The British Raj at its height measured almost 2 million square miles of territory and counted more than 200 million people among its citizens. This land was truly the 'Jewel' of the British Empire, however the path to this dominance was punctuated by fierce and bloody fighting by the British and her Indian allies against numerous, native Nawabs, Princes and leaders across the patchwork kingdoms of India. These battles most often featured small numbers of British and sepoy troops facing off against huge numbers of Indian troops, where the fate of the Empire hung in the balance. Colonel Malleson uses his expert knowledge of India and his long military career there to survey and recounts the battles that shaped what would become the British Raj. The author obtained a cadetship in the Bengal infantry at the tender age of 17 in 1842, he served in India for over three decades in both military and civil appointments. He wrote many famous volumes on India and the country's history; perhaps most famous of which were History of the Indian Mutiny, 1857-8, Akbar And The Rise Of The Mughals and History of the French in India.