Tipu Sultan

Why is in news? Excavations shed light on Tipu Sultan’s unfinished fort

Tipu Sultan (born Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu, 1 December 1751 – 4 May 1799), also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore based in South India.

He was a pioneer of rocket artillery.

He introduced a number of administrative innovations during his rule, including a new coinage system and calendar, and a new land revenue system, which initiated the growth of the Mysore silk industry.

He expanded the iron-cased Mysorean rockets and commissioned the military manual Fathul Mujahidin.

Tipu Sultan and his father used their French-trained army in alliance with the French in their struggle with the British, and in Mysore's struggles with other surrounding powers.

Tipu's father, Hyder Ali, had risen to power and Tipu succeeded him as the ruler of Mysore upon his father's death in 1782.

He won important victories against the British in the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784).

He negotiated the 1784 Treaty of Mangalore with them after his father died from cancer in December 1782 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

In the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792), he was forced into the Treaty of Seringapatam, losing a number of previously conquered territories, including Malabar and Mangalore.

In the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1798–99), a combined force of British East India Company troops, supported by the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad defeated Tipu.

He was killed on 4 May 1799 while defending his stronghold of Seringapatam.