Question

Write a short note on 2nd Carnatic war.​

Answer 1

Answer:

Second Carnatic War, 1749-54. 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 war was triggered by a succession struggle in Hyderabad

Answer 2

Explanation:

The first Carnatic War demonstrated the power of the well-trained European army vis-à-vis the less

than efficient armies of the Indian princes.

 The French Governor-General Dupleix wanted to take advantage of this, and assert influence and

authority over the Indian kingdoms, so as to make way for a French Empire in India. So, he was

looking to interfere in the internal power struggles among Indian chiefs.

 Even though England and France were officially at peace with each other as there was no fighting in 4

Europe, the political climate in Southern Indian at that time led their companies to fight in the

subcontinent.

 The Nizam of Hyderabad, Asaf Jah I died in 1748 starting a power struggle between his grandson

(through his daughter) Muzaffar Jung, and his son Nasir Jung.

 Anwaruddin Khan, the Nawab of the Carnatic supported Nasir Jung’s claim to the throne of the

Nizam.

 This led Muzaffar Jung to instigate war with French support against Anwaruddin, called the Battle of

Ambur.

 Anwaruddin Khan had died in the Battle of Ambur in 1749.

 Now there was a tussle for the Nawabship of Carnatic between Muhammad Ali (son of Anwaruddin)

and Chanda Sahib (son-in-law of Dost Ali Khan, a former Nawab of the Carnatic).

 This led to a tripartite understanding among the various powers. This is explained in the table below:

Groups

Claimants for Nizam’s post

(Hyderabad)

Claimants for Nawab’s post

(Carnatic)

European

Support

1 Muzaffar Jung Chanda Sahib French

2 Nasir Jung Muhammad Ali English

 After Anwaruddin Khan’s death, his son Muhammad Ali fled to Trichy. Then, Chanda Sahib was

proclaimed the Nawab of the Carnatic.

 Then, French forces marched on to the Deccan and fought and killed Nasir Jung.

 Subsequently, Muzaffar Jung was installed as the Nizam of Hyderabad.

 However, Muzaffar Jung was killed a couple of months later and the French installed Salabat Jung

(another son of Asaf Jah I) as the Nizam.

 In return, the French acquired from the Nizam four rich districts on the Coromandel Coast (Northern

Sircars).

 At this time, Trichy was under the control of Chanda Sahib and the French. But the Trichy Fort was

held by Muhammad Ali.

 To undermine the growing French power in the region, the English decided to support Muhammad

Ali.

 Robert Clive (later Governor of Bengal) attacked Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic, as a divisionary

tactic. This is called the Siege of Arcot, in which the British won.

 After this many battles were fought and Chanda Sahib was killed in one of them.

 Thus, Muhammad Ali was installed as the Nawab of the Carnatic.

Although the French gained the Northern Sircars, Dupleix was criticised by the French authorities

because of heavy losses to the French company.

 Dupleix was called back to France. He was replaced by Charles-Robert Godeheu who signed the

Treaty of Pondicherry.

 As per the treaty, the English and the French were to indulge only in commercial activities in India

and not interfere in sub-continental political affairs.