Maratha–Mysore wars facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conflict between Marathas and Mysore
Date 1759-1787 Location Deccan
Belligerents
Maratha Confederacy	Kingdom of Mysore
Commanders and leaders
Madhavrao Hari Pant Kolapant Pethe Vyankatrao Bhave Mushir-ul-Mulk Raghunathrao Konher Rao  † Murari Rao (POW) Padurang Rao (POW) Vissaji Pant  (POW)	Hyder Ali (WIA) Tipu Sultan Ismail khan  † Mir Reza  † Ali Jami Khan  † M.Hughel (WIA) Mirza Ali Khan  Sipahsalar Sayyid Abdul Ghaffar Sahib
Strength
unknown	unknown

The Maratha–Mysore wars were a series of important conflicts in 18th century India. These wars were fought between two powerful groups: the Maratha Confederacy and the Kingdom of Mysore. While some fighting started around the 1760s, the last major conflict happened between 1785 and 1787.

India in the 1700s

The 1700s were a time of big changes in India. The Mughal Empire, which had been very strong, was slowly losing its power. Other groups, like the Marathas, became stronger and challenged the Mughals.

At the same time, the British East India Company was gaining more influence. This company was from Britain and was becoming a major player in Indian politics and trade. They were involved in many wars, including some with Mysore. Eventually, much of India came under British rule.

Mysore's Rise to Power

Mysore started as a small kingdom in the early 1700s. But it grew very powerful under its leaders, Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan. They made Mysore's army very modern and strong, which made it a threat to both the British and the Marathas.

By the time Hyder Ali died in 1782, Mysore was a large kingdom. It covered a huge area and had millions of people. Mysore fought four major wars against the British:

• The First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769)
• The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784)
• The Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792)
• The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)

Around 1761, Hyder Ali became the main ruler of Mysore. He started military campaigns to make his kingdom bigger. In 1766, the British East India Company teamed up with the ruler of Hyderabad against Hyder Ali. However, by 1769, the British were fighting Mysore alone. Hyder Ali even marched to Madras, where the British government was, and demanded a peace treaty.

The Maratha–Mysore Wars

After the Second Anglo-Mysore War, Tipu Sultan became the new ruler of Mysore. He wanted to stop the Marathas from attacking his kingdom. The Marathas had formed a military alliance with the ruler of Hyderabad. Their goal was to get back lands they had lost to Mysore in earlier fights.

There was a lot of marching, counter-marching, and sieges of forts. The Marathas tried to get the British East India Company to join them. But the new British governor-general, Lord Charles Cornwallis, wanted to stay neutral. So, the British did not join this conflict.

The last major fight between Mysore and the Marathas alone happened in January 1787. This was the Siege of Bahadur Benda. Mysore successfully captured Bahadur Fort from the Marathas during this siege.

Major Conflicts

Here are some of the important battles and sieges during the Maratha–Mysore wars:

• Battle of Rutehalli Fort (1764)
• Battle of Jadi Hanwati (1764)
• Siege of Sira (1767)
• Siege of Madgiri (1767)
• Battle of Ooscota (1768)
• Battle of Moti Talab (1771)
• Battle of Chinkurli (1771)
• Battle of Saunshi (1777)
• Siege of Nargund, 1778
• Siege of Nargund, February 1785
• Siege of Kanchangarh (1786)
• Siege of Badami (May 1786)
• Siege of Adoni (June 1786)
• Battle of Gajendragad (June 1786)
• Battle of Savanur (October 10, 1786)
• Siege of Bahadur Benda (January 1787)

War's End and What Happened Next

The Maratha-Mysore War officially ended after the Siege of Bahadur Benda in January 1787. The Marathas and Tipu Sultan of Mysore agreed to make peace. They signed the Treaty of Gajendragad in April 1787.

Tipu Sultan really wanted to focus on fighting the British. So, he agreed to pay the Marathas a yearly tribute of 12 lakhs (a large sum of money). This payment was to stop the fighting between them. Tipu also agreed to give back all the lands that Hyder Ali had taken from the Marathas.

As part of the treaty, Tipu Sultan released a Maratha leader named Kalopant. He also returned the areas of Adoni, Kittur, and Nargund to their previous rulers. Badami was given to the Marathas. In return, Tipu got to keep all the places he had captured during the war, like Gajendragarh and Dharwar. The Marathas even gave Tipu an honorary title: "Nabob Tipu Sultan, Fateh Ali Khan."

However, the peace did not last forever. During the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the Marathas actually helped the British East India Company. The British then took over Mysore in 1799.

Later, after Tipu's death, the Marathas themselves got into conflicts with the British. The British defeated the Marathas by 1819 in the Third Anglo-Maratha War. This led to the British taking over the Maratha lands and the end of the Maratha Confederacy in India.