Tippoo Sahib

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

more correctly TIPU SULTAN, Sultan of Mysore, and son of Hyder Ali; born in 1749. From the French officers in his father's service he acquired a considerable acquaintance with European military tactics. This knowledge he put to effective use during his father's various wars by completely routing Colonel Bailey (1780 and 1782), and Colonel Braithwaite on the banks of the Coleroon (1782). On the death of his father he was crowned with little ceremony, returning at once to the head of his army, which was then engaged with the British near Arcot. In 1783 he captured and put to death most of the garrison of Bednur; but news of the peace between France and England having reached his French allies, they retired from active service, and Tippoo ultimately agreed to a treaty (1784) stipulating for the status quo before the war. He allowed his inveterate hatred of the English to overcome his judgment as to invade (1789) the protected state of Travancore. In the ensuing war (1790-1792) the British, under Colonel Stuart and Lord Cornwallis, were aided by the Mahrattas and the Nizam. He was ultimately compelled (1792) to resign one-half of his dominions, pay an indemnity of 3,030 lakhs of rupees, restore all prisoners, and give his two sons as hostages for his fidelity. Nevertheless, his secret intrigues in India against the British were almost immediately resumed; another embassy was sent to the French; and the invasion of Egypt by the latter in 1798 and Tippoo's machinations having become known to the governor-general almost simultaneously, it was resolved to punish the perfidious Sultan. Hostilities commenced in March, 1799; and two months after, Tippoo was driven from the open field, attacked in his capital of Seringapatam, and after a month's siege slain in the breach at the storming of the fort (May 4).