Later Mughals, European Advent & Regional States

Overview


18th Century Transition Overview	Decline of central Mughal authority (post-1707) created power vacuum filled by regional successor states and European mercantile companies. EIC emerged victorious after defeating both Indian rivals and European competitors.

1. The Later Mughals: Chronology & Key Titles


Bahadur Shah I (1707–12)	Known as "Shah-i-Bekhabar". Attempted reconciliation with Sikhs/Marathas.
Jahandar Shah (1712–13)	Introduced Izara (Revenue farming) and abolished Jizya.
Farrukhsiyar (1713–19)	Issued 1717 Farman (Magna Carta of Company). Controlled by Sayyid Brothers.
Muhammad Shah (1719–48)	Known as "Rangeela". Witnessed invasion of Nadir Shah (1739) and independence of Hyderabad.
Shah Alam II & Bahadur Shah II	Shah Alam II (1759–1806): Participated in Battle of Buxar (1764). Bahadur Shah II (1837–57): Last Mughal; exiled to Rangoon after 1857 Revolt.

2. The Later Mughals: External Shocks


Nadir Shah (1739)	Defeated Mughals at Battle of Karnal. Looted Peacock Throne and Kohinoor.
Ahmad Shah Abdali	Invaded eight times. Defeated Marathas in Third Battle of Panipat (1761), ending Maratha all-India dreams.

3. Advent of Europeans: Chronology & First Factories


Arrival Order	Portuguese (P) → Dutch (D) → English (E) → Danish (Da) → French (F).
Portuguese Governors & Cartaze	Vasco da Gama arrived Calicut 1498 (welcomed by Zamorin). Francisco de Almeida: Blue Water Policy. Alfonso de Albuquerque: Real founder, captured Goa (1510) from Bijapur. Nino da Cunha shifted capital to Goa (1530). Cartaze System: Naval trade license.
Dutch, Danish & French	Dutch (1602): 1st factory Masulipatam (1605), defeated at Battle of Bedara (1759). Danish (1616): HQ Serampore. French (1664): 1st factory Surat (1668), Pondicherry HQ (Francois Martin).
English East India Company	1st factory Surat (1613). Golden Farman (Golconda, 1632). Fort St. George (Madras, 1639 by Francis Day). Fort William (Calcutta, 1690/1700 by Job Charnock). Farrukhsiyar Farman (1717).

4. Anglo-French Rivalry: The Carnatic Wars (1744–1763)


First Carnatic War (1746–48)	Battle of St. Thome; ended with Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Dupleix introduced Subsidiary Alliance concept.
Second Carnatic War (1749–54)	Battle of Ambur; ended with Treaty of Pondicherry.
Third Carnatic War (1758–63)	Battle of Wandiwash (1760): British (Eyre Coote) defeated French (Lally). Treaty of Paris (1763).

5. Regional Successor & Rebel States


Successor States (Hyderabad, Bengal, Awadh)	Hyderabad (1724): Nizam-ul-Mulk. Bengal: Murshid Quli Khan. Awadh: Saadat Khan (Burhan-ul-Mulk).
Rebel States (Sikhs, Marathas, Jats, Mysore)	Marathas expanded under Peshwas. Sikhs unified by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Sukerchakia Misl, Treaty of Amritsar 1809). Jats (Bharatpur): Suraj Mal. Mysore: Haider Ali & Tipu Sultan.

UPSC High-Yield Recall & Exam Traps


European Arrival Sequence	P-D-E-Da-F (Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danish, French).
First Factories Comparison	British (Surat), French (Surat), Portuguese (Calicut/Cochin), Dutch (Masulipatam).
Albuquerque Goa Capture	Captured Goa from Sultan of Bijapur (not Mughals).
Wandiwash Significance (1760)	Established British supremacy over French in India.
Ranjit Singh Misl	Belonged to Sukerchakia Misl.