The Second Carnatic War (1749–1754): TurbulentInternal Strife that empowered the colonial rivals.
After the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapplle in the first Carnatic war, the French remained upper hand in the Carnatic region. This aroused in the English a strong desire for revenge against the French, particularly in the newly promoted Company lieutenant, Robert Clive.
The Second Carnatic War arose from the internal conflict over the Nizam’s succession following the death of Asaf Jah I, between his son Nasir Jung and his grandson Muzaffar Jung. The French and the English supported rival claimants, which led to the Battle of Ambur and eventually concluded with the Treaty of Pondicherry, marking an English victory.
In 1748, the death of Asaf Jah I, the founder of the Hyderabad state, created a succession crisis.
Two rival claimants emerged:
Son- Nasir Jung, who Ruled Hyderabad between 1748-1750 as the Nizam-Ul-Mulk.
Grand Son- Muzaffar Jung
Belligerents and their supports
Nasir Jung was supported by the then Nawab of Arcot, Anwaruddin Khan. Arcot was the capital of the Carnatic Sultanate.
Muzaffar Jung allied with Chanda Saheb (son-in-law of Dost Ali, who had been killed during the First Carnatic War). But he was disliked by Anwaruddin Khan.
After escaping Maratha captivity, in Siege of Trichinopoly in 1749, Chanda Saheb aimed to become Nawab of Arcot by overthrowing Anwaruddin Khan.
French Involvement
The French Governor-General, Joseph François Dupleix, saw an opportunity to expand French influence.
He supported the alliance of Muzaffar Jung and Chanda Saheb, providing French troops and sepoys (Indian soldiers).
second carnatic war
Battle of Ambur (3 August 1749) – the flashpoint of Second Carnatic War
Location: Near Vellore.
Allies: French forces + French Indian sepoys + Muzaffar Jung + Chanda Saheb.
Opponents: Army of Nasir Jung and Anwaruddin Khan.
Outcome: The combined Franco-Indian forces defeated Nasir Jung and Anwaruddin Khan.
This marked a major turning point in the Second Carnatic War.
Outcome of the Battle of Ambur
The Nawab of Arcot, Anwaruddin Khan, was killed in the battle by Chanda Saheb.
His son, Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah, briefly succeeded him as Nawab of Arcot, however after his father’s death, Muhammad Ali fled to Trichinopoly. He was besieged there by Chanda Saheb, who sought to consolidate power, following the Seige of Trichinopolly by him in 1749-50.
In Hyderabad, Nasir Jung was killed in 1750, ending his claim to the “Nizamship”.
With French support: Muzaffar Jung became the Nawab of Hyderabad / Viceroy of the Deccan. Chanda Saheb was installed as the Nawab of Arcot (in 1750).
This followed the way to the second carnatic war.
Rewards to the French
As part of their alliance, both rulers heavily rewarded the French Governor-General Dupleix:
Chanda Saheb granted 80 villages around Pondicherry.
Muzaffar Jung gave:
Territories near Pondicherry and the important port-town of Masulipatam.
₹5,00,000 to the French East India Company.
An additional ₹5,00,000 to French troops.
Dupleix personally received ₹2,00,000 and a jagir worth ₹1,00,000 per year.
Expansion of French Influence
He stationed his officer, DeBussy, in Hyderabad with a French army, ensuring French control through a form of Subsidiary Alliance of 1740 of Dupleix (a system which later formalized by East India Company’s Governor General of Bengal Wellesley in 1798).
Dupleix was made honorary governor of the Mughal dominions on the East Coast, stretching from the River Cauvery to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) — essentially the Coromandel Coast.
In 1751, Muzaffar Jung died in an accident during the Battle of Lakkireddipalli Pass. He was killed in a clash against the Afghan Nawabs, particularly the Nawab of Kurnool. The conflict arose due to partiality in granting honors and dissatisfaction among Afghan chiefs.
Following Muzaffar Jung’s death, the French commander De Bussy acted swiftly. He installed Salabat Jung, the third son of Asaf Jah I, as the Nawab (Subahdar, after Subsidiary Alliance) of the Deccan. This ensured that French influence in Hyderabad remained intact despite Muzaffar Jung’s sudden death.
In return, Salabat Jung rewarded De Bussy with extensive territories and revenue rights. These rewards included: The Northern Circars (a coastal strip of Andhra Pradesh). Some regions of the Orissa Coast.Specifically, four districts were granted: Mustafanagar, Ellore, Rajahmundry & Chicacole.
De Bussy was also given a masabdar (jagir) worth ₹7,000 annually.
The second carnatic war
The Entry of the English
The Rise of Robert Clive
In 1750, Robert Clive, who had earlier served as a clerk in the East India Company and was now a lieutenant after his role in the First Carnatic War, found himself unable to defend Muhammad Ali Wallajah at Trichinopoly. To counter this, he proposed to the British East India Company’s Governor of Madras, Thomas Saunders, a bold plan to strike at Arcot rather than directly confronting the Franco-Indian forces at Trichinopolly, against the governor’s plan to attact the French Company.
Clive aimed to force Chanda Saheb to abandon his siege of Trichinopoly, where Muhammad Ali Wallajah was trapped.
For which, he devised a diversionary attack on Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic.
While Chanda was away at Trichinopolly, he, with only 200 English soldiers and 300 Indian sepoys, marched on Arcot on 29 August 1751.
Surprised and confused by the sudden attack, Chanda Saheb’s garrison abandoned the fort without resistance.
The Company’s troop occupied Arcot without firing a single shot.
Failed counter-attack by Chanda Saheb
Enraged, Chanda Saheb dispatched his son Raza Sahib with 4,000 Indian troops and 150 French soldiers to retake Arcot.
The fort was besieged from 23 September to 14 November 1751 (53 days).
Despite being heavily outnumbered, Clive’s small troops held the fort.
The defence of Arcot became legendary, enhancing Clive’s reputation and boosting English prestige in the Carnatic. A signficant event of second carnatic war.
Turning the Tide at Trichinopoly and the culmination of Second Carnatic War
The Battle of Trichinopoly (1751)
Meanwhile, at Trichinopoly, English forces under Stringer Lawrence and Clive, aided by the rulers of Mysore, Tanjore, and the Marathas under Murari Rao, managed to relieve the siege.
Muhammad Ali Wallajah was freed and restored as the Nawab of Arcot later.
Chanda Saheb was captured and imprisoned at Srirangam.
He later escaped to Tanjore, but was seized by the Maratha ruler, Pratap Singh of Tanjore, and executed (beheaded) on 12 June 1752.
Raza Saheb, son of Chanda Saheb, led French-supported troops to recapture Arcot.
He was defeated and killed by British forces aided by the Maratha army under Murari Rao.
The Marathas assured support to Robert Clive during the Siege of Arcot, ensuring English success.
The English East India Company (EIC) firmly established control over Arcot.
They installed Muhammad Ali Wallajah as the Nawab of Arcot.
Salabat Jung (younger son of Asaf Jah I) was recognized as the Nizam of Hyderabad, but he conceded authority to the British.
Treaty of Pondicherry (1754)- The conclusion of Second Carnatic war
The war formally ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry in 1754.
The victory at Arcot gave the English an upper hand over the French.
Robert Clive emerged as the new face of the Company, marking the beginning of his reputation both as a military strategist and administrator.
This success in the Carnatic paved the way for his later expedition into Bengal, which became the flashpoint of British political dominance in Indian Subcontinent.
French ambitions in India were severely weakened.
The French suffered hefty financial losses and were fearful of jeopardizing their colonial interests in America. Thus ending the second carnatic war .
Treaty Details.
The French Governor-General Joseph François Dupleix, who had masterminded French influence in the Deccan and Carnatic, was recalled to France in 1754.
He was replaced by Charles Godeheu, who pursued a policy of diplomatic negotiation with the English.
Godeheu agreed to refrain from interfering in the disputes of native rulers.
Muhammad Ali Wallajah (Nawab of Arcot) and Salabat Jung (Nizam of Hyderabad) gradually became clients/puppets of the British, marking the rise of indirect rule.
Though diplomatic calm prevailed briefly, rivalry remained unresolved. The fragile peace broke down, leading to the Third Carnatic War (1756–1763), which ultimately decided the fate of French power in India.