Anglo-French

Published on 01 Oct 2025

Carnatic Wars

The Carnatic Wars were a series of conflicts that unfolded in the 18th century on the Indian subcontinent, primarily in the Carnatic region between the British and French East India Companies along with different Indian princely states.

Causes of  Carnatic Wars

• Impact of Global Conflicts: Wars between European powers in other parts of the world, like The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) and the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), had repercussions in India.

• Struggle for Dominance: The Carnatic Wars were not just about trade or military control but also about expanding political influence

• Trade interests: The Carnatic region was economically significant due to its trade in textiles, spices, and other valuable goods. 

• Strategic Alliances: To strengthen their positions, the British and the French forged alliances with regional leaders, which complicated the rivalry

Outcome of Carnatic Wars

• Reinforced Colonial might: It showed that a fairly less numerous but disciplined European army could easily defeat a large Indian Army.

• Example: Mahfuz Khan's formidable Indian army was routed by a small French force led by Captain Paradise

• Established British supremacy: Carnatic wars left the British completely devoid of a rival. The fall of Bengal in the Battle of Plassey (1757) before this increased the confidence of the British.

• Modernization of Warfare: It used superior military artillery and led to the modernisation of military technologies.

• Territorial Gains: The British secured significant territories, which established their supremacy in the subcontinent.

• Local alliance: The fragmented political situation in India was utilised by the British and French to pit one against the other to safeguard their political interests.

• Example: The alliance with the contestants to the throne from Carnatic and Hyderabad in the Second Carnatic War.

• Proxy Warfare in Indian Soil: The Carnatic War was an extension of the Seven Years' War and Austrian Succession strifes in Europe. The effect of this led the French EIC to ruin primarily due to its bad financial position both in India and in Homeland.

French EIC vs British EIC

Tags:
History & Culture

Keywords:
Anglo French British East India Company Carnatic Wars Causes of Carnatic Wars War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War Outcome of Carnatic Wars Mahfuz Khan Battle of Plassey British supremacy French EIC vs British EIC

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 1

Topics:
Modern Indian History