Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War-Relevance for UPSC Exam

• GS Paper 1: Indian History- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.

 

Background of Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

• The third Anglo-Mysore war concluded with the treaty of Seringapatam but failed to bring peace between Tipu and the English.
• Tipu recovered his losses and fulfilled all the terms of the Treaty of Seringapatam. He also got his sons released.

 

Causes of Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

• Rejection of Subsidiary Alliance: Tipu Sultan rejected the offer of a subsidiary alliance of Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of EIC.
• French Connection: Tipu Sultan aligned with French forces, especially in terms of the military alliance. He even declared himself the Citizen and planted a tree.
  • This alerted the British who saw the French as a threat to their dominance in the world.
• Allegation of Betrayal: British accused Tipu of sending emissaries to Arabia, Afghanistan and to the Isle of France (Mauritius) and Versailles to gather support against the British in the war.
  • Tipu tried to defend his position against above in front of Wellesley but he was seeking an excuse to attack Mysore.
  • This led to the beginning of the fourth Anglo-Mysore War.

First Anglo-Mysore War

 

Course of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

• Beginning of the War: the fourth Anglo-Mysore was started on April 17, 1799 when Mysore was attacked by the British forces.
• Alliance: The British forces under Wellesley secured the alliance of Marathas and Nizam of Hyderabad against Tipu in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war.
• Defeat of Tipu Sultan: Tipu’s army was outnumbered against British-led alliance forces by 4:1. This led to his defeat in the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799.
• Death of Tipu Sultan: Tipu died in the Battle while defending his capital city of Seringapatam in 1799.

Second Anglo-Mysore War

 

Outcome of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

• Subsidiary Alliance with Mysore: The core area around Seringapatam and Mysore was restored to a minor Krishnaraja III of the Wodeyar dynasty who was made to sign a subsidiary alliance with the British.
• Spoils of War: After Tipu’s Defeat, areas of Tipu’s Kingdom were shared with Marathas and Nizam of Hyderabad.
  • The British took possession of Kanara, Wayanad, Coimbatore, Dwaraporam and Seringapatam.

First Anglo-Mysore War

Second Anglo-Mysore War

Third Anglo-Mysore War