Colonial History of India

[acharya]

http://www.nationalgalleries.org.uk/tipu/india.htm

http://www.nationalgalleries.org.uk/tipu/india521.htm
The ancient temple of Sri Ranganatha Swami stands on the island named after it - Seringapatam, in the River Cauvery, 9 miles North of Mysore, and 75 miles South West of Bangalore. It became the capital of Mysore in 1610, when Raja Wadiyar achieved supremacy over Tirmula Rajal, the last of the Vijayanagara Viceroys. After four effective rulers, there followed a succession of weaker, puppet kings, whose power was gradually eroded by their diwans (Chief Ministers). In 1761 a Muslim became diwan - and thus virtual ruler of the state. His name was Haidar Ali.
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When the Vijaynagar Empire declined Raja Wadiyar took over a weak kingdom in Mysore. </i>


Tipu succeeded his father as ruler of Mysore. Like Haidar, Tipu was a Muslim, but he pursued a secular policy in Mysore, and was ever-ready to deploy all available skills - hence his appointment of a Hindu, Purniya, as his Chief Minister. Tipu also presented significant gifts to Hindu temples, including three inscribed silver vessels to temple at Seringapatam; a long emerald necklace and a jade lingam to the Srikanteshvara Temple, Nanjangud, and a silver palanquin and a pair of silver chowries to the Sri Sarada Devi Temple, Sringeri and two kettle drums to the Narasimha Swamy Temple, Melukote.


TIPU SULTAN

Main Menu : 5.0 India Introduction

5.1 Sketch Of The Environs Of Seringapatam

5.2 Map Of The Dominions Of The Late Tippoo Sultaun

5.3 Interior View of Tipu's Palace, Bangalore

5.4 Tipu's Summer Palace, Bangalore

5.5 St. Mark's Church, Bangalore

5.6 NW Front of Government House, Calcutta, c1855

5.7 Monument Commemorating The Birthplace Of Tipu Sultan, At Devanahalli

5.8 The Council House, Fort St.George, Madras

5.9 Tombs of Scotsmen at The Cathedral Church Of St.George, Madras

5.10 Surf Breaking At Marina Beach, Madras

5.11 Wellington Lodge, Mysore

5.12 Nandidrug

5.13 The Field Of The Battle Of Pollilur

5.14 The Breach At Seringapatam: Seen From The South West, Across The River Cauvery

5.15 Seringapatam Formal Garden, Darya Daulat Palace In The Persian Style

5.16 Tipu's Darya Daulat Palace, Seringapatam

5.17 Pigeoncote At Tipu's Darya Daulat Palace, Seringapatam

5.18 Flagstaff Cavalier, Seringapatam

5.19 The Mausoleum of Tipu Sultan At Gumbaz, Seringapatam

5.20 Mausoleum of Tipu Sultan at Gumbaz, Seringapatam, c.1860

5.21 The Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple, Seringapatam

5.22 The Jumma Masjid, Seringapatam

5.23 The Jumma Masjid, Seringapatam, c.1860

5.24 The Dungeons, Seringapatam

5.25 Ramparts Of Seringapatam

5.26 View From The Outer Ditch Towards The Breach, Seringapatam

5.27 East View of Seringapatam, c1800

5.28 The Water gate, Seringapatam

For over two hundred years, the exotic products and lucrative trade in spices and textiles had attracted the European powers to India. By the 18th century, the major players were Britain and France, although Clive's victories at Plassey in 1757 and Wandiwash in 1760 had crushed any realistic aspirations of French supremacy in India. In south India, rival powers took advantage of the disintegration of the Mughal Empire to extend their own territories: - to the east, Nawab Mohammad Ali of the Carnatic; in the centre, Haidar Ali, ruler of Mysore; northwards, the Nizam's Dominions, ruled from Hyderabad; and the powerful threat of the great Mahratta empire, stretching towards Delhi.

Until Pitt's India Act of 1784 centralized control under a single Government appointment at the capital, Calcutta, British policy in India was determined by the East India Company's officials in the three Presidencies of Madras, Bengal and Bombay. Mysore was initially regarded as a useful buffer between Madras and the Mahrattas, but Haidar Ali, an officer with the Mysore army, gradually rose to power, overthrew the ancient Hindu dynasty of Mysore, and challenged the British in two Mysore Wars. Both he, and his son, Tipu Sultan, who continued this campaign, welcomed the French as their allies. Increasingly, military strategy in India was determined by politics in Europe - despite the immense distances separating governments from their servants in India. Two Scottish regiments were specifically raised for the Mysore Wars.

In the fourth and final Mysore War, the British attacked the island capital of Mysore, Seringapatam, on the River Cauvery. Tipu, the fearless 'Tiger of Mysore' was killed on 4th May 1799, and British power was confirmed in Mysore. Two hundred years later, Tipu's name has not been forgotten in Scotland, where the 'Tiger and the Thistle' were jointly celebrated in the National Galleries of Scotland bi-centennial exhibition.