Mysore Maratha War

The Mysore–Maratha War refers to a series of military conflicts fought between the Kingdom of Mysore and the Maratha Empire during the latter half of the eighteenth century in southern India. These wars formed a crucial part of the larger struggle among regional powers — including the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the British East India Company — for political supremacy in the Deccan and South India. The wars highlight the power dynamics between Mysore’s rulers, notably Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, and the Maratha Confederacy led by the Peshwas.

Background and Context

Following the decline of the Mughal Empire, India witnessed the rise of several regional powers, among them the Marathas, Mysore, and Hyderabad. The Marathas, under their Peshwas at Pune, had established dominance over a large portion of western and central India. Meanwhile, in southern India, the Kingdom of Mysore, under Hyder Ali, transformed from a small principality into a powerful military state.
Hyder Ali’s military reforms and his ambition to expand Mysore’s territory brought him into conflict with neighbouring powers, particularly the Marathas, who were equally determined to assert their authority over the Deccan region. The shifting alliances among Indian states and the growing involvement of the British East India Company further complicated the political landscape.

The First Mysore–Maratha Conflict (1764–1766)

The first major clash occurred around 1764 when Hyder Ali sought to extend Mysore’s control over territories traditionally claimed by the Marathas. The Marathas, under Madhav Rao I, responded by launching an invasion of Mysore. After a series of skirmishes and sieges, the conflict culminated in Hyder Ali’s defeat.
Hyder Ali was compelled to make peace by agreeing to pay a large indemnity and cede certain territories to the Marathas. This early war demonstrated the Maratha military strength but also revealed Mysore’s growing capacity to challenge established powers in southern India.

The Second Mysore–Maratha War (1771–1772)

The next phase of conflict emerged when Hyder Ali, having regained military strength, refused to continue paying tribute to the Marathas. The Marathas, led by Peshwa Madhav Rao I, undertook a punitive expedition against Mysore. The war witnessed the Marathas penetrating deep into Mysore’s territory, including Srirangapatna, Hyder Ali’s capital.
Hyder Ali was again forced to negotiate, agreeing to pay approximately 28 lakh rupees as tribute and return captured territories. The Treaty of 1772 restored temporary peace, but the enmity between Mysore and the Marathas persisted.

The Third Mysore–Maratha War (1785–1787)

The third and most significant Mysore–Maratha War took place during the reign of Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali’s son and successor. After ascending the throne in 1782, Tipu sought to avenge his father’s defeats and consolidate Mysore’s control in southern India.
At the same time, the Maratha ruler Mahadji Shinde (Scindia) and the Nizam of Hyderabad formed an alliance against Tipu Sultan. The Marathas accused Tipu of withholding territories and payments owed to them under earlier treaties.
The conflict began in 1785 when Tipu invaded Maratha-occupied Bednur and captured several forts in the northern Mysore region. The Marathas retaliated with large-scale invasions, and the war expanded into a multi-front struggle.
The war ended in 1787 with the Treaty of Gajendragad, under which Tipu Sultan agreed to pay a war indemnity of 48 lakh rupees to the Marathas and return conquered territories. Though a setback for Mysore, Tipu retained his core dominions and preserved his independence, showcasing his diplomatic skill and resilience.

Political and Military Strategies

Both Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan adopted advanced European-style military reforms, incorporating disciplined infantry, artillery, and cavalry divisions modelled after French and British armies. Their modernised forces challenged the Marathas’ traditional cavalry-based warfare.
The Marathas, however, relied on superior logistics, rapid mobility, and vast manpower spread across multiple armies under powerful generals such as Mahadji Shinde, Tukoji Rao Holkar, and Nana Phadnavis. The wars between Mysore and the Marathas thus represented a clash between modernised military innovation and traditional martial organisation.

Consequences and Aftermath

The Mysore–Maratha Wars had significant geopolitical consequences for southern India:

• Weakening of Mysore: Although Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan modernised the Mysorean army, their repeated wars against the Marathas drained resources and weakened their strategic position.
• Maratha Dominance in the Deccan: The Marathas maintained their supremacy in the Deccan region, reaffirming their status as a major Indian power.
• British Involvement: The continuing conflicts made Mysore more reliant on alliances, bringing it into closer interaction — and eventual confrontation — with the British East India Company. This culminated in the Anglo–Mysore Wars.
• Regional Realignments: The wars reshaped alliances, with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas often cooperating against Mysore, while at times aligning with the British for strategic advantage.