Third Anglo-Mysore War

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.

 

Background of Third Anglo-Mysore War

• 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.

 

Key Causes of 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.

Second Anglo-Mysore War

 

Course of the Third Anglo-Mysore War

• 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.

 

Third Anglo-Mysore War Treaty- 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.

 

First Anglo-Mysore War

Second Anglo-Mysore War