Second Carnatic War

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Period• The Second Carnatic War

(1749-54) was a struggle for power between various Indian claimants to power in southern India, each supported by the French or the British. The First Carnatic War had been a direct conflict between the two European powers, but in the Second Carnatic War both of them officially acted in support of rival local claimants in Hyderabad and the Carnatic.

CausesAfter the death of the 

Nizam-ul-Mulk in 1748, the Nizam of Hyderabad, a civil war for succession, now known as the Second Carnatic War, broke out in the south between Mir Ahmad Ali Khan (Nasir Jung), the son of the Nizam-ul-Mulk, and Hidayat Muhi ud-Din Sa'adu'llah Khan (Muzaffar Jung), the grandson of Nizam-ul-Mulk.

• This opened a window of opportunity for Chanda Sahib, who wanted to become Nawab of Arcot. He joined the cause of Muzaffar Jung and began to conspire against the Nawab Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan in Arcot. The French allied with Chanda Sahib and Muzaffar Jung to bring them into power in their respective states. But soon the British also intervened. To offset the French influence, they began supporting Nasir Jung and Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah (son of the deposed Nawab Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan of Arcot). Initially, the French succeeded in both states in defeating their opponents and placing their supporters on thrones in 1749. In 1751, however, Robert Clive led British troops to capture Arcot.

• Clive's success led to additional victories for the British and their Nizam and Arcot allies. The war ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry, signed in 1754. Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah was recognized as the Nawab of Arcot. The French leader Dupleix was asked to return to France. The directors of the French East India Company were dissatisfied with Dupleix's political ambitions, which had led to immense financial loss. In 1754, Charles Godeheu replaced Dupleix.

Result

The second Carnatic war took place from 1749 to 1754 AD . A civil war broke out in south between Nasir Jung and Muzaffar Jung after the death of Nizam of Hydrabad. Also, Chanda sahib began to conspire against the Nawab Anwaruddin in Carnatic. The French under Dupleix concluded a secret treaty with Chanda sahib and Muzaffar Jang to help them with his well trained French forces. The three allies soon defeated both, Nasir Jang and Nawab Anwauddin. In return the French received many gifts as well as trading monopoly in South. But the English were not silent spectators to the rising French power. To offset the French influence, they intrigued with Nasir Jang and Muhammad Ali (son of deposed Nawab Anwaruddin) .

• Muhammad Ali, with the support of British army, attacked Arcot, the capital of Carnatic. The French forces were repeatedly defeated and Chanda Sahib was captured and killed. The French fortunes were at ebb after the defeat. They negotiated peace with British in 1754.

Conclusion • The war concluded with the

signing of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, which returned Chandernagore and Pondicherry to France, and allowed the French to have “factories” (trading posts) in India but forbade French traders from administering them. The French agreed to support British client governments, thus ending French ambitions of an Indian empire and making the British the dominant foreign power in India.