fleet made its appearance off the coast at Karaikal. The Thanjavur troops supported by a small English contingent harassed the French who eventually succumbed to starvation. The British inflicted a crshing defeat on the French in the siege of Puducherry in 1761. This dealt a death-blow to the French power in India. Loss of Independence From the onset, the Nawab of Carnatic Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah wasn't in good terms with Pratap Singh and desired to annex Thanjavur. However, for the sake of their common interests, Pratap Singh maintained an uneasy alliance with Muhammad Ali. Matters reached a boiling point after the Seven Years' War. The Carnatic Sultanate was getting ready for plans to attack the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom. However, their common ally, the British East India Company, averted a crisis by stepping in to mediate a truce in 1762. The Raja agreed to pay twenty lakhs as arrears and an annual tribute of four lakhs to the Nawab of Carnatic. In return, Coiladdy and Yelengadu were ceded to Thanjavur. Notwithstanding allegations of partiality on part of the British, this treaty practically ended Thanjavur's independence. Border disputes with Ramnad There were frequent border disputes with the state of Ramnad on the Aranthangi frontier. Actively supported by the Tondaiman of Pudukkottai, Manoji once led a large army into the territory of the Sethupathy of Ramnad and even captured Aranthangi. The Nawab of Carnatic who was the actual overlord to whom Thanjavur paid tribute, stepped in and stopped the Raja from pursuing further hostilities. Death Pratapsinha died on 16 December 1763 after reigning for 24 years. His third and fifth queens committed Sati. He was succeeded by his eldest son Thuljaji. See also Bhonsle Maratha Empire List of Maratha dynasties and states Thanjavur Maratha kingdom Seven Years' War Nawab of Carnatic Notes References K. R. Subramanian(1928). The Maratha Rajas of Tanjore 1763 deaths Maharajas of Thanjavur Year of birth unknown