Anglo French War in India

Anglo French War in India and Mughal Decline in India

The Anglo French war in India encompasses a series of wars between the English and French, vying for dominance in Europe and their overseas territories. Its roots trace back to 1159, when the House of Capet governed one portion of France, and the House of Plantagenet, ruling the Kingdom of England, held sway over the other. Upon arriving in India, both the English and French Companies carried their longstanding animosity with them. This, coupled with their ambition to establish sizable colonies in India amidst the weakening Mughal empire, intensified their existing rivalry. 

Mughal Decline & Colonial Rivalry: Prelude to Anglo French War in India

• Weakening of Mughal Empire: The Decline of the Mughal Empire
  • Weak Successors: After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, a number of weak rulers sat on the Mughal Empire throne. 
    • However, these successors were no match for their predecessors like Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
  • Increasing Influence of Nobles: The later Mughal Empire were mere puppets in the hands of strong noblemen like Sayyid Brothers.
  • Foreign Invasion: The 1739 invasion of Nadir Shah and subsequent invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali left the Mughal Empire prostrated and bleeding.
  • Power Vacuum: English and the French Company realized that they could fill this void and create a large colonial empire in India for themselves. This led to rivalry between the two.
• Rise of Regional Powers: The Rise of Nawabs, Rajputs, and Marathas
  • Emergence of New Powers: After the downfall of the Mughal empire many regional governors of the Mughal Empire known as Subedars declared their independence from the central authority. 
    • These regional rulers were Nawab of Awadh, Bengal, Nizam of Hyderabad etc.
  • Rise of Rajputs and Marathas: Local powers like Rajputs and Marathas have also declared independence from the Mughal Empire.
  • Fighting Amongst Themselves: There was a lot of infighting among these regional powers.
• Failure of Mughal Empire to Protect the trade interest of the Companies: Mughal Empire’s Trade Dilemma
  • The weakened Mughal empire after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, failed to provide the necessary peace and security required for the promotion of trade and commerce.
  • This situation forced the European companies to build their own army to protect their interest.
• European Scenario: Impact of Continental Wars on British and French Companies
  • Rivalry between the British and French in European continental matters led to wars like Austrian War of Succession (1746) and Seven Years war (1756)
  • These wars also shaped the behaviour of English and French companies in India.

Coromandel Conflict: Anglo French War in india and Mughal Influence

• Coromandel Coast: Carnatic was the name given by the Europeans to the Coromandel coast and its hinterland.
• Wars: In this region the English and the French Company fought wars which shaped the future course of India.

Carnatic Conflict: Anglo French Wars in India’s Echoes

• The First Carnatic War was an extension of the Anglo French war in India which was caused by the Austrian War of Succession.

Madras Siege: Anglo French War in India’s Echoes

• Escalation of Tensions: When the Austrian War of Succession broke out in Europe, French and British were on the opposite side and so were their respective Companies in India.
• Siege of Madras (1746): The war began in 1746 when the French, led by Governor-General Joseph Francois Dupleix, besieged and captured the British-held Madras (Chennai).
• British Counterattacks: The British, under Admiral Edward Boscawen and later Robert Clive, launched counterattacks and regained Madras in 1748. However, the situation remained precarious.
• Peace Settlement (1748): The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, which restored Madras to the British. 
  • However, the treaty did not resolve the underlying conflicts.

First Carnatic Prelude: Seeds of Anglo French War in India

• Precursor to Further Conflicts: First Carnatic War set the stage for the subsequent Carnatic Wars, with the unresolved issues and tensions spilling over into the Second Carnatic War (1750-1754) and the Third Carnatic War (1757-1763). 

Hyderabad Succession: Second Carnatic War’s Colonial Clash

• The Second Carnatic War was a continuation of the colonial rivalry. The immediate cause for this war was provided by the death of Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah of Hyderabad and succession dispute between his son Nasir Jung and grandson Muzzafar Jung.

Nizam’s Demise Sparks Carnatic Strife: Anglo French War in India

• The opportunity was provided by the death of Nizam-ul-Mulk, the founder of the independent kingdom of Hyderabad, in 1748, and the release of Chanda Sahib, the son-in-law of Dost Ali, the Nawab of Carnatic, by the Marathas in the same year.
• In Hyderabad, the accession of Nasir Jang, the son of the Nizam, to the throne of Hyderabad was opposed by Muzaffar Jang, the grandson of the Nawab, who laid claim to the throne saying that the Mughal Emperor had appointed him as the governor of Hyderabad.
• Further south there were two candidates for the Nawabship of the Carnatic, a subsidiary post, officially dependent on the Nizam.
• Anwar-ud-Din had only been appointed Nawab of the Carnatic in 1743, after Nizam-ul-Mulk had been forced to intervene to restore order in the province.
  • Anwar-ud-Din was one of the Nizam’s officers.
  • Appointment of Anwar-ud-Din was resented by Chanda Sahib
  • Chanda Sahib was the son-in-law of a previous Nawab of the Carnatic, Dost Ali (1732-39).
  • He had been an effective ally to the French, before in 1741 being besieged in Trichinopoly by the Marathas.

South Indian Conflict: Anglo-French Struggle Amid Mughal Unrest

• Triple alliance: Dupleix supported Muzzafar Jung, the grandson of Asaf Jah, as the Nizam of Hyderabad after Asaf Jah died in 1748. 
  • In the Carnatic region, he supported Chanda Sahib’s claim. 
  • A triple alliance was formed among the French, the Nizam, and the Nawab of Carnatic.
• English support: To diminish French influence, the English backed rival candidates such as Nasir Jung for the throne of Nizam of Hyderabad and Muhammad Ali after the death of Anwar-ud-din in the Battle of Ambur in 1749. 
• Battle of Ambur (1749): The war began with a significant engagement at Ambur in 1749, where Chanda Sahib’s forces, backed by the French, clashed with the British-backed forces of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah. This battle set the tone for the conflict.
• French Advances: The French, under the leadership of Governor-General Dupleix, made significant territorial gains in the early stages of the war, capturing key towns and territories in South India.
• British Resurgence: However, the British, led by Robert Clive and Major Lawrence, managed to rally and launch a successful counteroffensive. They won several crucial battles, including the Battle of Trichinopoly (1751).

French Recall: Treaty Ends Anglo French War in India

• The French authorities, annoyed at the heavy financial losses that Dupleix’s policy involved, decided to recall him in 1754.
• Charles Robert Godeheu succeeded Dupleix as the French Governor-General in India.
• Godeheu adopted a policy of negotiations with the English and signed the Treaty of Pondicherry with them under which the English and the French agreed not to interfere in the quarrels of native princes.
  • Also, each party was left in possession of the territories actually occupied by them at the time of the treaty.

Second Carnatic War: British Rise, French Retreat in India

The Second Carnatic War (1749-1754) had several significant implications in the context of colonial India and the broader rivalry between European powers. Here are some key significances of the Second Carnatic War:

• British Ascendancy:. With their victory in the Second Carnatic war, the British solidified their position as the dominant European power in South India. 
• Failure of Dupleix: The war demonstrated the limits of French Governor-General Joseph François Dupleix’s ambitious plans to establish a French dominion in India. Despite initial successes, his failure to achieve long-term strategic objectives weakened French influence in the region.
• Territorial Changes: The war resulted in territorial changes, with the Treaty of Pondicherry (1754) reaffirming Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah as the Nawab of the Carnatic. 
  • It also led to the French withdrawing from several key territories in South India.
• Precedent for Future Conflicts: The unresolved issues and tensions from the Second Carnatic War continued to influence subsequent conflicts in India, including the Third Carnatic War (1757-1763). 
• Impact on British Expansion: The success in the Second Carnatic War contributed to the British East India Company’s growing power and territorial expansion in India. 
• Divergent Strategies: The war also highlighted the different strategies employed by the British and the French in India. 
  • While the British focused on securing alliances with local rulers and consolidating power, the French under Dupleix pursued more ambitious, direct control over Indian territories.

Final Carnatic Clash: Anglo French War in India Impact

The Third Carnatic War (1757-1763) was the final conflict in the series of Carnatic Wars which began when Austria wanted to recover Silesia in 1756 leading to the Seven Years War (1756-63). 

Key Events of War in India: The Battles and Outcomes of the Third Carnatic War

• In 1758, the French army under French General Count Thomas Arthur de Lally captured the English forts of St. David and Vizianagaram in 1758.
• Battle of Wandiwash:
  • The decisive battle of the Third Carnatic War was won by the English on January 22, 1760 at Wandiwash (or Vandavasi) in Tamil Nadu.
    • General Eyre Coote of the English totally routed the French army under Count de Lally.
  • Pondicherry was gallantly defended by Lally for eight months before he surrendered on January 16, 1761.
  • With the loss of Pondicherry, Gingee and Mahe, the French power in India was reduced to its lowest.
• Treaty of Paris (1763): The war concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which ended the broader Seven Years’ War. 
  • Under the treaty, Pondicherry and Chandernagore were returned to France but they could only have trading activities in them.

British Triumph: Third Carnatic War’s Impact on India

• The Third Carnatic War (1757-1763) held significant historical importance, not just within the context of the Carnatic Wars but also as part of the broader global conflict of the Seven Years’ War. 
• Mughal Empire’s Decline: As the war unfolded, it occurred against the backdrop of the declining influence of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent, opening avenues for regional powers and European colonial forces.
• British Colonial Ascendancy: The Third Carnatic War marked the decisive ascendance of the British East India Company in South India. 
  • With the victory over the French, the British solidified their control over key territories in the Carnatic region, including Madras and Pondicherry. 
  • This laid the foundation for British dominance in southern India, which would continue to expand in the following decades.
• End of French Influence: The war effectively ended significant French colonial influence in India. 
• Global Ramifications: The Treaty of Paris that ended the Third Carnatic War  war had significant global implications, including the redrawing of colonial boundaries in North America and India.
• Transition to British Raj: The Third Carnatic War was a significant step in the transition from the fragmented rule of various Indian states to the more centralised and cohesive rule of the British East India Company, leading ultimately to the establishment of the British Raj.

Conclusion:

• The Anglo French war in India was a pivotal chapter in the history of colonialism and global power struggles. 
  • The clash between these European powers on Indian soil was driven by a complex interplay of geopolitical ambitions, economic interests, and longstanding animosities. 
  • This rivalry not only had profound consequences for the Indian subcontinent but also shaped the course of world history.

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