First Anglo-Mysore War

The First Anglo-Mysore War (1766-1769) was a war in India between the Kingdom of Mysore and the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Hyder Ali, ruler of Mysore, had begun to occupy the serious attention of the British government in Calcutta. In 1766 the British entered into an agreement with the Nizam of Hyderbad to equip him with troops to be used against the common threat.

War

Shortly after this alliance been formed when a secret arrangement was made between the two Indian powers, and Colonel Smith's small force was met with a united army of 50 000 men and 100 guns. Superior British training and military discipline, however, prevailed, first in the battle of Chengam (September 3, 1767), and again still more remarkably in that of Tiruvannamalai (Trinornalai).

Following the loss of his recently built fleet and forts on the western coast, Hyder Ali now offered overtures for peace; on the rejection of these, bringing all his resources and strategy into play, he forced Colonel Smith to raise the siege of Bangalore, and brought his army within 5 miles of Madras.

Peace Treaty

The result was the treaty of April 1769, providing for the mutual restitution of all conquests, and for mutual aid and alliance in defensive war.

Aftermath

This war was followed by the Mysore-Maratha war from 1769 to 1772 which saw Mysore cede some territory to the Marathas. The British did not assist Mysore in this war, in what Hyder Ali considered a violation of the agreement between himself and the British. He blamed Mysore's losses on the British and his grievances played some role in the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Mysore War.