The Second Carnatic War (1749-54) was a power struggle between various contenders to the positions of Nizam of Hyderabad and Nawab of the Carnatic, with each claimant backed by the British or the French. Although the First Carnatic War was a direct struggle between the two European powers, in the Second Carnatic War, both of them publicly supported opposing local claims in Hyderabad and the Carnatic. This article will explain to you about the Second Carnatic War(1749-54) which will be helpful in Modern Indian History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Second Carnatic War (1749-54) - Background

• Rivalry in India created the backdrop for the Second Carnatic War.
• Dupleix, the French governor who had led the French armies to victory in the First Carnatic War, aspired to expand his authority and political influence in southern India by engaging in local dynastic rivalries in order to beat the English.
• The death of Nizam-ul-Mulk, the founder of the independent kingdom of Hyderabad, in 1748, and the Marathas' release of Chanda Sahib, the son-in-law of Dost Ali, the Nawab of Carnatic, in the same year gave the chance.
• Nasir Jung, the Nizam's son, was deposed from the throne of Hyderabad by Muzaffar Jung, the Nizam's grandson, who claimed the throne by claiming that the Mughal Emperor had chosen him as the governor of Hyderabad.
• Chanda Sahib hated the appointment of Anwaruddin Khan as Nawab in the Carnatic.
• The French-backed Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib in their claims to the Deccan and Carnatic, respectively, while the English backed Nasir Jang and Anwaruddin.

Course of the War

• At the Battle of Ambur (near Vellore) in 1749, the united troops of Muzaffar Jang, Chanda Sahib, and the French defeated and killed Anwaruddin.
• Muzaffar Jang was named subahdar of Deccan, while Dupleix was named governor of all Mughal holdings south of the Krishna River.
• To protect French interests in Hyderabad, a French army led by Bussy was stationed there.
• The French received territories surrounding Pondicherry as well as certain regions along the Odisha coast (including Masulipatnam).
• After failing to give meaningful support to Muhammad Ali at Trichinopoly, the English company's agent ('factor') Robert Clive proposed a diversionary attack against the governor of Madras, Saunders.
• He proposed a surprise attack on Arcot, the Carnatic capital, to ease Trichinopoly's siege. In such a case, he reasoned, Chanda Sahib would rush to rescue his capital.
• As a result, in August 1751, Robert Clive invaded and took Arcot with only 210 men.
• Chanda Sahib rushed to his capital, bringing with him a force of 4,000 soldiers from Trichinopoly, but despite a 53-day siege from September 23 to November 14, he was unable to retake the fort.
• Trichinopoly, Clive, and Stringer Lawrence were now aided by Mysore, Tanjore, and the Maratha leader, Morari Rao.
• Trichinopoly was the first to be released from its siege, although General Law of France remained imprisoned on the island of Srirangam with Chanda Sahib.
• When Muhammad Ali killed Chanda Sahib in June 1752, and the British failed to intervene, they were obliged to submit.
• The Battle concluded in 1754 with the Treaty of Pondicherry.

Result of the Second Carnatic War

• The French government, enraged by Dupleix's policy's massive financial losses, resolved to recall him in 1754.
• As the French governor-general in India, Godeheu replaced Dupleix. Godeheu pursued a campaign of diplomacy with the English, and they signed a pact with him.
• The English and the French agreed not to intervene in native rulers' quarrels.
• Furthermore, each side was left in control of the territory that they had occupied at the time of the pact.
• According to historians, the French suspended hostilities in India because of fear of dire repercussions in America.
• It became clear that Indian authority's approval was no longer required for European success; rather, Indian authority was growing increasingly reliant on European backing.
• Salabat Jang in Hyderabad and Muhammad Ali in the Carnatic became clients rather than patrons.

Treaty of Pondicherry

• The Treaty of Pondicherry was signed in 1754, bringing the Second Carnatic War to a close.
• It was agreed upon and signed at Puducherry, a French enclave in French India.
• Mohamed Ali Khan Walajan, the preferred British nominee, was named Nawab of the Carnatic.
• Despite the fact that it was intended to be a long-term solution, the Third Carnatic War flared out just two years later, in 1756.
• Dupleix was replaced as French Governor-General in India by Charles Robert Godeheu.
• Godeheu pursued a strategy of conciliation with the English, signing the Treaty of Pondicherry with them, in which the English and French promised not to intervene in the disputes of native kings.

Battle of Ambur

• The Battle of Ambur, which took place on August 3, 1749, was the first significant battle of the Second Carnatic War.
• Muzaffar Jung instigated the assault, which was sponsored by Joseph Francois Dupleix and led by Chanda Sahib, in order to depose Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan, the Nawab of Carnatic, for backing Nasir Jung's claim to be Nizam of Hyderabad.
• The allies won thanks to French soldiers; Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan was slain in the fight, and Chanda Sahib took control of the Carnatic.
• The united troops of Dupleix, Chanda Sahib, and Muzaffar Jung met Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan's army at Ambur on 3 August 1749.
• Despite being outnumbered 3 to 1, Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan's soldiers managed to build a threatening posture by assembling behind their howdahs, but it was the disciplined French infantry forces headed by De Bussy who entirely altered the course of the battle against Khan.
• Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan was shot and killed while directing his soldiers from a howdah during a furious battle.
• The next day, Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib triumphantly invaded Arcot, and Chanda Sahib became the Carnatic's second Nawab.
• Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah, Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan's son, went south to Trichinopoly, where he hid and sought British aid.
• The Battle of Ambur conclusively established Europe's superiority in armaments, discipline, and infantry combat.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the war concluded with a succession of French defeats, the French had won the most from the conflict. Their candidate was Nizam of Hyderabad, and they had been rewarded with the majority of the Northern Circars (now the coast of Andhra Pradesh, to the northeast of the Carnatic). They had also amassed a sizable region surrounding Pondicherry. The British had acquired some territory surrounding Madras as well, but the French seemed to be the main winners.