The Second Carnatic War

The Carnatic Wars were the Indian theatre of the War of Austrian Succession which had the Kingdom of Prussia, Spain, France, Bavaria, Sweden on one side and England, Dutch Republic and Russia on the other side as belligerents. The war concluded with the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. However, the treaty could not resolve the disputes between the French and the British with regard to their commercial differences in India.

The First Carnatic War had ended with a British Victory where the British and French troops were involved in direct conflict. They, however, were not directly involved in the Second Carnatic War. Rather, they entangled themselves in the conflict of power among the local chieftains with each group supporting opposing claimants.

Background and Causes of the Carnatic Wars

The British and the French, in spite of their traditional rivalry, had largely remained at peace in India until the Carnatic wars. They ignored the War of Spanish Succession and even the Austrian War of Succession (in Bengal). However, in southern parts of India, the two powers clashed. Both the powers were attempting to establish themselves in India. The French were slightly ahead of the British at the start of the First Carnatic War as their governor was bestowed the title of Nawab by the Mughal emperor.

The main French base in this area (south India) was located in Pondicherry, while the British base was located in Madras. South India was ruled by the Mughal governor of Deccan Nizam-ul-Mulk. The southern part of his region was ruled over by the Nawab of Carnatic.

After the death of Nizam-ul-Mulk, a conflict for the Nizam Ship began. Nizam had nominated his grandson Muzaffar Jang as his successor. However, his second-son Nasir Jang contested his claim to the throne. He was able to take possession of Hyderabad while his rival, Muzaffar travelled in search of allies. Muzaffar was supported by the French while the British were supporting Nasir. In the further south, the situation was not much better. After Anwar-ad-Din was killed early in the succession war, a succession war started between his son Muhammad Ali and Chanda Sahib, who was the son-in-law of Dost Ali, who was the Nawab of Carnatic from 1732 to 1739. He had been a reliable ally to the French, before being captured by the Marathas. 

Battle 

Muzaffar Jang, in his quest to find allies, met Chanda Sahib. The French even agreed to pay his ransom and provided him with 2400 troops, which included 400 European soldiers. 

Zang and Sahib marched to Arcot, the capital of Carnatic where they met Anwar-ad-Din in battle. Anwar was defeated and killed and Chanda Sahib became the Nawab of Arcot. They moved their armies to Pondicherry and besieged Tanjore. The siege had to be eventually lifted upon the arrival of Nasir Jang with a significantly large army.

The two armies faced each other near Gingee. Nasir Jang’s army consisted of 600 European troops supplied by the British and the forces of Muhammad Ali. Muzaffar’s army, on the other hand, also consisted of a French contingent.

The French troops in Muzaffar’s army mutinied and Muzaffar, anxious by the mutiny, surrendered to Nasir. However, the French governor, Dupleix launched a surprise attack on Nasir’s camp and forced him to retreat. The British also retreated to Fort. St.David thereby isolating Muhammad Ali. The French, meanwhile, occupied a strong and strategic position at Tiruvadi which was in dangerous proximity to Fort St. David. The British and Nasir Jang responded by reinforcing Muhammad Ali, who then proceeded to attack the French position. The French continuously inflicted three defeats upon Muhammad Ali(two battles of Tiruvadi and the battle of Gingee).   

Nasir Jang eventually entered into negotiations with Dupleix but was killed by a few supporters of his, who betrayed him. Muzaffar Jang was declared the Nizam and the French supported candidates were effectively in power, both in Hyderabad and in Carnatic

Dupleix was even declared the Nawab of the area south of river Krishna. 

Muhammad Ali had meanwhile taken shelter in Trichinopoly and was refusing to surrender Trichinopoly to the French. Muzaffar Jang, on the other hand, was also killed in a clash with the same people who had betrayed  Nasir. However, the French under Bussy reinstated order and installed Salabat Jang as the Nizam.  

The British and Muhammad Ali were defeated in Volcondah and retreated to Trichinopoly, where the French besieged them. A series of battles followed after these events. Robert Clive, rose up to the occasion as he led the British to numerous victories over the French.

In later years of the war, Dupleix was recalled to France due to several military setbacks. He was replaced by M.Godeheu, who was ordered to put an end to the hostilities. The British governor Saunders had also been ordered likely by his superiors. The war officially ended in 1755 (fighting stopped in 1754)  with a conditional peace treaty signed.

Results and Effects

The French had lost the Second Carnatic war apparently as they were unable to capture Trichinopoly and were unable to counter the rising English power since they were defeated by them on several occasions. 

The following are the effects of the Second Carnatic War:

• The French-backed candidate held the post of Nizam in Hyderabad.
• The British backed candidate held the post of Nawab in Carnatic.
• The French dream of establishing an empire in India suffered a huge setback.
• The British gained territories around Madras while the French were given territories of Northern Circar and around Pondicherry.
•  French governor Dupleix was recalled.

Conclusion

The Second Carnatic War was a conflict between the English and French that lasted from 1749 to 1754. These were the Indian theatre of the Austrian war of succession which had dragged almost all of Europe into battle. The battles were a result of the traditional anglo-french rivalry and their ambitions to establish a colony in India. The First Carnatic War lasted from 1944 to 1948. The Second Anglo-Carnatic War lasted from 1749 to 1754.

The main cause of the war was both the belligerents supporting opposing candidates in a power struggle in Deccan. The war ended with a British victory.