Anglo-French struggle for supremacy
English and French Companies were
inevitably drawn into politics due to their trade interests. After the decline
of the Mughal central authority, Mughal viceroys of Deccan were unable to
protect trade interests of the European companies against the exactions of the
subordinate
officials or raids of the Marathas.
Hence, European companies came to the conclusion that they required to develop
their militaries to protect themselves. Both British and French companies wanted
to maximise their profits. They sought to reduce all competition and gain
monopolistic control.
First Carnatic war
Genesis of the conflict can be traced
to the Anglo-French hostility back home. Dupleix who succeeded Dumas as the
French Governor advised his British counterpart to maintain neutrality which
was not agreed to by the British. Dupleix took two simultaneous actions. He
approached
the governor of Carnatic Anwar-ul-din
for instructions to the British and also messaged the French governor of
Mauritius La Bourdonnais for reinforcements. When asked by Anwar ul din
to maintain peace the British agreed
but when Dupleix saw that reinforcements had come
under La Bourdannais from Mauritius
he decided to strike and won. He captured the British
possessions in Fort St George, Madras
and other nearby areas. The victory was soured because
of differences between Dupleix and La
Bourdannais. Peace finally came with the treaty of Aix La
Chappelle in 1748 when the British
got back Madras and the French got Louisburg in North America.
Second Carnatic war
After the death of NIzam ul mulk Asif
Jah of Hyderabad in 1748 his second son Nasir Jung and
son in law Mujaffar Jung were
fighting for succession. The son in law was helped by the French
(Dupleix) and the son by the British.
Dupleix’s party won resulting in increase in the French
possessions and a personal jagir
worth 10000 pounds annually. After Robert Clive’s arrival on
the scene the British recaptured
Arcot and established control over whole of carnatic. Dupleix
was recalled in 1754 and his
successor Godeheu signed treaty with the British undoing all that Dupleix had
achieved.
Third Carnatic war
In 1756 the seven years’ war had
started in Europe and the two sides started fighting in India as
well. Count Lally the French
Commander-in-Chief in India captured Fort St. David and recalled Bussy the
French General who had remained in Deccan after the French victory in the first
carnatic battle. After Bussy’s recall
Salabat Jung of Deccan came under British influence and the British General
Eyre Coote defeated Count Lally recapturing the lost British possessions. Normalcy
returned with the signing of the Peace of Paris (1763) signed by
representatives of
Great Britain on one side and the
United States, France, and Spain on the other.
Reasons for the defeat of French
against the British
In the struggle for supremacy between
British and French, British emerged victor after the end of the Third Carnatic
War (1758-63). Following reasons were responsible for British victory:
• French were focussed at the same
time on Continental expansion in Europe which divided their resources.
• French government was despotic,
dependent on the monarch and inferior to the English system of government.
• French East India Company was a
state department and wasn’t run as professionally as the
British East India Company, whose shareholders
always focussed on finances of the company. In contrast, shareholders were
guaranteed dividends in France and French East India Company had to be
subsidised on several occasions.
• British recognised the importance
of Bengal, the resources of which were liberally used in the third Carnatic
War. In contrast, French influence in Hyderabad did not yield them
adequate benefits. In fact, it has
been rightly said that no general could have won India by starting from
Pondicherry as a base and contending with a power which held Bengal.
• Overall, British navy were more superior.
• Count de Lally, who was sent at a critical time, was high-headed and of a violent temper. He greatly alienated his compatriots.
