The Carnatic Wars were a series of military conflicts in the middle of the 18th century (1746- 1763) between the French East India Company and the British East India Company. The British conquest in these wars ultimately established their dominance over other European nations in India.

• The First Carnatic War (1746-1748): It was an extension of the Anglo-French war in Europe. It started when the English captured some French ships in India. Dupleix, the French Governor-General of Pondicherry, took offense and sieged Madras. However, Madras was returned to the English by the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
• The Second Carnatic War (1749-1754): After the death of Nizam-ul-Mulk in 1748, a civil war broke out for succession in Hyderabad. In this war, Chanda Sahib and Muzaffar Jung were supported by the French, while Nasir Jung and Muhammad Ali were supported by the British. Ultimately, the British troops under Robert Clive were able to capture Arcot. The war ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry (1954), which recognized Muhammad Ali as the Nawab of the Carnatic. Dupleix had to resign and return to France.
• The Third Carnatic War (1757-1763): The outbreak of the Seven Years’ War in Europe resulted in this war. The British captured the French settlement of Chandranagore in Bengal in 1757 and Madras was successfully defended by Sir Eyre Coote in the Battle of Wandiwash (1760). The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which forbade the French traders from administering their trading posts in India.

The reasons behind the success of the British and the failure of the French in India include:

• French continental preoccupation: The French, at that time, were fighting for the ‘natural frontiers’ for their own country and were simultaneously trying for continental expansion and colonial acquisition. It brought them into conflict with other European nations and strained their resources. British ambition was mainly colonial expansion and hence, they were able to succeed by focussing on this objective only.
• Systems of government: The French government was despotic and depended on the personality of the Monarch. England, on the other hand, was dominated by an enlightened oligarchy.
• Organization of the companies: The French company was a department of the State with guaranteed dividends to its shareholders. Strengthening of its financial position was neglected and was not adequate to support the expansionist policies of Dupleix. On the other hand, the English company was an independent commercial corporation and the King and the Parliament took great interest in strengthening the company. Therefore, its trade was much more extensive and it was rich enough to fight its own wars in India.
• Role of the navy: During the Austrian War of Succession, French maritime strength was greatly reduced and at a point, it was left with no warships. However, the English had a superior naval force enabling them to have communications with Europe and supply land enforcements to its forces, as well as cut France from the rest of the world in the Carnatic wars.
• Financial resources of Bengal: While the Deccan was too poor to support the political ambitions of Dupleix, Bengal was not only sending troops but also supplies to the Carnatic to support the English.
• Lack of continuity in leadership: Because of State control, the Governor-General of the French company could be recalled at any time, as was done in the case of Dupleix. The British company, on the other hand, had the continued leadership of skilled leaders like Sir Eyre Coote and Robert Clive.

Thus, the French spent resources in India for about 40 years but were not able to realize a French empire in India while the British succeeded in doing so.