British Conquest of Mysore: The Rise and Fall of Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan

The Wodeyar Dynasty had a significant impact on the history of South India, arising following the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire and founding a Hindu kingdom in Mysore. British colonial expansion led to Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan challenging their dominance, resulting in the intense Anglo-Mysore Wars. These battles not only displayed military strength but also influenced the future of the area, ultimately returning Mysore to the Wodeyars with British assistance.

The Wodeyar Dynasty 

Battle of Talikota: Following the decisive Battle of Talikota in 1565, which severely weakened the once-mighty Vijayanagara Empire, a multitude of smaller sovereign states arose from its ashes. In the year 1612, a Hindu realm led by the Wodeyar dynasty surfaced in the Mysore region. 

• Apprehension by British: Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar II governed from 1734 to  1766. It was in the latter part of the 18th century that Mysore gained significant power under the guidance of leaders such as Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan. 
  • The British perceived a threat to their political and trade interests in the southern part of India due to Mysore’s strategic location near the French and the dominance of Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan over the lucrative commerce of the Malabar Coast. 
  • Additionally, the ascendancy of Mysore was viewed as a challenge to the British hegemony over Madras.

Rise of Haider Ali 

During the early 1700s, two siblings, Nanjaraj (holding the position of sarvadhikari) and Devaraj (occupying the role of Dulwai), had relegated Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar to a figurehead role. Haidar Ali, who was born into a relatively unknown family in 1721, began his ascent as a cavalryman in the Mysore military under the stewardship of the aforementioned ministers, Nanjaraj and Devaraj. Despite his lack of formal education, he was characterized by his sharp mind, as well as his remarkable vigor and determination.

• Maratha and Nizam Raids: Mysore faced frequent invasions by Maratha and Nizam forces, which led to substantial fiscal levies imposed on the state by the invaders, causing both financial and political fragility. The situation demanded a commander endowed with substantial military capability and shrewdness in negotiation. 
  • Haidar Ali emerged as such a leader and seized control, effectively becoming the sovereign power of Mysore in 1761. 
  • He recognized that to counter the highly mobile Maratha forces, a rapid cavalry was necessary; to mute the artillery of the Nizam’s French-aided forces, a formidable artillery was required; and to match the advanced weaponry of the West, acquisition or domestic production of similar arms was essential.

• Modernized Military with French Support: With French assistance, Haidar Ali established an armaments factory at Dindigul (present-day Tamil Nadu) and revolutionized his military forces with Western training techniques. 
  • Strategic Conquests and Diplomatic Mastery: He adeptly applied his diplomatic acumen to outwit rivals. 
    • His military prowess enabled him to conquer regions like Dod Ballapur, Sera, Bednur, and Hoskote between 1761 and 1763, and to suppress the rebellious Poligars of Southern India (modern-day Tamil Nadu).

Rebounding from their setback at Panipat, the Marathas led by Madhavrao persistently defeated Haidar Ali in 1764, 1766, and 1771. Haidar Ali was compelled to purchase peace by paying substantial tributes. However, following Madhavrao’s demise in 1772, Haidar Ali aggressively counterattacked during 1774–76, reclaiming all his former territories plus additional areas from the Marathas.

Anglo Mysore War

First Anglo-Mysore War

Background

• Diplomatic Maneuvering and Territorial Gains: After their easy success in Bengal, the English were confident of their military strength. They concluded a treaty with the Nizam of Hyderabad (1766), persuading him to give them the Northern Circars (region) instead of which they said they would protect the Nizam from Haidar Ali. 
• Political Rivalries: Haidar already had territorial disputes with the Nawab of Arcot and differences with the Marathas. 

Changing Alliances 

• Triangular Alliance: The Nizam, the Marathas, and the English allied together against Haidar Ali. 
• Haidar Ali’s Diplomatic Maneuvers and Strategic Alliances: Haidar acted with considerable tact and diplomatic skill. He paid the Marathas to turn them neutral and, promising to share conquered territories with the Nizam, converted the Nizam into his ally.
  • He then joined the Nizam to attack the Nawab of Arcot.

Course of War 

• Strategic Shift: The war continued for a year and a half without any conclusion. 
  • Haidar changed his strategy and suddenly appeared before the gates of Madras. 
• Treaty Negotiation: There was complete chaos and panic at Madras forcing the English to conclude a very humiliating treaty with Haidar on April 4, 1769—the Treaty of Madras. 
  • Mutual Assistance: The treaty provided for the exchange of prisoners and mutual restitution of conquests. 
  • Haidar Ali was promised the help of the English in case he was attacked by any other power.

Second Anglo-Mysore War

Background

• Accusations of Betrayal: Haidar Ali leveled accusations of betrayal and non-compliance with the Treaty of Madras against the English when he was attacked by the Marathas in 1771 without receiving any British assistance. 
  • French Support vs. British Inaction: Furthermore, he noted that the French were significantly more helpful than the British in supplying their military with weapons, saltpeter, and lead. 
    • Consequently, French military supplies were transported to Mysore via Mahe which was a French stronghold on the Malabar Coast. 
• Global Conflict: Meanwhile, the American War of Independence broke out in which the French were on the side of the rebels against the English. 
• Strategic Tensions: Under the circumstances, Haidar Ali’s friendship with the French caused even more concern to the English. 
  • In response, the British aimed to seize Mahe, which Haidar deemed under his aegis, interpreting this move as a blatant affront to his sovereignty.

A Course of the War

• Haidar’s Alliance: Haidar established an alliance against the English with the Marathas and the Nizam and initiated an offensive war in the Carnatic, seizing Arcot and overcoming the British forces led by Colonel Baillie in 1781. 
  • British Strategy: Meanwhile, the British, commanded by Sir Eyre Coote, managed to estrange the Marathas and the Nizam from Haidar’s coalition. 
• Haidar’s Resistance and Tactical Shifts: Nevertheless, a determined Haidar engaged the English valiantly, albeit facing defeat at Porto Novo in November 1781. 
  • Haidar subsequently conquered British forces, including their leader, Braithwaite.

Impact of War

• Haidar Ali succumbed to cancer on December 7, 1782. His son, Tipu Sultan, continued the conflict for another year, but to no decisive end. 
• Weary of a protracted and fruitless struggle, both parties sought conciliation, culminating in the Treaty of Mangalore in March 1784. 
  • The treaty stipulated the reciprocal restoration of territories each side had captured from the other.

Third Anglo-Mysore War 

Background

Contention surfaced between Tipu Sultan and the principality of Travancore following Travancore’s acquisition of Jalkottal and Cannanore from the Dutch in the domain of Cochin. Since Cochin was under Tipu’s suzerainty, he perceived Travancore’s purchase as an infringement on his sovereign prerogatives. 

• Consequently, in April 1790, Tipu waged war against Travancore to reclaim his rights.

Course of War

• Initial Conflict and British Advances: Aligning with Travancore, the British commenced hostilities against Tipu. In 1790, Tipu triumphed over the British forces led by General Meadows. 
  • However, in 1791, Lord Cornwallis assumed command and led a substantial force through Ambur and Vellore, seizing Bangalore in March 1791 and advancing towards Seringapatam. 
• Shifting Fortunes and the Second Assault: Though Coimbatore initially fell to the British, it was later recaptured. 
  • Eventually, with assistance from the Marathas and the Nizam, the British mounted a second assault on Seringapatam.
• Tipu’s Defeat: Despite fierce resistance from Tipu, he was overpowered. This led to substantial concessions from him under the Treaty of Seringapatam.

Impact of War

• Territorial Cession: The 1792 accord stipulated the cession of nearly half of Mysore’s territory to the triumphant allies. 
• Partition of Mysore: The English annexed Baramahal, Dindigul, and Malabar, the Marathas annexed areas around the Tungabhadra and its affluents, and the Nizam acquired land stretching from the Krishna River to beyond the Pennar. 
• War Indemnity: Tipu was coerced into paying a war indemnity of three crore rupees. Half of this sum was to be furnished forthwith, with the balance to be paid in increments. 
  • As surety for the deferred payments, Tipu’s two sons were held as hostages by the British.

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War 

Background

• Post-Treaty Recovery and Compliance: During the interval from 1792 to 1799, both the British and Tipu Sultan dedicated time to recover their strengths. 
  • Tipu complied with the stipulations of the Treaty of Seringapatam, leading to the release of his sons. 
• Tipu Sultan’s Ascendancy and Resistance: In 1796, upon the demise of the Wodeyar dynasty’s Hindu sovereign, Tipu chose not to endorse the succession of Wodeyar’s young heir, instead proclaiming himself the ruling sultan. 
  • He was also resolved to retaliate against the humiliating setback and the conditions imposed by the Treaty of Seringapatam.
• Lord Wellesley’s Policy and Imperial Strategy: In 1798, Lord Wellesley took over from Sir John Shore as the Governor-General. 
  • As a staunch imperialist, Wellesley harbored concerns about Tipu’s increasing alliance with France and was determined to either obliterate Tipu’s autonomous rule or compel his capitulation via the Subsidiary Alliance strategy. 
• Accusations of Subversive Diplomacy: The indictment against Tipu accused him of conspiring with the Nizam and the Marathas, and of dispatching envoys to Arabia, Afghanistan, Kabul, and Zaman Shah, as well as to the Isle of France (Mauritius) and Versailles, for subversive purposes. 
  • Wellesley found Tipu’s justification unsatisfactory.

Course of War and Consequences

• Beginning and End of Hostilities: Hostilities commenced on April 17, 1799, culminating with the siege and capture of Seringapatam on May 4, 1799. 
• Key Figures: Tipu faced initial defeat by General Stuart followed by General Harris. Arthur Wellesley, Lord Wellesley’s sibling, also engaged in the conflict. 
• Alliances and Support: The British forces were supported once again by the Marathas and the Nizam. The Marathas had been promised half of the territory of Tipu and the Nizam had already signed the Subsidiary Alliance. 
• Fall of Tipu Sultan: Tipu met his end valiantly on the battlefield; subsequently, his kin were confined at Vellore and his riches were seized by the British. 

Impact of War 

• Imposition of the Subsidiary Alliance: The English chose a boy from the earlier Hindu royal family of Mysore as the maharaja and also imposed on him the subsidiary alliance system.
• Territorial Redistributions: Wellesley offered the Soonda and Harponelly districts of the Mysore Kingdom to the Marathas which was later denied by them. 
  • Meanwhile, the Nizam was granted the districts of Gooty and Gurramkonda. The English assumed control of several regions, including Kanara, Wayanad, Coimbatore, Dwaraporam, and Seringapatam. 
• Restoration of the Wodeyar Dynasty: A reconstituted state of Mysore was returned to the historical Hindu dynasty of the Wodeyars, with Krishnaraja III as its Maharaja, who agreed to the subsidiary alliance. 
  • However, in 1831, William Bentinck assumed the administration of Mysore on grounds of misgovernance. 
  • Many years later, in 1881, Lord Ripon returned the sovereignty of the kingdom to its ruler.

Conclusion

After the defeat of Tipu Sultan, Lord Wellesley offered the districts of Soonda and Harponelly in the Mysore Kingdom to the Marathas, but they declined the offer and Nizam was granted control over the districts of Gooty and Gurramkonda. The British East India Company assumed control over various regions, including Kanara, Wayanad, Coimbatore, Dwaraporam, and Seringapatam. The new state of Mysore was entrusted to the former Hindu dynasty, the Wodeyars, with a minor ruler named Krishnaraja III. They accepted the subsidiary alliance with the British. In 1831, William Bentinck assumed administration of Mysore due to allegations of misgovernance. In 1881, Lord Ripon restored the kingdom to its rightful ruler.

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