Treaty of Madras facts for kids

The Treaty of Madras was an important peace agreement signed on April 4, 1769. It officially ended the First Anglo-Mysore War. This war was fought between the Kingdom of Mysore, led by Hyder Ali, and the British East India Company. The British side was represented by Lord Harry Verelst.

The fighting had started in 1767. At one point, Hyder Ali's forces came very close to capturing Madras, which was a key British trading post.

The treaty included a special rule. It said that the British had to help Hyder Ali if his neighbors attacked him. However, Hyder Ali felt this promise was broken. In 1771, Mysore went to war with the Marathas, but the British did not send any help. This lack of trust, caused by the broken promise, might have been a big reason why the Second Anglo-Mysore War started about ten years later.

What Were the Main Points of the Treaty?

The Treaty of Madras had several important terms. One key point was:

• Tipu Sultan's capital, Trichonopally, and Arcot were to be treated as neutral places. This meant they were not to be involved in the conflict between the two sides.