The Anglo-Mysore wars were a series of four wars fought during the last three decades of the 18th century between the Kingdom of Mysore on the one hand, and the British East India Company (represented chiefly by the neighbouring Madras Presidency), Maratha Empire, Kingdom of Travancore, and the Kingdom of Hyderabad on the other. Hyder Ali and his succeeding son Tipu Sultan fought the wars on four fronts: with the British attacking from the west, south and east and the Nizam's forces attacking from the north. The fourth war resulted in the overthrow of the house of Hyder Ali and Tipu (the latter was killed in the fourth war, in 1799), and the dismantlement of Mysore to the benefit of the East India Company, which took control of much of the Indian subcontinent.
The four wars
First Anglo-Mysore War
thumb|right|348x348px|Hyder Ali in 1762, incorrectly described as "Commander in Chief of the Marathas. At the head of his army in the war against the British in India" (French painting).
In the First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769), Haider Ali enjoyed some measure of success against the British, almost capturing Madras. The British convinced Nizam Mir Nizam Ali Khan to attack Ali. That was temporary, however, and the Nizam signed a new treaty with the British in February 1768. Ali had to contend with a Bombay Army attacking from the west and a Madras Army attacking from the northeast. However, Ali's attack towards Madras resulted in the Madras government suing for peace, and the resultant Treaty of Madras.
See also
- Mysorean invasion of Malabar
- Battle of Nedumkotta
- Regiment de Meuron
- Garrison Cemetery, Seringapatam
References
Further reading
- – a novel linked to TV series