Editing Hyder Ali (section)

===Carnatic Wars===

In 1748, [[Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I]], the longtime [[Nizam of Hyderabad]], died. The struggle to succeed him is known as the [[Second Carnatic War]], and pitted Asaf Jah's son [[Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad|Nasir Jung]] against a nephew, [[Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat|Muzaffar Jung]].

Both sides were supported by other local leaders, and French and British forces were also involved.

Devaraja had started vesting more military authority in his brother, and in 1749 Nanjaraja marched the Mysorean army in support of Nasir Jung. The army went to [[Devanhalli]], where the Mysoreans participated in the Siege of Devanahalli Fort.

The fort was held by Muzaffar Jung's forces and the siege was conducted by the [[Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau|Marquis de Bussy]].<ref>Bowring, p. 23</ref> During the successful eight-month siege, Hyder Ali and his brother distinguished themselves, and were rewarded by the dalwai with enlarged commands.<ref name=Rao2/>

In the wars against Hyder Ali in 1751 and during the siege of [[Tiruchirappalli]] in 1752, [[Thondaman dynasty|Thondaiman]] sent 400 cavalry and 3000 [[Kallar (caste)|Kallar]] infantry to [[Tiruchirappalli]] to support the British and the Nawab of Arcot.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Hollow Crown Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom|date=1993 |publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=978-0-472-08187-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cegr6zH9PFEC&dq=hyder+ali+kallar&pg=PA193}}</ref>

By 1755 Hyder Ali commanded 3,000 infantry and 1,500 cavalry, and was reported to be enriching himself on campaigns by plunder.<ref>Bowring, p. 26</ref> In that year he was also appointed [[Faujdar]] (military commander) of [[Dindigul]].<ref>Bowring, p. 27</ref> In this position he first retained French advisers to organise and train his artillery companies. He is also known to have personally served alongside de Bussy, and is believed to have met both [[Muzaffar Jung]] and [[Chanda Shahib]].<ref name=Bri22>Brittlebank, p. 22</ref>

In these early wars he also came to dislike and mistrust [[Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah]], the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]]. In fact Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah and the Mysorean leaders were long at odds with each other, seeking territorial gains at the other's expense.<ref>Ramaswami, p. 183</ref> Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah had by then formed an alliance with the British, and he was accused by Hyder Ali in later years of effectively preventing him from making any sort of long-lasting alliances or agreements with the British.<ref>Ramaswami, pp. 182,204–209</ref>

Throughout the [[Carnatic Wars]], Hyder Ali and his Mysore battalions served alongside French commanders such as [[Joseph Francois Dupleix]], [[Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally|Count de Lally]] and de Bussy, he also assisted [[Chanda Sahib]] on various occasions. Hyder Ali supported the claims of [[Muzaffar Jung]] and later sided with [[Salabat Jung]]{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}.