Anglo-Mysore War: Haidar Ali, Tipu Sultan, British Conquest

Mysore Before the British 

• The Wodeyar Dynasty ruled Mysore after the breakdown of the Vijayanagara empire due to its loss in the Battle of Talikota (1565).
• Later, Haidar Ali usurped royal authority and became de-facto ruler of Mysore in 1761 and took measures to strengthen the army to protect Mysore. 
• Haidar Ali established an arms factory in Dindigul, which is now in Tamil Nadu, with the assistance of the French, and he also introduced Western-style army training. 
• He captured Dod Ballapur, Sera, Bednur, and Hoskote in 1761–63, and brought to submission the Poligars of South India.
• Haidar Ali raided the Marathas several times during 1774–76.

First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-69) 

• Diplomatic Strategy against the British: Haidar Ali used diplomatic skills to make Marathas neutral and convert Nizam of Hyderabad to his ally in order to defeat the British.
• Treaty of Madras: Haidar Ali attacked Madras and caused the English to conclude the Treaty of Madras with favourable outcomes for Mysore.

Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84) 

• Alliance with the French: Haidar Ali’s friendship with the French caused the English concern, and they tried to capture Mahe, which Haidar Ali considered to be under his protection. 
• Alliance: Haidar formed an alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam against the English. He attacked the Carnatic, capturing Arcot and defeating the English army led by Colonel Baillie in 1781.
• Reversals and Resilience against the English: The English, under Sir Eyre Coote, managed to detach the Marathas and the Nizam from Haidar’s alliance. 
  • Haidar faced the English again and suffered a defeat at Porto Novo in November 1781.
  • Despite the setback, he regrouped his forces, defeated the English, and captured their commander, Braithwaite.
• The Treaty of Mangalore: In 1782, Haidar Ali succumbed to cancer, leading his son, Tipu Sultan, to carry on the war for another year with no decisive outcome. 
  • Faced with the prolonged and inconclusive conflict, both parties opted for peace. 
  • The Treaty of Mangalore, signed in March 1784, facilitated the return of territories taken by each side during the hostilities.

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Third Anglo-Mysore War (1792)

• Conflict with Travancore: A dispute between Tipu and the state of Travancore turned into a war with the English siding with Travancore.
  • The English attacked Seringapatam and succeeded in their attack.
• The Treaty of Seringapatam: In 1792 resulted in significant territorial changes, with the English gaining control of Baramahal, Dindigul, and Malabar. 
  • The Marathas acquired regions around the Tungabhadra, 
  • The Nizam took control of areas from Krishna to beyond the Pennar. 
• Imposition of War Indemnity: Tipu Sultan was obligated to pay a war indemnity of three crore rupees, half of which had to be paid immediately, and the rest was to be provided in installments, with Tipu’s two sons held as hostages by the English.

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)

• Quest for Revenge: Tipu declared himself Sultan once the Hindu ruler of the Wodeyar dynasty died and sought to avenge his humiliation by the British.
• Lord Wellesley: The new Governor General, was concerned about Tipu’s friendship with the French and sought to punish him.
  • The war between Tipu Sultan and the English commenced on April 17, 1799, concluding on May 4, 1799, with the capture of Seringapatam. 
• Tipu Sultan’s Defeats: Tipu faced defeats at the hands of English Generals Stuart and Harris. Arthur Wellesley, Lord Wellesley’s brother, also participated in the conflict.
  • The English received support from the Marathas and the Nizam, with promises of territorial gains for their assistance.
• Mysore Under a Puppet Maharaja: A boy from the previous Hindu royal family of Mysore was appointed as the new maharaja, subjected to the subsidiary alliance system imposed by the English.

Post Tipu Mysore

• Restoration of the Wodeyar Dynasty: The new state of Mysore was handed over to the old Hindu dynasty (Wodeyars) under a minor ruler Krishnaraja III, who accepted the subsidiary alliance.
• In 1831, William Bentinck claimed misgovernance in Mysore and took control. Later, in 1881, Lord Ripon restored the kingdom to its ruler.

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Conclusion

• The Anglo-Mysore War had a profound impact on the political landscape of South India. It resulted in the defeat of Tipu Sultan and the imposition of British hegemony over Mysore. 
• The establishment of the subsidiary alliance system further solidified British control, marking the beginning of direct British rule in the region.