Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784): Mysore vs British East India Company

Background and causes

The war grew out of long-term rivalry for influence in southern India. Mysore, a major state in the region, had developed political and military ties with the French, while the East India Company represented British commercial and territorial interests. Tensions increased as both powers competed for allies, territory, and control of trade routes. Hyder Ali, who led Mysore at the time, sought external support to check Company expansion and to strengthen his position in the region.

Course of the war

Hostilities began in 1780 and included sieges, pitched battles, and mobile campaigning across several fronts. Both sides experienced successes and setbacks. Mysore's forces, under Hyder Ali and later his son Tipu Sultan, inflicted notable reverses on Company troops, while the British used their naval and financial resources to sustain long campaigns and support allied native states.

Outcome

After four years of intermittent warfare and negotiation, the belligerents agreed to end the fighting. The 1784 treaty re-established the status quo ante bellum: territories captured during the war were exchanged, and neither party achieved lasting territorial gains. The conflict, however, set the stage for further Anglo–Mysore confrontations later in the century.

• Dates: 1780–1784
• Main belligerents: Kingdom of Mysore and the British East India Company
• Result: Treaty of Mangalore; no decisive winner