Haidar Alî and his son, Tipû Sultan, two famous rulers of the Mysore kingdom renowned for their military prowess and resistance to British expansionism. Haidar Alî forged alliances with the French East India Company, which provided him with military aid and technology. Tipû Sultan, who succeeded his father Haidar Alî, continued his policies of modernization and military expansion. He maintained his alliances with the French, asking them for help in his conflicts with the British East India Company. This was in the context of Anglo-French rivalries in India.

The French presence in Tamil Nadu has had a lasting impact on the region's history and culture. The city of Pondicherry, in particular, still retains a French heritage that is reflected in its architecture, gastronomy and languages. 

From the collection of Service hydrographique de la Marine dedicated to Tamil Nadu (Madras) and the surrounding areas including Coromandel Coast. 

                          Fort St George on the Coromandel coast belonging to the English East India Company. 17^th century

                                             Département Cartes et plans, Bibliothèque nationale de France