The Anglo-Mysore Wars
Mysore’s resistance to the East India Company
The Anglo-Mysore Wars were a series of four conflicts fought between the Kingdom of Mysore and the English East India Company during the second half of the eighteenth century. They formed a major part of the struggle for political supremacy in southern India.
Learning objective: understand the causes, alliances, major events, treaties and consequences of all four wars.
From the Wodeyars to Haidar Ali
A Hindu kingdom under the Wodeyar dynasty emerged in the Mysore region in 1612. During the eighteenth century, the authority of the Wodeyar ruler weakened as powerful ministers exercised considerable influence.
Haidar Ali’s rise
- Haidar Ali, born in 1721, began his career as a soldier and rose through military service.
- He became the de facto ruler of Mysore in 1761, although the Wodeyar dynasty continued to exist formally for a time.
- He expanded Mysore’s territory and developed its military capabilities.
- He employed French assistance to establish an arms factory at Dindigul and introduced Western methods of military training.
Why Mysore became a major power
Mysore’s military strength, territorial ambitions and influence over the Malabar coast challenged the interests of the English, particularly around Madras and the southern trade routes.
First War (1767–1769)
Background
In 1766, the English concluded a treaty with the Nizam of Hyderabad, securing the Northern Circars while promising protection against Haidar Ali. Haidar already had territorial disputes with the Nawab of Arcot and disagreements with the Marathas.
Changing alliances
- The English, Nizam and Marathas initially aligned against Haidar Ali.
- Haidar used diplomacy and payments to neutralise the Marathas.
- He persuaded the Nizam to change sides by promising a share of conquered territories.
- Haidar and the Nizam then acted against the Nawab of Arcot.
Course and outcome
The war continued for about a year and a half without a decisive conclusion. Haidar changed his strategy and suddenly appeared before Madras, creating panic among the English.
Second War (1780–1784)
Why did the war begin?
- Haidar Ali accused the English of violating the Treaty of Madras after they failed to help him when the Marathas attacked Mysore in 1771.
- He found French assistance more useful for obtaining military supplies, including guns, saltpetre and lead.
- The English attempted to capture Mahe, a French possession on the Malabar coast protected by Haidar.
- Haidar viewed the attempt against Mahe as a direct challenge to his authority.
Course of the war
Haidar formed an anti-English alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam. He attacked the Carnatic, captured Arcot and defeated the English force under Colonel Baillie in 1781. The English, under Sir Eyre Coote, subsequently defeated Haidar at Porto Novo in November 1781, but Haidar regrouped and continued the resistance.
Change of leadership
Haidar Ali died of cancer on 7 December 1782. His son Tipu Sultan continued the war, but neither side achieved a decisive victory.
How did the Second War end?
After Haidar Ali’s death, Tipu Sultan carried on the conflict for approximately another year. With the war inconclusive, both sides negotiated peace.
The English and Mysore agreed to restore the territories each had captured from the other during the war.
Historical significance
- The treaty brought the Second Anglo-Mysore War to an end.
- It did not eliminate the rivalry between Mysore and the Company.
- Tipu Sultan emerged as the ruler of Mysore after Haidar Ali’s death and continued to resist British expansion.
Do not confuse the treaties
The Treaty of Madras ended the First War; the Treaty of Mangalore ended the Second. The Treaty of Seringapatam followed the Third War in 1792.
Third War (1790–1792)
Immediate cause: Travancore
Travancore purchased Jalkottal and Cannanore from the Dutch in the Cochin state. Since Cochin was a feudatory of Tipu Sultan, he considered Travancore’s action a violation of his sovereign rights. Tipu declared war against Travancore in April 1790.
Course of the war
- The English supported Travancore and attacked Tipu.
- Tipu defeated the English under General Meadows in 1790.
- In 1791, Lord Cornwallis took command, captured Bangalore and advanced towards Seringapatam.
- With support from the Marathas and the Nizam, the English attacked Seringapatam again and forced Tipu to negotiate.
The war demonstrated how the Company’s ability to build coalitions with other Indian powers strengthened its military position.
The settlement of 1792
The Treaty of Seringapatam imposed severe conditions on Tipu Sultan following the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
Indemnity and hostages
Tipu was required to pay a war indemnity of three crore rupees. Half was payable immediately and the remainder in instalments. His two sons were taken as hostages by the English to ensure fulfilment of the terms.
Territorial division + three-crore-rupee indemnity + two sons held as hostages.
Tipu later fulfilled the treaty terms and secured the release of his sons. Nevertheless, the settlement weakened Mysore and left the rivalry unresolved.
Fourth War (1799)
Background
Between 1792 and 1799, both sides attempted to recover from the previous conflict. Tipu fulfilled the terms of the Treaty of Seringapatam. After the Wodeyar ruler died in 1796, Tipu declined to place the minor Wodeyar successor on the throne and declared himself Sultan.
- Tipu wanted to recover from the defeat and territorial losses of 1792.
- Lord Wellesley became Governor-General in 1798 and was concerned about Tipu’s growing links with the French.
- Wellesley aimed either to end Tipu’s independent position or bring him under British control through the Subsidiary Alliance.
- The English also alleged that Tipu was seeking foreign support against them.
Course of the war
The war began on 17 April 1799. English forces under General Stuart and General Harris advanced against Mysore. Arthur Wellesley, brother of Lord Wellesley, also participated. The English received assistance from the Marathas and the Nizam.
Territorial division and political reorganisation
Tipu’s defeat in 1799 ended Mysore’s independent resistance under his leadership. The victors divided the territories and reorganised the state.
Distribution of territories
- The English took Kanara, Wynad, Coimbatore, Dwaraporam and Seringapatam, among other territories.
- The Nizam received Gooty and Gurramkonda.
- Some territories offered to the Marathas, including Soonda and Harponelly, were refused.
Restoration of the Wodeyars
The British placed a minor ruler, Krishnaraja III, from the old Wodeyar dynasty on the throne of the reconstituted Mysore state. The ruler accepted the Subsidiary Alliance, which limited Mysore’s independence and strengthened British influence.
Thus, the end of the Fourth War did not mean that Mysore disappeared completely; rather, the state continued under a different political arrangement and under British paramountcy.
Wars, causes and treaties at a glance
| War | Key context | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| First 1767–1769 | Changing alliances among the English, Nizam, Marathas and Haidar Ali | Treaty of Madras (1769) |
| Second 1780–1784 | English failure to assist Haidar; conflict over Mahe and French links | Treaty of Mangalore (1784) |
| Third 1790–1792 | Tipu’s conflict with Travancore; English coalition with the Marathas and Nizam | Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) |
| Fourth 1799 | Wellesley’s policy, concern over Tipu’s French connections and conflict over Mysore’s independence | Fall of Seringapatam; Tipu killed; Mysore reorganised |
Think like UPSC
A question may test the correct chronology of treaties, the immediate cause of the Third War, the role of the Nizam and Marathas, or the political settlement after 1799.
Key dates and memory chain
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1612 | Wodeyar kingdom emerged in Mysore |
| 1761 | Haidar Ali became de facto ruler of Mysore |
| 1767–1769 | First Anglo-Mysore War |
| 4 April 1769 | Treaty of Madras |
| 7 December 1782 | Death of Haidar Ali |
| March 1784 | Treaty of Mangalore |
| 1790–1792 | Third Anglo-Mysore War |
| 1792 | Treaty of Seringapatam |
| 17 April–4 May 1799 | Fourth Anglo-Mysore War |
| 4 May 1799 | Fall of Seringapatam and death of Tipu Sultan |
| 1831 | British takeover of Mysore administration under Bentinck |
| 1881 | Restoration of Mysore to its ruler under Ripon |
1769 — Madras → 1784 — Mangalore → 1792 — Seringapatam → 1799 — Tipu falls.
The dates above follow the chronology presented in the Modern India chapter, with the Second War conventionally dated 1780–1784 in the detailed section.
UPSC practice: Anglo-Mysore Wars
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