Third Anglo-Mysore War

Table of Contents

Third Anglo-Mysore War- Relevance for UPSC Exam

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

Second Anglo-Mysore war which ended with the Treaty of Mangalore was not enough to end the Anglo-Mysore rivalry in India.
Supremacy to control the Deccan region was the key cause for the continued Anglo-Mysore rivalry, leading to the Third Anglo-Mysore war.

French Connection: Tipu Sultan continued his associations with French forces despite English reservations. This was one of the key causes for the third Anglo-Mysore war.
English Diplomacy: As part of their clever diplomacy and strategic thinking, the British started improving their relationship with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas.
Non-adherence to the Treaty of Mangalore: Tipu sultan refused to free the English prisoners taken during the second Anglo-Mysore war as per the Treaty of Mangalore.

War on Travancore: Tipu declared war on Travancore in 1789 which was a friendly state of the British.
Beginning of Third Anglo-Mysore War: Invasion of Travancore angered the British who under the leadership of the Governor-General of Bengal, Lord Cornwallis declared war on Tipu in 1790.
Result of First Phase: In the first phase of the third Anglo-Mysore war, Tipu was defeated and his forces had to retreat.
Later, British made advances towards Tipu’s capital, weakened tipu then has to bargain for peace with Britishers. This led to the treaty of Seringapatam.

About: The Third Anglo-Mysore war ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792 between Tipu Sultan and British Forces.
Provisions of the Treaty:
- Loss of Territory: Tipu had to cede half of his kingdom to the alliance of the British, Nizam and the Marathas, including the areas of Malabar, Dindigul, Coorg and Baramahal.
- War Indemnity Clause: Tipu was made to pay a war indemnity of Rs. 3 crores to Britishers. Half of it was to be paid instantly and the other half was to be paid in installments.
- Tipu also had to surrender two of his sons as surety to the British till he paid his due.
The Third Anglo-Mysore War destroyed Tipu’s dominant position in the Deccan region and firmly established British supremacy in South India.