The East India Company's early 18th-century army was characterized by its meager security corps stationed in the enclaves of Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta. Initially, these corps were nothing more than a small and unimpressive hodgepodge of European mercenaries whose duties were limited to defending the small territorial outposts the company held. This nascent military force was largely composed of mercenaries, who were not necessarily loyal to the company or its interests.
However, as the 18th century progressed, the East India Company rapidly developed a professional standing army, which by the turn of the 19th century had grown to twice the size of the regular British army and become far larger than the armed forces of most other European nations. This corporate paramilitary's impressive growth was facilitated by its strategic partnerships with the regular British army and the British Royal Navy, as well as its ability to adapt to the changing geopolitical landscape of the Indian subcontinent.
The company's army was integrated with the regular British army, with the former paying its state counterparts to garrison a select few regiments in India. Moreover, the company relied on the British Royal Navy to protect its vital shipping lanes across the Indian Ocean, although it also possessed a respectable fleet. This reliance on the British Navy highlights the company's recognition of the importance of maritime power in maintaining its commercial and territorial interests.
