Third Anglo-Mysore War and the Treaty of Seringapatam
Modern History › The Anglo-Mysore Wars · Topic 5.4
The Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-92) began when Tipu Sultan attacked Travancore, an English ally. Lord Cornwallis took Bangalore in 1791 and besieged Seringapatam, and by the Treaty of Seringapatam of 1792 Tipu lost nearly half his territory and gave up two sons as hostages.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · The Anglo-Mysore Wars
At a Glance
- What it is The third war between Mysore and the English East India Company
- Years 1790-92
- Leader of the English Lord Cornwallis, from 1791
- Settlement Treaty of Seringapatam, March 1792: nearly half of Mysore lost
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: The Anglo-Mysore Wars
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fourth topic of the category on the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The previous topic described the second war. This topic covers the war that crippled Tipu Sultan. The next topic covers the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the fall of Tipu. Previous topic: Second Anglo-Mysore War, 1780-84.
What Was the Cause of the War?
A dispute arose between Tipu and the state of Travancore. Travancore had bought Jalkottal and Cannanore from the Dutch in the Cochin state. Since Cochin was a feudatory of Tipu, he considered the act of Travancore a violation of his sovereign rights. In April 1790 Tipu declared war on Travancore to restore his rights.
The English sided with Travancore and attacked Tipu. They regarded his attack on Travancore as a breach of the Treaty of Mangalore, explained in Second Anglo-Mysore War, 1780-84.
How Did the War Proceed?
In 1790 Tipu defeated the English under General Meadows. In 1791 Cornwallis took the leadership and, at the head of a large army, marched through Ambur and Vellore to Bangalore, which was captured in March 1791, and from there to Seringapatam. Coimbatore fell to the English but was lost again. At last, with the support of the Marathas and the Nizam, the English attacked Seringapatam for the second time. Tipu offered serious opposition, but the odds were against him, and he had to pay heavily under the Treaty of Seringapatam.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| April 1790 | Tipu declares war on Travancore |
| 1790 | Tipu defeats General Meadows |
| 1791 | Cornwallis takes command; Bangalore captured in March |
| 1792 | The English attack Seringapatam with the Marathas and the Nizam; Treaty of Seringapatam, March |
How Useful Were the English Allies?
The three allies did not give equal help. Travancore fought Tipu from the start, defending its line of defence against his attack. The Maratha commanders, Parshuram Bhau and Hari Pant, had to be bribed to stay with the English army. The Nizam’s army was criticised by Cornwallis as a disorderly rabble that was more of a hindrance than a help. The English owed their success more to their own army, supply system and commander than to their allies, though the alliance gave them numbers and kept Tipu from finding friends.
This is an analytical point: the war shows how much the English diplomacy of alliances counted. By securing the Marathas and the Nizam, Cornwallis made it impossible for Tipu to repeat Haidar Ali’s trick of breaking a coalition, as described in First Anglo-Mysore War, 1767-69.
What Did the Treaty of Seringapatam Provide?
Under the treaty of 1792, nearly half of Mysorean territory was taken over by the victors.
| Party | What it received |
|---|---|
| English | Baramahal, Dindigul and Malabar |
| Marathas | The regions around the Tungabhadra and its tributaries |
| Nizam | Areas from the Krishna to beyond the Pennar |
| War damages | Three crore rupees from Tipu; half to be paid at once and the rest in instalments |
| Hostages | Tipu’s two sons were taken as hostages by the English |
The treaty was signed on 18 March 1792. Lord Cornwallis is reported to have remarked that the English had crippled their enemy effectively without making their friends too formidable. This shows the logic of the settlement: Mysore was weakened, but the Marathas and the Nizam did not gain enough to threaten the English.
What Was the Result?
As an analytical point, the treaty took away Mysore’s coast and much of its resource base, and the hostage clause tied Tipu to good behaviour. It left Tipu with a smaller state, but not a ruined one. He paid the terms in full and recovered his sons, which prepared the ground for the final war described in Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the Fall of Tipu Sultan.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Biggest Mysore setback The war cost Tipu half his kingdom and set the stage for 1799
- Direct facts The treaty year, the territories and the hostages are common questions
- Cornwallis’s method It shows a settlement that weakened one rival without strengthening allies
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the death of Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam in 1799. Next topic: Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the Fall of Tipu Sultan.
Key People and Terms
- Travancore The state whose dispute with Tipu started the war
- Cornwallis The Governor-General who led the English from 1791
- Baramahal Territory that passed to the English in 1792
- Hostage A person held as security for the other side’s promises
- War indemnity Money paid by the loser to cover the winners’ costs
- Feudatory A ruler who owes allegiance to a higher ruler
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Third Anglo-Mysore War: 1790-92; Tipu declared war on Travancore in April 1790.
- Cornwallis captured Bangalore in March 1791.
- Treaty of Seringapatam: 1792; nearly half of Mysore lost.
- English got Baramahal, Dindigul, Malabar; indemnity of three crore rupees.
- Tipu’s two sons were held as hostages.
Do Not Confuse With
- Seringapatam (1792) and Seringapatam (1799) The treaty of 1792 ended the third war; the fall of Seringapatam in 1799 ended Tipu
- Meadows and Cornwallis Meadows lost to Tipu in 1790; Cornwallis led the winning campaign from 1791
- Cochin and Travancore Cochin was Tipu’s feudatory; Travancore was the English ally
Memory Hook
Travancore started it, Bangalore turned it, Seringapatam sealed it.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the causes and consequences of the Third Anglo-Mysore War. These points add depth.
- Alliance building The English won with the Marathas and the Nizam beside them
- Settlement Half of Mysore was divided in a way that weakened Tipu without making allies too strong
- Tipu’s response He met every term and prepared to avenge the defeat
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the causes and results of the Third Anglo-Mysore War.”
How to Answer
- Cause The Travancore dispute and the English response.
- Course Meadows, Cornwallis and Bangalore.
- Treaty Territory, indemnity and hostages.
- Conclude Say that Tipu was weakened but not destroyed.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
A dispute arose between Tipu Sultan and Travancore, which had bought Jalkottal and Cannanore from the Dutch in the Cochin state. Cochin was Tipu's feudatory, so he saw this as a violation of his sovereign rights and declared war on Travancore in April 1790. The English sided with Travancore.
Who led the English in the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
Lord Cornwallis took over the leadership in 1791 after General Meadows had been defeated by Tipu in 1790. He marched through Ambur and Vellore to Bangalore, captured it in March 1791, and went on to attack Seringapatam with the support of the Marathas and the Nizam.
What was the Treaty of Seringapatam?
The Treaty of Seringapatam of 1792 ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Nearly half of the Mysorean territory went to the victors, including Baramahal, Dindigul and Malabar to the English, and Tipu paid three crore rupees as war damages, with two of his sons taken as hostages.
What territories did the English, Marathas and Nizam receive in 1792?
The English received Baramahal, Dindigul and Malabar, the Marathas received the regions around the Tungabhadra and its tributaries, and the Nizam received the areas from the Krishna to beyond the Pennar. Together they took nearly half the territory of Mysore.
Why were Tipu Sultan's sons taken as hostages?
Half of the war indemnity of three crore rupees was to be paid at once and the rest in instalments, so Tipu's two sons were taken by the English as hostages to make sure that he kept to the terms. Tipu fulfilled the terms and got his sons released.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Treaty of Seringapatam was signed in 1792.
It ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
2 Tipu Sultan declared war on Travancore in April 1790.
He saw its purchase of Jalkottal and Cannanore as a violation of his rights.
3 Cornwallis captured Bangalore in March 1791.
He then marched to Seringapatam.
4 The Marathas and the Nizam fought on Tipu's side in the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
They supported the English.
5 After the Treaty of Seringapatam, Mysore kept all its territory.
Nearly half of it was taken over by the victors.
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