Sultan of Mysore

 

Sultan Fateh Ali Tipu also known as Tipu Sultan. He was born on 20 November 1750, Devanhalli India. He was son of Hyder Ali and Fatima Fakhr-un-Nisa. His father was a Sultan of Mysore. Tipu Sultan succeeded his father in 1782. The 18th century ruler is generally known as the Tiger of Mysore and Tipu Sultan.

In his reign he worked on technological and administrative innovations. He was the one who introduced of new coin moneys and new coin kinds. He also presented a luni-solar calendar. It was Tipu Sultan who introduced a land revenue system which gave a boost to the Mysore silk industry. It was the Tipu Sultan innovative decisions that made the Mysore as one of major economic power.

The work of Tipu Sultan was fabulous in the use of rocket artillery. He extended the use of rockets, deploying as many as 5,000 rocketeers at a time. Rocket innovation during his time used iron tubes that could hold the propellant and enabled higher thrust and longer range of missiles.  He deployed the rockets against advances of British forces and their allies during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The rockets used during the Battle of Pollilur in 1780 and Siege of Seringapatam in 1799 were said to be more advanced than the British had previously seen.

In 1767 Tipu directed a corps of cavalry against the Marathas in the Karnataka region of western India, and he fought against the Marathas on numerous occasions between 1775 and 1779. During the second Mysore War he defeated Col. John Brathwaite on the banks of the Kollidam River in February 1782.

In 1789 he activated British invasion by attacking their ally, the raja of Travance. He held the British at bay for more than two years, but by the Treaty of Seringapatam in March 1792, he had to abandon half his dominions. He continued restless and rashly allowed his parleys with Revolutionary France to become known to the British. On that pretext the governor-general, Lord Mornington launched the fourth Mysore War. British forces stormed Seringapatam Tipu’s capital on May 4, 1799, and Sultan of Mysore died beside his troops in the breach.

Tipu Sultan is famously known as the Tiger of Mysore. Historians have different opinions on that why he is called the Tiger of Mysore. Many say that Tipu Sultan had come face-to-face with a tiger and killed it when he was on a hunting journey with a friend. According to the legend, the tiger attacked on his friend and killed him. When Tipu Sultan tried to kill the animal, his gun did not work and his dagger fell on the ground. The tiger jumped on him and was about to maul him when Tipu picked up his dagger, killed the tiger with it and earned the name of “Tiger of Mysore”.

Some historian’s belief that his fearlessness earned him the name “Tiger of Mysore”. It is said that after hearing about his bravery, velour and skills, French commander-in-chief Napolean Bonaparte once wanted an alliance with him.