‘Cornwallis Triumphant’: War in India and the British Public in the Late Eighteenth Century

Abstract

Abstract In December 1789 Tipu Sultan, ruler of the powerful state of Mysore, began military operations against his much weaker neighbour, the Raja of Travancore. Travancore was formally an ally of the British East India Company, whose Governor-General, Earl Cornwallis, interpreted Tipu’s moves as a provocation which must be met by all-out war. Thus began the third Anglo-Mysore war. A very large British army was assembled under the Governor of Madras, General William Medows, to invade Mysore from the east, while the East India Company’s Bombay army attacked his western territory. The British also negotiated alliances with the Marathas and with the Nizam of Hyderabad. Their forces too were to invade Mysore. During the campaign season of 1 790 the attacking forces achieved few tangible successes, the main British army eventually withdrawing back towards Madras. For the next campaign Cornwallis himself took personal command of the ‘grand army’ that renewed the invasion. The army penetrated deeply into Mysore, driving Tipu’s forces back to his capital at Seringapatam, but Cornwallis's advance had outrun his capacity to keep his troops supplied, and in adverse weather conditions he felt that he had no alternative but to retreat from Seringapatam. The offensive was resumed in 1792 and a decisive battle was fought outside Tipu’s capital in February. British victory after a night attack compelled Tipu to sue for peace. Cornwallis insisted on large cessions of territory, both to the East India Company and to its allies, together with a substantial indemnity in cash. Two of Tipu’s sons were handed over as hostages while the terms of the treaty were being executed.