Battle of Porto Novo

Overview

The Battle of Porto Novo was fought on 1 July 1781 between forces of the Kingdom of Mysore and British East India Company in the place called Porto Novo on the Indian subcontinent, during the Second Anglo-Mysore War. The British force, numbering more than 8,000 men under the command of Sir Eyre Coote defeated a force estimated at 40,000 under the command of Hyder Ali.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Porto Novo on 1 July 1781 was a significant engagement of the Second Anglo-Mysore War, in which a British East India Company force of more than 8,000 men under Sir Eyre Coote defeated a Mysorean army estimated at 40,000 commanded by Hyder Ali. The result demonstrated that a smaller, well-led Company force could overcome a numerically superior Mysorean army in open battle. Coming during a war in which Hyder Ali had posed a serious threat to British positions in southern India, the victory at Porto Novo checked Mysorean momentum and helped stabilize the Company's military position on the subcontinent.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)