Carnatic Wars : A Comprehensive Study
[Syllabus: UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination ➨ General Studies, Paper-1 ➨ History of Modern India ➨ Topic: European Penetration and the British Conquest of India ➨ Sub-Topic: Carnatic Wars]
(I) 1st Carnatic War (1740-48):
A. Key Highlights
1. External Factor: The First Carnatic War was an extension of the Anglo-French War in Europe which was caused by the Austrian War of Succession.
2. Battle of St. Thome: It was fought between the French forces and the forces of Anwarud-din, the Nawab of Carnatic, supported by the British.
3. Outcome: A small French army under Captain Paradise defeated the strong Indian army under Mahfuz Khan at St. Thome on the banks of the River Adyar.
B. Significance
1. The defeat of a Native army: The battle proved that even the small disciplined French army could defeat the large native Indian armies.
2. Naval conflict: The war saw a British-French Naval conflict for the first time and proved to be a decisive aspect of later wars.
(II) 2nd Carnatic War (1749-54):
A. Key Highlights
1. Power Vacuum: After the death of Nizam, the succession to his position was contested, and the British and French were soon dragged into the fighting between the candidates.
2. The capture of Arcot: In 1751, however, Robert Clive led British troops to capture Arcot, and successfully defend it.
3. Outcome: The war ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry, signed in 1754, which recognised Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah as the Nawab of the Carnatic. Charles Godeheu replaced Dupleix, who died in poverty back in France.
B. Significance
1. Dependency on Europe: It became evident that Indian authority was becoming dependent on European support.
2. Client States: Muhammad Ali in the Carnatic and Salabat Jang in Hyderabad became clients rather than patrons.
(III) 3rd Carnatic War (1758-63):
A. Key Highlights
1. External Factors: In Europe, when Austria wanted to recover Silesia in 1756, the Seven Years War (1756-63) started. Britain and France were once again on opposite sides.
2. Lowest Point in French Empire: Pondicherry was gallantly defended by Lally for eight months before he surrendered on January 16, 1761. With the loss of Pondicherry, Gingee and Mahe, the French power in India was reduced to its lowest
3. The capture of Chandannagar: The Third Carnatic War spread beyond southern India and into Bengal where British forces captured the French settlement of Chandernagore in 1757.
B. Significance
1. British dominance: The war ended the French ambitions of an Indian empire and made the British the dominant foreign power in India.
2. Treaty of Paris: The war concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which returned Chandernagore and Pondicherry to France and allowed the French to have trading posts in India.
(IV) Causes for the Rivalry:
A. Economic
1. Trade Rivalries: Both the nations established East India companies, which were contesting for effectively the same trade routes and commodities.
2. Profit-seeking: Both nations sought to maximise their profits by trade in India.
B. Political
1. External factors: Both nations had been on opposite sides in various other wars in Europe like the 7 years war and the Austrian war of succession, thus intensified in India.
2. Influence on local rulers: Both nations tried to influence native rulers over the other and often developed conflicts.
3. Empire Building: Both nations were late to the colonial table compared to Spain and Portugal who already had a colonial empire and thus rivalries intensified.
4. Individual Factors: Dupliex, sensing the military weakness of the various contending princes in south India, forged local alliances with them that were aimed at ruining the British East India Company.
(V) Reasons for British Dominance:
1. Naval Superiority: English had three important ports (Calcutta, Bombay and Madras) which provided them superiority in almost every angle be it trade or Naval Power, but the French had only one port.
2. French Government intervention: The French company was a State concern and was controlled and regulated by the French government and was hemmed in by government policies and delays in decision-making, compared to a privatised English East India Company.
3. British Fortifications: Its possessions in India had been held longer and were better fortified and more prosperous.
4. British Military Commanders: In comparison to the long list of leaders on the English side like Sir Eyre Coote, Major Stringer Lawrence, Robert Clive and many others, there was only Dupleix on the French side.
5. French Territorial ambitions: The French subordinated their commercial interest to territorial ambition, which made the French company short of funds.
6. Wealthier British: The British company was privatised and profit-oriented and thus much better financially than the state supported French company.
(VI) Conclusion:
The Anglo-French rivalry was also one of the many tests that the British excelled in overcoming which eventually resulted in their favour to have an uncontested claim on India as their colonial enterprise.
