Sir William Norris led one of only two royal embassies that were sent from London to the Mughal Empire across the course of more than two centuries. The embassy was planned and executed on a grand scale. Sailing from Portsmouth in January 1699, the ambassador carried with him a commission from the King of England, a letter to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and lavish gifts. Despite these preparations, the mission proved a spectacular failure. Hampered by poor logistics, ferocious resistance from English merchants attached to the Old Company, and a Mughal administration angered by ongoing acts of European piracy, Norris failed to secure any of his aims. He departed India in May 1702 and died on the long journey home to England. This site provides an introduction to the Norris embassy and is part of a wider project to publish the ambassador’s diaries.
Timeline
A detailed timeline of the different stages of Norris’ diplomatic mission to Aurangzeb.
Map
Follows Norris’ long journey across the Indian subcontinent.
Key Actors
Examine the key actors, states and organisations involved in the embassy.
Embassy Scenes
Investigate the crucial moments of Norris’ failed embassy.
Teaching
A guide for teachers interested in using the Norris embassy as a key moment in global history.
Two Ambassadors
Explore the divergent paths taken by two ambassadors, Thomas Roe and William Norris, to India.