92.17.122.162 at 06:27, 20 April 2022

2022-04-20T06:27:56Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox noble
| name = Chanda Sahib
| birth_date =
| death_date = 12 June 1752
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = [[Mughal Empire]]
| branch = [[Nawab of the Carnatic]]<br>
* [[Tinnevelly|Nawab of Tinnevelly]]
* [[Thanjavur|Nawab of Tanjore]]
| rank = [[Sepoy]], [[Divan]], [[Faujdar]], [[Ispahsalar]], [[Subedar]], [[Nawab]]
| battles = [[Mughal-Maratha Wars]], [[Carnatic Wars]], [[Seven Years' War]]
}}
| religion = [[Sunni Islam]]
}}

[[File:WAR ELEPHANTS CHARGE THE GATES OF THE FORT AT ARCOT..gif|thumb|[[Siege of Arcot]] was a major battle fought between [[Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive|Robert Clive]] and the combined forces of the [[Mughal Empire]]'s [[Nawab of the Carnatic]], Chanda Sahib, assisted by a small number of troops from the [[French East India Company]].]]

'''Chanda Sahib''' (died 12 June 1752) was a subject of the [[Mughal Empire]] and the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]] between 1749 and 1752. Initially he was supported by the [[Joseph François Dupleix|French]] during the [[Carnatic Wars]]. After his defeat at [[Arcot]] in 1751, he was captured by the [[Thanjavur_Marathas|Marathas of Thanjavur]] and executed.

He was the son-in-law of the Nawab of Carnatic [[Dost Ali Khan]],<ref name=Naravane>{{Cite book |last=Naravane |first=M.S. |title=Battles of the Honourable East India Company |publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation |year=2014 |isbn=9788131300343 |pages=151, 154–158}}</ref> under whom he worked as a [[Dewan]].

Chanda Sahib, an ally of the [[France|French]], annexed the [[Madurai Nayaks]] and was declared the "[[Nawab]]", bringing [[Thanjavur|Tanjore]] and [[Tinnevelly]] into the dominions of the Mughal Empire.

He was weakened by constant [[Maratha]] attacks and was defeated by [[Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah]]. After his forces were defeated by [[Robert Clive]] and the [[Maratha Empire]], he attempted to recoup his losses but was beheaded in a mutiny by [[Hindu]] subjects in the Tanjore army.<ref>Brittlebank, p. 22</ref><ref>Dodwell, H. H. (ed), Cambridge History of India, Vol. v.</ref>

==Early life==
His birth name was Husayn Dost Khan.

Chanda Sahib sought the investiture of the Mughal Emperor [[Ahmad Shah Bahadur]] by declaring himself "[[Tinnevelly|Nawab of Tinnevelly]]" and gathered his own army of 3500 men and even received 400 French infantry from [[Joseph François Dupleix|Dupleix]].

==Subduing Madurai==
{{See also|Madurai Nayaks}}

Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha died in 1731, and was succeeded by his widow [[Meenakshi (Nayak queen)|Meenakshi]], who acted as Queen-Regent on behalf of a young boy she had adopted as the heir of her dead husband. She had only ruled a year or two when an insurrection was raised against her by [[Vangaru Thirumala]], the father of her adopted son, who pretended to have claims of his own to the throne of [[Madurai]]. At this juncture representatives of the Mughals appeared on the scene and took an important part in the struggle.

Since 1693, Madurai nominally had been the feudatory of the emperor of [[Delhi]], and since 1698 the Carnatic region north of the [[Kollidam River|Coleroon]] (Kollidam) river had been under direct Muslim rule. The local representative of the Mughal was the [[Nawab of Arcot]], [[Dost Ali Khan]] and an intermediate authority was held by the [[Nizam]] of [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], who was in theory both a subordinate of the emperor, and the superior of the [[Nawab]].

How regularly the kings of [[Thanjavur|Tanjore]] and [[Madurai]] paid their tribute is not clear, but in 1734 — about the time, in fact, that Meenakshi and Vangaru Tirumala were fighting for the crown — an expedition was sent by the then Nawab of [[Arcot, Vellore|Arcot]] to exact tribute and submission from the kingdoms of the south. The leaders of this expedition were the Nawab Dost Ali khan's son, Safdar Ali Khan, and his nephew and confidential adviser, the well-known Chanda Sahib.

The invaders took Tanjore by storm and, leaving the stronghold of [[Tiruchirappalli|Trichinopoly]] untouched, swept across [[Madurai]] and [[Tirunelveli|Tinnevelly]] and into [[Travancore]]. On their return from this expedition they took part in the quarrel between [[Meenakshi (Nayak queen)|Meenakshi]] and Vangaru Tirumala. The latter approached [[Safdar Ali Khan]] with an offer of 30,000 [[gold]] and [[silver]] coins if he would oust the [[Meenakshi (Nayak queen)|Meenakshi]] in favour of himself. Unwilling to attack Trichinopoly, the Muslim prince contented himself with solemnly declaring Vangaru Tirumala to be king and took 30,000 [[gold]] and [[silver]] coins. He then marched away, leaving Chanda Sahib to enforce his award as best he could. [[Meenakshi (Nayak queen)|Meenakshi]], was immediately alarmed at the turn affairs now had taken, had little difficulty in persuading that facile politician to accept her tribute of 100,000 [[silver]] and [[gold]] coins and declared her duly entitled to the throne.

[[Meenakshi (Nayak queen)|Meenakshi]] required Chanda Sahib to swear on the [[Quran]] that he would adhere faithfully to his engagement. He was honorably admitted into the Trichinopoly fort and Vangaru Tirumala — apparently with the good will of the queen, who, did not seem to have wished him any harm and allowed him to venture into [[Madurai]], to rule over that region and Tinnevelly.

==Career==
[[File:SouthIndiaBetweenCarnaticWars.jpg|thumb|A map of the [[Carnatic region|Carnatic]] containing the territory of [[Thanjavur|Tanjore]] ruled by the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]], Chanda Sahib.]]

Chanda Sahib accepted a large tributes for protection and departed to [[Arcot, Vellore|Arcot]]. Two years later 1736 he returned, again was admitted into the [[Tiruchirappalli|Trichinopoly]] fort, and proceeded to instate himself the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]] and received recognition by the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Ahmad Shah Bahadur]].

Chanda Sahib eventually marched against Vangaru Tirumala, who still was ruling in the south, defeated him at Ammaya Nayakkanur and [[Dindigul]], drove him to take refuge in [[Sivaganga]], and occupied the southern provinces of the [[Madurai Nayak]].

For a time, Chanda Sahib had his own way. His success was regarded with suspicion and even hostility by the [[Nawab of Arcot]]. But family loyalties prevented a rupture and Chanda Sahib was left undisturbed, while he strengthened the fortifications of Trichinopoly and appointed his two brothers as governors of the strongholds of Dindigul and [[Madurai]]. It was at this period that he subjugated the king of Tanjore, although he did not annex his territory, and he compelled them to cede [[Karaikal]] to the French. On 14 February 1739, Karaikal became a French colony.

===Maratha interlude (1740—1743)===

Unable to help themselves against the Europeans and the subjects of the Great Mogul, the king of [[Thanjavur|Tanjore]] and Vangaru Tirumala called for the assistance of the [[Marathas]] of [[Satara (city)|Satara]] in [[Maharashtra]].

These Maratha of the Carnatic had their own grievance against the Muslims of [[Arcot, Vellore|Arcot]], with whom Chanda Sahib still was identified, because of long-delayed payment of the ''chouth'', or one-fourth of their revenues, which they had promised in return for the withdrawal of the Marathas from their country and the discontinuation of their incursions. These Marathas of [[Tanjore]] also were encouraged to attempt reprisals by the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]], who — jealous of the increasing power of the Nawab and careless of the loyalty due to co-religionists — gladly would have seen his dangerous subordinate brought to the ground.

Early in 1740, therefore, the Marathas appeared in the south with a vast army, and defeated and killed the [[Nawab of Arcot]] ([[Dost Ali Khan]]) in the pass of [[Damalcheruvu]], now in [[Chittoor district]]. Then they came to an understanding with his son, the [[Safdar Ali Khan]], recognised him as Nawab, in return, Khan accepted Maratha suzerainty and undertook to pay Marathas, an indemnity of 40 lakh rupees and a regular [[Chauth]].<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UkDi6rVbckoC&q=baji+peshwa+rao+nasir+jang&pg=PA100 |title = Advance Study in the History of Modern India (Volume-1: 1707-1803)|isbn = 9788189093068|last1 = Chhabra|first1 = G. S.|year = 2005}}</ref>

With the [[Nawab of Arcot]] greatly weakened and Chanda Sahib was captured and imprisoned by the [[Marathas]] in the [[Siege of Trichinopoly (1741)|siege of Tiruchirappalli (1741)]] led by general [[Raghuji Bhonsle]] under the orders of [[Chhattrapati Shahu]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ramaswami|first=N. S.|title=Political history of Carnatic under the Nawabs|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=1984|isbn= 978-0-8364-1262-8|pages=43–79}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Tony Jaques|title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: F-O|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dh6jydKXikoC |year=2007 |publisher=Greenwood|isbn=978-0-313-33538-9 |pages=1034–1035}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Subramanian|first=K. R.|title=The Maratha Rajas of Tanjore|year=1928|publisher=K. R. Subramanian|place=Madras |page=52–53}}</ref>

In 1741, the [[Travancore-Dutch War]] had broken out, during the course of the conflict it was the policy of the subjects of the [[Great Mogul]] to support European mercantile presence in the Indian subcontinent.

==Nawab of the Carnatic==

===The Second Carnatic War (1749-1754)===
{{Main|Second Carnatic War}}
After the death of the [[Nizam]] of [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], a civil war for succession broke out in south between [[Nasir Jung]] and [[Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat|Muzaffar Jung]]. Also, Chanda Sahib began to conspire against the Nawab [[Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan]] in [[Carnatic region|Carnatic]]. This led to the Second Carnatic War.

===Defeat at Arcot===
{{main|Battle of Arcot}}

[[File:Clive at the siege of Arcot (1751).jpg|thumb|300px|Clive at the siege of Arcot (1751)]]

In 1751, there was an ongoing scuffle between [[Mohamed Ali Khan Walajan]], (who was the son of the previous [[Nawab of Arcot]], [[Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan]] and hence the rightful claimant) and Chanda Sahib. [[Joseph François Dupleix|Dupleix]] sided with Chanda sahib and [[Muzaffar Jung]] to bring them into power in their respective states. But soon the English intervened. To offset the French influence, they began supporting [[Nasir Jung]] and [[Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah]]. Chanda Sahib initially succeeded and became the Nawab, forcing [[Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah]] to escape to the rock-fort in [[Tiruchirappalli|Tiruchirapalli]].

===Defeat at Trichinopoly===

Chanda Sahib followed and with the help of the French, led the [[Siege of Trichinopoly (1751-1752)|siege of Tiruchirappalli (1751–1752)]]. [[Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah]] and the [[England|English]] force supporting him were in a grim position. A small English force of 300 soldiers made a diversionary attack on [[Arcot, Vellore|Arcot]] to draw away Chanda Sahib's army from Trichy. Chanda Sahib dispatched a 10,000 strong force under his son [[Raza Sahib]] to retake Arcot. Raza Sahib was aided by the [[Nellore]] Army and [[Muhammed Yusuf Khan]] as a [[Subedar]] may have been in this force. There he was defeated by English forces, that mostly enlisted Indians.

==Death==
{{See also|Muhammed Yusuf Khan}}
At [[Arcot, Vellore|Arcot]], and later at Kaveripakkam (Tirukattupalli/koviladi), Chanda Sahib's son was defeated and later killed by the British.

Following this Chanda Sahib escaped to what was probably his hometown at [[Thanjavur|Tanjore]], only to be captured by the "Maratha army of Tanjore". He was beheaded by the Maratha Tanjore [[Raja]] named [[Pratap Singh of Thanjavur]].

The English quickly installed [[Mohamed Ali Khan Walajan|Muhammed Ali]] as the [[Nawab of Arcot]] in 1754 and most of Chanda Sahib's native forces defected to the English.

==Titles held==
{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before= [[Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan]] | title=[[De facto]] [[Nawab of Carnatic]]<br>(Recognised by the French) | after=[[Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah]] | years=1749–1752}}
{{s-end}}

==See also==
* [[Madurai Nayaks#Queen Meenakshi, Chanda Sahib, & the End of the Nayaks (1731—1736)|Madurai Nayaks]]
*[[Muhammed Yusuf Khan#In Arcot|Marudha Nayakam]]
*[[Hyder Ali]]
*[[Robert Clive]]
*[[Carnatic region]]
*[[Nawab of Carnatic]]
*[[Raza Sahib]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Articles==
*[http://www.princeofarcot.org/ Complete information about Nawabs of Arcot]
*[http://www.britishempire.co.uk/ Refer the article named ''Initial Contacts with the British'']

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahib, Chanda}}
[[Category:Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Nawabs of the Carnatic]]
[[Category:History of Puducherry]]
[[Category:French India]]
[[Category:Medieval India]]
[[Category:1752 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]

Chanda Sahib - Revision history

92.17.122.162 at 06:27, 20 April 2022