Kingdom of Mysore
In 1399, two brothers named Yaduraya and Krishnaraya established a small state near the modern city of Mysore. This territory began as a feudal vassal under the Vijayanagara Empire, which dominated southern India at that time. The early rulers held only thirty-three villages and commanded a force of three hundred soldiers. King Timmaraja II issued the first unambiguous inscription from the Wodeyar family in 1551 during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya. By 1612, the kingdom had stopped paying tribute to Chandragiri, asserting its autonomy despite nominal overlordship. Raja Wodeyar I annexed Channapatna to the north, making Mysore a regional political factor. Narasaraja Wodeyar acquired Satyamangalam while Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar captured western Tamil regions including Erode and Dharmapuri. Chikka Devaraja ruled from 1672 to 1704 and expanded territory to include Salem, Bangalore, Hassan, and Coimbatore. He forged strategic alliances with the Marathas and Mughals to survive geopolitical pressures. Despite this growth, the kingdom remained landlocked without direct coastal access.
Hyder Ali rose to prominence after defeating the Marathas at Bangalore in 1758. He received the title Nawab Haider Ali Khan Bahadur for his military achievements. In 1763, he captured the Keladi kingdom and invaded the Malabar Coast. By 1779, his army numbered eighty thousand cavalrymen descending through the Ghats. The First Anglo-Mysore War began in 1767 when the British allied with the Marathas and Nizam of Golconda. Hyder Ali moved his armies within five miles of Madras to force peace negotiations. During the Second Anglo-Mysore War starting in July 1779, Mysorean troops used rocket artillery effectively at Pollilur. Hyder Ali died on the 7th of December 1782 while fighting continued against the British. His son Tipu Sultan, known as the Tiger of Mysore, recaptured Baidanur and Mangalore. The Treaty of Mangalore signed in 1784 was the last occasion an Indian power dictated terms to the British. Tipu Sultan attempted to secure support from Revolutionary France and the Ottoman Empire but failed. In 1790, his attacks on Travancore ended in defeat leading to the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Lord Cornwallis besieged Srirangapatna by 1792 resulting in Tipu's defeat and the Treaty of Srirangpatana. Half of Mysore was distributed among allies and two sons were held to ransom. Tipu died defending Srirangapatna in 1799 during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.
The British took direct control of the kingdom in 1831 following a civil insurrection called the Nagar revolt. Sir Mark Cubbon served as commissioner from 1834 until 1861 and established an efficient administrative system. He made Bangalore the capital and divided the state into four divisions under British superintendents. The state was further subdivided into one hundred twenty taluks with eighty-five courts. Lewin Bowring became chief commissioner in 1862 and separated the judiciary from the executive branch. A devastating famine struck between 1876 and 1877 causing mortality figures ranging between seven hundred thousand and one million people. Maharaja Chamaraja X took over rule in 1881 after a lobby set up by the Wodeyar dynasty succeeded in restoring power. C. V. Rungacharlu formed the first Representative Assembly of British India with one hundred forty-four members in 1881. K. Seshadri Iyer initiated gold mining at the Kolar Gold Fields and started the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric project in 1899. Electricity and drinking water were supplied to Bangalore through pipes during his tenure. P. N. Krishnamurti created The Secretariat Manual and the Co-operative Department in 1905. T. Ananda Rao finalized the Kannambadi Dam project. Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya became Dewan in 1909 and increased Legislative Assembly membership from eighteen to twenty-four.
The economy relied heavily on agriculture with grains, pulses, vegetables, and flowers cultivated across the land. Commercial crops included sugarcane and cotton. Landless laborers tilled the fields for landlords who paid them in grain. State factories produced cannons and gunpowder in Kanakapura and Taramandelpeth. Tipu Sultan founded state trading depots in Karachi, Jeddah, and Muscat where Mysore products were sold. French technology improved carpentry and smithing while Chinese methods aided sugar production. Bengal technology helped develop the sericulture industry which grew to twenty-one centers. The Mysore silk industry later became India's top multivoltine producer after reviving from global depression. Under British rule, tax payments shifted to cash maintenance of armies and civil establishments. A portion of revenue transferred to England as Indian tribute caused peasant rebellions. The Cornwallis land reforms came into effect after 1800 improving economic conditions for masses. Manchester mills outcompeted traditional handweaving industries causing de-industrialization. Community-based social welfare organizations formed to help cope with new economic situations including youth hostels. Sir Mirza Ismail expanded Bhadravathi Iron Works and launched Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. He also built Brindavan Gardens and a high-level canal to irrigate modern Mandya district.
King Raja Wodeyar I initiated the celebration of Dasara festival in Mysore establishing a proud tradition. Jainism enjoyed patronage with kings making munificent endowments to monastic orders at Shravanabelagola. Records show kings personally offered prayers during Mahamastakabhisheka ceremonies in years like 1659, 1677, 1800, 1825, 1910, 1925, 1940, and 1953. Govinda Vaidya wrote Kanthirava Narasaraja Vijaya describing the king's court and popular music in twenty-six chapters. King Chikka Devaraja composed Gita Gopala written in saptapadi metre inspired by Jayadeva's Sanskrit work. Female poets like Cheluvambe, Helavanakatte Giriyamma, Sri Rangamma, and Sanchi Honnamma wrote notable works. Maharaja Krishnaraja III authored over forty writings including the musical treatise Sritattvanidhi. Kempu Narayana's Mudramanjusha published in 1823 was the earliest work touching modern prose. Muddanna wrote Adbhuta Ramayana in 1895 and Ramaswamedham in 1898 considered turning points for modern Kannada literature. Basavappa Shastry translated William Shakespeare's Othello to Shurasena Charite earning him the title Grandfather of Kannada theatre. The Mysore court became the largest patron of music under Krishnaraja III and his successors. Veena Sheshanna received the honorific Vainika Shikhamani for his mastery of the veena. T. Chowdiah mastered the seven-stringed violin and received titles Sangeeta Ratna and Sangeeta Kalanidhi in 1939.
The city of Mysore earned the nickname City of Palaces due to its royal structures. The main palace Amba Vilas Palace was designed by English architect Henry Irwin in 1897 after a fire destroyed the original complex. Its design combined Hindu, Islamic, Indo-Saracenic, and Moorish styles using cast iron columns for the first time in India. Granite columns support cusped arches on the portico while a tall tower features a gilded dome with an umbrella chattri. The Durbar hall leads to an inner private hall through silver doors with floor panels inlaid with semi-precious stones. The marriage hall Kalyana mantapa has a stained glass octagonal dome with peacock motifs. Lalitha Mahal Palace built in 1921 by E. W. Fritchley exhibits Renaissance concepts from English manor houses. The central dome is modeled on St. Paul's Cathedral in London with Italian marble staircases and Belgian cut glass lamps. Jaganmohan Palace commissioned in 1861 completed in 1910 served as venue for many royal celebrations. The Mysore University campus Manasa Gangotri includes Jayalakshmi Vilas mansion and Crawford Hall with Ionic and Corinthian columns. The Athara Kutchery district offices feature an octagonal dome and finial added to its beauty. Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill received a Dravidian-style gopuram added by Maharaja Krishnaraja III in 1827.
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Common questions
When was the Kingdom of Mysore established and by whom?
The Kingdom of Mysore was established in 1399 by two brothers named Yaduraya and Krishnaraya. This territory began as a feudal vassal under the Vijayanagara Empire with early rulers holding only thirty-three villages.
Who ruled the Kingdom of Mysore during the Anglo-Mysore Wars and when did they die?
Hyder Ali died on the 7th of December 1782 while fighting continued against the British. His son Tipu Sultan died defending Srirangapatna in 1799 during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War after being defeated by Lord Cornwallis.
What administrative changes occurred in the Kingdom of Mysore between 1834 and 1861?
Sir Mark Cubbon served as commissioner from 1834 until 1861 and made Bangalore the capital. He divided the state into four divisions under British superintendents and further subdivided it into one hundred twenty taluks with eighty-five courts.
Which industries developed in the Kingdom of Mysore under British rule?
State factories produced cannons and gunpowder in Kanakapura and Taramandelpeth while the sericulture industry grew to twenty-one centers. Sir Mirza Ismail expanded Bhadravathi Iron Works and launched Hindustan Aeronautics Limited during this period.
When was the Amba Vilas Palace designed and what architectural styles does it combine?
The main palace Amba Vilas Palace was designed by English architect Henry Irwin in 1897 after a fire destroyed the original complex. Its design combined Hindu, Islamic, Indo-Saracenic, and Moorish styles using cast iron columns for the first time in India.