Nawab of the Carnatic

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Nawabs of the Carnatic (also referred to as the Nawabs of Arcot), ruled the Carnatic region of South India between about 1690 and 1801. They initially had their capital at the town of Arcot near Chennai. Their rule is an important period in the history of Tamil Nadu, in which the Mogul empire gave way to the rising influence of the European powers, eventually culminating in the British Raj.

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[edit] Carnatic

The old province known as the Carnatic, in which Madras (Chennai) was situated, extended from the Krishna river to the Coleroon and was bounded on the West by Cuddapah, Salem and Dindigul, all of which formed part of the State of Mysore. The Northern portion was known as the Mughal Carnatic, the Southern the Maharatta Carnatic with the Maharatta frontier fortress being Gingee. Carnatic, the name commonly given to the region of Southern India between the Eastern Ghats and the Coromandel Coast and the Western Ghats, extends from Palghat to Bidar and stretches from the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh in the North, to Cape Comorin at the Southern-most tip of Tamil Nadu State.

[edit] History

Mohamed Ali Khan Wallajah, (1717 - 1795)
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Mohamed Ali Khan Wallajah, (1717 - 1795)

The Nawabs of the Carnatic trace their origin back to second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab. The Nawabdom of the Carnatic was established by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who in 1692 appointed Zulfikar Ali Nawab of the Carnatic, with his seat at Arcot as a reward for his victory over the Marathas. With the Vijayanagara Empire in serious decline, the Nawabdom of the Carnatic controlled a vast territory south of the Krishna river. The Nawab Saadetullah of (1710-1732) moved his court from Gingee to Arcot. His successor Dost Au (1732-1740) conquered and annexed Madurai in 1736.

Muhammad Ali Wallajah (1749 - 1795 ) was freed from his suzerainty and made the independent ruler of the Carnatic by the Mughal emperor in 1765. His rule was long and mostly peaceful. He donated generously to Churches, Temples and Mosques. The temple at Sri Rangam was one which benefited from his generousity.

The growing influences of the English and the French and their colonial wars had a huge impact on the Carnatic. Wallajah supported the English against the French and Hyder Ali, placing him heavily in debt. As a result he had to surrender much of his territory to the East India Company.

The thirteenth Nawab, Ghulam Muhammad Ghouse Khan (1825 – 1855) died without issue and the British annexed the Carnatic Nawabdom applying the Doctrine of lapse. Ghouse Khan's uncle Azim Jah was created the first Prince of Arcot (Amir-E-Arcot) in 1867 By Queen Victoria, and was given a tax free pension in perpetuity. This privilege is continued to be honoured by the Government of India. This status is protected by the Indian Constitution and the family continues to retain its privileges and titles. The current Prince of Arcot Abdul Ali came to the title in July 1994.

[edit] List of rulers

[edit] Nawabs of the Carnatic

First Dynasty
Second Dynasty

[edit] Princes Of Arcot

  • Nawab Azim Jah (1867 - 1874)
  • Nawab Sir Zahiruddaula Bahadur (1874 - 1879)
  • Nawab Intizam Ul-Mulk Muazzaluddaula Bahadur (1879 - 1889)
  • Nawab Sir Muhammed Munawar Ali Khan Bahadur (1889 - 1903)
  • Sir Ghulam Muhammed Ali Khan Bahadur (1903 - 1952)
  • Nawab Ghulam Mohiuddin Khan Bahadur (1952 - 1969)
  • Nawab Ghulam Muhammed Abdul Khader (1969 - 1993)
  • Nawab Muhammed Abdul Ali (1994 - current)

[edit] See Also

[edit] References

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