about it on this channel. Keep up the good work.

[@evachatterji1834]

Which regiment? If you need info you can try Families in British India Society but for a regular soldier go through his regiment. There is also plenty of literature about 1857.

[@awibs57]

How exceedingly well done. Thank you.

[@LTCangle]

Very interesting post!

[@anugranmathimugan2778]

Mate great breakdown of the British East India company:)

[@riyadougla539]

Interesting and informative video!

[@anonymousli4204]

I love your speech pattern. It's kind of hard to explain but the way you overemphasize certain words in your sentence breaks up your talking so you don't sound dull. I could name countless KZbinrs right now that unfortunately make videos about good topics but speak in a low droning voice.

[@shaldar44]

Very interesting. Would it be possible to do a comparison of the armaments and military tactics used by the different armies during this period, especially the 7 Years War and its extensions across India.

[@jackleg2007]

In one of the Richard Sharpe novels, Sharpe meets a friend who is an officer in the BEIC. He tells Sharpe it is better there than in the Army.

[@Apollo890]

There was no Flogging in the armies of the East India Company

[@vaidyasantosh8559]

Nice info on east india company army

[@mollytyson1169]

Excellent video on an under represented topic. Agree the British were in India first as traders solely interested in commercial matters. They built a major military force to protect these interests. The EIC would eventually gain indirect control of the entire sub continent. They relied heavily on the people's of India to help them in this endeavour. Most of the bureaucracy, civil servants and local police were Indians. In later years the British would build one of the largest rail networks that tied the country together. It employed close to 1 million Indians in the 1920s. The British practiced a form of colonialism that provided some benefits while limiting the harshness of this type of system. They did not directly attempt to change Indian culture or impact the average person daily life. They provided law and order and attempted to govern fairly. Most Indians were indifferent or were willing to work for the British in an employee employer relationship. Many of India's ruling elite class of land owners basically allied with the British as well. They benifited from being part of a global trading network and for commercial interests sided with the British. This is why British India lasted so long. This is also why so many young Indian men were willing to serve in the company and later imperial armies. Most did not feel like a subjugated colonial people. They wanted to serve in an elite force that paid them fairly for their services. Other then the mutiny period the British generally built excellent relationships with this force. Consider WW2 in the period after the fall of France where Britian stood alone. This army predominantly stayed loyal and played a major role in the British war effort. Over 2.5 million Indians served. Sadly some history classes are not teaching students about the true nature of Britism colonialism. Often it portrayed in the negative focusing on negative features and ignoring the overall history. Glad to see you provide a balanced approach that provided a more realistic picture of the time period.

[@rextheroyalist6389]

Molly Tyson | I'm so glad other people know of how much good we, the British, did and how some places (like Greater India) had cultures that were compatible with colonialism unlike say Bavaria or Abyssinia, so didn't mind being a foreign possession. Keep being informative, molly!

[@manuelpalmeira7278]

Same reason millions of Indians live in the gulf kingdoms.

[@katiekk]

Except for starving 3 million to death.

[@richardwatts3057]

@@katiekk Think that was because the Japanese seized the regions beyond India which imported grain, causing a huge food crisis in WW2 since they weren't going to let it get to India? I'd be horrified if it was a deliberate policy of the Empire, can't see what there would be to gain from it, especially with the size of the Indian Army fighting alongside other Imperial troops at the time, let alone on grounds of morality.

[@arailway8809]

Thank you for covering the concepts of private armies and national armies. These were common in the days of the American wild west.

[@benjaminjohnson628]

I don't comment often but that was really interesting thanks man

[@BrandonF]

Thank you!

[@akbrahma7739]

Nice. What fun it must have been sipping tea in Diogenes Club, while your paid mercenary army is on a looting spree in Bengal, except that payment is gonna come out of just 5% of the loot. I love the British. Classy as always.

[@Valencetheshireman927]

🇬🇧👍Thank you! Regards, from Britain

[@KingofBlades113]

Very interesting video. You have now gained a new subscriber

[@BrandonF]

I am glad to hear it!

[@julianwaugh968]

In Woking, Surrey, the first mosque was built and a college which prepared officers for service in India. They were taught languages and customs of the Sub continent. I think there were more courses dealing with far Eastern countries.

[@cheapwine3365]

Im hardly an active member of your subscriber base but man, when I do click on a video of yours they never fail to impress me. Edit: being a big fan of history myself I also feel that I should add that your channel is a gold mine

[@BrandonF]

Well thanks! I am glad you enjoy it, and you can expect a lot more of these more researched/in depth videos to come up, if they are more your speed.

[@cheapwine3365]

@@BrandonF Totally! I love videos like these!

[@franzjoseph8752]

Well done nerd. Good Informative video.

[@UpcycleElectronics]

Well done.

[@jorrank]

Very informative video! This time and region is so underrated in the field of History. A somewhat similar subject which would make an awesome video would be the Europeans in the armies of the Indian states before the formation of the British Empire. A significant number of Europeans were employed in for example the Sikh or Maratha armies as a way to import the European style of army organization. Some of them, like Irishman George Thomas ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Thomas_(soldier) ) became incredibly successful and rich in doing so. Thomas became so powerful that he was able to form his own small kingdom near Delhi. Not bad for a former EIC deckhand. :) I wrote my masters' thesis about this subject and strive to make this part in history somewhat more popular. Good luck on your next video!

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

The Europeans you talk about are overblown and overhyped by the Europeans themselves. Europeans were unneeded .

[@roffhessa]

Hello, sir, I was wondering if you could do a video on the Irish contribution to the British Army in the late 18th/early 19th century or a video about the Wild Geese

[@vestty5802]

roffhessa yes such a good idea Irish contribution in the British military was huge but often gets overlooked due to current politics

[@leifewald5117]

‘“Twas England”s bade our wild geese go that small nations might be free…”

[@Ozmulki]

Very interesting . My 3xgf joined the 80th Foot in Staffordshire in 1793 and died of disease in 1817 in Madras. He held the rank of Lt Col at that time.

[@beckettfordahl5450]

Fascinating!

[@jimbobjoebriggs9898]

I love your work

[@vespelian5274]

As a most distant relative of Lord Clive, on the distaff side of my mother's maternal line many times removed, I commend you on this most excellent overview.

[@BrandonF]

Thank you!

[@beachboy0505]

Super video

[@blastershogun]

Nice ! The EIC is BIG on history where I stay.

[@lek1223]

You should do the bombay Marine as a part 2 for this!

[@derpynerdy6294]

Damn that's amazing first heard it when I saw potc 1 as a kid

[@LordTurtleneck]

I wish you would make a video on the Sepoy Mutiny.

[@flushingstudios]

Hey Brandon, I love your videos and I subscribed. I was wondering, could you do a critique of a battle scene from the Russian version of war and peace from 1967? It really is one of my favorite battle scenes ever, and I know it doesn’t involve the British, but it is a napoleonic wars battle scene depicting the battle of hollanbrun. It’s very well done, and not very conventional at all for a cinematic battle scene, but it is a scene involving 12000 men

[@darthmader057mmm6]

Sounds good

[@georgebenwell664]

..automatic upvote without yet watching it....that's how good Brandon's videos are....

[@BrandonF]

Come now, sir, you have to keep me honest!

[@leonst.7471]

I want to play total war empire now because of you.

[@PalofGrrr]

Thank you I learned

[@ostrowulf]

You should do a video on the Hudson's Bay Company, and contrast it to the East India Company.

[@sickofhobos]

Great video. I would appreciate greatly a video on some of the more personal details of the day to day lives of a white British soldier in india. Either way I'll check out the book you recommended, it seems very interesting. Sort of like being fighting in the Indian wars in America during the 19th century.

[@ww2buff111]

I think you should do a video of your grenadier uniform laid out and what each part of the uniform is and same with a few others. I fell like you 100% say a lot of good info on your uniforms but you can only see waist up and usually above the webbing/belting. And I really feel that being able to see a whole uniform laid out is as important as talking about it.

[@BrandonF]

I will be doing that once my new 54th Regt uniform is 100%, there are just a few finishing touches for it. The old uniform wasn't completely accurate, and I will also make a video comparing the two.

[@ww2buff111]

That will be interesting to see. And I have another question is there any uniforms that I could find that did not Change from the attack of Fort Louisburg up to the rev war? I don't know if this is an odd question like I said I have just started do this era of uniforms.

[@stylembonkers1094]

Fascinating that this private corporate force is the ancestor of today's Indian military.

[@sirus976]

Hi Brandon your awesome ang could you do a review on the charge on fort Wagner in the movie glory?

[@BrandonF]

Maybe, I do enjoy that film.

[@nicholas_x7732]

I've always wondered about the specifics of the East India Company. Thank you for the short rundown and book suggestion. I'll have to treat myself to that book this Christmas.

[@sharatnair3992]

You should cover Anglo Mysore War. I read an article calling it the last battle of American war of independence which was fought in India

[@adogv2146]

Greetings! May I recommend that you look at the history of a vary historical town named haverstraw in New York, I think you would find it very interesting

[@Oscarhobbit]

I really enjoyed this. Very professional Brandon ...... Did you read History at university?

[@BrandonF]

I did, history and philosophy for my undergraduate, and modern history for my MA.

[@billhahn4113]

Excellently done! And thanks for not employing some godawful computer voice. Now how about a video on the Bombay Marine, 'John Company's' navy? Though I've belted you and flayed you By the livin' Gawd that made you You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din. - Kipling

[@lmonk9517]

Another thing to note was the large amount of Irish soldiers in the East indian companies army. Far higher than in the regular British army for both Ulster scots and catholic Irish as a percentage. Robert Brooke is said to have almost exclusively recruited from Ireland to prevent unemployed irishment joining the Spanish or French armies.

[@nukebarbarbarian3735]

Thanks for the video there is little known about Indian troops that served for Britain

[@Brightstarlivesteam]

My father's Regiment, the Wiltshires 1st battalion was formally the 62nd and the Battle of Ferozeshar was one of their battle honours.

[@johnminehan1148]

Ah, "John Company." The interesting thing is that private companies also settled places like Virginia and parts of New England.

[@lordsllim8053]

My 6th great grandfather William Mills was director of EIC from 1776-1785 being taken over by his brother Charles until 1820, and the Mills's continued as directors until its collapse. I'm not overly familier with the Company's history other than our family ties with the EIC club in London. So this was very informative. I do have a painting of William in his EIC uniform and a few coins only. If anyone has information they would like to share on the Mills familes EIC service please do it would be greatly appreciated

[@udayrathod3786]

History of EIC is very dark, they don't teach you everything in UK. I would advise you to read from India sources

[@lordsllim8053]

@@udayrathod3786 I'm specifically looking for information on William Mills, Charles Mills, Sir Charles Mills Baronet Hillingdon, and Charles Henry Mills 1st Baron Hillingdon all directors of the EIC from 1775- to its end. All my grandfathers. I am looking for information on their involvement.

[@udayrathod3786]

@@lordsllim8053 so you are looking for information related to what work they did specifically in India for EIC?

[@lordsllim8053]

@@udayrathod3786 yes, i have no information on their activities, postings etc.. other than the list of directorships. By 1820 the family was involved in banking as well, that- I know the history of.

[@udayrathod3786]

@@lordsllim8053 oh I will check some Indian sources about EIC to know more if I got any info I will share

[@DarkSteel361]

At 12:34 the picture used might have been mislabeled, I’ve seen the same painting labeled as representing various units and regiments of (what was at the time) the sovereign state of Hyderabad

[@alperenaydin6139]

11:50 Them calves

[@aaravtulsyan]

Greetings from a line infantry nerd from India

[@kimbonzky]

One day I hope you will talk about the Sepoy rebelion, and once maybe the battle of Saragarhi.

[@user-sv3yb7uq9n]

The good old East India Company which never ceases to marvel and surprise... for sure far more morally and ethically inapproachable than any other state that followed... Maybe the only example of a company which came to rival with governments and state structures. Very informative, objective video which delves into concrete matters instead of constantly arguing with hate against perceived history's injustices as many in India today do. However, I could never find anywhere any reference to the EIC's foreign policy and diplomatic corps, assuming it ever had any.

[@tarmacbenson9579]

New mic maybe, but good information

[@itshark3227]

Yo should make a video on the Sikh Empire, Anglo-Sikh Wars or the Martial Race Theory.

[@BrandonF]

Absolutely! There is a lot of fascinating material there.

[@Dean-fi3dv]

Is "The British Soldier in India" your only source or do you have some good sources for me to look at? I'm working on a paper about the economics aspect of the Company.

[@danep8553]

Where you do reside young sir? New England? Do you do any videos on Scotland? Much appreciated.

[@kimbonzky]

Would love a video on the native indian soldiers