Tipu Sultan

Tipu Sultan Biography

Tipu Sultan, also known as Tiger of Mysore is known for his brave death against British and East India Company. He, the elder son of Hyder Ali was a ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore and a scholar, soldier and poet. Tipu introduced a number of administrative innovations in his kingdom of which introduction of a new coinage, Mysore silk industry, new Mauludi lunisolar calendar and new land revenue system are well known. His battles against British with the iron-cased Mysore rockets are often termed as the advanced military explorations of this Sultan.

When Tipu was born, his father was a military chief and very soon he raise to power. When Hyder Ali died in 1782 due to cancer, Tipu succeeded to a large kingdom extended by his father through wars fought. The kingdom was bordered by the Krishna River in the north, the Eastern Ghats in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west. Yet he continued to fight to expand his kingdom and all kings feared him a lot. Mysore Kingdom was the most powerful kingdom of South India during British rule.

Though he was a devoted Muslim, he built first church in Mysore on the request of French. He had alliance with French to fight against British. At age 15, he accompanied his father against the British in the First Mysore War in 1766. He has also involved in First Anglo-Maratha War of 1775–1779. In 1779, the British captured the French-controlled port of Mahe that was under the control of Tipu. In response, Hyder Ali launched an invasion of the Carnatic to drive British out of Madras. In the Battle of Pollilur, Tipu defeated Colonel Baillie.

Though Tipu Sultan was an independent ruler of Mysore, he had some degree of loyalty to the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. Tipu Sultan had lost his sword in a defeated war with the Nairs of Travancore during the Battle of the Nedumkotta. Maharaja, Dharma Raja, gifted the famous sword to the Nawab of Arcot which went to London later. Tipu was also known as the Tiger of Mysore and adopted this animal as the symbol of his rule. Tipu Sultan was killed at the Hoally Gateway of Sreeranga Patnam in the Fourth and Final Mysore War fought in the year 1799. He is always remembered as Indian tiger who fought against vast British empire and sacrificed his life.

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Updated: September 24, 2017