Second Anglo-Mysore War, 1780-84
Modern History › The Anglo-Mysore Wars · Topic 5.3
The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84) arose from English failure to help Haidar Ali against the Marathas in 1771 and their attack on the French port of Mahe. Haidar died in late 1782, and Tipu Sultan ended the war with the Treaty of Mangalore in March 1784.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · The Anglo-Mysore Wars
At a Glance
- What it is The second war between Mysore and the Company
- Years 1780-84
- Cause English breach of the Treaty of Madras and the attempt to seize Mahe
- Ended by Treaty of Mangalore, March 1784 (restoration of conquests)
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: The Anglo-Mysore Wars
Where Does It Fit?
This is the third topic of the category on the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The previous topic covered the First Anglo-Mysore War. This topic describes the second war, fought partly under Haidar Ali and partly under Tipu Sultan. The next topic covers the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Previous topic: First Anglo-Mysore War, 1767-69.
What Caused the War?
Haidar Ali accused the English of breach of faith and of not observing the Treaty of Madras, because when the Marathas attacked him in 1771 the English did not come to his aid. He also found the French far more helpful than the English in meeting his army’s needs for guns, saltpetre and lead. Some French war material was brought to Mysore through Mahe, a French possession on the Malabar coast.
Meanwhile the American War of Independence had broken out, in which the French were on the side of the rebels against the English. Haidar’s friendship with the French therefore caused the English even more concern. They tried to capture Mahe, which Haidar regarded as under his protection, and he treated the English attempt as a direct challenge to his authority.
| Cause | Detail |
|---|---|
| English breach of the Treaty of Madras | No help to Haidar when the Marathas attacked him in 1771 |
| French supplies | The French gave guns, saltpetre and lead, through Mahe |
| American War of Independence | The French fought the English there, raising English fears of Haidar’s French link |
| Attempt on Mahe | The English tried to seize it; Haidar saw it as a challenge |
How Did the War Unfold?
Haidar forged an anti-English alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam. He then attacked the Carnatic, captured Arcot and defeated the English army under Colonel Baillie at Pollilur on 10 September 1780. Tipu Sultan’s guns and Haidar’s cavalry played a large part in the victory.
In the meantime the English under Sir Eyre Coote detached both the Marathas and the Nizam from Haidar’s side. Undeterred, Haidar faced the English boldly but suffered a defeat at Porto Novo in 1781. He regrouped his forces, defeated the English and captured their commander, Braithwaite.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Anti-English alliance | Haidar, the Marathas and the Nizam |
| Capture of Arcot | Haidar attacked the Carnatic and took Arcot |
| Pollilur, 10 September 1780 | Colonel Baillie’s army defeated |
| Eyre Coote’s diplomacy | The Marathas and the Nizam detached from Haidar |
| Porto Novo, 1781 | Haidar defeated by Eyre Coote |
| Later success | Haidar defeated the English and captured Braithwaite |
What Happened After Haidar Ali Died?
Haidar Ali died of cancer in late 1782, and the common account gives the date as 7 December 1782. His son Tipu Sultan carried on the war for a year without a positive outcome. Both sides, tired of an inconclusive war, opted for peace.
What Were the Terms of the Treaty of Mangalore?
The Treaty of Mangalore, signed in March 1784, ended the war. Under it each party gave back the territories it had taken from the other. Warren Hastings and other Company officials thought the terms unfavourable, which shows how little the English had gained.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty of Mangalore, March 1784 |
| Main term | Each side restored the territories taken from the other |
| Mysore ruler | Tipu Sultan |
| English view | Warren Hastings and other officials found the terms very unfavourable |
As an analytical point, the second war ended in a draw for Mysore, a good result against a Company that had just won Bengal. But it left both sides ready for another round, since the dispute over French links, Malabar trade and Travancore stayed unsettled. The next war began over Travancore.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Direct Mysore topic The war and its treaty appear regularly in Prelims
- International link The war ties Mysore to the French and the American War of Independence
- Cause of the third war The unsettled issues led to the third war in 1790
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Third Anglo-Mysore War and the Treaty of Seringapatam of 1792.
Key People and Terms
- Mahe A French port on the Malabar coast that Haidar regarded as under his protection
- Pollilur The battle of 10 September 1780 in which Baillie’s army was defeated
- Porto Novo The 1781 battle in which Eyre Coote defeated Haidar
- Eyre Coote The English commander who detached the Marathas and the Nizam
- Treaty of Mangalore The March 1784 treaty that ended the war
- Status quo ante bellum The state of affairs before the war
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Second Anglo-Mysore War: 1780-84.
- Cause: breach of the Treaty of Madras and the attempt on Mahe.
- Pollilur: 10 September 1780; Baillie defeated.
- Haidar Ali died in late 1782; Tipu continued the war.
- Treaty of Mangalore: March 1784; conquests restored.
Do Not Confuse With
- Pollilur and Porto Novo Pollilur (1780) was Haidar’s victory over Baillie; Porto Novo (1781) was his defeat by Coote
- Treaty of Madras and Treaty of Mangalore Madras (1769) ended the first war; Mangalore (1784) ended the second
- Haidar and Tipu in the war Haidar led it until late 1782; Tipu ended it
Memory Hook
Mahe was the match, Pollilur the blaze, Mangalore the truce.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the causes and results of the Second Anglo-Mysore War. These points add depth.
- International context The Anglo-French rivalry and the American War shaped the quarrel
- Alliance building Haidar built a wide alliance, and Coote broke it by diplomacy
- Draw The treaty restored all conquests, which shows Mysore’s strength
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the causes and results of the Second Anglo-Mysore War.”
How to Answer
- Causes The breach of 1771, French help and Mahe.
- Course Pollilur, Coote’s diplomacy and Porto Novo.
- Result Haidar’s death and the Treaty of Mangalore.
- Conclude Say that the war ended in a draw and the issues remained.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Second Anglo-Mysore War?
The Second Anglo-Mysore War was caused by English failure to help Haidar Ali when the Marathas attacked him in 1771, his closer ties with the French, and the English attempt to capture the French port of Mahe, which Haidar regarded as under his protection. The American War of Independence deepened English fears.
What happened at Pollilur in 1780?
At Pollilur on 10 September 1780, Haidar Ali, with Tipu Sultan, defeated the English army under Colonel Baillie. The victory followed Haidar's attack on the Carnatic and his capture of Arcot, and it was one of the worst English defeats of the war.
How did Eyre Coote change the course of the war?
Sir Eyre Coote detached both the Marathas and the Nizam from Haidar's alliance and then defeated Haidar at Porto Novo in 1781. This broke the anti-English coalition and let the English recover, though Haidar regrouped and later captured the English commander Braithwaite.
When did Haidar Ali die?
Haidar Ali died of cancer in late 1782, and the common account gives the date as 7 December 1782. His son Tipu Sultan carried on the war for another year, and neither side could win a decisive result.
What was the Treaty of Mangalore?
The Treaty of Mangalore, signed in March 1784, ended the Second Anglo-Mysore War. Each party gave back the territories it had taken from the other, and Warren Hastings and other Company officials considered the terms unfavourable to the English.
Why did the Second Anglo-Mysore War end without a winner?
Both sides tired of an inconclusive war after Haidar's death. Tipu Sultan had carried on for a year without a positive outcome, so both opted for peace, and the Treaty of Mangalore restored conquests on each side.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Second Anglo-Mysore War ended with the Treaty of Mangalore in March 1784.
Each party gave back the territories it had taken.
2 Haidar Ali defeated Colonel Baillie at Pollilur on 10 September 1780.
Tipu Sultan's guns helped.
3 The English failure to help Haidar Ali against the Marathas in 1771 was a cause of the second war.
He accused them of breach of faith.
4 Haidar Ali was alive to sign the Treaty of Mangalore.
He had died in 1782; Tipu Sultan signed it.
5 The French port of Mahe was on the Coromandel coast.
It was on the Malabar coast.
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