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Anglo-Mysore & Anglo-Maratha Wars

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1

Learn the Concept

All

The Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767–99) and Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775–1818) were the decisive conflicts by which the English East India Company destroyed the two greatest Indian powers of the south and west and became paramount over the subcontinent. Fix the significance: Mysore under Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan was the most formidable military obstacle to the British in the south — four wars ended with Tipu's death at Srirangapatnam (1799); the Marathas, the strongest power in the west and centre, were broken in three wars, their confederacy dissolved and the Peshwaship abolished in 1818. Together these wars, fought alongside the Subsidiary Alliance policy, made the Company the master of India.

In One Line
  • Anglo-Mysore Wars (4): 1st (1767–69, Haidar), 2nd (1780–84, Treaty of Mangalore), 3rd (1790–92, Treaty of Seringapatam), 4th (1799, Tipu killed).
  • Haidar Ali & Tipu Sultan: modernised army (French help), rockets, state trade; Tipu "Tiger of Mysore".
  • Anglo-Maratha Wars (3): 1st (1775–82, Treaty of Salbai), 2nd (1803–05, after Bassein 1802), 3rd (1817–18, Peshwaship abolished).
  • Outcome: fall of Mysore (1799) and the Marathas (1818) = British paramountcy.
Glossary (define-on-first-use)
  • Treaty of Mangalore (1784): ended the Second Anglo-Mysore War on terms of mutual restitution.
  • Treaty of Seringapatam (1792): after the Third War, Tipu ceded half his territory and paid a large indemnity.
  • Treaty of Salbai (1782): ended the First Anglo-Maratha War (status quo, ~20 years of peace).
  • Treaty of Bassein (1802): the Peshwa accepted the Subsidiary Alliance, triggering the Second Maratha War.
  • Mysore rockets: Tipu's iron-cased war rockets, an early military innovation.

1. The Anglo-Mysore Wars

  • First (1767–69): Haidar Ali fought the Company (with shifting allies) and reached the gates of Madras, forcing a humiliating treaty.
  • Second (1780–84): Haidar (and after his death Tipu) fought hard; it ended inconclusively with the Treaty of Mangalore (1784).
  • Third (1790–92): Cornwallis defeated Tipu, who by the Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) ceded half his territory, paid an indemnity and gave up two sons as hostages.
  • Fourth (1799): Wellesley's forces stormed Srirangapatnam; Tipu Sultan died fighting, and Mysore was partitioned (a Wodeyar restored under subsidiary control).

2. Mysore under Haidar & Tipu

  • Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan built a strong, centralised state with a modern, French-trained army, pioneering iron-cased war rockets, promoting state trade and manufacture, and seeking foreign alliances (France, the Ottomans). Tipu, the "Tiger of Mysore", was the most determined Indian opponent the British faced in the 18th century.

3. The Anglo-Maratha Wars

  • First (1775–82): arising from Maratha succession disputes and the Company's intervention (Treaty of Surat), it ended in the Treaty of Salbai (1782) — roughly status quo and two decades of peace.
  • Second (1803–05): after the Peshwa accepted the Subsidiary Alliance by the Treaty of Bassein (1802), the British defeated Scindia and Bhonsle (Wellesley; battles of Assaye and Laswari).
  • Third (1817–18): a final effort by the Peshwa, Scindia, Holkar and Bhonsle was crushed; the Peshwaship was abolished, Baji Rao II pensioned, and British supremacy over India established (1818).

4. Significance

  • The fall of Mysore (1799) and the Marathas (1818) removed the last great Indian military powers. Combined with the Subsidiary Alliance and annexations, these wars made the Company the paramount power — only Punjab and Sind remained to be conquered (1840s). They also showcased the superiority of disciplined, well-financed European-style armies and the fatal effect of Indian disunity.
WarYearsEnded by / outcome
2nd Anglo-Mysore1780–84Treaty of Mangalore
3rd Anglo-Mysore1790–92Treaty of Seringapatam
4th Anglo-Mysore1799Tipu killed; Mysore partitioned
1st Anglo-Maratha1775–82Treaty of Salbai
3rd Anglo-Maratha1817–18Peshwaship abolished; British supremacy
Key Facts to Remember
  • Four Anglo-Mysore Wars: ended 1799 with Tipu's death at Srirangapatnam; treaties of Mangalore (1784) & Seringapatam (1792).
  • Tipu = "Tiger of Mysore"; French-trained army; iron rockets; state trade.
  • Three Anglo-Maratha Wars: Salbai (1782); Bassein (1802) → 2nd War; 3rd War abolished the Peshwaship (1818).
  • Key British commanders: Cornwallis (3rd Mysore), Wellesley (4th Mysore & 2nd Maratha).
  • Result: British paramountcy over India by 1818.
Connect the Dots
  • 18th-century successor states: Mysore and the Marathas as independent powers (earlier leaf).
  • Subsidiary Alliance & Doctrine of Lapse: the policy that accompanied these wars (next leaf).
  • Plassey & Buxar: the earlier foundation of Company power.
  • Governors-general: Cornwallis and Wellesley.
2

Prepare for the Exam — Prelims

Prelims

Tested on war↔year↔treaty, Tipu's death (1799), Bassein (1802), the abolition of the Peshwaship (1818), and the commanders.

High-probability areas
  • Four Anglo-Mysore Wars; Tipu died 1799 (Srirangapatnam).
  • Treaties: Mangalore (1784), Seringapatam (1792).
  • Three Anglo-Maratha Wars; Salbai (1782), Bassein (1802).
  • 3rd Maratha War (1817–18) abolished the Peshwaship.
  • Cornwallis (3rd Mysore), Wellesley (4th Mysore, 2nd Maratha).
Common traps
  • Mangalore ended the 2nd war; Seringapatam the 3rd.
  • Bassein (1802) preceded (triggered) the 2nd Maratha War.
  • The Peshwaship was abolished in the 3rd (1817–18) war.
  • Tipu = Tiger of Mysore; rockets were iron-cased.
Revision tip: keep war | years | treaty tables for both Mysore and Maratha wars.
2

Prepare for the Exam — Mains

Mains

GS Paper I (Company conquest). The examiner rewards explaining the fall of Mysore and the Marathas and why Indian powers failed.

Likely question types
  • Why did Mysore ultimately fall to the British? (15)
  • Analyse the causes of the decline of Maratha power in the Anglo-Maratha Wars. (15)
  • Assess Tipu Sultan as a ruler and opponent of the British. (10)
  • Examine the significance of the Treaty of Bassein (1802). (10)
Dimensions to cover
  • Military: European-style armies, finance.
  • Diplomatic: alliances & Subsidiary Alliance.
  • Structural: Indian disunity.
  • Outcome: paramountcy by 1818.
Value-additions
  • Note Tipu's modernisation & rockets.
  • Cite Salbai, Bassein, Seringapatam.
  • Link disunity to British victory.
3

How to Write the Answer

Mains
Worked example — decoding the question

"Indian disunity, more than British strength, destroyed Mysore and the Marathas." Discuss. (15)
"Discuss" = weigh British advantages against Indian failure to combine.

Introduction · ~20%
Note the two great powers and the thesis that disunity was decisive.
Body · ~60%
British strengths (finance, disciplined armies, Subsidiary Alliance, diplomacy). Indian failures: Mysore isolated by the Nizam & Marathas; Maratha houses divided; no common front. Trace the wars and treaties.
Conclusion · ~20%
British strength mattered, but Indian disunity was the decisive enabler of conquest.
10-mark: ~150 words · ~7 min
15-mark: ~250 words · ~12 min
Common mistakes
  • Mixing up Mangalore and Seringapatam.
  • Placing Bassein after the 2nd war.
  • Ignoring Indian disunity.
Model opening line: "The British rarely fought all India at once — they fought one Indian power while others watched, and so conquered them all."
4

Prelims Questions

Prelims

30 interactive MCQs — previous-year questions are included and tagged with their year. Select an answer for instant feedback and an explanation; your score is tracked and you can review wrong answers at the end.

Practice set
Question 1 of 30
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Score
5

Mains Questions

Mains

15 mains questions — previous-year questions are included and tagged. Write a full answer, then click Evaluate My Answer for paragraph-level feedback. Reveal the model structure after you attempt.

15 marks · ~250 words · ~11 min
Why did Mysore ultimately fall to the British?
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

15 marks · ~250 words · ~11 min
Analyse the causes of the collapse of Maratha power in the Anglo-Maratha Wars.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Assess Tipu Sultan as a ruler and opponent of the British.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Examine the significance of the Treaty of Bassein (1802).
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

15 marks · ~250 words · ~11 min
Trace the four Anglo-Mysore Wars and their outcomes.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Discuss the modernisation of Mysore under Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Describe the three Anglo-Maratha Wars.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

15 marks · ~250 words · ~11 min
'Indian disunity, more than British strength, enabled the conquest of Mysore and the Marathas.' Discuss.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Evaluate the role of Lord Wellesley in extending British power.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Examine the Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) and its impact on Mysore.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

15 marks · ~250 words · ~11 min
How did the British become the paramount power in India by 1818?
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Assess the foreign policy and alliances of Tipu Sultan.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Discuss the causes of the First Anglo-Maratha War.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

15 marks · ~250 words · ~11 min
Compare the resistance offered by Mysore and the Marathas to British expansion.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

10 marks · ~150 words · ~7 min
Describe Tipu Sultan's economic and military innovations.
Evaluate My Answer
Model answer structure

Intro: define the key term and give a one-line context hook.
Body 1: conceptual / historical basis with a named fact, date or example.
Body 2: evidence and analysis — sites, inscriptions, coins, archaeologists.
Body 3: limitations or the counter-view (balanced).
Conclusion: a specific, reasoned judgment / way forward.

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