Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/27



THE early history of the present rulers of Mysore is involved in obscurity. Vijayaraj and Krishnaraj who came to the south from Dwarka in the fourteenth century A. D., were the ancestors of the Mysore Royal Family. The actual founder of the dynasty was Chamaraj Wodiar, who established a kingdom at Shrirangpattan, which was originally a part of the famous Vijayanagar Raj. Raj Wodiar, a later king, was a man of great ability. He largely extended his dominions, accepted the Vaishnava faith .and died in 1617 A.D. leaving a great reputation behind him. The next Raja Chamaraj ruled for twenty years and was succeeded by Imali Raj who was poisoned by his ambitious minister. Kantidev Raj was the next ruler. He was. as brave a soldier as any of his time; And he largely extended his dominions together with the prestige of the Wodiar family. He was succeeded by Dodda Dev Raj who died in 1672 A.D., just when Shiwaji, the great Mahratta King, had carved out a kingdom for himself in the North and the French were struggling to get a foot-hold in the South. Chika Dev Raj now came to the throne and devoted himself to the task of reforming the administration of his State. He is said to have anticipated the English in establishing regular post offices in the South. He subdued some of the southern rebellious chiefs into vassalage. His ethics, however, was not in keeping with his administrative ability and it is alleged that he was often guilty of treachery and cruelty.

Towards the close of the 17th century A.D. the Mysore rulers sided with the Moguls and first came in direct collision with the Mahrattas by conquering parts of their territories. For this indirect aid the Ruler of Mysore received from the Emperor of Delhi titles and privileges, and the whilom Zamindars became Kings of Mysore.

The power and prestige of the royal family of Mysore, however,, was not maintained after the death of Chika Dev Raj. It was in the time of the minister Nanjaraj, about the year 1750 A.D., that Hyder Alii rose to fame by taking advantage of a family quarrel in the royal house of Mysore. Hyder used to the best advantage his modest position in the State and succeeded in his schemes of driving away from the capital the ruling Wodiar prince. By the year 1760 A.D. Hyder Ali became the de-facto ruler of Mysore. The English formed an alliance with him in 1763 A.D. in the interests of British commerce. Hyder on his part successfully formed alliances first with the Mahrattas and then with the Nizam one after another, but he had soon to fight with all the three powers. In 1771 A.D. the Mahrattas completely defeated him and destroyed his army but he succeeded in maintaining his ground and regained his reputation by carrying on a successful war against the English. He died in 1782 A.D. and was succeeded by his son Tipu who was, if anything, braver and more valiant than his father. In 1786 A.D. the Peshwa and the Nizam entered into a league against Tipu who had to purchase a peace with them by the payment of a large indemnity. From 1791 to 1799 A.D. Tipu was practically engaged in fighting with the English assisted by the Nizam and the Mahrattas. On the 4th of May 1799 A.D. the battle of Shrirangpattan ended in a complete victory of the arms of the besiegers and in the death of the "Lion of Mysore."