An Overview of Four Anglo-Mysore Wars
During the British rule over India, a series of four military confrontations occurred in India between the rulers of Mysore and the British. These Anglo Mysore wars took place in the late 18th century and occupy an important place in the history of India.
Similar to the battle of Buxar, where British rule was established after the defeat of Indians, the Anglo Mysore wars established the supremacy and hold of Britishers in the Southern part of India.
This article teaches details about all the four Anglo Mysore wars, their reasons, and their consequences.
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Background of the Beginning of Anglo Mysore Wars
After the demise of the Vijayanagar empire, Mysore (a small Hindu principality) maintained its independence. In 1612, the Wodeyars (a Hindu kingdom) emerged in the Mysore region.
Hyder Ali was an adventurer and commander in chief in the army of Wodeyars, and he became the de-facto ruler of Mysore in 1761 due to his great military tactics and administrative skills.
Till the helm of Hyder Ali, Mysore was considered a rather small and insignificant part of South India. It was under Hyder Ali’s rule that the East India Company was threatened when Hyder Ali began the expansion of his dominance. Mysore gained the reputation of a formidable power under him.
Mysore was in close proximity with the French, and with their support, Hyder Ali built a strong army that alarmed the British.
Haider Ali had a stronghold over the rich trade along the Malabar coast that threatened the commercial and political interests of the British and their control over Madras.
The British had gained success in the Battle of Buxar with the help of the Nawab of Bengal. Following the same pattern, the British sought alliance from the Nizam of Hyderabad and signed a treaty to persuade him to give the Northern Circars in order to protect the Nizam from Haider Ali. Hyder Ali already had disputes with the Marathas.
The Marathas, Nizam of Hyderabad, and the British allied against Haider Ali and declared war against Mysore.
First Anglo Mysore War
The first Anglo Mysore war was fought from 1766 to 1769.
Haider Ali used his diplomacy skills and brought the Nizam and Marathas to his side. He turned the Marathas neutral by paying them.
The war continued for over a year and was inconclusive.
Haider created chaos in Madras by appearing suddenly at its gates which panicked people.
After this incident, the Britishers had to conclude the war by signing a treaty with Haider. The first Anglo Mysore war treaty was signed on April 4, 1769, and called the Treaty of Madras. Details of the treaty were:
It provided for the exchange of conquered areas and prisoners.
Britishers had to promise help to Haider Ali in the event any other power attacked him.
Second Anglo Mysore War
The second Mysore war was fought from 1780 to 1784. The Britishers did not adhere to the terms of the treaty of Madras when the Maratha army attacked Mysore in 1771. Haider Ali’s territories were taken over by Marathas, which angered him, and he accused the British of breach of faith and turned to the French to fulfil his requirements of guns, lead, and saltpetre.
Haider Ali found the French more resourceful and started importing war materials from them to Mysore through Mahe (a French possession on the Malabar coast).
The increasing friendship between Haider Ali and the French caused concern to the British, and they tried to capture Mahe, which was under Haider’s possession.
Haider Ali allied with the Nizam and the Marathas against the British and declared war on the British in 1780.
Ali attacked the Carnatic, captured Arcot, and defeated the English army in 1781, run by Colonel Baille.
Meanwhile, the English under Sir Eyer Coote detached both the Nizam and Marathas from Haider’s side.
The undeterred Haider fought bravely against the English but was defeated at Porto Novo (which is now Parangipettai in Tamilnadu) in 1781.
But Haider regrouped his forces, and the English were again defeated with the capture of their commander, Braithwaite.
Haider Ali died of cancer on December 7, 1782. His son Tipu Sultan carried the war for another year without any conclusion.
Tired of this inconclusive war, both parties agreed to a peace treaty in March 1784 called the Treaty of Mangalore. As per the treaty, both the parties gave back each other’s territories which they had captured during the war.
Third Anglo Mysore War
The third Anglo Mysore war was fought from 1790 to 1792. The Mangalore treaty also failed to resolve the conflicts between the British and Tipu Sultan. Both wanted to obtain political supremacy over Southern India. The third Anglo Mysore war began when Tipu Sultan attacked Travancore in 1789. The city of Travancore was an ally of the British and the single source of pepper for the East India company.
The third war took place when Cornwallis came to India as the governor-general of the East India company.
Tipu Sultan attempted to form alliances with other foreign nations, and in this endeavour, he also sent diplomats to Turkey and France.
Tipu refused to free English prisoners captured during the Second Anglo Mysore war and breached the Treaty of Mangalore.
The British took the help of the Nizam, Marathas, and Travancore and attacked Mysore.
The three allies had decided that they would split the conquered regions amongst themselves.
Tipu defeated the British army in 1790, which was led by General Meadows.
Lord Cornwallis took the leadership in 1791 and marched with his army through Ambur and Vellore and reached Bangalore, which was captured in March 1791. From there, his army travelled to Seringapatm.
Tipu Sultan had to relent and bargain with the British when the British allied with Marathas and Nizam and attacked Seringapatam for the second time.
The Treaty of Seringapatam was signed in 1792 to end the war. As per this treaty:
Half of the Mysorean territory was given to the allies (British, Marathas, Nizam). This included Coorg, Malabar, Baramahal, and Dindigul.
Tipu had to give them war damage of three crores rupees.
Tipu’s dominant position in the south was destroyed by the third war and established British supremacy.
Fourth Anglo Mysore War
The fourth Mysore war was fought from 1798 - 1799.
From 1792 to 1799, both Tipu Sultan and the British were engaged in recovering their losses from the third war.
Tipu fulfilled all the terms mentioned in the Seringapatam treaty, and his sons were released.
The Wodeyar dynasty’s Hindu monarch died in 1796, and Tipu declared himself as a Sultan.
Tipu swore to avenge his humiliating defeat in the third Mysore battle.
In 1798 Lord Wellesley was the British governor-general who was a staunch imperialist. He had concerns over Tipu’s growing connection with the French.
Wellesley aimed to destroy Tipu’s autonomy and forced him to submit via the Subsidiary alliance system.
Tipu was convicted of treason against the British by sending emissaries to Afghanistan, Arab, Mauritius (part of the Isle of France then), and Versailles.
The argument given by Tipu for this action did not satisfy Lord Wellesley, and the fourth Anglo Mysore war was declared where Mysore was attacked from all four sides. The Marathas and Nizams attacked Mysore from the North.
Tipu lost in the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799 and died in the course of defending his city.
FAQs on Mysore Wars
1. How many Anglo-Mysore Wars were fought, and over what period?
A series of four Anglo-Mysore Wars were fought between the Kingdom of Mysore and the British East India Company. These wars took place over three decades, from 1767 to 1799, and were crucial in establishing British dominance in Southern India.
2. Who were the key rulers of Mysore who fought against the British?
The two main rulers of Mysore who led the resistance against the British were:
Hyder Ali: A brilliant military commander who strengthened the Mysore army and fought the First and most of the Second Anglo-Mysore War. He died during the Second War in 1782.
Tipu Sultan: Known as the 'Tiger of Mysore', he was Hyder Ali's son. He continued the fight in the Second, Third, and Fourth Anglo-Mysore Wars and was known for his administrative and military innovations.
3. What was the outcome of the First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-69)?
The First Anglo-Mysore War was a significant victory for Mysore. Hyder Ali displayed superior military tactics, forcing the British to retreat and sign a defensive pact. The war concluded with the Treaty of Madras in 1769, which was a humiliating treaty for the British, compelling them to promise mutual aid in case of an attack by another power.
4. What were the results of the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84)?
The Second Anglo-Mysore War was largely inconclusive. Hyder Ali initially achieved success against the British but died of cancer in 1782. His son, Tipu Sultan, continued the war. With both sides exhausted and facing a stalemate, the war ended in 1784 with the signing of the Treaty of Mangalore. This treaty restored the lands and prisoners captured by both sides.
5. What was the significance of the Treaty of Seringapatam, which ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
The Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-92) ended in a decisive defeat for Tipu Sultan. The concluding Treaty of Seringapatam was highly punitive for Mysore. Its key terms required Tipu to:
Cede about half of his territories to the British and their allies (the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad).
Pay a massive war indemnity of 3.3 crore rupees.
Surrender two of his sons as hostages to the British until the indemnity was paid.
6. How did the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799) end?
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War resulted in the final defeat and dismantling of the Kingdom of Mysore. The British, led by Governor-General Lord Wellesley, besieged the capital, Seringapatam. Tipu Sultan was killed defending his city in May 1799. Following his death, the British annexed large parts of Mysore, restored the former Wodeyar dynasty as puppet rulers, and imposed the Subsidiary Alliance on the state.
7. Why were the British so determined to defeat the rulers of Mysore?
The British viewed Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan as a major threat to their colonial ambitions for several key reasons. Firstly, Mysore controlled the profitable spice trade of the Malabar Coast. Secondly, Tipu Sultan's close alliance with the French posed a strategic danger to British interests in India. Lastly, the military strength and modernisations of the Mysore army made it a powerful obstacle to British territorial expansion in the south.
8. What made Tipu Sultan a formidable opponent for the British?
Tipu Sultan was a formidable opponent due to his modern and innovative approach to warfare and administration. He continued his father's work of organising the army on European lines and was a pioneer in developing and using military rockets. Beyond military prowess, he tried to modernise his economy, establish foreign trade relations, and build a strong navy. His administrative efficiency and fierce independence made him a constant challenge to British authority.
9. How did the Anglo-Mysore Wars demonstrate the use of diplomacy and alliances in 18th-century India?
The Anglo-Mysore Wars were a classic example of shifting alliances and strategic diplomacy. Neither the British nor Mysore fought in isolation. The British frequently formed a triple alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad, who were regional rivals of Mysore. Conversely, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan sought support from the French, the primary European rival of the British. The success and failure in each war often depended on which side could better manage these complex and often unreliable alliances.
10. What were the long-term consequences of the Mysore Wars for the political map of South India?
The ultimate victory of the British in the Anglo-Mysore Wars had profound long-term consequences. It led to the elimination of their most powerful rival in Southern India. The annexation of key territories and the imposition of the Subsidiary Alliance on the weakened Mysore state firmly established British paramountcy in the region. This victory paved the way for the subsequent defeat of the Marathas, consolidating the East India Company's position as the dominant power across the Indian subcontinent.
