British Conquest of Mysore -Free Modern History Notes for UPSC 2025

The British conquest of Mysore stands as a pivotal chapter in the history of South India, marking a significant shift in power dynamics and shaping the trajectory of the region’s future. Emerging from a complex web of political intrigue, military campaigns, and diplomatic maneuvering, this conquest unfolded against the backdrop of the formidable Mysorean Empire, led by the legendary ruler Tipu Sultan.

Mysore, known for its rich cultural heritage, strategic location, and military prowess, posed a formidable challenge to British expansion in South India. Under Tipu Sultan’s visionary leadership, Mysore emerged as a potent force, challenging British hegemony and forging alliances with regional powers to resist colonial encroachment.

The British East India Company, driven by imperial ambitions and economic interests, viewed Mysore as a key obstacle to their dominance in the Indian subcontinent. The ensuing conflict between the Company and Mysore culminated in a series of dramatic battles and shifting alliances that ultimately reshaped the political landscape of the region.

Mysore Background

• After the Carnatic Wars, the British East India Company gained control over major southern cities, posing a threat to the kingdom of Mysore ruled by the Wadiyar dynasty.
• Hyder Ali, born in a humble family, rose to prominence in the Mysore army under King Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar’s ministers. He became de facto ruler in 1761, introducing western military methods with French assistance.
• Hyder Ali’s military prowess was evident as he defeated neighboring threats, captured territories, and subdued rebellious Poligars in South India.
• Despite defeats by the Marathas under Madhavrao in 1764, 1766, and 1771, Hyder Ali retaliated after Madhavrao’s death in 1772, regaining lost territories and capturing new ones.
• Hyder Ali fought alongside the French in the Carnatic War, strengthening the Mysore army and successfully combating the Marathas and Hyderabad.
• Recognizing Hyder Ali’s contributions, the young King Krishnaraja Wodeyar II granted him the title of Fath Hyder Bahadur in 1759.
• Hyder Ali seized power in Mysore due to conflicts draining the treasury and weakened royal control, particularly after the Marathas’ defeat in the third battle of Panipat.
• By 1761, Hyder Ali became the king of Mysore, overthrowing the prime minister and imprisoning the king, Krishnaraja Wodeyar II.
• Hyder Ali formally adopted the title Sultan Hyder Ali Khan and expanded his empire through tax reforms and military advancements, including the use of portable rocket launchers.

Under Tipu Sultan

• Tipu Sultan, born in November 1750, was the son of Haider Ali and known as the Tiger of Mysore for his bravery in battle. He was well-educated, fluent in several languages including Arabic, Persian, Kanarese, and Urdu.
• Like his father, Tipu Sultan focused on building a strong military, organizing it based on European models and using Persian commands. Though he enlisted French officers for training, he maintained control over them and didn’t let them become too influential.
• Understanding the significance of naval power, Tipu Sultan established a Board of Admiralty and planned for a significant fleet, although these plans were not fully realized. He also supported scientific advancements and is credited with pioneering rocket technology in India, writing manuals on their use.
• Tipu Sultan also promoted sericulture and was a supporter of democracy. He allowed French soldiers to set up a Jacobin Club in Seringapatam, joining as a member himself and adopting the title “Citizen Tipu.” He even planted a Tree of Liberty in Seringapatam, symbolizing his democratic ideals.

The Anglo-Mysore Wars was a series of four military confrontations in India between the British and the rulers of Mysore.

First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-69)

Background:

1. In 1612, the Wodeyar dynasty established a Hindu kingdom in Mysore. Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar II ruled from 1734 to 1766.
2. Haider Ali, originally a soldier in the Wodeyar army, became the effective ruler of Mysore due to his strong administration and military skills.
3. By the late 18th century, Mysore became a significant power under Haider Ali’s leadership.
4. Mysore’s ties with the French and Haider Ali’s control over trade in the Malabar coast threatened British interests in Madras.
5. After the Battle of Buxar, the British secured the Northern Circars from the Nizam of Hyderabad to defend against Haider Ali, who also had conflicts with the Marathas.
6. Haider Ali diplomatically neutralized the Marathas and allied with the Nizam against the Nawab of Arcot.

Course of War:

1. The war dragged on for a year and a half without resolution.
2. Haider Ali changed tactics and surprised Madras, causing panic among the English.
3. This compelled the English to sign the Treaty of Madras on April 4, 1769, agreeing to exchange prisoners and conquered territories.
4. The treaty also promised English assistance to Haider Ali in case of attacks by other powers.

Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84)

Background:

1. The British violated the Treaty of Madras when the Marathas attacked Mysore in 1771, leading Haider Ali to accuse them of betrayal.
2. Haider Ali found the French more helpful in supplying war materials like guns, saltpetre, and lead, leading him to import from French-controlled Mahe on the Malabar Coast.
3. British concerns grew as Haider Ali and the French strengthened ties, prompting British attempts to capture Mahe, protected by Haider Ali.

Course of War:

1. Haider Ali allied with the Marathas and the Nizam against the British, capturing Arcot and defeating Colonel Baillie’s army in 1781.
2. Despite British efforts to weaken his allies, Haider Ali faced them boldly and defeated the English at Porto Novo in November 1781.
3. Although suffering a defeat, Haider Ali regrouped and captured English commander Braithwaite, but he succumbed to cancer on December 7, 1782.
4. His son, Tipu Sultan, continued the war for a year without significant success.
5. Frustrated with the ongoing conflict, both sides opted for peace, resulting in the Treaty of Mangalore in March 1784, where they returned conquered territories to each other.

Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-92)

Background:

1. The Treaty of Mangalore failed to resolve conflicts between Tipu Sultan and the British, as both sought political dominance in the Deccan region.
2. The Third Anglo-Mysore War began when Tipu attacked Travancore, an English ally and a major source of pepper for the East India Company.
3. Travancore’s purchase of territories from the Dutch, within the Cochin state under Tipu’s control, was seen as a violation of Tipu’s sovereignty.

Course of War:

1. The British supported Travancore and launched an attack on Mysore. The Nizam and the Marathas, envious of Tipu’s power, joined forces with the British.
2. In 1790, Tipu Sultan defeated the British army led by General Meadows.
3. Lord Cornwallis took command in 1791 and led a large army to Bangalore, eventually reaching Seringapatam. Coimbatore was captured, lost, and then regained.
4. With support from the Marathas and the Nizam, the British attacked Seringapatam again. Despite Tipu Sultan’s strong resistance, the odds were against him.
5. The war concluded with the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792, resulting in the loss of nearly half of Mysore’s territory to the British, Nizam, and Marathas.
6. The British obtained Baramahal, Dindigul, and Malabar, while the Marathas gained regions around the Tungabhadra River and its tributaries, and the Nizam acquired areas along the Krishna and Pennar rivers.
7. Tipu Sultan was required to pay a war indemnity of three crore rupees, with half due immediately and the rest in installments. Tipu’s two sons were taken as hostages by the British as collateral.
8. The Third Anglo-Mysore War significantly weakened Tipu Sultan’s position in the south and solidified British supremacy in the region.

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)

Background:

1. Between 1792 and 1799, both the British and Tipu Sultan used this time to recover from their losses.
2. Tipu Sultan fulfilled the terms of the Treaty of Seringapatam and secured the release of his sons.
3. In 1796, after the death of the Hindu ruler of the Wodeyar dynasty, Tipu declared himself Sultan and sought revenge for his previous defeat.
4. Lord Wellesley, known for his imperialist views, became the new Governor General in 1798, replacing Sir John Shore.
5. Tipu Sultan’s growing alliance with the French worried Wellesley, leading to measures aimed at weakening Tipu’s independence, including the imposition of the Subsidiary Alliance system.
6. Tipu was accused of plotting against the British by sending emissaries to various places with treasonous intent, leading to the start of the fourth Anglo-Mysore war.

Course of War:

1. The war began on April 17, 1799, and ended on May 4, 1799, with the fall of Seringapatam. Tipu Sultan was defeated first by British General Stuart and then by General Harris.
2. Arthur Wellesley, Lord Wellesley’s brother, also participated in the war.
3. The Marathas and the Nizam aided the British as they had been promised territory from Tipu Sultan and had already signed the Subsidiary Alliance.
4. Tipu Sultan died in the war, and his treasures were confiscated by the British.
5. A boy from the earlier Hindu royal family of Mysore was chosen as the new maharaja, and the British imposed the Subsidiary Alliance system on him.
6. It took the English 32 years to subjugate Mysore, effectively eliminating the threat of French revival in the Deccan.

In conclusion, after the fourth Anglo-Mysore war, Lord Wellesley orchestrated a redistribution of territories. Despite offering Soonda and Harponelly districts to the Marathas, they declined. The Nizam received Gooty and Gurramkonda districts, while the British acquired Kanara, Wayanad, Coimbatore, Dwaraporam, and Seringapatam. The Mysore Kingdom was placed under the rule of the old Hindu dynasty, represented by the minor ruler Krishnaraja III, who accepted the subsidiary alliance imposed by the British. This marked the culmination of British dominance in the region, cementing their control over Mysore and eliminating the threat of French influence in the Deccan.

Also read about British Conquest of Bengal.