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24 abject poverty and broken-hearted a few years afterwards.

Probably neither the English nor the French authorities cared much about the alleged rights of either of the claimants of the Nizámat, but were bent only on supporting the one who would be likely to advance their own interests. In any case, the contested sovereignty was an authority usurped from the Great Mughal, while the Arcot Nawáb was really only a deputy, removable at pleasure by the Nizám. Dupleix favoured Chandá Sáhib. This chief was under obligations to him for hospitality shown to his family at Pondicherry and for his release from imprisonment by the Maráthás, but Dupleix' support of Chandá Sáhib and his advocacy of the pretensions of Muzaffar Jang were prompted only by his astute policy, which sought any available counterpoise to British influence. On the other hand, the English at Madras allied themselves with Násir Jang and his representative Muhammad Alí (whose father Anwar-ud-dín had been killed at Ambúr fighting against the French), for precisely similar reasons, that is, to foil Dupleix in his designs.

In the first encounter which ensued between the opposing forces, Násir Jang was victorious (partly owing to a mutiny among the French troops), Muzaffar Jang being taken prisoner, while Chandá Sáhib fled to Pondicherry. Násir Jang then retired to Arcot ,