
Last modified: 2011-06-11 by ian macdonald
Keywords: indian princely state | arcot | 
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Source: Ziggioto (1998)
See also:From Filcher (1984):
PRINCIPALITY OF ARCOT
Madras Presidency, Present-day Tamil Nadu
(no gun salute)
Area: 22 sq.km
History: Arcot, sometimes called Carnatic, is a town located in modern Tamil 
Nadu in India, near Madras (Chennai), capital city of a state ruled since 1692 
by the Nawabs of Arcot, as viceroys of the Moghul Emperors. The Nawabs of Arcot 
trace their line back to 2nd Caliph Umar bin al Khattab. Arcot was absorbed by 
the British Colonial Government in 1801, annexed by the British in 1825 and the 
state extinguished in 1855. The dynasty continues as Princes of Arcot. The 
Prince of Arcot still holds the unique position in Indian politics of being the 
only member of any royal family who is recognized as a Prince, his rank being 
that of a cabinet minister.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 13 January 2003
Joseph François Dupleix (1696-1763) was appointed Governor General of the 
French Establishments in India in 1742. He promoted the French trade in India 
and forced the Brits to lift the siege of Pondicherry in 1748. He constituted for 
France a big empire in Carnatic (now Karnataka) and on the coast of Circars (now 
Sarkârs). King Louis XV then withdrew his support to Dupleix, who had a lot of 
enemies in Paris. Back in France in 1754, Dupleix could not even be refunded the 
money he had lent to the Company of Indies. In 1763, the French possessions in 
India were ceded to the United Kingdom by the treaty of Paris, excepted the 
French Establishments in India (Etablissements français dans l'Inde): Pondichéry, 
Chandernagor, Karikal, Yanaon & Mahé. They constituted a colony, gained autonomy 
in 1939 and were reincorporated to India between 1951 and 1956.
Ivan Sache, 15 January 2003