Battle of Adyar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Adyar |
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| Part of Carnatic Wars First Carnatic War |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Anwaruddin Khan Mahfuz Khan |
 Louis Paradis |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| 10,000 infantry and cavalry | 350 French soldiers 700 French-trained Indian Sepoys |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 300 | 2 Sepoys killed | ||||||||
The Battle of Adyar happened on October 24, 1746. It was also called the Battle of Adyar River. This fight was between the French East India Company and the army of the Nawab of Arcot. They were fighting over Fort St. George, which the French controlled. This battle was an important part of the First Carnatic War between the French and the British.
Why the Battle Happened
The French had taken Fort St. George from the British East Indian Company. The Nawab of Arcot, named Anwaruddin Khan, was a friend of the British. He wanted to get the fort back. So, he sent his son, Mahfuz Khan, with a large army to Madras.
Mahfuz Khan had about 10,000 soldiers. The French forces scattered his army, making him move south. Khan then took control of San Thomé. On October 22, he set up his army along the north side of the Adyar River. His goal was to stop the French from bringing more soldiers from Pondicherry.
The Battle
Major Louis Paradis, a Swiss officer, led about 350 French soldiers and 700 Indian soldiers called Sepoys. These Sepoys were trained by the French. They marched from Pondicherry, crossed Quibble Island, and took positions on the south side of the Adyar River. Mahfuz Khan's army fired cannons at them, but it didn't do much damage.
On October 24, Paradis learned that another French army, led by de la Tour, was coming from Fort St. George. Paradis decided to cross the Adayar river and attack Mahfuz Khan's army from behind. De la Tour's army arrived too late to help Paradis.
But Paradis's soldiers were well-trained. They fired their weapons in an organized way and then charged with bayonets. This broke the Nawab's battle line. Mahfuz Khan's troops ran away. The Battle of the Adyar River started in the morning of October 24, 1746, and ended that evening. The French kept control of Fort St. George.
What Made This Battle Important
The Battle of Adyar was one of the first times that European military power showed how strong it was in India. It proved that even a very large army with many cavalry (soldiers on horseback) couldn't beat a smaller, well-trained army with good weapons.
The French soldiers used flintlock muskets and cannons that could move easily. About 1,000 French defenders were able to defeat 10,000 Mughal soldiers. This battle showed how important modern weapons and disciplined fighting were.
After this battle, the French were very strong in Madras. The French and British continued to fight over French-controlled Pondicherry and British-held Fort St. David. Neither side gained new land for a while. In 1748, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle was signed. As a result, the French gave Madras back to the British. In return, the French got Louisbourg back.
