Medieval and Modern Indian History

The First Carnatic War (1746–1748) was the Indian theatre of the War of the Austrian Succession and the first of a series of Carnatic Wars that established early British dominance on the east coast of the Indian subcontinent. In this conflict the British and French East India Companies vied with each other on land for control of their respective trading posts at Madras, Pondicherry, and Cuddalore, while naval forces of France and Britain engaged each other off the coast.

Duplex promised to handover Madras to Nawab Anwar-ud-din. When Duplex refused to restore the Madras to  Anwar-ud-din, the later sent an army against the French. The army of Nawab was defeated by the French in the battle of Adayar (st. Thomas), near Madras.

The Battle of Wandiwash between the French, under the comte de Lally, and the British, under Sir Eyre Coote. This was the Third Carnatic War fought between the French and the British. It was the decisive battle in the Anglo-French struggle in southern India during the Seven Years’ War (1756–63). The French were then restricted to Pondichéry, where they surrendered on 16 January 1761.

Duplex promised to handover Madras to Nawab Anwar-ud-din if the later allowed the french to conquer it. When Duplex refused to restore the Madras to  Anwar-ud-din, the later sent an army against the French. The army of Nawab was defeated by the French in the battle of Adayar (st. Thomas), near Madras.

Second Carnatic war took place between French and British without the permission of their mother countries. After the release of  Chanda Saheb  from Maratha captivity conflict started between Chanda Saheb and Anwar-ud-din for the Nawab ship of Carnatic.

Dupleix was Governor-General of French India. He made several voyages to the Americas and India. Following the battle of Madras, city of Madras surrendered to the French. In 1746, with the help of a French fleet, Dupleix seized Madras but failed to capture the neighbouring British fort of St. David. 

Duplex asked La Bourdonnais  (the French Governor at Mauritus) to besiege Madras during first carnatic war.  Madras  surrendered to French in September, 1746.Due to the differences between Duplex and La Bourfonnais, the later restored the Madras to the English but later Duplex recaptured Madras.

The French defeat at Arcot was beginning of French down fall in India.

Robert Clive led British troops to capture Arcot, and successfully defend it. 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.

The Battle of Ambur (3 August 1749) was the first major battle of the Second Carnatic War.

The battle was initiated by Muzaffar Jung and supported by Joseph François Dupleix and led by Chanda Sahib, who sought to overthrow Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan, the Nawab of the Carnatic, for supporting Nasir Jung's claim to be Nizam of Hyderabad. French forces were decisive in giving the allies victory; Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan was killed in the battle and Chanda Sahib seized control of the Carnatic.

The conflict between the France and England got renewed in 1756 in Europe, in the form of Seven Years War, which is coterminous with the Third Carnatic War. It was a local version of the Seven Years war in Europe. The Third Carnatic War put an end to the French ambitions to create a colonial empire in India.

The war came to an end with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Pondicherry, Karaikal. Mahe and Chandranagore were returned to the French but they were not allowed to fortify it. The French lost all their prestige and influence in India. 

The French forces in south were led by Comte De Lally. The British forces under Sir Eyre Coote, defeated the French in the Battle of Wandiwash in January 1760 and besieged Pondicherry. After Wandiwash, the French capital of Pondicherry fell to the British in 1761. When the Seven Years war ended with The war concluded with the signing of the 1763 Treaty of Paris or Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763.

The French General Count de Lally captured Fort St. David. Bussy, the French General at Hyderabad was asked to attack Madras which was a great blunder committed by the French. When Bussy left Hyderabad, the British captured Hyderabad. Count de Lally and Bussy together attacked Madras. But the British General, Sir Eyre Coote defeated both the French Generals at the Battle of Wandiwash in 1760. 

After Wandiwash, the French capital of Pondicherry fell to the British in 1761. When the Seven Years war ended with The war concluded with the signing of the 1763 Treaty of Paris or Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763.

The Second Carnatic War was triggered by succession disputes in both Hyderabad (between Nasir Jang and Muzaffar Jang) and the Carnatic (between Anwaruddin and Chanda Sahib), which the French and English exploited to expand their influence.