Centrepiece of First or Royal Colour, 8th Regiment of Infantry, Nizam's Army, 1850 (c)

Unlike the Bengal and Bombay Armies, the Madras Presidency had no cause to raise Irregular troops as the services of the Nizam of Hyderabad's forces could be relied upon for support. The Nizam's troops fought with the East India Company during the Mysore Campaign of 1790-1792 and their efforts at Seringapatam 1799 earned the approbation of the Duke of Wellington who recorded that they 'behaved well'.

In 1812-1813, the Resident at Hyderabad, Sir Henry Russell, reorganised the Nizam's Infantry and until 1826 its title was 'Russel's Brigade'. British officers were seconded from the regular East India Company units. They fought during the 3rd Maratha War (1817-1818) and the reduction of the fortress at Nowah (1819).

During the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) the Hyderabad Contingent remained loyal, effectively stemming revolt in the Carnatic and Mysore regions. The Hyderabad Contingent later saw service in Burma (1885-1887), on the North West Frontier (1897) and the Boxer Rebellion in China (1900). In 1902, seven regiments were transferred to the Indian Army, becoming, with the re-organisation of 1922 battalions of the 19th (Hyderabad) Regiment.