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The Anglo-French Conflict in India between respective East India Companies for dominance in Indian commerce led to a series of conflicts known as the Carnatic Wars. These took place between 1740 and 1763. What started as a simple business competition soon became an all-out war. This is because both nations attempted to establish their supremacy and drive the other out of India. The Carnatic wars, which took place in a Mughal province ruled by Nawab Anwar-ud-din, had a significant role in determining the balance of power between the French and the English in India. Let us learn more about the Anglo-French Conflict in India.
Anglo-French Conflict in India- Notes, Quiz PDF
The Carnatic Wars, which took place in South India in the 18th century, had a significant impact on the political climate of the area. These wars were a series of military encounters between the British East India Company, the French East India Company, and indigenous groups such as the Marathas and the Nawab of Arcot. Reading this a
Anglo-French Conflict in India Summary
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
The English-French competition in Europe and India directly led to the Carnatic Wars. There were several military battles fought in the Carnatic area in the eighteenth century. Particularly in and around the state of Hyderabad. Between 1744 and 1763, there were three Carnatic wars. The Carnatic wars were conflicts between several rulers and their subordinates in the Carnatic area over land and succession. Additionally, it was the outcome of the direct military and political competition between the British and French East India Companies. They were largely fought inside the boundaries of Mughal India, with the assistance of several scattered polities devoted to the Great Mughal.
Key Points: Anglo-French Conflict in India
These key points section contains information from competitive exam texts and previous question paper solutions. Refer to them for easy revision.
| War | Years | Immediate cause | Parties in Conflict | Important Battles | Treaty Ending War |
| 1st Carnatic War | 1746- 48 | Anglo-French Conflict caused by the Austrian War of Succession. Commodore Curtis Bennett seized some ships to provoke the French. | French Vs British Anwar-ud-din, Nawab of Arcot mostly remained neutral | ·       Battle of Madras
·       Battle of St.Thome or Battle of Adayar ·       Assault on Fort St. David |
Treaty of Aix- La Chapelle (Madras was given back to the British and North American colonies were given to the French) |
| 2nd Carnatic War | 1748- 54 | Conflicts in succession in princely states of Hyderabad and Carnatic | In Hyderabad, both Nasir Jung and Musafir Jung claimed the throne.
In Carnatic, both Anwruddin Khan and Chandha Sahib Claimed the throne. French supported Musafir Jung and Chanda Sahib. English Supported Nasir Jung and Anwaruddin ( also his son Ali Khan Walajah) |
·       Siege of Arcot
·       Battle of Ambur |
Treaty of Pondichery. (The British won the 2nd Carnatic War with the help of Robert Clive even though the French had the upper hand in the first half of the war. French had to make lots of sacrifices in this treaty) |
| 3rd Carnatic War | 1758- 63 | The seven-year war started with Austria’s trying to reclaim Silesia. French and British come to opposite sides again. | French led by Count De Lally and British Led by Sire Eyer Coote | Battle of Wandowash | Treaty of Paris. (The French political and imperial ambitions in India came to an end. The Factories of French and Pondichery were returned. French pursued only commercial interests in India after that.) |
History of Anglo-French Conflict in India
India was a land that many foreign powers to war to have control over. And having control over an extremely fertile Carnatic region is like hitting a jackpot. But before even coming to India, the French and English had a long history of power struggle and rivalry. Let us look into this background so that we can have a better understanding of their rivalry after coming to India i.e. Anglo-French Conflict in India.
Background of Anglo-French Conflict in India
All of it began with the commercial and political rivalry between the English and French in India and the political rivalry in Europe. Till the 17th century, the French stakes in India were not enough to be threatening to the British. So, they declared to be neutral and went on with the trading. but slowly the stakes of both the powers become considerable in India. In the period between 1720 and 1740, the value of French trade multiplied by 1o times. Similarly British were engaged in extensive trade with China in goods like saltpetre, indigo, cotton, silk etc. It was so big that this trade value was 10% of the total revenue of the British.
War of Austrian Succession
The annexation of Silesia by Frederick the Great of Prussia in 1740 created the need for intervention. Britain and France were on opposing sides of different coalitions in the ensuing War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748). These conflicts, which had a purely European basis, constituted the political tipping point in modern India’s history.
South India’s political landscape was unclear and unstable in 1740. Nizam Asaf Jah of Hyderabad was elderly and completely engaged in fighting the Marathas in the western Deccan. While others under him speculated about the ramifications of his death. The Coromandel coast, which lay to the south of his realm, lacked a strong leader to preserve the balance of power. The fall of Hyderabad signified the end of Muslim expansionism. The English explorers prepared their strategies accordingly. The Austrian War of Succession broke out in 1740 upon the death of Emperor Charles VI. It was the immediate cause of the end of the neutrality between the French and English in India.
Why are Anglo-French Conflict in India Called Carnatic Wars?
Europeans referred to the Coromandel coast and its hinterland as “Carnatic.” The majority of these conflicts took place in the Indian regions that the Nizam of Hyderabad controlled up to the Godavari Delta. The Carnatic serves as the battleground for the first two Carnatic Wars. In the second conflict, it will also be important to see the expansion of French influence in the Deccan. The third conflict sees a brief scene change to Bengal before returning to the Carnatic.
First Carnatic War (1746-48)
The First Carnatic War was therefore a continuation of the Anglo-French War in Europe. The latter was sparked by the Austrian War of Succession. The later conflict occurred between the Kingdom of Prussia, Spain, France, Bavaria, Sweden, and others on one side and the Habsburg Monarchy, England, the Dutch Republic, and Russia on the other.
So, the English decided that it was the right time to put an effort to hinder the growth of the French in India. French had not expected this and hence most of their possessions were not adequately defended. Their chief settlement, Pondichery was ill defended. Joseph François Dupleix, the Governor of Chandernagor, began to rectify these defects right after he was appointed the governor. It was important because the French had more to lose in case of a defeat. They had plans for growing French power in India through alliances with native princes and driving out the British entirely from the nation.
Immediate Cause for the First Carnatic War
Although France, aware of its relative weakness in India, did not want hostilities to be extended to India, the English fleet, led by Barnet, captured some French ships to antagonize France. The First Carnatic War in India began in 1745 when a British fleet appeared on the Coromandel Coast. The French governor of the Isle of France (Mauritius), Admiral La Bourdonnais, led the navy from Mauritius to assist France in her retaliatory capture of Madras in 1746. Thus started the first Carnatic War. The cautious French Governor Dupleix persuaded the Nawab of Arcot to intervene, but the Nawab preferred an impartial attitude.
Battle of Madras
The British originally seized a few French ships, prompting the French to request help from Mauritius. Bourdonnais commanded a French fleet that landed in 1746. In this fight, the British and French East India Companies competed on land for control of their respective commercial centres in Madras, Pondicherry, and Cuddalore, while French and British naval troops clashed off the coast. The withdrawal of the English navy from the Coromandel Coast provided the French with a chance to attack Madras, something they had been waiting for since they had their fleet.
Fort St. George’s strength, which was intended to serve as a defence against Madras, was negligible, and the town itself was mostly undefended. The British were taken prisoner of war when the French took Madras in September 1746 with hardly any resistance. Robert Clive was also one of the prisoners. Afterwards, the French attempt to capture Fort St. David was unsuccessful.
Disagreement between Dupleix and Bourdonnais
After the capture of Madras by the French, there was a conflict and quarrel between Dupleix and Bourdonnais. M. de la Bourdonnais wanted to let the English ransom the town (after accepting a bribe from the English East India Company), but M. Dupleix was passionately opposed to this. This argument created animosity between the two great French commanders, both of whom were men of unlimited energy and desire for the cause of French supremacy in India. It finally led to Bourdonnais’ departure from India.
The Battle of St. Thome or The Battle of Adyar: 4th Nov. 1746
Pondicherry and Madras bases were located in the domain of the local Mughal governor, Anwar-ur-Din, the Nawab of the Carnatic. Upon the outbreak of hostilities between the French and British, the Nawab proclaimed his land neutral and prohibited the French and British from destroying each other’s property. When the French, led by Admiral La Bourdonnais, besieged and took Madras in September 1746, they breached the imposed truce. The French governor, Marquis Joseph-François Dupleix, appeased the Nawab by promising to give Nawab control of Madras when it was taken. (At this point, the favourable partnership that earlier French rulers had forged with the Carnatic nawabs had begun to bear fruit.)
De la Bourdonnais held Madras for a while while he was still in India. In the meantime, Anwar-ud-din started to believe it was time for Madras to be turned over to him by the agreement. Dupleix had every intention of doing this, but only when its defences were destroyed. It was impossible to cede the location while de la Bourdonnais was still in charge of it; nevertheless, Anwar-ud-din would not have any of it, and he quickly surrounded the area following de la Bourdonnais’s departure, before Dupleix had a chance to demolish the fortifications. It was unthinkable to hand over the town with its fortifications completed.
Small French forces destroyed the greater army of the Nawab of Carnatic. Â Under the direction of a Swiss lieutenant called Paradis, the French army was composed of 700 Sepoys and 250 Europeans who had been recruited from the local population. The French troop was outnumbered ten to one.
Importance of the Battle of St. Thome
Dupleix designated Paradis as Madras’ commander and proclaimed the city to be French by conquest in the near term. Until the end of the war, Madras was held by the French before being given back to the British. It marked the first direct encounter between a native and a European army. In the long run, nevertheless, it was this weapon that showed British and French generals that they could finally beat the vast Indian forces that had previously terrified them. This finding would soon contribute to shifting India’s power dynamics.
Assault on Fort St. David
After that, Dupleix attacked Fort St. David. Avenging his loss at Adyar, Anwaruddin dispatched his son Muhammad Ali to support the British in defending Cuddalore, and the latter played a crucial role in thwarting a French assault in December 1746. In the following few months, Anwaruddin and Dupleix reconciled. However, the British fleet’s rapid arrival from Bengal reversed the situation and forced the French to retreat to Pondicherry. In late 1748, the British attacked Pondicherry after reinforcements arrived from Europe.
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
The siege was lifted in October 1748 with the coming of the monsoons, and the First Carnatic War concluded in December with the announcement of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, which ended Austria’s war of succession. The clauses of the Aix-la-Chapelle Treaty relating to India were a direct attempt to restore the English and French settlers to the position they had held before the beginning of hostilities. According to the provisions of this treaty, the English regained control of Madras, while the French regained their North American colonies.
Aftermath of the First Carnatic War
The First Carnatic War is famous for the Battle of St. Thome (in Madras), which pitted French forces against the armies of Anwar-ud-din, the Nawab of Carnatic, to whom the English called for assistance.  A tiny French force led by Captain Paradise destroyed the powerful Indian army led by Mahfuz Khan at St. Thome on the banks of the Adyar River. This was a wake-up call for the Europeans in India. it demonstrated that even a small disciplined force could easily beat a much bigger Indian army.
The superiority of a small number of French troops against larger Indian formations prompted Joseph Dupleix to use this advantage to dramatically expand French authority in South India. In contrast, the British East India Company did little to enhance its authority and made only occasional attempts to counter Dupleix’s vast efforts. Robert Clive saw that this endangered the Company’s whole livelihood in the area, so he participated in a series of legendary military feats in 1751, cementing British authority over Madras by the conclusion of the fight.
Furthermore, this war demonstrated the value of naval power in the Anglo-French fight in the Deccan. During the late conflict, the native powers had the chance to learn about the immense superiority of European armaments and discipline in comparison to their own, and they now fully understood the benefits of allying with one or more European nations. As a result, they attempted every method possible to get Europeans to join their cause. They promised vast quantities of money, land, and everything else that may entice the settlers. Even though the English and French agreed to pursue peaceful business activity, they were lured into conflict by the influence of native forces.
Second Carnatic War (1746-48)
Rivalry in India served as the backdrop to the Second Carnatic War. The incentives to intervene in local powers’ affairs were too powerful for either the French or the English to resist. Dupleix, the French governor who successfully commanded the French soldiers in the First Carnatic War, attempted to strengthen his position and French political dominance in southern India by meddling in local dynastic rivalries to beat the English.
Immediate Cause of the Second Carnatic War
In 1748, Nizam-ul-Mulk, the man who founded the independent kingdom of Hyderabad, passed away, and the Marathas freed Chanda Sahib, the Nawab of Carnatic and son-in-law of Dost Ali. These events created the chance that the British and French were waiting for.
Struggle for Succession in Hyderabad
Civil war for succession started between Nasir Jung, the son of the Nizam-ul-Mulk, and Muzaffar Jung, the grandson of the Nizam-ul-Mulk. This was following the death of the Nizam-ul-Mulk (Subedar) in 1748. Muzaffar Jang disputed Nasir Jang’s (Nizam’s son) ascension to the Hyderabad throne, claiming that the Mughal Emperor had designated him as the Carnatic governor. Muzaffar Jang was not present when the subahdar died, but Nasir Jang had the significant benefit of being present in the correct place.
Struggle to Become Nawab of Arcot
Chanda Sahib was displeased with Anwar-ud-din Khan’s appointment as the Nawab in the Carnatic.
Previously, Safder Ali, Chanda Sahib’s father-in-law, was the nawáb of the Carnatic when he was taken prisoner by the Marathas. Safder Ali was later killed. Another family ruled over the Carnatic during the period, led by Anwar-ud-din Khan.
Foreign Intervention
The French supported Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib’s claims in the Deccan and Carnatic, respectively. However, the British quickly interfered and began backing Nasir Jung and Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah (son of the ousted Nawab Anwar-ud-din of Arcot) to counteract French influence.
Events in Beginning
In 1749, the united troops of Muzaffar Jang, Chanda Sahib, and the French defeated and killed Anwar-ud-din in the Battle of Ambur, near Vellore. Mohammed Ali, Anwaruddin’s son, fled and settled in Trichinopoly. Chanda Sahib was liberated from all rivals, and soon after the war, Muzaffar Jang declared himself Nizam (subahdar) of the Deccan (Hyderabad), confirming Chanda Saheb as his subordinate in the post of Carnatic nawab. Hence, Initially, in both states, the French defeated their opponents and installed those who supported them on thrones in 1749. However, with all of this scheming and counterplotting, it was hard for the French and English to remain apart for long without engaging in indirect combat.
The difference between the two was that Saunders, the English Governor of Madras, could entrust his plans to renowned soldiers like Lawrence and Robert Clive, knowing that they would be fully carried out, whereas Dupleix, who claimed not to be a soldier himself, had no generals on hand who could carry out his designs. The British allied with Muhammad Ali, and in doing so, they also sided with Nasir Jang, who was vying for the Deccan subah, and with whom Mohammed Ali had already naturally formed a common cause. So, the Triple Alliance was like this; on one side there was Mozaffer Jang, Chanda Sahib, and the French and on the other side was Nasir Jang, Mohammed Ali, and the English. Among this latter alliance, Nasir Jung was the most formidable.
Reaction of French
The French allies were forced to flee when they learned of Nasir Jung’s massive army’s impending arrival. This episode had far-reaching ramifications beyond the French contingent’s simple retreat.
In desperation, Muzaffar Jang decided to put his faith in his uncle Nasir Jang’s mercy and turned himself in under the condition that his life be spared. Conversely, Chanda Saheb chose to continue to have faith in the French. Their plans had undoubtedly suffered a great deal from the French retreat recently, but Dupleix was a highly skilled diplomat.
He orchestrated a scheme. This was a plan involving the Patan nawabs, who held a significant amount of the subahdar’s troops. Now these Patan nawabs rose in rebellion, and Nasir Jang was murdered in the uprising. After being released from custody, Muzaffar Jang was named Subahdar. The new subahdar was escorted to Golconda, or Hyderabad, by the illustrious French officer M. Bussy. Dupleix’s diplomacy had so once again brought victory to the French faction. Dupleix was named governor of the entire region south of the Kistna River, up to Cape Comorin, by Muzaffar Jang.
Dupleix was one of the greatest masters of intrigue. He was aware of every tiny dissatisfaction felt by the subahdar’s followers and understood how to both repress and make use of them for his purposes. After Muzaffar Jang was killed in another Patan nawab insurrection, M. Bussy freed Salabat Jang, Nasir Jang’s brother, from jail and appointed him as subahdar.
Battle of Ambur
At the Battle of Ambur (near Vellore) in 1749, Anwar-ud-din was vanquished and killed by the united armies of Muzaffar Jang, Chanda Sahib, and the French. Early in the conflict, the Nawab was assassinated, leaving his son Mohammed Ali to assume the Nawabship.
Reaction of English
During this period, the English controlled only Madras, Fort St. David, and Davicottah in the Carnatic; Mohammed Ali, their trusted ally, pledged himself to battle until the very last in Trichinopoly. After paying attention to Mohammed Ali, the British sent troops to support Trichinopoly. This brings us to Robert Clive’s greatest accomplishment, which instantly and permanently made him famous: the capture and defence of Arcot. The rajas of Tanjore and Mysore had been Mohammed Ali’s friends in addition to the English.
Siege of Arcot: 1751
British forces under the command of Major Lawrence and Robert Clive took Arcot from Chanda Saheb in 1751. All French soldiers operating under General Law were confined to the island of Seringam when Chanda Saheb surrendered. The Carnatic region saw yet another full transformation as a result of Trichinopoly’s valiant resistance and the English and their allies’ victorious military campaigns. Before the siege, the French held absolute authority. The claimant, whose cause they had supported, had vanished, and they had suffered defeat after loss until they were finally severely crippled by the enemy’s seizure of a sizable chunk of their army. The Siege of Arcot (1751) was a great achievement.
Reasons for the French Defeat
The fault rests with the French forces’ leaders at this moment. Â Among the English, they had at least two very great leaders, Lawrence and Clive, whereas they had just Bussy, who presided over the subahdar’s court. Dupleix, one of the greatest politicians and skilled diplomats to have ever lived, was the leader of the French in India; nevertheless, unlike Clive, he did not combine these abilities with the traits that constitute a successful soldier.
Treaty of Pondicherry: 1754
The English placed great significance on the outcome of raising the siege of Trichinopoly. The British and their allies Arcot and Nizam gained further success as a result of Clive’s victory. The 1754 Treaty of Pondicherry brought an end to the conflict. It was acknowledged that Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah was the Nawab of Arcot. The French and English decided not to become involved in the disputes between local rulers. The pact required the French to make a far larger sacrifice than the English did.
Furthermore, each side retained ownership of the regions they had truly occupied at the time of the pact. Historians say that the French stopped hostilities in India because they were afraid of severe consequences back home. This story cost the French much too much to tolerate. At the court of the subahdar (Hyderabad), the French attitude did not change. The outcome would have been catastrophic if M. Bussy had been abruptly removed at this point. The French might alone at the subahdar’s court avoided a widespread conflagration.
Return of Dupleix
The French East India Company’s directors were unhappy with Dupleix’s political aspirations since they had caused them to suffer significant financial losses. In 1754, Godeheu took over as the French Governor-General in India, replacing Dupleix. Godeheu decided to negotiate with the English and came to an agreement with them in a treaty. The French had high expectations for Dupleix and believed that he would greatly increase the Company’s wealth. During the Dupleix era, France was despised both domestically and globally, except India. They helped him as long as they perceived any chance of this happening.
They eventually lost patience and decided to give up on all of these plans in an attempt to resume their previous commercial standing without any more meddling in Indigenous matters. The conclusion of the war is marked by the Treaty of Pondichery and the recall of M. Dupleix to France, where he would eventually face insults and disappointments from the masters he had done a poor job of serving.
Aftermath of the Second Carnatic War
The concepts that the French had been steadfastly attempting to implement for so many years are marked by their almost total success, followed by their complete discomfiture. On the other hand, it indicates a significant shift in English policy. It was clear that the face of Indian power was no longer essential to European success; rather, Indian authority itself was depending more and more on European assistance.
Third Carnatic War: 1758-63
After Godeheu left for Europe, a French governor named M. de Leyrit arrived in India, although he wasn’t exactly keen to continue the conciliatory policies of his predecessor. With the English openly violating the Pondicherry Treaty, he concluded that the sacrifice required of French interests was unachievable.
Seven Years War: 1756-63
The European Seven Years War (1756–63) began in 1756 when Austria attempted to retake Silesia. Once more, Britain and France were on opposing sides. French and British armies engaged in open warfare in India following the start of the Seven Years’ War in Europe. Financial problems had by now seriously undermined the French position, with even the soldiers going months without pay. With the start of hostilities in Europe, the French government’s indifference was rocked, and Count de Lally ordered the sending of a powerful army.
Beginning of the Third Carnatic War
Beyond southern India, the Third Carnatic War extended to Bengal, where, just before the Battle of Plassey in 1757, British soldiers took control of the French colony of Chandernagore (now Chandannagar). The loss of Chandernagore shattered French authority in Bengal. Bussy had been unable to march from the Deccan to its aid due to circumstances. Shortly afterwards, during the Plassey conflict, a small group of Frenchmen joined Suraj-ud-Dowlah’s forces, but French authority was lost. Count de Lally’s French troops took control of the English forts of St. David and Vizianagaram in 1758. For a while, French General Lally’s procession resembled a triumphal arch. Following the fall of Fort St. David, the French acquired control of province after province.
English Reaction
The English were reduced to the holding of Madras, and if the French had been successful in their siege on this city, English dominance in the Carnatic would have vanished. Nonetheless, the French besieging strategy was weak for several reasons, and the English forces were gathered in this area. Clive had been in Bengal the entire time. But he managed to create a distraction by ordering Colonel Forde, one of his finest generals, to assault the French holdings in the Northern Circars. This demonstrated its great success. Following a nocturnal attack by Forde, Masulipatam collapsed, taking 3000 Frenchmen prisoner of war with it. At Masulipatnam, the English had also severely damaged the French navy commanded by Admiral D’Ache.
Beginning of French Failure
Upon reaching Pondichery, Count Lally made the error of removing Bussy from the subahdar’s court in the Deccan. Subahdar Salabat Jang then turned against the French, agreeing with Forde to drive them out of the Deccan and hand over to the English certain districts that the French had previously controlled. One by one, the French lost ground in India. After losing Chandernagore in Bengal, Bussy was ordered back to aid Lally in the Carnatic, which left the Northern Sarkars vulnerable to a Bengali invasion. The decline of the Sarkars and two other ancient villages, Yanam and Masulipatam, put an end to French influence in the Deccan.
Treaties that result in one side getting everything and the other side losing everything, like the Treaty of Pondichery, will never last for very long unless the party that is winning has the strength to keep the losing side completely subjugated.
Battle of Wandiwash: 1760
On January 22, 1760, the English won the pivotal battle of the Third Carnatic War at Wandiwash (or Vandavasi) in Tamil Nadu. At the Battle of Wandiwash in 1760, British commander Sir Eyre Coote decisively beat the French under the Count de Lally and captured Bussy. Pondicherry, the French capital, surrendered to the British in 1761 following Wandiwash. Lally valiantly defended Pondicherry for eight months until his surrender on January 16, 1761. The French had reached its lowest point in India with the loss of Jinji and Mahe.
All the earlier Indian wars seem small in compared to the epic fight of Wandewash because so many Europeans from both sides engaged in combat there. The result was a thorough English victory. Lally was arrested as a prisoner of war in London and sent to France, where he was imprisoned and killed in 1766.
Treaty of Paris: 1763
The Treaty of Paris, which was signed in 1763, put an end to the conflict and the Seven Year War. It gave France back control of Chandernagore and Pondichery and permitted the French to establish “factories” (trading stations) in India, although it prohibited French businessmen from running them.
French aspirations for an Indian empire were dashed when they consented to back British client states, establishing the British as the preeminent foreign force in India.
Aftermath of the Third Carnatic War
In the end, the Third Carnatic War was decisive. The French lost their political power after the war, even though the Treaty of Peace of Paris (1763) gave them back control of their enterprises in India. After that, the French limited themselves to trade and their little enclaves, just like their Portuguese and Dutch predecessors in India. The French East India Company, England’s principal European opponent in India, was eventually closed up in 1769. After the Dutch were routed in the Battle of Bidara in 1759, the English emerged as the dominant European force in the Indian subcontinent. Historians typically view the Battle of Plassey in 1757 as the pivotal moment that led to the establishment of British authority over India.
Nonetheless, it is indisputable that the British soldiers’ success against the French at Wandiwash in 1760 marked the real turning point for subcontinental power. The English East India Company had no European competitors in India after their win at Wandiwash. They were therefore prepared to seize control of the entire nation. Notably, indigenous people participated as sepoys in both armies during the Battle of Wandiwash. It gets one to reflect: the fall of India to European invaders was inevitable, regardless of which side prevailed. The indigenous rulers lacked both vision and sensitivity to the geopolitics of the time.
The Power Shift
Even though the Treaty of Paris had guaranteed the Nawab ownership of all his assets, English was now also the de facto ruler of the Carnatic. After the current nawab passed away in 1801, his domains were annexed and his heir received a pension, ending the nawab’s notional rule. Hyderabad too very entirely depended on the English, and in 1766, the Nizam granted them the Northern Sarkars in exchange for their military assistance against their powerful neighbours. The English East India Company’s military might over the other Indian governments was further bolstered by the Anglo-French rivalry, which brought large numbers of Crown troops to India. By now the tide of power in India had begun to significantly turn in favour of the English.
Reasons for British Success and French Failure
Some factors lead to the establishment of the British as the supreme foreign power in India. Some of them are discussed below.
British Naval Supremacy
The British were able to move quickly to and from India because they had complete control over the sea route. This prevented the French from having access to their supplies and let the British continue their commerce while also enabling them to obtain personnel, cash, and supplies from Bengal and Britain, as well as to conceal their soldiers’ activities and transit. The English navy played a key role in severing the maritime connection between France and the French territories in India. In contrast, the French fleet was quite inadequate, and bringing a naval force from France was often a laborious procedure.
Position in Europe
The influence of European politics on Anglo-French ties in India was evident. England held a far more advantageous position than France in Europe and was experiencing success everywhere.
Geographical Location
While France was at war, it had to pay considerably greater attention to its borders, but England’s location was relatively secure.
Attitude of Their Government
Whereas the French Home government never showed any interest in Indian matters, the English had total faith and approval from their home government. The English Company was an autonomous commercial organization with strong finances and minimal intervention from the British Government, whereas the French Company was a department of state. The French company was a state-owned entity. It was governed and regulated by the French government, which hampered its operations due to government regulations and decision-making delays. As a result, the French Company in India was forced to constantly turn to the Home government for support in all forms, both military and financial. The English company, being a private enterprise, instilled excitement and trust in the personnel. With less government supervision, the company could make quick choices as needed without waiting for clearance from the government.
The English East India Company, which was founded by the merger of many rival firms at home, was governed by a board of directors whose members were elected yearly. The company’s stockholders wielded enormous power since votes could be purchased and sold in exchange for shares.
In the French company, the monarch owned more than 60% of the stock, and its directors were chosen by the ruler from among the stockholders to carry out the decisions of two government-appointed high commissioners. Because the state guaranteed a payout to the stockholders, they had no incentive to promote the company’s growth. The fact that there was no shareholder meeting between 1725 and 1765 suggested a lack of public interest since the corporation was merely handled as a state department.
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution began in England in the early 18th century, with the introduction of new devices like the spinning Jenny, steam engine, and power loom. These devices significantly increased output in the textile, metallurgical, steam power, and agricultural industries. The industrial revolution reached other European nations late, allowing England to preserve its primacy.
Military Skills and Discipline
The British soldiers were disciplined and well-trained. British leaders were strategic thinkers who experimented with novel military techniques. Technological advancements provided the military with enough equipment. All of these combined to help small groups of English warriors beat bigger forces.
Stable Government
Britain saw effective kings and stable governance, except for the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Other European countries, such as France, saw a bloody revolution in 1789, followed by the Napoleonic Wars. Following Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, France was compelled to align itself with Britain, severely weakening its position. In the 17th century, Portugal’s empire was undermined by an 80-year conflict between the Netherlands and Spain.
Less Religious Zeal
Britain was not as keen on promoting Christianity as countries like Spain, Portugal, or the Netherlands, nor was it as fervently religious. Because of this, the subjects of its control accepted it significantly more than they did previous colonial powers.
Utilizing the Debt Market
Using the debt markets to finance its wars was one of the main and inventive reasons Britain prospered between the middle of the eighteenth and the middle of the nineteenth centuries, while other European countries collapsed.
The Bank of England, the first central bank in history, was founded to sell government debt to the money markets with the assurance of a respectable return in exchange for Britain’s defeat of competitor nations like France and Spain. This allowed Britain to invest far more in its armed forces than its competitors.
Long-Term Vision
When it came to their colonial endeavour in India, the British had a more substantial and defined goal. French attempts frequently gave the impression of being more sporadic and without a persistent dedication to creating a long-lasting colonial presence.
Financial Position
The British held a superior financial situation. Regardless of their imperialistic intentions, the British never overlooked their business interests. As a result, they always had the finances and, as a result, a solid financial position to aid them greatly in conflicts against their competitors. In contrast, the French government’s economic position in India was extremely fragile. They were sometimes unable to finish numerous plans due to a lack of funding. The French prioritized territorial ambition over business interests, leaving the French company in financial trouble.
Financial Influences on British
Bengal was conquered by the British in 1757, which enhanced their standing. Back then, Bengal was among the wealthiest and most successful regions. Bengal’s boundless supply of riches and material resources became available to the English during their possession of the region in 1757, when they launched an offensive against the French. Bengal was wealthy because of commerce and its lush terrain. Bengal was significant strategically as well. It provided the English with a solid mainland operating platform. Bengal possessed a first-rate harbour that was helpful for both trade and military supplies. The Ganges and its tributaries in Bengal gave the British the chance to safely navigate its distant regions by boat. In addition to controlling significant portions of Bengal, the British also had authority over Bombay and Madras, which were advantageous from a strategic and inland commercial perspective.
Financial Influences on French
The French, on the other hand, only established minor colonies at Pondicherry, Mahe, and Chandarnagore. The French were having serious financial problems. The Deccan and Carnatic resources available to the French, using Pondicherry as a base, were woefully insufficient.
Bengal was more prosperous than the Deccan. It could not fund Dupleix’s extravagant political ambitions or Lally’s reckless military aspirations. The French possessed a marine base and harbour at Mauritius, but it was unequipped and far away. The French seat of power was less beneficial than the English position for both military and commercial reasons. V.A. Smith commented: “Neither Alexander the Great nor Napoleon could have conquered the empire of India by beginning with Pondicherry as a base and contending with a power which held Bengal and command of the Sea.”
Conflict of Interest between Dupleix and the French Government
The French government’s policy and Dupleix’s were not coordinated. It seems that the French Government was unaware of Dupleix’s desire to build a French state in India. Above all, the French government’s decision to suddenly recall Dupleix was wrong.
Attitudes of Officials
Dupliex’s total engrossment in political intrigue resulted in apathy toward trade and wealth. His collaboration with the French Government was inadequate. Lally made the biggest mistake when he called Bussy back from Hyderabad. As a result, the French government’s power in the South was diminished.
The British were also successful because of better English generals, greater cooperation amongst English officials, and less English government meddling in Company operations. The dominance of the British camp commanders had a significant role in the English’s victory in India.
Dupleix was the sole notable figure on the French side, as opposed to the extensive group of commanders on the English side, which included Sir Eyre Coote, Major Stringer Lawrence, Robert Clive, and several more.
There is some more reason for the British victory in India. Compared to those serving the Mughal successor kingdoms, the troops serving in the Company’s army on the front lines had better nutrition and regular pay. The English Company appeared to be a more reliable creditor than the unreliable Indian kings, according to the Indian bankers who handled and moved substantial amounts of money through hundi. The English Company eventually lessened this reliance and completely reversed it by seizing control of the tax resources, which were essential for funding both commerce and more conquests.
Anglo-French Conflict in India Quiz PDF
The Anglo-French Conflict in India Quiz is provided here in PDF format so that it will be easier for the students to download it, print it out and study it. It will be more convenient to have your notes in hard copy so that you can learn even when you cannot access the internet.
Anglo-French Conflict in India Quiz
Attend this brief test given below to test your memory of the subject. Test how many answers can you recall from your study sessions.
- Battle of St. Thome was an important conflict in which of the following wars?
- 1st Carnatic War
- 2nd Carnatic War
- 1st War of Mysore
- 2nd War of Mysore
- Which was the treaty that ended the first Carnatic War?
- Treaty of Aix de Chapelle
- Treaty of Sreerangapattanam
- Treaty of Paris
- Treaty of Pondicherry
- Battle of Wandiwash was an important conflict in which of the following wars?
- 1st Carnatic War
- 3rd Carnatic War
- 1st War of Mysore
- 2nd War of Mysore
- Which was the treaty that ended the Second Carnatic War?
- Treaty of Aix de Chapelle
- Treaty of Sreerangapattanam
- Treaty of Paris
- Treaty of Pondicherry
- Which was the treaty that ended the Third Carnatic War?
- Treaty of Aix de Chapelle
- Treaty of Sreerangapattanam
- Treaty of Paris
- Treaty of Pondicherry
- Who led the British Army during the Third Carnatic War?
- Sir Eyer Coot
- Lord Lawrence
- Robert Clive
- Dupliex
- Select the correct set of British allies during the Second Carnatic War.
- Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib
- Nasir Jung and Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah
- Muzaffar Jang and Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah
- Nasir Jung and and Chanda Sahib
- Select the correct set of French allies during the Second Carnatic War.
- Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib
- Nasir Jung and Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah
- Muzaffar Jang and Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah
- Nasir Jung and and Chanda Sahib
- Which war ended French Imperial ambitions in India?
- Battle of Madras
- Battle of St. Thome
- Siege of Arcot
- Battle of Wandivash
- Which of the following events took place during the second war of Carnatic?
- Battle of Madras
- Battle of St. Thome
- Siege of Arcot
- Battle of Wandivash
Anglo-French Conflict in India Quiz Answers
The answers to the questions on Anglo-French Conflict in India provided above are given in this section. How many answers did you get right?
- 1st Carnatic War
- Treaty of Aix de Chapelle
- 3rd Carnatic War
- Treaty of Pondicherry
- Treaty of Paris
- Sir Eyer Coot
- Nasir Jung and Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah
- Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib
- Battle of Wandivash
- Siege of Arcot
Anglo-French Conflict in India Quiz: Conclusion
As a result of Anglo-French Conflict in India, all other foreign countries were vanquished. The British control was established in the Indian subcontinent. At this point, the major port towns of Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta were all under British rule. The Anglo-French Conflict in India demonstrated the Indian kings’ vulnerability and their ability to be defeated by the troops of any foreign power. No matter how little or well-trained. The significance of naval warfare in the Deccan and Carnatic regions was further highlighted by the Anglo-French conflicts.
The British and French arrived in India primarily as traders. But they soon became involved in Indian politics. Consolidating political power in the area was both of their goals. The Anglo-French rivalry in India started with the start of the Austrian War of Succession and ended with the Seven Years’ War. This mirrored the long-standing rivalry between England and France throughout their respective histories.
