Tipu Sultan Killed as Seringapatam Falls

May 4, 1799 - After opening a breach in the outer wall, British and sepoy troops storm the city of Seringapatam, killing Tipu Sultan and ending the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War. Arriving at the city on April 5th, British forces under the command of Governor-General Richard Wellesley quickly invested the city. The ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan (below left), played for time knowing that it would be difficult for the British to operate once the monsoon season arrived. To facilitate the battle, Wellesley bribed Tipu's prime minister, Mir Saadiq, to call the Mysurian army away from the walls for their pay just prior to the assault.

On May 2, a gap in the wall was created by British artillery and two days later the attack commenced with Major General David Baird leading the assault. One of Baird's columns was commanded by Arthur Wellesley, the governor-general's younger brother and the future Duke of Wellington. The city was quickly secured, with the invaders only meeting pockets of resistance. One of these was led by Tipu himself who fired hunting rifles at the British until being shot down.

Photograph Courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org