Second Anglo-Mysore War
The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784) was a major conflict fought between the Kingdom of Mysore under Hyder Ali and later his son Tipu Sultan, against the British East India Company and its allies, including the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad. It formed a crucial part of the series of Anglo-Mysore Wars that shaped the colonial control over South India. The war was notable for its fierce battles, strategic alliances, and its eventual inconclusive end that temporarily restored peace between Mysore and the British.
Background and Causes
The origins of the Second Anglo-Mysore War can be traced to the Treaty of Madras (1769), which had concluded the First Anglo-Mysore War. The treaty required the British and Mysore to support each other in case of external attack. However, when Mysore was attacked by the Marathas in 1771, the British failed to provide the promised military assistance, deeply angering Hyder Ali.
This breach of faith, coupled with the growing British influence in the Carnatic region, led Hyder Ali to view the East India Company as an existential threat. Furthermore, the British occupation of the French port of Mahe—which was under Mysorean protection—served as the immediate cause for the outbreak of hostilities in 1780. Hyder Ali perceived this act as a direct challenge to his sovereignty and prepared for war.
Course of the War
Hyder Ali forged an alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas, both of whom also had grievances against the British. In July 1780, Hyder launched a massive invasion of the Carnatic region, descending through the passes of the Eastern Ghats with a formidable army estimated at nearly 80,000 men.
- In August 1780, Hyder captured Arcot, and his forces devastated the countryside, inflicting heavy losses on the British under Colonel Baillie, whose detachment was annihilated at the Battle of Pollilur (1780) — a significant Mysorean victory.
- The British commander Sir Eyre Coote later restored some of the Company’s prestige through victories at Porto Novo (1781), Pollilur (1781), and Sholinghur (1781). However, despite these tactical successes, the British failed to achieve a decisive advantage.
- Meanwhile, in 1782, Hyder Ali died of cancer at Arcot, and his capable son Tipu Sultan assumed command of Mysore’s forces. Tipu continued the war with vigour, displaying strong military leadership and modern tactics inspired by European methods.
Naval warfare also played a part, as French forces, allied to Mysore, clashed with the British in Indian waters. The conflict in South India thus became intertwined with the global Anglo-French rivalry during the American War of Independence.
Key Battles and Events
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Battle of Pollilur (1780):
- Fought near Kanchipuram, this battle was one of the most disastrous defeats for the British in India. Hyder Ali’s forces used innovative tactics, including iron-cased rockets, to rout the British army.
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Battle of Porto Novo (1781):
- Sir Eyre Coote’s well-disciplined troops managed to repel Hyder Ali’s larger army. The victory was a morale boost for the British, demonstrating their capacity to recover from earlier losses.
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Siege of Mangalore (1783–1784):
- One of the longest and most arduous engagements of the war, the siege ended indecisively. Both sides suffered from severe shortages and disease, leading to mutual exhaustion.
Treaty of Mangalore (1784)
The war ended with the Treaty of Mangalore, signed in March 1784. The terms of the treaty restored the status quo ante bellum, meaning both sides agreed to return to their pre-war territories. Both parties also agreed to release prisoners of war and cease hostilities.
The treaty was remarkable as it was one of the few instances where an Indian ruler dictated terms of peace to the British on equal footing. It temporarily re-established Mysore as a formidable power in South India and exposed the vulnerabilities of the East India Company.
Significance and Consequences
The Second Anglo-Mysore War had far-reaching implications:
- For Mysore: The war consolidated Tipu Sultan’s position as a strong and independent ruler. His effective resistance against the British earned him recognition among other Indian states and foreign powers, including the French.
- For the British: The East India Company suffered heavy financial and human losses. The war revealed the limitations of British military power in India and prompted efforts to strengthen their administrative and military systems.
- For Indian Politics: The temporary alliance between Mysore, the Marathas, and the Nizam demonstrated the potential for united Indian resistance, though mutual mistrust prevented a lasting coalition.
- For British Policy: The humiliating defeat at Pollilur and the equal terms of the Treaty of Mangalore encouraged British policymakers to prepare for renewed confrontation with Mysore, ultimately leading to the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792).
Military and Technological Aspects
The Mysorean army under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan was distinguished by its use of iron-cased rockets, an early form of rocket artillery. These weapons caused significant damage and confusion among British ranks, later inspiring the development of Congreve rockets in Britain.
Hyder and Tipu’s armies were also notable for their discipline, modern artillery, and training influenced by European mercenaries, particularly the French. The British, in contrast, were adapting their own military organisation to the diverse conditions of Indian warfare, relying heavily on sepoy regiments trained in European style.
Legacy
The Second Anglo-Mysore War marked a turning point in the military history of South India. It underscored the resilience of indigenous powers against colonial expansion and revealed the complex interplay of diplomacy, betrayal, and warfare in late eighteenth-century India.
While the Treaty of Mangalore offered a brief respite, the deep-rooted tensions between Mysore and the British East India Company remained unresolved. Within a decade, the struggle would resume under Tipu Sultan’s rule, culminating in his eventual defeat and death in 1799.
