The Carnatic Wars were a series of military conflicts in the 18th century, primarily fought between the British East India Company and the French East India Company in the region of Carnatic, located in southern India. These wars were influenced by the larger struggle for colonial dominance in India and involved local rulers and various Indian states. The three main conflicts, known as the First, Second, and Third Carnatic Wars, occurred between 1746 and 1763. The wars resulted in British supremacy in southern India, leading to the eventual establishment of British colonial rule over much of the subcontinent. Key battles included the Battle of Plassey and the Battle of Wandiwash.