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Painting: An officer, probably Gurgin Khan, the Armenian general of Nawab Mir Qasim, seated smoking on a terrace, with two servants. India ca 1760-1763. Armenians throughout history have proven to be skilled military men, serving different armies outside of the kingdoms and republics of Armenia, reaching all over the globe, from that of the Roman Empire, the Mamluks, the Mongols, the Soviet Union, and even India. One of those Armenian men, Khojah Gregory also known as Gurgin Khan, became the Commander in Chief of the army of the Nawab (a Muslim ruling prince or powerful landowner in India) Mir Qasim. Khojah Gregory played a vital role in the trade and politics of Bengal. Starting as a cloth merchant, he quickly became a close confidant of Mir Qasim. When Mir Qasim became the new Nawab of Bengal he appointed Khojah Gregory the commander-in-chief of his army and renamed him Gurgin Khan. Gurgin Khan reformed and re-modelled the new Nawab’s army after the European fashion for the first time. His quick elevation to the top of a powerful military position was not without surprise and jealousy of others. As such the Dutch Director in Bengal, Louis Taillefert wrote: Armenians play a big role in Bengal since the revolution of 1757. They have not only assisted the English in fomenting treason against Sirajuddaula as a result of which Bengal has been enslaved to the English […] but also have been able to (I do not know how) acquitre a fame among the Muslims as good soldiers. Consequently, Mir Qasim has chosen Choja Gregory, brother of the famous Choja Petrus, the chief commander of his army. - End quote. The officials of the English Company in Bengal too were much concerned with the eminence acquired by Khoja Petrus and Khoja Gregory in Nawab Mir Qasim’s royal court. The Fort William Council wrote to the Secret Committee in London in 1762 wrote that “Armenian ministers of the Revolutions.” Khoja Petruse and Khoja Gregory, “are in the highest degree of favor with the Nawab,” and that the “latter has posts of greatest trust near the Nawab’s person”. He also noted that with the help of these two, the Armenians were “setting up an independent footing in the country and are carrying on a trade greatly detrimental to our investments in all parts.” – End quote. Mesrovb Seth, the historian of the Armenians in India, was of the opinion that Gurgin Khan, who was assassinated by an unknown assailant in 1763 would have become Bengal Nawab in course of time, which is perhaps an exaggeration. He wrote: “Had he not fallen a victim to the sword of an unknown assassin […] [Gurgin] who for three years (1760-1763) was the virtual ruler of Bengal, Baher and Orissa, would, in time, have become the Nawab of Bengal with the help of the well-disciplined and powerful army at his command - Seth, 1937, p. 385. Source: Armenians in Asian Trade in the Early Modern Era, by Sushil Choudhury. #Armenian #India #army #commander #readt#painting #Bengal #history

Sigh. :)