NCERT Notes: Third And Fourth Anglo-Mysore Wars [Modern Indian History For UPSC]

Causes of the war:

• The British started improving their relationship with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas.
• Tipu Sultan, who assumed control of Mysore after Hyder Ali’s death, had French help in bettering his military resources.
• He also refused to free the English prisoners taken during the second Anglo-Mysore war as per the Treaty of Mangalore.

The course of the war:

• Tipu declared war on Travancore in 1789. Travancore was a friendly state of the British.
• In 1790, the Governor-General of Bengal, Lord Cornwallis declared war on Tipu.
• Tipu was defeated in the first phase of the war and his forces had to retreat.
• Later the English advanced towards Tipu’s capital of Seringapatam and Tipu had to bargain for peace.

Result of the war:

• The war ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792.
• As per the treaty, Tipu had to cede half of his kingdom to the English including the areas of Malabar, Dindigul, Coorg and Baramahal.
• He also had to pay Rs.3 Crore as war indemnity to the British.
• Tipu also had to surrender two of his sons as surety to the British till he paid his due.

Causes of the war:

• The Treaty of Seringapatam failed to bring peace between Tipu and the English.
• Tipu also refused to accept the Subsidiary Alliance of Lord Wellesley.
• Tipu aligned with the French which the British saw as a threat.

The course of the war:

• Mysore was attacked from all four sides.
• The Marathas and the Nizam invaded from the North.
• Tipu’s troops were outnumbered 4:1.
• The British secured a decisive victory at the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799.
• Tipu died while defending the city.

Result of the war:

• Tipu’s territories were divided between the British and the Nizam of Hyderabad.
• The core area around Seringapatam and Mysore was restored to the Wodeyar dynasty who had been ruling Mysore before Hyder Ali became the de-facto ruler.
• Mysore entered into a Subsidiary Alliance with the British and a British resident was placed at the Mysore Court.
• The Kingdom of Mysore remained a princely state not directly under the British until 1947 when it chose to join the Indian Union.