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The Conflict of the Austrian Succession exploded all over Europe in 1740. In 1744, France and its associates drew Great Britain into the struggle. While their paternal countries were lethal opponents on the European continent, their transaction firms preserved friendly relationships in India. Despite the fact that French firm executives were told to avoid conflict, British authorities were not, and they were also informed that a Royal Navy fleet was on its way. Following the British capture of a few French commercial ships, the French appealed for reinforcements from as far away as the Isle de France (now Mauritius), signaling the start of a naval escalation in the area.
THE CARNATIC WARS-
The Carnatic War was an armed conflict of military confrontations in the seaside Carnatic region of India. It was a vassal of Hyderabad State, in the middle of the 18th century. Between 1746 and 1763, three Carnatic Wars were fought.
Several nominally independent rulers and their vassals were involved in the conflicts, which included struggles for succession and territory, as well as a diplomatic and military conflict between the French East India Company and the British East India Company. They were mostly fought within Mughal India’s borders, with the help of various scattered polities faithful to the “Great Moghul.”
The British East India Company founded its superiority among some of the European brokerage firms in India on the basis of these military campaigns. The French company was forced to a wall and was limited mainly to Pondichéry. The British Company finally took control of most of India as a result of the East India Company’s dominance, and the British Raj was established.
The Frenchman Joseph François Dupleix, who entered India in 1715 and rose to become the governor of the French East India Company in 1742, was a main instigator of the Carnatic Wars. Dupleix aimed to expand French influence in India, which had previously been limited to a few trading outposts, the most important of which was Pondicherry on the Coromandel Coast.
He was confronted by Robert Clive, a similarly tough and driven staff sergeant from the British Army.
BACKGROUND OF FIRST CARNATIC WAR (1746-1748)-
The first Carnatic war arose from European rivalry between the British and the French, as well as a desire to rule India.
In 1740, the Austrian War of Succession erupted in Europe, igniting Anglo-French rivalry in India.
French Domination in the 18th century led to commercial and maritime rivalry between France and England around the world including in India.
In India, the French-British rivalry surfaced during succession disputes among rajas, nawabs, and chieftains in the south.
COURSE OF FIRST CARNATIC WAR-
Overview: In July 1746, French commander La Bourdonnais and British Admiral Edward Peyton fought an indecisive fight off Negapatam, after which the British fleet withdrew to Bengal. The French subjugated the British stranglehold at Madras on September 21, 1746. La Bourdonnais had agreed to deliver Madras to the British, but Dupleix revoked that vow and wished to transfer Madras to Anwar-ud-din after the capture. The Nawab then forwarded a 10,000-force army to regain Madras from the French. He was deeply defeated in the Battle of Adyar by an insignificant French force. The French then endeavored frequently to defeat British Fort St. David at Cuddalore, but assistance arrived in time, faltering the attacks and ultimately turning the tables on the French. Admiral Edward Boscawen of the United Kingdom inundated Pondicherry in late 1748, but the blockade was lifted when the monsoon rains arrived in October.
Provocation: The English Navy, led by Commodore Curtis Bennett, seized three French ships off the coast of Madras, inciting the French commander, Marquis Joseph-François Dupleix, to act.
Role of Carnatic Nawab: Dupleix sought shelter from Anwar-ud-Din, the Anwar-ud-Din (Nawab of Carnatic). The British were warned by Nawab that his province was neutral. He also issued a warning to British citizens that no attack on French territories would be permitted.
French capture of madras: Dupleix sent invitations to French forces from the Mauritius navy, and they took Madras from the English. In turn, the English attempted but failed to conquer Pondicherry.
The English appealed with the Nawab of Carnatic to release Madras from French domination during the Battle of St. Thome. The Nawab demanded that the French revert back to English.
the French Governor Dupleix said a clear no to the Nawab’s request and made an attempt to convince the Nawab that Madras would be given to him later on. This attempt was not successful.
This resulted in the Battle of St. Thames, which supposedly occurred on the Adyar River’s banks.
The Battle of St. Thames was fought between Nawab and a comparatively tiny French army under. The force of the Nawab had ten thousand people and was led by Mahfouz Khan. Captain Paradise was the leader of the French army. The comparatively small French troop managed to score a win against the large force of Nawab of Carnatic.
The First Carnatic War came to an end with the end of the War of Austrian Succession in Europe. Madras was reimbursed to the British at the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) in exchange for the French support of Louisbourg in North America, which the British had detained. In India, the conflict is remembered mostly as the first military experience of Robert Clive, who was taken prisoner at Madras but managed to escape and went on to defend Cuddalore and contribute to the blockade of Pondicherry. The French upheld their position as guardians of Hyderabad’s nizams.
