Tipu Sultan Biography

Tipu Sultan was a ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore renowned for his bravery in the wars against the British East India Company. Well known for his valor and courage, he is regarded as the first freedom fighter of India for his fierce battles against the British who tried to conquer the territories under the sultan’s rule. The Treaty of Mangalore, which he signed with the British East India Company to bring an end to the Second Anglo-Mysore War, was the last occasion when an Indian king dictated terms to the British. As the eldest son of Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore, Tipu Sultan ascended to the throne after the death of his father in 1782. As ruler, he implemented several innovations in his administration and also expanded the iron-cased Mysorean rockets which he would later deploy against the advances of the British forces. His father had diplomatic political relations with the French and thus Tipu Sultan had received military training from French officers as a young man. After becoming the ruler, he continued his father’s policy of aligning with the French in their struggle against the British. He fought several wars against the British and tried his best to defend his kingdom from falling into the hands of the British East India Company. Committed to his country till the very end, he died while fighting in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.