Conquest of Mysore: After the Battle of Talikota in 1565 dealt a devastating blow to the Vijayanagara Empire, several smaller kingdoms arose from its remnants. In 1612, the Wodeyars established a Hindu kingdom in the Mysore region. Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar II ruled this kingdom from 1734 to 1766. During the latter half of the 18th century, Mysore became a significant power under the leadership of Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan. Their stronghold on the prosperous Malabar coast trade and alliance with the French posed a direct threat to British political and commercial interests in South India. Additionally, Mysore’s rising influence was perceived as a challenge to British control over Madras.
Table of Contents
Rise of Haidar Ali
In the early 18th century, Mysore’s political scene was dominated by two brothers, Nanjaraj (the Sarvadhikari) and Devaraj (the Dulwai), who reduced Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar to a mere figurehead. Haidar Ali, born in 1721 into an obscure family, began his career as a horseman in the Mysore army under the administration of Nanjaraj and Devaraj. Although uneducated, Haidar Ali was known for his sharp intellect, boundless energy, and strong determination.
Mysore faced repeated incursions by the Marathas and the Nizam’s troops, leading to severe financial burdens and political instability. This created a dire need for a leader with exceptional military prowess and diplomatic acumen. Haidar Ali rose to meet this challenge, usurping royal authority in 1761 to become the de facto ruler of Mysore.
Understanding the strategic requirements of the time, Haidar Ali focused on countering his adversaries with tactical innovations. He recognized that the swift cavalry of the Marathas could only be matched by an equally agile force, that the French-trained Nizami artillery required effective counter-artillery, and that Western military technology needed to be imported or locally replicated. With assistance from the French, he established an arms factory in Dindigul (now in Tamil Nadu) and modernized his army with Western training methods. His diplomatic skill further allowed him to outmaneuver his rivals effectively.
Haidar Ali demonstrated his military prowess by capturing Dod Ballapur, Sera, Bednur, and Hoskote between 1761 and 1763, while also subduing the rebellious Poligars in South India (present-day Tamil Nadu). However, Mysore faced setbacks when the Marathas, recovering from their defeat at Panipat, attacked under Madhavrao and defeated Haidar Ali in 1764, 1766, and 1771. To secure peace, he was forced to pay substantial sums to the Marathas.
After Madhavrao’s death in 1772, Haidar Ali launched a series of raids against the Marathas between 1774 and 1776. He regained all the territories he had previously lost and expanded Mysore’s domain by capturing additional areas, solidifying his position as a formidable ruler and military strategist.
First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769)
Background
Following their success in Bengal, the English grew confident in their military capabilities. In 1766, they secured a treaty with the Nizam of Hyderabad, obtaining the Northern Circars in exchange for a promise to protect the Nizam from Haidar Ali. At the same time, Haidar Ali was engaged in territorial disputes with the Nawab of Arcot and had ongoing tensions with the Marathas.
Changing Alliances
Initially, the Nizam, the Marathas, and the English formed an alliance against Haidar Ali. However, Haidar used his diplomatic acumen to dismantle this coalition. He neutralized the Marathas by paying them off and persuaded the Nizam to switch sides by promising to share the spoils of their conquests. With the Nizam as his ally, Haidar then turned his attention to attacking the Nawab of Arcot.
Course of the War
The conflict dragged on for a year and a half without a decisive outcome. Haidar, adapting his strategy, launched a bold and unexpected march to the gates of Madras, creating chaos and panic among the English. Facing pressure, the English were forced to negotiate a humiliating agreement with Haidar.
The Treaty of Madras, signed on April 4, 1769, provided for:
- The exchange of prisoners.
- Mutual restitution of territories conquered during the war.
- A promise from the English to assist Haidar Ali in the event of any future attacks by other powers.
This treaty marked a temporary end to hostilities but left the tensions between Mysore and the British unresolved.
Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784)
Background
Haidar Ali accused the English of breaching the Treaty of Madras after they failed to assist him during a Maratha attack in 1771. This betrayal soured his relations with the English, and he found the French to be more reliable suppliers of military resources like guns, saltpetre, and lead. Through Mahe, a French-controlled port on the Malabar coast, Haidar secured French war materials for his army.
At the same time, the American War of Independence broke out, with the French supporting the rebels against the English. Haidar’s growing ties with the French heightened British concerns. When the English attempted to seize Mahe, which Haidar considered under his protection, he viewed this move as a direct affront to his authority.
Course of the War
Haidar Ali responded by forging an anti-English alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad. With this support, he launched an offensive in the Carnatic region, capturing Arcot and defeating the English forces under Colonel Baillie in 1781.
However, the English, led by Sir Eyre Coote, managed to weaken Haidar’s coalition by diplomatically detaching the Marathas and the Nizam from his side. Despite this setback, Haidar continued to fight boldly but suffered a significant defeat at Porto Novo in November 1781. Undeterred, he regrouped his forces and later captured the English commander Braithwaite in a subsequent victory.
Treaty of Mangalore
Haidar Ali’s campaign ended abruptly when he died of cancer on December 7, 1782. His son, Tipu Sultan, took command and continued the war for another year, but neither side could secure a decisive victory.
Weary of the stalemate, both parties sought peace, culminating in the Treaty of Mangalore in March 1784. Under the treaty, both sides agreed to restore the territories they had captured during the conflict, bringing the war to an inconclusive end.
Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792)
The conflict began with a territorial dispute between Tipu Sultan and the state of Travancore. Travancore had purchased Jalkottal and Cannanore from the Dutch, lands located in the Cochin state. As Cochin was a feudatory of Mysore, Tipu considered Travancore’s acquisition a violation of his sovereign rights. In April 1790, Tipu declared war on Travancore to reclaim these territories.
Course of the War
The English allied with Travancore and launched an attack against Tipu. In 1790, Tipu successfully repelled the English forces under General Meadows. However, in 1791, Lord Cornwallis assumed command and led a large British army through Ambur and Vellore, capturing Bangalore in March 1791. Cornwallis then advanced toward Seringapatam, Tipu’s capital.
Although Coimbatore initially fell to the English, Tipu recaptured it. With the support of their allies—the Marathas and the Nizam—the British launched a second offensive on Seringapatam. Despite Tipu’s determined resistance, he was ultimately outnumbered and forced to negotiate peace.
Treaty of Seringapatam
The Treaty of Seringapatam, signed in 1792, imposed harsh terms on Tipu Sultan:
- Nearly half of Mysore’s territory was ceded to the victors.
- The English received Baramahal, Dindigul, and Malabar.
- The Marathas acquired lands around the Tungabhadra River and its tributaries.
- The Nizam gained areas stretching from the Krishna River to beyond the Pennar.
- A war indemnity of three crore rupees was imposed on Tipu. Half was to be paid immediately, and the rest in installments.
- As a guarantee for the remaining payment, Tipu’s two sons were taken as hostages by the English.
The Treaty of Seringapatam marked a significant loss for Mysore, severely weakening its power and territorial integrity.
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)
Between 1792 and 1799, both Tipu Sultan and the English worked to recover from their losses. Tipu fulfilled the terms of the Treaty of Seringapatam, leading to the release of his sons who had been held as hostages. However, in 1796, when the ruler of the Wodeyar dynasty passed away, Tipu refused to crown the minor heir and instead declared himself Sultan of Mysore. Determined to avenge the humiliations of the Treaty of Seringapatam, Tipu began preparing for conflict.
In 1798, Lord Wellesley replaced Sir John Shore as Governor-General of India. A staunch imperialist, Wellesley viewed Tipu’s growing alliance with the French as a significant threat. He aimed to either annihilate Tipu’s independence or force him into submission through the Subsidiary Alliance system. Wellesley accused Tipu of conspiring with the French, the Nizam, the Marathas, and foreign powers such as Afghanistan and Zaman Shah. Tipu’s attempts to clarify his position failed to satisfy Wellesley, setting the stage for war.
Course of the War
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War began on April 17, 1799, and concluded on May 4, 1799, with the fall of Seringapatam. Tipu faced defeats first at the hands of General Stuart and later under General Harris. Arthur Wellesley, the brother of Lord Wellesley, also played a significant role in the campaign.
The English were supported by the Marathas and the Nizam. The Marathas were promised half of Tipu’s territory, while the Nizam had already entered into the Subsidiary Alliance. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Tipu fought valiantly but ultimately fell in battle during the final assault on Seringapatam.
Aftermath
With Tipu’s death, his family members were interned at Vellore, and his vast treasures were confiscated by the British. To re-establish control over Mysore, the English restored the Wodeyar dynasty by selecting a boy from the Hindu royal family as the new Maharaja. The new ruler was compelled to accept the Subsidiary Alliance, solidifying British dominance over the region and marking the end of Mysore’s independence.
Mysore After Tipu
- Maratha Refusal: Wellesley offered the districts of Soonda and Harponelly, formerly part of the Mysore Kingdom, to the Marathas, but they declined the offer.
- Territorial Gains for the Nizam: The districts of Gooty and Gurramkonda were handed over to the Nizam of Hyderabad.
- British Control: The English retained possession of key territories, including Kanara, Wynad, Coimbatore, Dwaraporam, and Seringapatam.
- Restoration of the Wodeyars: A new state of Mysore was established and handed over to the old Hindu Wodeyar dynasty under the rule of the minor Krishnaraja III, who agreed to the terms of the Subsidiary Alliance.
- British Administration (1831): In 1831, William Bentinck assumed direct control of Mysore, citing misgovernance as the reason for intervention.
- Restoration (1881): In 1881, Lord Ripon restored the kingdom to its Wodeyar ruler, re-establishing native governance under British oversight.
Conclusion
The conquest of Mysore marks a pivotal chapter in the history of British expansion in India, showcasing the complex interplay of military strategy, diplomacy, and imperial ambition. The four Anglo-Mysore wars, spanning nearly four decades, highlight the fierce resistance offered by Mysore under leaders like Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan, whose vision for an independent and powerful state was a direct challenge to British dominance.
Despite Tipu’s valiant efforts and alliances with regional and foreign powers, Mysore’s eventual fall in 1799 solidified British supremacy in South India. The subsequent reorganization of Mysore under the Wodeyar dynasty, coupled with the implementation of the Subsidiary Alliance, exemplified the gradual erosion of indigenous sovereignty.
The conquest not only expanded British territorial control but also underscored the transformative impact of colonial policies on the political and economic landscape of India. Mysore’s legacy remains a testament to the enduring spirit of resistance against imperial domination and the profound changes that shaped the subcontinent’s history.