Mysore Kingdom History - General Knowledge of Modern India
After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, in 1565 AD. Mysore state was declared an independent state by the Hindu Wodiyar dynasty in AD. During the reign of Chikka Krishnaraja II, the last ruler of the Wodeyar dynasty, the real power fell in the hands of Devaraja (Dalwai or commander) and Nanjaraj (sarvadhikari or controller of finance and revenue). This area became a matter of dispute between the Peshwa and the Nizam. Nanjaraj II allied with the British in the Carnatic War and captured Trichurapalli (Tamil Nadu).Read More History: Ramakrishna and Vivekananda - General Knowledge of Modern India
In 1761, Hyder Ali, who started his life as a soldier, overthrew the Mysore dynasty and took over the kingdom.
Hyder Ali (1760–1782) captured the power of the Kingdom of Mysore, which was ruled by two Wodeyar brothers – Devaraja and Nanjaraj. He also had to fight with the Nizam and the Marathas to maintain the independence of his kingdom. He, along with the Nizam and the French, defeated the British in the First Anglo-Mysore War between 1767–1769, and in April 1769 they were defeated by the Treaty of Madras. As forced to accept its terms.
In the Second Anglo-Mysore War between 1780-1784 AD, he along with the Nizam and Marathas defeated the British in 1782 AD, but he died in 1782 AD due to being injured in the war.
After that his son Tipu Sultan (1782-1799 AD) took command, who valiantly defended his kingdom by fighting the British. Tipu Sultan was the first ruler who tried to apply western methods in his administration. He used modern techniques in military training and also established a factory to produce modern weapons.
He fought the Third Anglo-Mysore War against the British and the combined forces of the Nizam and Marathas. He had to sign the Treaty of Srirangapatna and under the terms of the treaty Tipu had to give half of his kingdom to the British and their allies. He died while fighting during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799).
Important information about Tipu Sultan
- He was a great admirer of Jagatguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri and he provided funds for the construction of the idol of Goddess Sharda, destroyed by the Marathas.
- The name of his autobiography was Tarikh-e-Khudai.
- He also wrote a military book named Fatahul Mujahideen, in which information related to Rocket Science and Rocket Brigade has been given.
- He completed the Lal Bagh project (Bangalore) started by his father Hyder Ali and got the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam constructed on the river Kaveri.