#tippoo

[notesonindianhistory]

12 Sons of Tipu Sultan

Brief notes on the sons of Tipu Sultan collected from various British records, with images.

Tipu Sultan had twelve sons, at the time of his death in the 4th Anglo-Mysore war in 1799 [reference: Mir Hussain Ali Khan Kirmani]. On the capture of Srirangapatna, Tipu's sons, the Zenana and Karim Sahib, his brother, were all taken prisoners. The British restored Mysore to the Wodeyars and the Vellore fort [East India Company’s strongest fortress in the Carnatic] was selected as the place of residence of Tipu's family. A liberal salary was allowed to each of the princes. But after the Vellore Mutiny, they were exiled to Calcutta. Here is a list of Tipu's 8 eldest sons according to the Irish painter Thomas Hickey. Painting has done by an unknown artist too.

[notesonindianhistory]

A Collection of Portraits of Tipu Sultan

Which one is a real portrait of Tipu Sultan?

[notesonindianhistory]

Life of the Mysorean Hostage Princes in Madras

Learn more about the young princes' life at Madras when they were hostages with the British.

Tipu Sultan had to surrender his two sons as hostages to the British followed by his defeat in the 3rd Anglo-Mysore war. Contemporary chroniclers like Major Dirom and Roderick Mackenzie had given a detailed account of their receptions by the Governor General Marquis Cornwallis. British artists like Robert Home (An eye-witness of this interesting event) Mather Brown and Arthur William Devis; all painted their versions of the Reception of the Mysorean Hostage Princes by Marquis Cornwallis.

[notesonindianhistory]

Description of the Palanquins Presented to Tipu's Sons by Lord Cornwallis

Lord Cornwallis presented two beautiful State Palanquins to the Mysore hostage princes. Did Tipu Sultan accept them?

Two superb State Palanquins were built by Steuart & Co. Coachmakers in Calcutta, by order of Marquis Cornwallis for Tipu's sons Abdul Khaliq and Muiz-ud-din, while they remained as hostages to the British at Madras, followed by Tipu Sultan's defeat in the 3rd Anglo-Mysore war. These were valued at about Rs. 6 or 7000.

[notesonindianhistory]

Return of the Mysorean Hostage Princes to Srirangapatna

Learn more about the restoration of the hostage princes to Tipu Sultan.

Reception of the hostage princes was celebrated in great pomp. After delivering the definitive treaty to the Governor-General Lord Cornwallis, the princes, Abdul Khaliq and Muiz-ud-din, were taken to Madras and kept there for nearly two years. Tipu Sultan made the war indemnity payments punctually, however, for some reason the princes were kept at Madras till February 1794

[notesonindianhistory]

The Hostage Princes: Surrender of Abdul Khaliq and Muiz-ud-din to Lord Cornwallis

Learn more about the delivery of the definitive treaty by the hostage princes to Lord Cornwallis.

We know that Tipu Sultan was defeated in the 3rd Anglo-Mysore war (1790-1792) by the British East India Company and its two allies, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas, and was compelled to make terms of peace. On 24th February, 1792, preliminary articles of a treaty of peace concluded between Tipu and the allied armies; following were the terms dictated by the Governor-General Charles Marquess Cornwallis to Tipu Sultan:-

1. One half of the dominions of which Tipu Sultan was in possession before the war, to be ceded to the allies [Haripant from the Maratha side; and from the Nizam's part, Sikander Jah, son of Nizam Ali Khan, and his minister Azim-ul-Umra].

2. Three crores and thirty lacs of rupees, to be paid by Tipu Sultan. One crore and sixty-five lacs, to be paid immediately; and the rest, to be paid in three installments, not exceeding four months each.

3. All prisoners of the four powers, from the time of Hyder Ali, to be unequivocally restored.

4. [Any] two of Tipu Sultan's three eldest sons to be given as hostages for a due performance of the treaty.

In this post we are discussing the reception ceremony of the young princes Abdul Khaliq, Tipu's second son aged ten, and Muiz-ud-din, his third son aged eight, and their surrender to Lord Cornwallis as hostages.

[we-are-bric-a-brac]

Tippoo's Tiger is one of Victoria & Albert Museum's most quirky and popular exhibits. It was made for Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore in South India (1782-1799) and consists of a tiger mauling a prostrate figure in European clothes. An organ is concealed inside the tiger's body, and when a handle at the side is turned, the organ can be played and the man's arm simultaneously lifts up and down. Intermittent noises are supposed to imitate the wails of the dying man.