The Carnatic Wars (1746-1763)
The Carnatic Wars were a series of military conflicts in the Indian subcontinent during the mid-18th century, fought between the British East India Company and the French East India Company, along with their respective Indian allies.
- First Carnatic War (1746-1748)
- Triggered by the War of Austrian Succession in Europe.
- Major Battle: Battle of Madras.
- Ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, with captured territories restored.
- Second Carnatic War (1749-1754)
- Result of a succession dispute in the Carnatic region and the Deccan.
- Key Figures: Robert Clive for the British and Dupleix for the French.
- Major Battles: Battle of Arcot and Siege of Trichinopoly.
- Ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry in 1754, favoring British political influence.
- Third Carnatic War (1756-1763)
- Part of the global Seven Years' War.
- Major Battles: Battle of Wandiwash, where the British decisively defeated the French.
- Ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which marked the end of French political power in India.
Conquest of Bengal
- Battle of Plassey (1757)
- Key Figures: Robert Clive and Siraj-ud-Daulah.
- Clive's victory laid the foundation for British control over Bengal.
- Battle of Buxar (1764)
- Fought between the British East India Company and the combined forces of the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, Nawab of Bengal Mir Qasim, and Nawab of Awadh Shuja-ud-Daula.
- British victory solidified their control over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
- Treaty of Allahabad (1765)
- Granted the British East India Company the Diwani rights (revenue collection) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
Mysore and its Resistance to British Expansion
Mysore under Hyder Ali and later his son Tipu Sultan was one of the staunchest resistances against British expansion in India.
- First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-1769)
- Fought between Hyder Ali and the British.
- Ended with the Treaty of Madras, restoring the status quo.
- Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-1784)
- Major Battles: Battle of Pollilur, Battle of Porto Novo.
- Ended with the Treaty of Mangalore, which restored territories to the pre-war status.
- Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-1792)
- Key Figures: Tipu Sultan and Lord Cornwallis.
- Ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam, where Tipu Sultan ceded half of his territories.
- Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)
- Marked the end of Tipu Sultan and the fall of Mysore.
- Resulted in the establishment of British control over Mysore.
The Three Anglo-Maratha Wars
- First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782)
- Triggered by the British supporting a claimant to the Peshwa’s throne.
- Ended with the Treaty of Salbai, maintaining the status quo.
- Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805)
- Resulted from internal conflicts within the Maratha Confederacy.
- British victories in key battles like Assaye and Argaon.
- Led to significant territorial gains for the British.
- Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818)
- Marked the end of the Maratha Empire.
- Led to British dominance over most of India.
Early Structure of the British Raj: Regulating and Pitt’s India Acts
Regulating Act of 1773
- First step by the British Parliament to control the East India Company's administration in India.
- Established the position of Governor-General of Bengal (first holder: Warren Hastings).
- Created a council to assist the Governor-General.
- Set up a Supreme Court in Calcutta.
Pitt's India Act of 1784
- Named after British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger.
- Established a Board of Control in Britain to oversee the East India Company’s affairs.
- Introduced a dual system of governance with the Company retaining control over commercial functions, while the British government assumed political oversight.
- Strengthened the role of the Governor-General.
