Latest / The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History / The French at Pondichéry: Dupleix and the Carnatic Wars
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about the Dutch and the Portuguese in Asia, but we haven't really touched on the French. Their East India Company — the Compagnie des Indes Orientales — was founded by Jean-Baptiste Colbert under Louis XIV in 1664, but it took decades to get a real foothold. Luna: The French were late to the party, right? The Portuguese and Dutch were already well established. Lucas: Exactly. They started by trying to settle Madagascar, which was a disaster. Then in 1674, a man named François Martin — not the famous one, a different François — founded Pondichéry on the Coromandel Coast of India. That became their main base. But for decades it was just a small trading post, overshadowed by the Dutch and English. Lucas: The real turning point came in the 1740s when Joseph François Dupleix took over as governor. He had this grand vision: not just trade, but territorial empire. He saw that the Mughal Empire was weakening and that smaller Indian kingdoms were fighting for control. He figured the French could play kingmaker. Luna: So he started meddling in local politics. Lucas: Exactly. The perfect opportunity came with the Carnatic region — the area around modern Tamil Nadu. The Mughal-appointed Nawab of Arcot was struggling to keep control, and there were succession disputes. Dupleix backed one candidate, Chanda Sahib, while the British backed another, Muhammad Ali Khan Wala Jah. This kicked off what's known as the Carnatic Wars. Lucas: The first Carnatic War was basically a side show of the War of the Austrian Succession in Europe. The French and British fought each other at sea and on land. The French even captured Madras in 1746, which was a huge blow to the British. But when the war ended in 1748, they had to give it back under the Treaty of aix la chapelle. That didn't sit well with Dupleix. Luna: I bet. He must have been furious. Lucas: He was. So instead of relying on European diplomacy, he doubled down on Indian alliances. He started training Indian troops in European-style warfare — these were the sepoys. By 1749, he had a well-trained army that included both French soldiers and Indian mercenaries. He also built a network of alliances with local rulers, promising them protection and support in exchange for territory. Lucas: The second Carnatic War was really Dupleix's war. He backed Chanda Sahib as Nawab of Arcot, and together they besieged the British-supported claimant in Arcot. But the British sent a young officer named Robert Clive — yes, that Clive — to relieve the siege. Clive captured Arcot with a small force and held out for fifty-three days against a much larger Franco-Indian army. It was a huge morale boost for the British. Luna: That's the famous Siege of Arcot, right? I've heard about it. Lucas: Exactly. Clive's defense of Arcot became legendary. After that, the British went on the offensive. They defeated Chanda Sahib and eventually forced Dupleix to negotiate. The French were pushed back, and in 1754, the French government, tired of the expensive wars, recalled Dupleix to France. He died in poverty, largely ignored, despite all his ambitions. Lucas: It's a bit of a sad story. Dupleix had the vision, but the French government wasn't willing to commit the resources the British were. The British East India Company had more support from London, while the French Compagnie was mostly on its own. By the time the Seven Years' War broke out in 1756, the French were already weakened. Luna: So the third Carnatic War was just the final nail in the coffin. Lucas: Pretty much. The British captured Pondichéry in 1761 after a long siege. The French got it back in 1763 under the Treaty of Paris, but it was never the same. French India was reduced to a few small trading posts, and British dominance in India was sealed. Pondichéry remained under French control until 1954, but it was more of a cultural relic than a colonial power. Luna: It's interesting that the French tried a similar strategy to the British — using Indian allies and native troops — but they just couldn't match the British resources. Lucas: Exactly. And in a way, that pattern repeats elsewhere. The French also had colonies in the Americas, but they were always outmatched by the British. But Pondichéry left a lasting legacy — the French Quarter there still has a distinct Franco-Indian culture, with its own cuisine, architecture, and even the French language still spoken by some. Luna: Speaking of lasting legacies — you know, it's funny, we're here talking about all these European companies and empires, and the show itself is ad-free. That's something we're really proud of. We want the history to speak for itself without interruption. Lucas: Absolutely. No distracting ads. If you appreciate that approach and want to support it, you can do so at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a simple way to keep the content free and focused. Luna: Yeah, it really makes a difference. And now, back to Pondichéry — after Dupleix, did the French ever try to regain influence? Lucas: They did, but never successfully. During the American Revolutionary War, the French sent a fleet to India under Suffren, who fought the British to a standstill. But after the war, the French again gave up their gains. Napoleon even contemplated an invasion of India through Persia, but that never materialized. By the 19th century, French India was just a few tiny enclaves, like Chandernagore and Mahé. Luna: So Pondichéry became more of a symbol than a power base. Lucas: Exactly. But it's a fascinating symbol — a piece of France in India. The architecture, the boulevards, the French names — it's like a little slice of Europe that survived. And the Carnatic Wars themselves were a crucial chapter in the story of how the British came to dominate India. Without Dupleix's ambition, the British might not have had to fight as hard. Lucas: In a way, you could argue that Dupleix forced the British to become more aggressive and more imperial. Before the Carnatic Wars, the British East India Company was mostly a trading company. After, it became a military power. Dupleix showed them what was possible. Luna: So he inadvertently helped create the very empire that defeated him. Lucas: Exactly. His actions served as a blueprint for Robert Clive and others. They learned from his mistakes and built on his successes. So even though the French lost, their influence on the shape of British India was significant. Luna: That's a great point. Thanks, Lucas. I think that gives us a fresh perspective on the Carnatic Wars. Lucas: Glad you enjoyed it. There's always more to uncover.