Third Carnatic War

The first two wars of the Carnatic had resulted in British victories. While the First  Carnatic War owed its origins to the Austrian War of Succession, the Second was a direct result of the entanglement of British-French rivalry amidst a power struggle in Deccan

The Seven-Years War in Europe rekindled the hostility between the two. The Third Carnatic War began in the year 1756, with the start of the Seven Years’ War. However, no engagement took place between the two in the starting year. They began attacking each others’ territories only in 1757. The French, although captured large parts of Carnatic, failed to capture British strongholds. The English, on the other hand, enjoyed relatively more success in the north where they captured all the French strongholds in Bihar and Bengal.

However, the major engagements between the two countries in India only took place after the appointment of Count de Lally as the commander and governor of French forces in India.

Background

The ambitions of the French and the British in the Indian subcontinent had brought them into direct conflict with each other. The British and the French had backed opposing candidates in the power struggle for the throne of Nizam in Hyderabad and for the post of Nawab of Arcot. At the end of the Second Carnatic War, the French were able to get their favoured candidate to the post of Nizam while the British also succeeded in territorial expansions around Madras and securing the post of Nawab of Arcot for their supported candidate. The war had ended with a peace treaty being signed but the peace was too volatile. 

As the Seven Year’s War erupted in Europe, the British and the French once again found themselves in opposing camps. The hostility was rekindled and the event in Europe instigated the Third Carnatic War. With the arrival of Count de Lally in India, the intensity of the conflict increased and the two rivals fought a decisive battle at Wandiwash.

Causes of the War

The following are some possible causes of the Third Carnatic War:

• The renewal of disagreement between Britain and France in Europe
• The rekindling of hostility in view of the Seven Year’s War in Europe
• The ambitious nature of French and British commanders in India
• The traditional rivalry between the British and the French

Battle

The first exchange of violence began in the year 1757. The French managed to capture large parts of the Carnatic region from the British. However, they failed to capture the British strongholds such as Trichinopoly and Fort St. David. English meanwhile successfully captured large parts of French territory in Bihar and Bengal.

After the arrival of Count de Lally, the French captured St. David. However, his plans to attack Madras were foiled when the governor of Pondicherry made him aware of financial concerns. Lally then proceeded to attack Tanjore. However, he had to stop his troops because of the advent of English as opposition. The English defeated De Ache on the seas and against the wishes of Lally, was forced to go back to Mauritius. In 1758, Lally was successful in sieging the Madras presidency. He even enlisted the help of Bussy from Hyderabad. However, he was denied help as the French influence from Hyderabad vanished with the departure of Bussy and eventually, Lally was forced to give up his Madras siege.

Battle of Wandiwash

The Battle of Wandiwash was a war fought during the third Carnatic Wars in India between the French and the British. The Battle of Wandiwash is said to be the decisive battle that marked the end of the Anglo-French struggle. Lally de Comte, defeated on the seafront and lacking the financial resources to move ahead, decided to unfurl his victory flag by recovering the fort of Wandiwash near Pondicherry. This move proved to be a foolish one for he was absolutely routed in battle by the British general. Although the British were outnumbered (1700 against 2000), they made excellent use of tactics and terrain and the French were decisively defeated. Lally’s best general Bussy was captured by the British.

After the defeat at Wandiwash, the French were confined to Pondicherry and eventually surrendered on January 16, 1961, without much resistance.

Lally de Comte himself was tried for treason in his country and was ultimately executed.

The defeat at Wndiwash proved to be the final straw to break the camel’s back. The French never really recovered from this defeat and were confined to territories around Pondicherry and Chandrenagar. They were not allowed to build any kind of fortifications in these territories. The English emerged as the sole European superpower in the Indian subcontinent.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

The Treaty of Paris ended the Third Carnatic War between the French and the English. The treaty also ended the Seven-Years war. The British returned Chandernagore and Pondicherry to France and permitted them to establish factories. However French traders were forbidden from administering them. The French, in turn, agreed to recognise the British client governments.

Outcomes

The following were the effects of the Third Carnatic War:

• The war proved to be the final straw to break the camel’s back for the French, they had to give up their ambition to establish an empire in the Indian subcontinent
• The British emerged as the most powerful among the Europeans in the Indian subcontinent
• The war also vanquished any potential European rivals for the British in the Indian subcontinent
• The war paved the way for the rise of the British Empire in India

Conclusion

The Third Carnatic War was a conflict between the French and the British in the Indian subcontinent. The war was fought in the backdrop of the Seven Years’ War in Europe. The British decisively defeated the French in the Battle of Wandiwash and effectively terminated any hopes for the establishment of the French Empire in India. The war concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.