The Anglo-French Struggle for Supremacy: the Carnatic Wars, Causes for the English Success and the French Failure.
Immediate Cause of Rebellion. Offensive and Support. Retreat and Further Conflict. Resolution and Aftermath. Role of Nur JahanEarly Life and Marriage.
Family Influence and Political Rise. Role in Governance and Administration. Cultural Contributions and Legacy. Relationship with Jahangir and Shah JahanPolitical
and Administrative Developments. Jahangir's Reign and Challenges. Nur Jahan's Influence and Succession Issues.
Haidar Ali accused the English of breach of faith and non-observance of the Treaty of Madras when in 1771 he was attacked by the Marathas, and the English failed to come to his aid.
He found that the French were much more helpful than the English in meeting his army’s requirement of guns, saltpetre and lead.
Consequently, through Mahe, a French possession on the Malabar coast, some French war material was brought to Mysore.
Meanwhile, the American war of independence had broken out in which the French were on the side of the rebels against the English.
Under the circumstances, Haidar Ali’s friendship with the French caused even more concern to the English.
They therefore tried to capture Mahe, which Haidar regarded to be under his protection.
Haidar considered the English attempt to capture Mahe a direct challenge to his authority.
Haidar forged an anti-English alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam.
He followed it up by an attack in the Carnatic, capturing Arcot, and defeating the English army under Colonel Baillie in 1781.
In the meantime, the English (under Sir Eyre Coote) detached both the Marathas and the Nizam from Haidar’s side, but the undeterred Haidar faced the English boldly only to suffer a defeat at Porto Novo in November 1781.
However, he regrouped his forces and defeated the English and captured their commander, Braithwaite.
Now his son, Tipu Sultan, carried on the war for one year without any positive outcome.
Fed up with an inconclusive war, both sides opted for peace, negotiating the Treaty of Mangalore (March, 1784) under which each party gave back the territories it had taken from the other.
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