The First Carnatic War was fought between the English and the French from 1740 to 1748. The Eighteenth century witnessed several Anglo-French rivalry and the first Carnatic war was an extension of it.

• India was one of the theatres for the Anglo-French rivalry.
• In India three Carnatic wars took place between 1740 to 1763, which began with the outbreak of Austrian war of succession and ended with the Seven years war.
• The first Carnatic war ended with the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle.

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Background of the First Carnatic War

• 1. In 1740, Austrian War of Succession broke out in Europe in which the English and the French were on the opposite sides.
  2. The French and English in India ignored the earlier Anglo-French rivalry that was happening in Europe. However with the outbreak of Austrian war of Succession in Europe, the French and English in South India triggered the combat in India.
  3. The French and the English were represented by their respective East India Companies.
  4. At that time, the French settlement in India was headquartered at Pondicherry and the English were settled at Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.

Political situation in South India:

• 1. In the Western region of Deccan, Nizam Asaf Jah of Hyderabad was completely engaged in battles with Marathas.
  2. There was no strong ruler to balance the power in the Coromandel Coast (Southeastern Coastal region of Indian subcontinent).
  3. With the decline of the empire in Hyderabad, the English began to look for opportunities in order to establish their power.

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Course of the First Carnatic War

• The English navy under Barnet captured some of the French ships in India.
• This Outraged the French and the then Governor-General of Pondicherry, Joseph Francis Dupleix sought help from the French Governor of Mauritius, La Bourdonnais.
• Admiral La Bourdonnais along with his fleet defeated the English army on their way to Coromandel Coast and seized Madras in 1746.
• The English bribed Admiral La Bourdonnais and retrieved Madras. However, Dupleix disowned this and captured back the Madras.

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Significance of the First Carnatic War

The significant event that happened during the first Carnatic War was the Battle of St.Thome. This battle was an eye opener for the Europeans as it revealed the weakness of Indian troops.

Battle of St.Thome:

• The Battle of St.Thome was fought between the French and the Nawab of Carnatic, Anwar-ud-Din.
• The English appealed to Anwar-ud-Din for help during the war. However, Dupleix pacified him by promising to surrender Madras to him after its capture.
• In 1746, when the Madras was captured, a tussle broke out between Dupleix and La Bourdonnais. Dupleix wanted to surrender Madras to the Nawab whereas La Bourdonnais wanted to restore it to English in return for ransom .
• Finally a force was sent by the Nawab to claim Madras. Thus began the Battle of St.Thome in which the huge Indian army under Mahfuz Khan was defeated by a small French army under Captain Paradise.

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Result of the First Carnatic War

• In 1748, the hostilities in Europe were terminated and thus concluded the war.
• Both the Austrian War of Succession and the First Carnatic war came to an end with the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle which was signed in October 1748.
• Terms of the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle:
  1. Madras was restored to the English East India Company
  2. The French got back their territories in North America

The First Carnatic war triggered the political ambitions of the French Governor, Dupleix. He sought to increase the French power in the southern region and it eventually led to the Second Carnatic war.

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