Tipu Sultan Family Tree: The Story Behind The Tiger of Mysore

Tipu Sultan (born Fath Ali Sahab Tipu), born 1 December 1751 in Devanahalli, Mysore Kingdom (now Karnataka), India, was the ruler of Mysore from 1782 to 1799 — fought four Anglo-Mysore Wars against the British East India Company; killed at the Battle of Srirangapatna (4 May 1799) at age 47. Pioneered the use of rocket artillery.

The Family's Roots: The Mysore Sultan Dynasty

The Tipu family was the Mysore Sultanate dynasty founded by his father Hyder Ali.

His Father

Hyder Ali Khan (1720–1782) — Mysore military commander who took control of the Wodeyar throne; expanded Mysore Sultanate; died of cancer December 1782 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

His Mother

Fakhr-un-Nisa Begum — Hyder Ali's chief wife.

His Sons

Tipu Sultan had 15 children. The British took several of his sons hostage after the 1792 Treaty of Seringapatam:

Fath Haidar; Abdul Khaliq; Mohi-ud-Din; Muiz-ud-Din; Mir Yasin; Mir Shams-ud-Din; Sayid Wali Lah; Sahid Ghulam Muhammad Sultan Saheb (1795–1872); Sayid Sarwar-ud-din (1798–1832).

Notable Descendants

Sahid Ghulam Muhammad Sultan Saheb (1795–1872) — Tipu's son; lived as the British government pensioner; built Kolkata's Tollygunge estate.

The Tipu Sultan Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Hyder Ali Khan (1720–1782) — Mysore ruler.

Mother: Fakhr-un-Nisa Begum.

Children: 15 sons and several daughters.

Notable descendant: Ghulam Muhammad Sultan Saheb (1795–1872) — Tollygunge.

Tipu Sultan:

  • Born 1 December 1751, Devanahalli
  • First Anglo-Mysore War: 1767–69 (with father Hyder Ali)
  • Second Anglo-Mysore War: 1780–84
  • Sultan of Mysore: from December 1782 (Hyder Ali's death)
  • Third Anglo-Mysore War: 1789–92 — Treaty of Seringapatam: lost half of his territory; gave two sons as hostages to the British
  • Fourth Anglo-Mysore War: 1798–99 — Tipu killed at Battle of Srirangapatna, 4 May 1799, age 47
  • Pioneer of Mysorean rockets — influenced later British rocketry research
  • Built infrastructure, currency reform, manufactured cannons and other equipment

What the Tipu Family Story Teaches Us

A military-commander father. 15 children. Two sons taken as British hostages. A descendant line that continued through the 19th century at the British government's pension.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Tipu story carries the same lesson. Some family records include children taken as political hostages — Tipu's two sons given to the British in 1792 are on the family record alongside his 1799 death.

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