The Carnatic Wars (also spelled Karnatic Wars) are a series of military conflicts in the middle of the 18th century on the Indian subcontinent.

The conflicts involve numerous nominally independent rulers and their vassals, struggles for succession and territory, and include a diplomatic and military struggle between the French East India Company and the British East India Company.

They are mainly fought on the territories in India that are dominated by the Nizam of Hyderabad up to the Godavari delta.

As a result of these military contests, the British East India Company establishes its dominance among the European trading companies within India.

The French company is pushed to a corner and is confined primarily to Pondicherry.

The British company's dominance eventually leads to control by the United Kingdom over most of India and the establishment of the British Raj.In the 18th century the coastal Carnatic region is a dependency of Hyderabad.

Three Carnatic Wars are fought between 1744 and 1763.