The Wodeyar Dynasty and the Rise of Haidar Ali
Modern History › The Anglo-Mysore Wars · Topic 5.1
After Vijayanagara fell at Talikota in 1565, a Hindu kingdom under the Wodeyars emerged at Mysore in 1612. Haidar Ali, a horseman in its army, became the real ruler in 1761 and built a modern army, with French help, that made Mysore a power the English feared.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · The Anglo-Mysore Wars
At a Glance
- What it is The background of Mysore and the rise of Haidar Ali
- Wodeyar kingdom Founded in 1612 after the fall of Vijayanagara
- Haidar Ali Born 1721; de facto ruler of Mysore from 1761
- Key reforms Cavalry, artillery, a French-assisted arms factory at Dindigul
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: The Anglo-Mysore Wars
Where Does It Fit?
This is the first topic of the category on the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The earlier category traced the conquest of Bengal. This topic moves to south India and explains who the English faced in Mysore. The next topic covers the First Anglo-Mysore War. Previous topic: Plassey…">Robert Clive: Role and Assessment. The medieval background is in Tipu Sultan Born 1750; the Tiger of Mysore…">Kingdom of Mysore (Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan).
How Did the Wodeyar Kingdom of Mysore Begin?
After the Battle of Talikota in 1565 delivered a deadly blow to the great kingdom of Vijayanagara, many small kingdoms emerged from its remains. In 1612 a Hindu kingdom under the Wodeyars emerged in the region of Mysore. Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar II ruled from 1734 to 1766.
In the second half of the eighteenth century Mysore emerged as a formidable power under the leadership of Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan.
Why Did the English Fear Mysore?
The English felt that their political and commercial interests in south India were threatened because of Mysore’s closeness to the French and Haidar Ali’s and Tipu’s control over the rich trade of the Malabar coast. Mysore’s power was also seen as a threat to English control over Madras.
| Cause of English fear | Detail |
|---|---|
| French link | Mysore was close to the French, the English rivals in south India |
| Malabar trade | Haidar Ali and Tipu controlled the rich trade of the Malabar coast |
| Threat to Madras | Mysore’s power was seen as a danger to English control over Madras |
Who Was Haidar Ali?
In the early eighteenth century two brothers, Nanjaraj (the sarvadhikari) and Devaraj (the dulwai), had reduced Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar to a mere puppet. Haidar Ali, born in 1721 in an obscure family, began his career as a horseman in the Mysore army under the ministers Nanjaraj and Devaraj. Though uneducated, he had a keen intellect and was a man of great energy and determination.
Repeated incursions by the Marathas and the Nizam’s troops into Mysore brought heavy financial demands, and Mysore became financially and politically weak. The need of the hour was a leader with great military power and diplomatic skill. Haidar Ali met that need and seized royal authority by becoming the de facto ruler of Mysore in 1761.
How Did Haidar Ali Modernise His Army?
Haidar Ali realised three things. The very mobile Marathas could be contained only by a swift cavalry. The cannons of the French-trained army of the Nizam could be silenced only by effective artillery. The superior arms from the West could only be matched by arms brought from the same place or made with the same know-how.
- Arms factory He took the help of the French to set up an arms factory at Dindigul, now in Tamil Nadu
- Training He introduced Western methods of training for his army
- Diplomacy He used his considerable diplomatic skill to outmanoeuvre his opponents
- Conquests With his superior military skill he captured Dod Ballapur, Sera, Bednur and Hoskote in 1761-63 and brought the troublesome Poligars of south India to submission
How Did He Fare Against the Marathas?
Recovering from their defeat at Panipat, the Marathas under Madhavrao attacked Mysore and defeated Haidar Ali in 1764, 1766 and 1771. This is the aftermath of the Third Battle of Panipat explained in Rise of the Marathas and the Third Battle of Panipat. To buy peace, Haidar Ali had to pay the Marathas large sums.
After Madhavrao died in 1772, Haidar raided the Marathas a number of times in 1774-76 and recovered all the territories he had lost, besides capturing new areas.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1565 | Battle of Talikota; Vijayanagara falls |
| 1612 | Hindu Wodeyar kingdom of Mysore emerges |
| 1721 | Haidar Ali born |
| 1761 | Haidar Ali becomes de facto ruler |
| 1761-63 | Captures Dod Ballapur, Sera, Bednur and Hoskote |
| 1764, 1766, 1771 | Defeated by the Marathas under Madhavrao |
| 1772 | Madhavrao dies |
| 1774-76 | Haidar raids the Marathas and recovers territory |
What Was Special About His Rise?
As an analytical point, Haidar Ali rose by ability and not by birth, in a period when most rulers had inherited their power. His state combined the two traits that the English also valued, an army paid and trained to a standard and an arms industry. That is why the English saw him as a more dangerous opponent than the Nawab of Arcot or the Nizam.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Opens the Mysore story The next five topics follow from Haidar’s rise
- Direct facts Dindigul, 1761 and the Wodeyar kingdom of 1612 are standard Prelims items
- Military modernisation It is an example of an Indian ruler trying to match Western methods
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the First Anglo-Mysore War of 1767-69, in which Haidar Ali forced the English to sign the Treaty of Madras. Next topic: First Anglo-Mysore War, 1767-69.
Key People and Terms
- Wodeyar The Hindu dynasty that ruled Mysore from 1612
- Sarvadhikari The chief minister of Mysore, held by Nanjaraj
- Dulwai The commander-in-chief, held by Devaraj
- Poligars Local chiefs of south India whom Haidar Ali subdued
- Dindigul The town where Haidar set up a French-assisted arms factory
- De facto ruler A person who actually rules without the formal title
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Wodeyar kingdom: 1612; Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar II ruled 1734-66.
- Haidar Ali: born 1721; de facto ruler in 1761.
- Arms factory at Dindigul with French help.
- Marathas under Madhavrao beat Haidar in 1764, 1766, 1771.
- After 1772 Haidar recovered his lost territory.
Do Not Confuse With
- Nanjaraj and Devaraj Nanjaraj was the sarvadhikari; Devaraj the dulwai
- Wodeyars and Haidar Ali The Wodeyars were the nominal kings; Haidar was the real ruler from 1761
- Talikota and Panipat Talikota (1565) ended Vijayanagara; Panipat (1761) was the Maratha defeat
Memory Hook
A horseman, a French-built arms factory, and the throne in 1761.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the nature of Haidar Ali’s rise and rule. These points add depth.
- Leader of ability He rose from a horseman to ruler through military and diplomatic skill
- Modernisation Cavalry, artillery and an arms factory answered the Marathas and the English
- Constant pressure Maratha and Nizam demands left Mysore weak before his rise
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the factors behind the rise of Mysore under Haidar Ali.”
How to Answer
- Background The Wodeyar kingdom and weak Mysore.
- Rise Haidar’s career and the seizure of power in 1761.
- Reforms Cavalry, artillery and the Dindigul factory.
- Conclude Say that his rise made Mysore the main rival of the English in the south.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Wodeyars of Mysore?
The Wodeyars were a Hindu dynasty that emerged in the Mysore region in 1612, after the Battle of Talikota in 1565 broke up the Vijayanagara kingdom. Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar II ruled from 1734 to 1766, though ministers had reduced him to a puppet.
Who was Haidar Ali?
Haidar Ali was born in 1721 in an obscure family and began as a horseman in the Mysore army. He became the de facto ruler of Mysore in 1761, modernised the army and made Mysore a formidable power in south India in the second half of the eighteenth century.
How did Haidar Ali come to power?
Haidar Ali came to power because Mysore was weakened by Maratha and Nizam incursions and needed a leader with military and diplomatic skill. He used his rise in the army to take royal authority and became de facto ruler of Mysore in 1761.
What military reforms did Haidar Ali make?
Haidar Ali built a swift cavalry to contain the Marathas and effective artillery to answer the cannons of the Nizam's French-trained army. He also took the help of the French to set up an arms factory at Dindigul and introduced Western methods of training.
Why did the English fear Mysore?
The English feared Mysore because of its closeness to the French, the control that Haidar Ali and Tipu had over the rich trade of the Malabar coast, and the threat Mysore posed to English control over Madras.
How did Haidar Ali deal with the Marathas?
The Marathas under Madhavrao defeated Haidar Ali in 1764, 1766 and 1771, and he paid large sums to buy peace. After Madhavrao died in 1772, Haidar raided the Marathas in 1774-76 and recovered all the lost territories, besides capturing new areas.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 A Hindu kingdom under the Wodeyars emerged in Mysore in 1612.
It followed the fall of Vijayanagara at Talikota in 1565.
2 Haidar Ali became the de facto ruler of Mysore in 1761.
He had begun as a horseman in the Mysore army.
3 Haidar Ali set up an arms factory at Madras with the help of the English.
He set it up at Dindigul with the help of the French.
4 Nanjaraj and Devaraj were ministers who reduced the Wodeyar king to a puppet.
Nanjaraj was the sarvadhikari and Devaraj the dulwai.
5 Haidar Ali defeated the Marathas under Madhavrao in 1764, 1766 and 1771.
The Marathas under Madhavrao defeated him in those years.
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