evidence: Key points - From 1757, Britain increased its control of India through the East India CompanyA company that was founded in England in 1600 with the aim of trading in Asia. From 1757 - 1858 it controlled much of India.. - From 1858 onwards, the British government directly ruled India, and it became known as the British Raj. [...] In the 1700s much of India was divided into individual principalities and different empires. Following the British victory at the Battle of Plassey, some Indian princes were removed from their positions of power by the East India Company’s private army. This army was largely made up of Indian soldiers called sepoyAn Indian soldier who fought in the East India Company’s army, but had previously been part of the Mughal army. .