Pondicherry in the Era of the French Revolution 1785–1793 Part 2: The Heights and the Fall 1791–1793 Michal Wanner 1 ABSTRACT Te study is a continuation of the same author’s contribution published on the pages of this peri- odical. It is devoted to the development of Pondicherry during the French Revolution, in the years 1791–1793. Te course of the Revolution in French Indian colonies was dynamized by primary mile- stones of the development in France whose impact in each of the colonies was diferent in depend- ence on social composition and the character of economy. Te development in Pondicherry was relatively calm, but was in substantial way infuenced by conficts with other factories, especially Chandernagore in Bengal and headquarters of all French colonies in Indian Ocean on the Mascarene Islands. It was concentrated on satisfying the requirements of democratization, and was free of rev- olutionary excesses. In principle, the loyalty towards the King, and the law and authorities in Paris remained. Te main point of disputes was the question of involving classes of Indians and Eurasians into political process. While requests of the half-breeds had been accepted, crowds of Indian citizens remained beyond the politic structure despite the role they had in the economic life of the colony. But the local French elites were aware the value of this population for France, therefore atempted to fnd a sort of modus vivendi. Te indigenous population was perceived as the population of another country and another culture, could not become French nationals, but its interests had to be taken into account. Nevertheless this concept did not get a chance to develop as a result of British action against the French colonies. Pondicherry remained virtually abandoned in this fght by Paris as well as its superiors from Port Louis. Tis fact afer the surrender lead inevitably to an anti-revolution- ary reaction among the inhabitants. Te fall of Pondicherry did not result from the consequences of the French Revolution, but from the presumed British worries over the French re-expansion in In- dia. Te framework of the British action should be retrieved therefore in previous development. As a result of this operation Pondicherry defnitely lost its importance. KEYWORDS History of India; the French Revolution in Colonies; History of East India Companies; British-French Struggle for India; French Colonial Imperium in Asia 1 Michal Wanner, Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, Department of Archives Administration and Records Management, Nad Štolou 3, 170 34, Praha 7, Czech Republic, michal.wanner@mvcr.cz