Treaty of Mangalore facts for kids

The Treaty of Mangalore was an important agreement signed between Tipu Sultan and the British East India Company on March 11, 1784. This treaty was signed in the city of Mangalore and officially ended the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

Why Did the War Happen?

How the First War Started

In 1761, a powerful leader named Hyder Ali took control of the Kingdom of Mysore. He became the ruler, taking power from the old Wodeyar Dynasty. In 1766, a war began between Hyder Ali and the British. Hyder's army almost captured Madras (now Chennai), a major British city. The war ended three years later, in April 1769, with the Treaty of Madras. This treaty said that both sides would give back any land they had taken. It also promised that they would help each other if attacked.

The Start of the Second War

The Second Anglo-Mysore War began for several reasons. A big reason was that Hyder Ali felt the British had broken their promise from the 1769 treaty. He believed they did not help Mysore when it was fighting another group called the Marathas. So, in 1780, war broke out again. Hyder Ali led a huge army of 80,000 to 90,000 soldiers into the Carnatic region. They burned and destroyed much of the countryside around British strongholds like Vellore and Madras.

Key Battles and Leaders

The British sent about 5,000 soldiers to help the city of Arcot, which Hyder was trying to capture. Hyder Ali's son, Tipu Sultan, led about 10,000 of his father's troops against them. Tipu's forces won a huge victory over the British at a place called Pollilur. The British lost about 4,000 soldiers in this battle. It was the worst defeat the British East India Company had ever faced in India at that time. Hyder continued his attack on Arcot, and Tipu kept fighting the British in the Carnatic region.

Tipu Sultan won another important battle in 1782. He defeated a British force led by Colonel Braithwaite near Tanjore. About 2,000 British soldiers were either killed or captured. By the end of 1781, the British started fighting back. They quickly won battles at Porto Novo, a second battle at Pollilur, Sholinghur, and captured Negapatam. In 1782, Hyder Ali suddenly died, and Tipu Sultan became the new king of Mysore. In 1783, the British took the town of Coimbatore. But by January 1784, Tipu retook Mangalore from the British.

Neither side could win a clear victory, so the war ended in a tie. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Mangalore.

What Happened After the Treaty?

Impact on Tipu Sultan

The treaty was a big win for Tipu Sultan because of how it made the British feel. The main British official from Madras had to travel all the way to Mangalore to sign the treaty. Mangalore was a city Tipu had just won back from the British. This was seen as a great humiliation for the British. This feeling of being embarrassed, along with their recent loss of the Thirteen Colonies in America, made the British even more determined to defeat Tipu Sultan later on.

Impact on the British East India Company

Many people in Britain saw the Treaty of Mangalore as a sign that the British East India Company was in trouble. As a result, the company's stock prices dropped, and it started to struggle financially. This was a big problem for the British government. The company's trade made up about one-sixth of Britain's total income!

To fix these problems, the British government passed a new law called Pitt's India Act. This law helped stop corruption in the company. It also gave more power to the Governor-General in India. This was to make sure that a situation like the Treaty of Mangalore, which was seen as a defeat, would not happen again. The Governor-General was given the power to act in the best interest of the King and Britain.

The Treaty's Main Points

The Treaty of Mangalore was a long and detailed document. Here are some of its most important parts, explained simply:

• Article 1: Peace and Friendship: Both the British Company and Tipu Sultan agreed to have peace and friendship. This included their friends and allies, like the rulers of Tanjore and Travancore (for the British) and the Biby of Cannanore and rulers of the Malabar coast (for Tipu Sultan). Both sides promised not to help each other's enemies or go to war against each other's friends.
• Article 2: Giving Back Land and Prisoners: Tipu Sultan agreed to immediately order his troops to leave the Carnatic region. He also promised to return all forts and places there, except for Amboorgur and Satgur. This had to be done within 30 days. Tipu also agreed to release all prisoners taken during the war, both European and Indian, within 30 days. He would provide them with food and transport to the nearest British forts. The British would pay for the travel costs.
• Article 3: British Give Back Land: The British agreed to give back Onore, Carwar, Sadasewgude, and nearby forts to Tipu Sultan. They would send ships to pick up their soldiers. Tipu would provide food and help for their journey to Bombay. The British also agreed to immediately return the areas of Caroor, Avaracourchy, and Daraporam. After all prisoners were released, the fort and area of Dindigul would also be returned to Tipu Sultan. No British troops would remain in Tipu Sultan's country after this.
• Article 4: Final Exchanges: Once all prisoners were released, the fort and area of Cananore would be returned to its ruler, Ali Rajah Biby. At the same time, Tipu Sultan would order the return of Amboorgur and Satgur to the British. No troops from Tipu Sultan would remain in the Carnatic, except in those two forts until they were handed over.
• Article 5: No Future Claims: Tipu Sultan promised that he would not make any future claims on the Carnatic region after this treaty.
• Article 6: Return of People: All people who were taken from the Carnatic (including Tanjore) by Hyder Ali or Tipu Sultan, and who wanted to return, would be allowed to go back with their families. This also included people belonging to the Vencatagerry Rajah who were captured.
• Article 7: Protecting Allies: Tipu Sultan, as a sign of friendship, agreed not to bother the rulers or landowners on the coast who had helped the British during the war.
• Article 8: Trade Rights: Tipu Sultan confirmed all the special trading rights and benefits that his father, Hyder Ali, had given to the English. These were written down in a treaty from August 8, 1770.
• Article 9: Restoring British Factories: Tipu Sultan agreed to give back the British trading post (factory) and rights in Callicut that they had until 1779. He would also return Mount Dilly and its area, which belonged to the British settlement of Tellicherry, and was taken at the start of the war.
• Article 10: Official Approval: The treaty would be signed by the British Commissioners. A copy would then be signed by the President and Committee in Madras and sent back to Tipu Sultan within a month. The Governor-General and Council in Bengal, and the Governor and Committee in Bombay, would also approve it. This would make the treaty binding on all British governments in India.

The treaty was signed in Mangalore on March 11, 1784.