Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace

Ian · 12th March 2005, 09:19 PM

In 2003 I had the privilege of visiting Srirangapatna, just outside Mysore in southern India, which was the chief city of Tipu Sultan who had held the British at bay for much of the second half of the 18th C.

Tipu Sultan (1750-1799) was a major aggravation to the British, and you can find a glowing biography of Tipu here: http://home.btconnect.com/tipusultan/biog.htm

Tiring of Tipu's successes against them, the British enlisted the aid of Mahratta forces, and finally overran Sriringapatna in 1799. Tipu was killed during the battle. The chief of the British Forces and architect of Tipu's defeat was General Cornwallis (yes, the same Cornwallis who was defeated by American revolutionary forces) and a key field commander was one Major Arthur Wellesley who later became the Duke of Wellington and defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (with a big assist from Blucher's Prussian forces).

Tipu's summer palace and the ruins of Sriringapatna are ongoing testimony to this ruler who, despite being a Muslim, was a secularist and did not persecute any religious groups under his control. A man who appreciated science, a skilled diplomat, consummate strategist, and excelelnt general, he gave the British all they could handle in southern India. It took a susbtantially superior force to defeat him.

Here is a picture of the man painted in about 1795.

Ian · 12th March 2005, 09:27 PM

The palace gate and a view of the palace from its grounds.

Ian · 12th March 2005, 09:32 PM

Several cannon from the late 18th C. made in Tipu's own armory.

Ian · 12th March 2005, 09:42 PM

These pictures come from two large murals on the exterior wall, protected from the elements by a very wide verandah that could be enclosed.

The pictures depict Tipu's foot soldiers and cavalry. The footmen appear to be carrying a version of the "Moplah chopper" -- not surprising because Tipu's territory included much of the Malabar Coast. The cavalry seem to be armed with heavy sabers.

[Note to Conogre: The foot soldiers seem to have a fat-bellied bolo with a forked hilt and guard. See detailed view.]

Jens Nordlunde · 12th March 2005, 10:06 PM

Thank you Ian for showing these pictures. It is seldom such pictures are shown, but they are very interesting. What makes me wonder is, why the men at horse has such short swords, or is that an artistic thing?

Jens

Ian · 12th March 2005, 10:15 PM

Jens:

I don't know why the swords of the cavalry are so short.

Available information about the swords used by Tipu himself are that they were like the Indo-Persian tulwars throughout much of India in the late 18th C. I think the cavalry here have tulwar-hilted swords, so I assume the (lack of) length is an artistic thing.

Ian.

Tim Simmons · 12th March 2005, 10:22 PM

Please do not forget as English speaking people we have the bicentennial Trafagar Day this year on the 21 oct.Personely I am a Francophile and have spent many wonderful camping holidays there.Tim

Jens Nordlunde · 12th March 2005, 10:45 PM

Ian, have you noticed the way they hold the swords?

Jens

Ian · 12th March 2005, 11:32 PM

Yes, Jens. Kind of a mix. Some of the foot soldiers have blades that appear concave forwards, others convex forwards. I would have thought the "fuller" would run close to the spine of the blade on these weapons, so that they would likely have convex cutting edges. The cavalry seem to be holding their swords backwards and forwards too. Perhaps more artistic license.

LabanTayo · 13th March 2005, 01:45 AM

could it be that theyre resting the blades on their shoulders with the edge facing either in or out. if the edge is resting on the shoulder, then their hands would be in the correct position, whether the edge is in or out. kinda like holding a baseball bat on your shoulder. your knuckles would face upwards. just a thought.

Ian · 13th March 2005, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LabanTayo

could it be that theyre resting the blades on their shoulders with the edge facing either in or out. if the edge is resting on the shoulder, then their hands would be in the correct position, whether the edge is in or out. kinda like holding a baseball bat on your shoulder. your knuckles would face upwards. just a thought.

Shelley:

I think you are probably correct. As a practicing swordsman, do you think would this be a common way to carry a sword, to have it resting on the shoulder?

Ian.

12th March 2005, 09:19 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace In 2003 I had the privilege of visiting Srirangapatna, just outside Mysore in southern India, which was the chief city of Tipu Sultan who had held the British at bay for much of the second half of the 18th C. Tipu Sultan (1750-1799) was a major aggravation to the British, and you can find a glowing biography of Tipu here: http://home.btconnect.com/tipusultan/biog.htm Tiring of Tipu's successes against them, the British enlisted the aid of Mahratta forces, and finally overran Sriringapatna in 1799. Tipu was killed during the battle. The chief of the British Forces and architect of Tipu's defeat was General Cornwallis (yes, the same Cornwallis who was defeated by American revolutionary forces) and a key field commander was one Major Arthur Wellesley who later became the Duke of Wellington and defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (with a big assist from Blucher's Prussian forces). Tipu's summer palace and the ruins of Sriringapatna are ongoing testimony to this ruler who, despite being a Muslim, was a secularist and did not persecute any religious groups under his control. A man who appreciated science, a skilled diplomat, consummate strategist, and excelelnt general, he gave the British all they could handle in southern India. It took a susbtantially superior force to defeat him. Here is a picture of the man painted in about 1795. Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 12th March 2005 at 10:10 PM.

12th March 2005, 09:27 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	The palace The palace gate and a view of the palace from its grounds. Attached Images

12th March 2005, 09:32 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Cannon from Tipu's time Several cannon from the late 18th C. made in Tipu's own armory. Attached Images

12th March 2005, 09:42 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Murals on the walls of the palace These pictures come from two large murals on the exterior wall, protected from the elements by a very wide verandah that could be enclosed. The pictures depict Tipu's foot soldiers and cavalry. The footmen appear to be carrying a version of the "Moplah chopper" -- not surprising because Tipu's territory included much of the Malabar Coast. The cavalry seem to be armed with heavy sabers. [Note to Conogre: The foot soldiers seem to have a fat-bellied bolo with a forked hilt and guard. See detailed view.] Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 12th March 2005 at 09:54 PM.

12th March 2005, 10:06 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Thank you Ian for showing these pictures. It is seldom such pictures are shown, but they are very interesting. What makes me wonder is, why the men at horse has such short swords, or is that an artistic thing? Jens

12th March 2005, 10:15 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Jens: I don't know why the swords of the cavalry are so short. Available information about the swords used by Tipu himself are that they were like the Indo-Persian tulwars throughout much of India in the late 18th C. I think the cavalry here have tulwar-hilted swords, so I assume the (lack of) length is an artistic thing. Ian.

12th March 2005, 10:22 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Please do not forget as English speaking people we have the bicentennial Trafagar Day this year on the 21 oct.Personely I am a Francophile and have spent many wonderful camping holidays there.Tim

12th March 2005, 10:45 PM	#8
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Ian, have you noticed the way they hold the swords? Jens

12th March 2005, 11:32 PM	#9
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Yes, Jens. Kind of a mix. Some of the foot soldiers have blades that appear concave forwards, others convex forwards. I would have thought the "fuller" would run close to the spine of the blade on these weapons, so that they would likely have convex cutting edges. The cavalry seem to be holding their swords backwards and forwards too. Perhaps more artistic license.

13th March 2005, 01:45 AM	#10
LabanTayo Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kansas City Posts: 177	could it be that theyre resting the blades on their shoulders with the edge facing either in or out. if the edge is resting on the shoulder, then their hands would be in the correct position, whether the edge is in or out. kinda like holding a baseball bat on your shoulder. your knuckles would face upwards. just a thought.