After the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799 in the Battle of Seringapatam and the fall of Mysore, the state was placed under which of the following dynasties?

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding the Fall of Mysore and Succession

The question asks about the dynasty that was placed in charge of the state of Mysore after the death of Tipu Sultan in the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799.

The Battle of Seringapatam in 1799 marked the final confrontation between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Mysore. Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, was defeated and killed in this battle. His death led to the collapse of the Kingdom of Mysore under the rule of the Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, effectively ending the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.

Restoration of the Wodeyar Dynasty

Following the defeat and death of Tipu Sultan, the British did not annex the entire Kingdom of Mysore directly. Instead, they decided to restore a part of the kingdom to the Hindu Wodeyar dynasty, which had been the traditional rulers of Mysore before Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan's father, took control in the mid-18th century.

A young prince from the Wodeyar family, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, was installed as the Maharaja of Mysore. However, this restoration came with significant conditions. A subsidiary alliance was imposed on the state of Mysore, making it a princely state under the paramountcy of the British East India Company. This meant Mysore effectively lost its independence and its foreign policy and defense were controlled by the British.

Analyzing the Options

Pusapati: This dynasty is primarily associated with the Vizianagaram estate in Andhra Pradesh, not Mysore. They were not placed in charge of Mysore after Tipu Sultan's death.
Wodeyars: The Wodeyar dynasty were the historical rulers of Mysore. After the defeat of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the British restored a member of this dynasty to the throne under a subsidiary alliance. This aligns with historical events.
Chera: The Chera dynasty was a major power in ancient and medieval South India, ruling parts of present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They were not involved in the administration of Mysore in the late 18th century.
Nizam: The Nizam ruled the princely state of Hyderabad. While the Nizam was a contemporary power and had interactions with Mysore and the British, the state of Mysore itself was not placed under the Nizam after 1799.

Based on the historical outcome of the Battle of Seringapatam and the subsequent arrangement made by the British, the Wodeyar dynasty was restored to power in Mysore.

Conclusion

After the death of Tipu Sultan in the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799, the state of Mysore was placed under the rule of the Wodeyar dynasty, albeit as a princely state under British control through a subsidiary alliance.

Revision Table: Key Events in Mysore (Late 18th Century)

Year	Event	Significance for Mysore
1761	Hyder Ali takes control of Mysore	Begins the rule of Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan.
1767-69	First Anglo-Mysore War	Conflict between Mysore and the British.
1780-84	Second Anglo-Mysore War	Conflict between Mysore and the British.
1790-92	Third Anglo-Mysore War	Mysore loses significant territory to the British and their allies.
1799	Fourth Anglo-Mysore War & Battle of Seringapatam	Tipu Sultan defeated and killed; end of independent Mysore state.
1799	Restoration of Wodeyar dynasty	Mysore becomes a princely state under British subsidiary alliance.

Additional Information on Mysore Succession 1799

The decision by the British to restore the Wodeyars rather than annexing all of Mysore was a strategic one. It allowed them to create a dependent state, preventing any other Indian power from claiming the territory, and also providing a facade of legitimacy by restoring a traditional ruling family. The Subsidiary Alliance treaty of 1799 with Mysore gave the British control over the state's defense, foreign affairs, and required the presence of a British Resident in the Mysore court, effectively bringing the state under British influence.