The Battle of Tiruvannamalai (1767), during the First Anglo-Mysore War, was fought between Hyder Ali (with the Nizam) and:

The Battle of Tiruvannamalai (Trinomalee) was fought in September 1767, during the First Anglo-Mysore War, between the forces of Hyder Ali of Mysore (supported by the Nizam of Hyderabad) and the English East India Company.

Background - the First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-1769):

• Hyder Ali had become the de facto ruler of Mysore in 1761, and expanded his kingdom rapidly.
• The English, the Marathas and the Nizam were alarmed by his growing power.
• The English formed an alliance with the Nizam and the Marathas against him.
• Hyder Ali cleverly bought off the Marathas and won over the Nizam, and attacked the Carnatic.

The battle:

• The English army, led by Colonel Joseph Smith, defeated the combined forces of Hyder Ali and the Nizam at Changama and then at Tiruvannamalai (in present-day Tamil Nadu) in 1767.
• After these defeats, the Nizam left Hyder Ali and made peace with the English (1768).

Hyder Ali's success:

• Despite these defeats, Hyder Ali continued the war.
• In 1769, he made a sudden march and appeared near Madras, which forced the English to make peace on his terms.

The Treaty of Madras (1769):

• Both sides returned the territories they had captured.
• They agreed to help each other in case of an attack by a third party (a defensive alliance).
• This was a humiliating treaty for the English.
• Later, when the Marathas attacked Mysore in 1771, the English did not help Hyder Ali, which made him distrust them.

The Anglo-Mysore Wars:

• First (1767-1769): ended by the Treaty of Madras.
• Second (1780-1784).
• Third and Fourth wars: the final defeat of Mysore.

About Hyder Ali:

• He rose from a junior officer in the Mysore army to become its ruler.
• He modernised his army with French help.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Marathas and the French did not fight this battle against Hyder Ali.
• ✗The Nawab of Arcot was an ally of the English.