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Tipu Sultan was the son of Hyder Ali, the Muslim ruler of Mysore. Commonly known as the Tiger of Mysore, he took over the throne in 1782. The great ruler was the true hero of colonial resistance and his greatest resistance to British rule by defending Mysore during the 3rd and 4th Anglo Mysore Wars continues to inspire nationalists. Did you know that Tipu Sultan was a great innovator and pioneer of rocket missiles in India? His presence had been impactful and his legacy still goes on to inspire rulers across the globe. Keep reading to find out more about the Tiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan!
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Revisit the Landmarks that Shaped the Indian Independence Struggle!
Early Life
Tipu Sultan, the eldest son of Hyder Ali and Fakhr-Un-Nissa was born in Devanahalli, which is currently located in the Kolar district. He was born on November 20, 1750. Hyder Ali captured the throne of Mysore and established the Mysore Sultanate when Tipu was just a child. Tipu Sultan was a very skilled youngster. He was also a scholar and had gained proficiency in several languages.
Military Expeditions
When Tipu was 15, he took part in the 1st Anglo Mysore War which occurred in 1766 along with his father. He was in charge of commanding the cavalry corps during the 1767 Carnatic Invasion. Madhav Rao Peshwa, the ruler of Maratha in 1771 defeated Tipu and Hyder Ali in that war.
When the fort was captured by the British, an army was dispatched under Tipu Sultan by Hyder Ali against Colonel Baillie. At Pollilur, Baillie was defeated in a decisive battle by Tipu. Following this, he defeated Colonel Braithwaite near Tanjore and took control of Chittoor from the British. After Hyder Ali’s death in December 1782, Tipu assumed power of Mysore on 22nd December 1782.
Achievements
Tipu Sultan was best known for his innovative use of rocket science in military expeditions. He used these rockets that were fitted with swords and spears and fired at enemies from long distances. He employed these skills very tactfully during the Mysore wars.
Tipu Sultan during his reign introduced a new currency in the form of a coin and a new calendar. He is known for his excellent administration skills and the setting up of seven new departments in his government.
Mandyam Iyengars Massacre
Allegedly, Tipu Sultan ordered the killing of 800 families in Srirangapatna. In this massacre, nearly 1,500 members of Mandyam Iyengars were killed by his army. He ordered the killing of these members when he came to know about how two members of this community were trying to dethrone him with the help of the British. A section of the community does not celebrate the 1st day of Diwali, even today.
This is because on this day the massacre took place.
Renaming of Places
In addition to his military expeditions and achievements, the emperor also renamed many places during his reign. The names of the places that were changed have been listed below –
- Mangalore to Jalalabad
- Dindigul to Khaliqabad
- Gooty to Faiz-Hissar
- Bepur to Sultanpatanam
- Mysore to Nazarbad
- Cannanore to Kusanabad
- Dharwad to Quarshed-Sawad
- Dindigul to Khaliqabad
- Kozhikode to Islamabad
- Ratnagiri to Mustafabad
Diplomacy – Foreign Relations
Tipu Sultan used his diplomatic skills to defeat both the Marathas and the British with the help of the Afghan ruler, Zaman Shah Durrani. Although Zaman Shah had initially accepted the help request, he had to back off because of the Persian attack on his country. He tried to persuade Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid in 1787 to defeat the British.
Legacy
The controversies are plenty against Ruler of Mysore, however, he is still viewed as a patriot. He played a crucial role along with his father in defending his empire from British rule. He resisted the British empire till his last breath.
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Best Books on Tipu Sultan
- The Life Of Tipu Sultan by Kate Brittlebank
- History of Tipu Sultan by Mohibbul Hasan
- Tipu Sultan-The Tyrant of Mysore by Sandeep Balakrishna
- The Dreams of Tipu Sultan
- Select Letters of Tipu Sultan to Various Functionaries
Explore NCERT Class 6 Notes for other subjects:
FAQs
Tipu Sultan was the son of Hyder Ali who fought the third and fourth Anglo Mysore War and died while defending his city in the fourth war.
After the death of his father, Hyder Ali in 1782, Tipu Sultan took over the throne.
Tipu Sultan was best known for his innovative use of rocket science in military expeditions. He used these rockets that were fitted with swords and spears and fired at enemies from long distances. He employed these skills very tactfully during the Mysore wars. Tipu Sultan during his reign introduced a new currency in the form of a coin and a new calendar. He is known for his excellent administration skills and the setting up of seven new departments in his government.
Bepur to Sultanpatanam and Mysore to Nazarbad
We hope this blog on Tipu Sultan helped you learn a little about his life story, astute ruling style, and business ethic. His achievements and endeavors continue to inspire people from all over the world. To know more about the tremendous leaders and historical figures, follow the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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