History of Mysore

Mysore was the capital city of the Wodeyars. Abode of untold grandeur and glory, where the rich heritage of the Wodeyars is carefully preserved to this day in its magnificent palaces, gardens, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. There is an old world charm about the city that reaches out and leaves no one untouched.

How Mysore got its name 

Mysore, or Mahishur as it was called then, traces its history back to the mythical past, when Goddess Chamundeshwari (who is also the main deity at Chamundi Hills) killed the wicked buffalo-headed demon, Mahishasura.

Mysore Dasara is the celebration of this victory of good over evil. Mysore also has associations with the Mahabharata and King Ashoka of 3rd century B.C. 

The Wodeyars - Orginal rulers of Mysore (14th Century Ad - 20th Century Ad)

During the Wodeyar rule of Mysore reached the zenith of its glory as a center of oriental splendor. Mysore still retains a majestic charm, both in appearance and culture. During the Dasara the entire city is adorned like a new bride.

Influence of the Vijayanagar empire

During the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mysore Kingdom under Wodeyars, served as a feudatory. Mysore was the center of the Wodeyar administration till 1610 when Raja Wodeyar ousted the Vijayanagara governor at nearby Srirangapatna and made it his capital. With the demise of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1565, the Mysore Kingdom gradually achieved independence and became a sovereign state by the time of King Narasaraja Wodeyar (1637).

Hyder Ali - From Captain to Ruler 

During the latter part of the rule of Krishnaraja Wodeyar II, Haider Ali, a captain in the army, rose to prominence. His victory against the Marathas at Bangalore in 1758, resulting in the annexation of their territory, made him an iconic figure.

In honour of his achievements, the king gave him the title "Nawab Haider Ali Khan Bahadur". Though illiterate, Haider Ali has earned an important place in the history of Karnataka for his fighting skills and administrative acumen. By 1761, the Maratha menace had diminished and by 1763, Haider Ali had captured the Keladi kingdom, defeated the rulers of Bilgi, Baidanur and Gutti and extended the Mysore kingdom up to Dharwad and Bellary.

Tipu Sultan - "The Tiger of Mysore"

Hyder Ali died as fighting continued with the British, and was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan. Tipu continued hostilities against the British in the second Anglo-Mysore war.

(Tipu Sultan's Mausoleum in Srirangapatna. Photo by: mattlogelin)

Tipu, popularly known as the "Tiger of Mysore", defeated the British in Wandiwash in 1783, but lost some regions in modern coastal Karnataka to them. He also lost the Kittur, Nargund and Badami territories to the Marathas. Tipu's attack on the Kingdom of Travancore, a British ally, resulted in the third Anglo-Mysore war.

By 1792, the British besieged Srirangapatna, resulting in Tipu's defeat. Half his territories were seized and two of his sons were taken hostage.

Tipu died fighting in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war, heralding the end of the Kingdom's independence. Modern Indian historians consider Tipu Sultan an inveterate enemy of the British, an able administrator and an innovator.

Death of Tipu Sultan and the power goes back to the Wodeyars 

After Tipu Sultan's death in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799, the capital of the kingdom was moved back to Mysore. The administration was looked after by Diwan Purnaiah, since the Wodeyar king Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was a minor.

Pre - Independence 

Purnaiah is credited to have been responsible for many improvements in the Mysore city, mainly in relation to public works.In 1831, Mysore lost its status as the administrative centre of the kingdom when Mark Cubbon, the British commissioner, moved the capital to Bangalore.However it regained this status in 1881, when the British handed the power back to the Wodeyars.The city remained the capital of the Wodeyars till 1947 with Mysore Palace as the centre of administration.

After the Indian independence, Mysore city remained as a part of the Mysore State under India. Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, the then king of Mysore, was allowed to retain his titles and was nominated as the Rajapramukh of the state. He died in September 1974 and was cremated in Mysore city.

---

Disclaimer: Go Dakshin or its authors do not claim responsibility for the accuracy of this article. The content has been derived from various references. Some text has been republished here from the original article on the history of Mysore in Wikipedia (with permission). Please consult historians and libraries to verify and know more.

References:  
Kingdom of Mysore

---

• Travel to Mysore and experience its historical past

• or see the popular traveler's spots in Mysore