Tamil Nadu Timeline

GovernanceEast India Company rule

Carnatic Nawabship abolished under the Doctrine of Lapse

· Chepauk Palace

Carnatic Nawabship abolished under the Doctrine of Lapse
Pinakpani, CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

On the death of the last Nawab, Ghulam Muhammad Ghouse Khan, the Company abolished the Carnatic Nawabship.

Ghulam Muhammad Ghouse Khan, the 12th and last Nawab of the Carnatic, reigned as a titular ruler from 1825 and died in 1855 at the age of 31 without a son. The candidature of his uncle Azim Jah was passed over, and the title was abolished by the East India Company under the Doctrine of Lapse. The Chepauk Palace, the Nawabs' residence in Madras since 1768, was auctioned to pay the Nawab's debts and bought by the Madras government. In 1867 Azim Jah was recognised by the Crown as the first Prince of Arcot, a title that continues.

Related events

  1. 1801

    1. 31 Jul 1801ChennaiGovernance

      Carnatic Treaty transfers the Carnatic to the Company

      Nawab Azim-ud-Daula signed the Carnatic Treaty, handing the civil and military administration of the Carnatic to the East India Company.

  2. 1819

    1. 2 Aug 1819Chepauk PalacePolitics

      Death of Nawab Azim-ud-Daula; Azam Jah succeeds

      Azim-ud-Daula, the Nawab of the Carnatic who had signed away his civil administration to the Company in 1801, died and was succeeded by Azam Jah.

  3. 1853

    1. 1853RoyapuramInfrastructure

      Railway construction begins at Royapuram

      Work on South India's first main railway line, from Madras towards Arcot, began at Royapuram in 1853.

  4. 1855

    1. 29 Oct 1855ThanjavurGovernance

      Thanjavur annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse

      After Raja Shivaji died without a male heir, the Company annexed the titular Maratha principality of Thanjavur.

  5. 1856

    1. 1 Jul 1856Royapuram railway stationInfrastructure

      First train in South India, Royapuram to Wallajah Road

      The Madras Railway opened South India's first railway line, from Royapuram in Madras to Wallajah Road near Arcot.

  6. 1858

    1. 1 Nov 1858ChennaiGovernance

      Crown takes over the government of India

      Following the Government of India Act 1858, a proclamation by Queen Victoria declared direct Crown rule over British India, the Madras Presidency included.

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