Second Carnatic War

The Second Carnatic War was a crucial conflict fought between the British East India Company and the French East India Company, along with their respective Indian allies, for dominance in South India. It took place primarily in the Carnatic region, corresponding to present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh, and marked a decisive phase in the struggle for European supremacy in the Indian subcontinent.
This war not only shaped the future of British colonial expansion in India but also reflected the intersection of European rivalries with Indian political affairs during the decline of the Mughal Empire.

Background

The Carnatic region was a politically volatile area in the mid-eighteenth century. With the decline of the Mughal Empire, regional powers like the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Arcot (Carnatic) began asserting autonomy.
At the same time, European trading companies were competing for commercial and territorial control in India. The First Carnatic War (1746–1748), fought mainly as an extension of the War of the Austrian Succession between France and Britain in Europe, had ended inconclusively with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748). However, the rivalry between the British and the French in India continued.
After the treaty, both powers sought to expand their influence by supporting rival claimants to Indian thrones, particularly in Hyderabad and Arcot. This indirect involvement in Indian succession disputes became the trigger for the Second Carnatic War.

Immediate Causes

1. Succession Dispute in Hyderabad: The death of Nizam-ul-Mulk, the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, in 1748, led to a conflict over succession. His grandson Muzaffar Jang and son Nasir Jang both claimed the throne.
   • The French, under Governor-General Joseph François Dupleix, supported Muzaffar Jang.
   • The British, aligned with the rival claimant Nasir Jang.
2. Succession Dispute in the Carnatic (Arcot): Similarly, in the Carnatic, a dispute arose between Chanda Sahib and Anwar-ud-Din over the Nawabship.
   • The French backed Chanda Sahib, who was an ally of Muzaffar Jang.
   • The British supported Anwar-ud-Din and later his son Muhammad Ali.
3. French Ambitions under Dupleix: Dupleix, the French Governor of Pondicherry, aimed to establish a French-controlled empire in South India through diplomacy and military alliances. His growing influence alarmed the British, who were determined to curb French expansion.

Major Events and Course of the War

• Battle of Ambur (1749): The combined forces of Muzaffar Jang, Chanda Sahib, and the French defeated and killed Anwar-ud-Din, the British-supported Nawab of Arcot. This victory temporarily placed the French in control of the Carnatic.
• French Ascendancy: After their initial success, Muzaffar Jang became the Nizam of Hyderabad with French support, rewarding them with extensive territories in the Deccan, including several districts around Pondicherry.Dupleix’s prestige reached its peak, and the French influence spread widely in South India.
• British Counterattack: The British response came under the leadership of Robert Clive, a young and ambitious officer of the East India Company. When the French and their allies besieged Trichinopoly, a key stronghold of the British-backed Muhammad Ali, Clive devised a bold plan.
• Capture of Arcot (1751): Clive led a daring assault on Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic, with a small force. His successful capture of the city and heroic defence against Chanda Sahib’s forces for 53 days turned the tide of the war.The Battle of Arcot became a landmark in British military history in India, showcasing their discipline and strategic superiority.
• Defeat of Chanda Sahib: Following Clive’s victory, the British and their Indian allies pursued Chanda Sahib. He was eventually captured and executed in 1752, effectively ending French dominance in the Carnatic.
• Death of Muzaffar Jang: Around the same time, Muzaffar Jang was killed in an internal dispute. The French replaced him with Salabat Jang, another Nizam claimant, who continued to cooperate with them but lacked independence.

End of the War

By 1754, both Britain and France were exhausted financially and militarily. The Treaty of Pondicherry (1754) brought the conflict to an end. According to the treaty:

• Both sides agreed to restore territories captured during the war.
• Charles Godeheu replaced Dupleix as the French Governor in India, marking the decline of French ambitions for political dominance.
• The French resolved to limit their activities in India to commerce rather than territorial expansion.

Results and Consequences

1. British Ascendancy in South India: The British emerged as the dominant European power in the Carnatic, gaining prestige, territory, and the trust of local rulers.
2. Decline of French Power: The removal of Dupleix and the French retreat from political alliances marked the beginning of the French decline in India. They retained some commercial posts but never regained their earlier influence.
3. Rise of Robert Clive: Robert Clive’s leadership and victories in Arcot and Trichinopoly made him a national hero in Britain and laid the foundation for his later role in Bengal, including the Battle of Plassey (1757).
4. Shift in Indian Politics: The war marked a turning point in the relations between Europeans and Indian rulers. Indian princes began to realise that European powers could decisively influence local politics through military and financial superiority.
5. Prelude to the Third Carnatic War: The unresolved rivalry between Britain and France continued and soon resurfaced in the Third Carnatic War (1756–1763), which finally established British supremacy in India.

Significance

The Second Carnatic War was far more than a regional power struggle — it represented the growing contest for imperial dominance between Britain and France. The conflict demonstrated:

• The use of local Indian disputes as instruments of European strategy.
• The beginning of British political intervention in Indian affairs, which would ultimately lead to the establishment of colonial rule.
• The decline of French political ambitions and the consolidation of British authority in southern India.