First Anglo-Mysore War And Second Anglo-Mysore War- NCERT Notes For UPSC

The First Anglo-Mysore war and the Second Anglo-Mysore war were two among the four wars that were fought between the British and the rulers of Mysore. The First Anglo-Mysore war took place between 1767 and 1769 whereas the second Anglo-Mysore war took place between 1780 and 1784. The Mysore dynasty emerged as a powerful empire and reached its prominence in the second half of the eighteenth century. The British decided to overthrow the Mysore dynasty as it was a threat for their expansion and this led to a series of four Anglo-Mysore wars.

This article on NCERT notes for the First Anglo-Mysore war and the Second Anglo-Mysore war comes under the subject Modern History and it is very useful for UPSC Prelims and Mains.

First Anglo-Mysore War and Second Anglo-Mysore War (UPSC Modern History) NCERT Notes: Download PDF Here.

First Anglo-Mysore War

Background

The background of the First Anglo-Mysore war is as follows:

• The British East India company demanded the Northern Circars from the Nizam of Hyderabad in order to establish a land connection between their possessions at Madras and Bengal. The Nizam denied this proposal.
• The Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas were concerned about the expansion of the Mysore empire under Haidar Ali. 
• The British were also bothered by the conquests of Haider Ali as it threatened their political and commercial interests in South India. 
• In November 1766, the British East India Company concluded a treaty with Nizam of Hyderabad. Under this treaty the Nizam agreed to surrender the Northern Circars to the Company and in turn the British East India Company would provide troops and  protect the Nizam from the threats posed by Haider Ali.
• The British East India Company along with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas stood against Haider Ali.

Check out NCERT notes on Third and Fourth Anglo-Mysore Wars here.

Course Of War

• Haider Ali came to know about the alliance between British, Nizam and the Marathas against him. 
• He handled this diplomatically. He turned Marathas neutral by paying them and made Nizam his ally by promising to share the conquered territories with him.
• Together with Nizam of Hyderabad, Haider Ali attacked the Nawab of Arcot with whom he had territorial disputes. Thus began the First Anglo-Mysore war.
• The struggle continued for the next one and a half years. No conclusion was brought for this see saw struggle.
• Suddenly Haider Ali appeared at the gates of Madras and forced the British to conclude a treaty with him.

You might like: NCERT notes on First Anglo-Maratha War

Treaty Of Madras

• On April 4, 1769, the first Anglo-Mysore war was brought to an end by signing the Treaty of Madras.
• The Treaty of Madras was signed between Haider Ali and the British East India Company.
• Under this Treaty,
  1. Mutual reinstitution of each other’s conquered territories.
  2. Prisoners of war were liberated.
  3. The British committed to help Haider Ali incase of any attack from his neighbours.

Also, check NCERT notes on Second Anglo-Maratha War here.

Second Anglo-Mysore War

Background

• In 1771, the Marathas attacked Haider Ali and the British refused to extend their support to Haider Ali. Thereby the British breached the Treaty of Madras and failed to observe its terms which turned Haider Ali against them.
• Haider Ali felt that the  French were more helpful than the British, as they helped him in meeting his military requirements for guns, saltpetre and lead. 
• At the same time, with the outbreak of American War of Independence in which the French and British fought on opposite sides, Lord Warren Hastings was concerned about the relation between the French and Haider Ali.
• The British made attempts to capture Mahe which was considered to be under the protection of Haider Ali. This further increased Haider Ali’s rage against the British.

Also read: NCERT notes on Third Anglo-Maratha War

Course Of War

• Haider Ali made an alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas to fight against the British East India Company. 
• In 1781, Haider Ali defeated the English army under Colonel Baillie and captured Arcot. Thus began the Second Anglo-Mysore war.
• The English soon pulled the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas from Haider Ali’s side. 
• The Battle of Porto Novo was fought between the British army under Sir Eyre Coote and Haider Ali on July 1,1781. 
• In November 1781, Haider Ali was defeated in the battle.
• In the following year, Haider Ali defeated the English army under Braithwaite and took him as a prisoner.
• On December 7,1782 Haider Ali died and his son Tipu Sultan took over the war.

Check out NCERT notes on Second Anglo-Sikh War here.

Treaty Of Mangalore

• The Second Anglo-Mysore war continued for another one year. 
• Tired of the war, both sides decided to sign the Treaty of Mangalore in March 1784.
• Under this treaty, both the sides reinstituted each other’s territories.

Both the First Anglo-Mysore War and Second Anglo-Mysore War were inconclusive. At the end of each war, the British East India Company and Haider Ali reclaimed their lost territories.

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