Battle of Tiruvannamalai

01Under Arunachala

Tiruvannamalai, the temple town of Arunachaleswara at the foot of the holy hill, lay on the crossroads of the Carnatic and had been fought over by every army of the century. Smith fell back here after Chengam to draw supplies, and was reinforced. Late in September the allies came on again, Haidar’s infantry and guns in front and the Nizam’s horse behind.

02The alliance breaks

Smith’s artillery and a well-timed advance broke the allied line, and the Company troops captured a large part of their guns. Haidar withdrew in good order, but the Nizam had had enough. Early in 1768 he made a separate treaty with the Company and went home, leaving Haidar to fight on alone. Haidar now turned to the war he did best, fast raids that kept the Company off balance for another year.