The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War ended with a rocket-fueled defense and a fallen tiger.
In 1799, the East India Company sought to dismantle the Kingdom of Mysore, fearing an alliance between Tipu Sultan and Napoleon. The conflict culminated in the siege of Srirangapatnam, where Tipu’s innovative iron-cased rocket brigades nearly repelled the British, marking a pivotal moment in colonial history and military technology.
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War was driven by geopolitical anxiety. Napoleon Bonaparte’s 1798 arrival in Egypt signaled a potential threat to British India, and Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, actively sought French support to challenge British dominance. Lord Mornington, the British Governor-General, moved to isolate Tipu diplomatically, securing an alliance with the Marathas and the Hyderabad State to ensure Mysore stood alone.
Tipu Sultan’s military was notably advanced, particularly in its use of iron-cased rockets. These weapons, which could travel up to 1,000 yards, were a constant source of terror for British forces. At the Battle of Sultanpet Tope, Colonel Arthur Wellesley—the future Duke of Wellington—was initially repulsed by Tipu’s rocketmen. These missiles, which could bound along the ground in a serpentine motion or burst in the air, were so effective that they later inspired William Congreve to develop the rockets used in the Napoleonic Wars.
The final siege of Srirangapatnam in May 1799 proved decisive. A British shot struck a rocket magazine within the fort, causing a massive explosion. Despite fierce resistance, the fort fell on May 4. Tipu Sultan, refusing to surrender or flee, was killed in the fighting. His death effectively ended the war, allowing the British to restore the Wadiyar dynasty as a subsidiary state while exiling Tipu’s heir, Fateh Ali.
The aftermath reshaped South India. The British took indirect control, ceding territory and forcing the Nawab of Carnatic into deposition due to suspected collusion. The Marathas, despite their technical alliance with the British, rejected a post-war offer of territory because it required accepting a British Resident. The conflict solidified British hegemony in the region, with General George Harris famously declaring that India was now in their hands.
Source: Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
