Conquest of Mysore
Contents
The Conquest of Mysore by the British
The British conquest of Mysore unfolded through four major wars fought between 1767 and 1799, culminating in the defeat of Tipu Sultan and the establishment of British supremacy in South India. Under the leadership of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, Mysore emerged as a formidable power that fiercely resisted British expansion before ultimately falling to British control.
Background: Rise of Mysore under Hyder Ali
The Wodeyar dynasty ruled Mysore from 1612, but by the mid-18th century, power shifted to Hyder Ali, who became the de facto ruler in 1761. Hyder Ali transformed Mysore into a powerful military state through extensive administrative and military reforms. He centralized authority, reorganized the Mysorean army by incorporating advanced European tactics and technologies, and improved revenue administration. He took French assistance to modernize his arsenal, artillery and workshops, organizing his army into risalas (divisions) similar to European armies. By 1765, Mysore even possessed a navy of 30 vessels of war.
First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-1769)
Causes and Course
The First Anglo-Mysore War began due to British expansionist designs in South India and territorial ambitions. Initially, the British, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Marathas formed an alliance against Hyder Ali. However, Hyder Ali demonstrated superior military strategy, using guerrilla warfare and swift attacks to defeat the British in several battles. The British forces were eventually cornered in Madras and forced into negotiations.
Treaty of Madras (1769)
The war ended with the Treaty of Madras on 4 April 1769. This treaty mandated mutual restoration of conquests and exchange of prisoners. Significantly, it included a defensive alliance clause requiring the British to assist Hyder Ali if he was attacked by his neighbors. This treaty represented a British acknowledgment of Mysore’s military strength.
Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-1784)
Causes
The Second Anglo-Mysore War erupted due to several factors:
British betrayal of the Treaty of Madras when they failed to help Hyder Ali during the Maratha attack in 1771
British capture of the French-controlled port of Mahe in 1779, which was under Hyder Ali’s protection
Hyder Ali formed alliances with the French, Marathas, and the Nizam against the British
Course of War
Hyder Ali launched a major invasion of the Carnatic in 1780 with 80,000-90,000 troops, devastating the countryside around British strongholds. In September 1780, at the Battle of Pollilur, Tipu Sultan (commanding under his father) inflicted a crushing defeat on Colonel Baillie’s forces, killing or capturing about 4,000 men—the worst defeat the British East India Company had suffered in India to that date. Hyder Ali died in December 1782, and Tipu Sultan succeeded him, continuing the war.
Treaty of Mangalore (1784)
After an inconclusive war with no clear winner, both sides sought peace. The Treaty of Mangalore was signed on 11 March 1784. This treaty restored the status quo ante bellum, with both sides returning captured territories. The British found the terms extremely unfavorable, as it demonstrated Mysore’s resilience. This was the last treaty between the British and an Indian ruler on equal footing.
Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-1792)
Causes
After becoming ruler, Tipu Sultan strengthened Mysore through various reforms, which alarmed the British, the Nizam, and the Marathas. The main causes included:
Tipu’s growing military and economic power
His alliance with France and attempts to seek French support for modernizing his army
Tipu’s attack on Travancore in 1789, which was a British ally
Tipu’s refusal to honor the Treaty of Mangalore regarding the release of British prisoners
In 1790, the British concluded a tripartite alliance with the Nizam and the Marathas against Tipu
Course of War
British forces under Lord Cornwallis, allied with the Marathas and the Nizam, invaded Mysore from multiple directions. Tipu offered serious resistance, but the combined forces proved overwhelming. In February 1792, allied forces laid siege to Seringapatam, Mysore’s capital. Rather than attempting a costly assault, Cornwallis entered negotiations with Tipu.
Treaty of Seringapatam (1792)
The Treaty of Seringapatam was signed on 18 March 1792. The terms were severe for Mysore:
Tipu ceded nearly half of his territories to the victors
The British acquired Baramahal, Dindigul, and Malabar
The Marathas received regions surrounding the Tungabhadra and its tributaries
The Nizam obtained areas from the Krishna to beyond the Pennar River, including the forts of Cuddapah and Gandikota
Tipu had to pay a war indemnity of three crore (330 lakh) rupees
Unable to pay immediately, Tipu was required to surrender two of his sons as hostages until he paid the balance
This treaty destroyed Tipu’s dominant position in South India and firmly established British supremacy.
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)
Causes
Despite the humiliating treaty, tensions continued to escalate. The main causes included:
Tipu Sultan’s refusal to accept Lord Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance system
Tipu’s attempts to forge alliances with France and other foreign powers, which the British viewed as a threat
British determination to eliminate Mysore as an independent power
Course of War
The war commenced on 17 April 1799. Three armies—one from Bombay and two British forces (including a division commanded by Colonel Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington)—marched into Mysore. The British had secured alliances with the Marathas (promising them half of Tipu’s territory) and the Nizam (who had already entered into the Subsidiary Alliance).
On 6 March 1799, Tipu was defeated at the Battle of Seedaseer. The combined forces besieged Seringapatam, and on 4 May 1799, after breaching the fortress walls, British forces stormed the citadel. Major General David Baird led the assault. Tipu Sultan died valiantly defending his capital, fighting to the very end.
Administrative Changes After the Conquest
Immediate Reorganization (1799)
After Tipu’s death, the British implemented sweeping administrative changes:
Territorial Distribution:
The Marathas were offered the districts of Soonda and Harponelly but declined
The Nizam received Gooty and Gurramkonda districts
The British retained Kanara, Wynad, Coimbatore, Dwaraporam, and Seringapatam
Restoration of Wodeyar Dynasty:
The British restored the old Hindu Wodeyar dynasty, placing the young Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (a minor) on the throne. However, this restoration came with conditions—Mysore had to accept the Subsidiary Alliance system introduced by Lord Wellesley.
Subsidiary Alliance Terms:
Under the Subsidiary Alliance signed in 1799, Mysore became the second state (after Hyderabad) to accept this system. The key features included:
British troops stationed in Mysore for “protection”
Mysore had to pay subsidies to the British for maintaining these troops
Mysore surrendered control over foreign affairs to the British
No European except British could be employed in state service
Mysore could not declare war or sign treaties without British approval
In reality, this system stripped Indian rulers of their sovereignty, making them puppets under British control.
British Commissioners’ Rule (1831-1881)
Despite the restoration, problems continued. In 1830, a peasant revolt broke out in Mysore. Allegations of misgovernment and maladministration, along with non-payment of subsidies according to the Treaty of 1799, gave the British a pretext for intervention.
On 7 September 1831, Governor-General Lord William Bentinck sent a letter to Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III informing him of an impending takeover. On 19 October 1831, the Maharaja surrendered, and the British assumed direct control of Mysore. The young king was pensioned off, and for the next 50 years (1831-1881), Mysore was ruled directly by British Commissioners.
Administrative Structure Under Commission Rule:
Initially, two commissioners (Colonel Briggs and C.M. Lushington) were appointed
The administration was shifted from Mysore city to Bangalore, which gained importance as the administrative headquarters
Tipu’s palace in Bangalore became the seat of administration, later moved to Attara Kacheri
In 1834, the role was unified, and Sir Mark Cubbon became the sole Commissioner
Sir Mark Cubbon’s Administration (1834-1861):
Sir Mark Cubbon served as Chief Commissioner for 27 years and implemented significant reforms:
Established a comprehensive law and order system
Introduced judicial and economic reforms
Developed Mysore’s economy through infrastructure improvements
His effective administration ensured that the 1857 rebellion had almost no impact in Mysore
Cubbon Road and Cubbon Park in Bangalore are named after him
Rendition (1881)
Following strong lobbying for the restoration of native rule, the British handed back administration to the Wodeyar dynasty in 1881. Lord Ripon, the Viceroy, restored the kingdom to King Chamarajendra Wodeyar X. The young king had been educated in the British system and was recognized as the successor after Krishnaraja Wodeyar III’s death in 1868.
Post-Rendition Administrative Structure:
The post of Commissioner was abolished and replaced by a Diwan (chief minister)
Two advisers and a British Resident were appointed to the Mysore court
The Representative Assembly was formed in 1881 with 144 members
C.V. Rungacharlu became the first Diwan and implemented progressive economic policies
Railway lines were constructed, coffee plantations developed, and the Kolar Gold Fields began mining operations
From 1881 until Indian independence in 1947, Mysore remained a princely state under British paramountcy, with the Wodeyars maintaining internal autonomy while the British controlled external affairs.
Reforms Under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan
Hyder Ali’s Reforms (1761-1782)
Hyder Ali implemented comprehensive administrative and military modernization:
Military Reforms:
Reorganized the Mysorean army incorporating European tactics and technologies
Created a central army paid directly by the state, replacing contingents maintained by individual commanders
Organized the army into risalas—divisions with fixed numbers of soldiers, guns, and transport
Established a navy that by 1765 possessed 30 vessels of war commanded by European officers
Took French assistance to modernize arsenal, artillery, and workshops
Administrative Reforms:
Centralized authority to reduce influence of rival factions
Improved revenue systems and financial management
Enhanced efficiency of governance
Tipu Sultan’s Reforms (1782-1799)
Tipu Sultan continued and expanded his father’s modernization efforts:
Administrative Innovations:
Introduced a new coinage system
Implemented a new calendar
Started a new land revenue system that boosted state revenue while supporting farmers
Issued regulations for timely revenue collection to avoid pauperizing peasants
Provided taccavi loans (in the form of cattle and grain) to resource-less peasants
Economic and Industrial Development:
Promoted industries such as silk production (sericulture), which continues to employ many in Karnataka
Established 21 centers (karkhanas) for silkworm culture
Introduced production of refined sugar varieties
Developed trade routes that enhanced economic growth
Repaired old canals, embankments, and dams while constructing new ones for agricultural development
Military Modernization:
Reorganized the infantry on European lines
Established a modern navy
Pioneered the use of iron-cased Mysorean rockets in warfare
Commissioned Fathul Mujahidin, a military manual
His rockets were used devastatingly against British armies, later inspiring British Congreve rockets.
