Kingdom of Mysore: Map & History
The Kingdom of Mysore was a geopolitical realm in southern India founded in around 1399 in the vicinity of the modern-day city of Mysuru.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Kingdom of Mysore was a geopolitical realm in southern India founded in around 1399 in the vicinity of the modern-day city of Mysuru. Existing until 1950, the territorial boundaries and the form of government transmuted substantially throughout the kingdom's lifetime. While originally a feudal vassal under the Vijayanagara Empire, it became a princely state in the British Raj from 1799 to 1947, marked in-between by major political changes.
Modern Countries Once Part of Kingdom of Mysore
At its mapped extent, Kingdom of Mysore covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Kingdom of Mysore's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Kingdom of Mysore in Depth
History
Sources for the history of the kingdom include numerous extant lithic and copper plate inscriptions, records from the Mysore palace and contemporary literary sources in Kannada, Persian and other languages. According to traditional accounts, the kingdom originated as a small state based in the modern city of Mysore and was founded by two brothers, Yaduraya (also known as Vijaya) and Krishnaraya. Their origins are mired in legend and are still a matter of debate; while some historians posit a northern origin at Dwarka, others locate it in Karnataka. Yaduraya is said to have married Chikkadevarasi, the local princess and assumed the feudal title "Wodeyar" (Kannada: ಒಡೆಯರ್, romanized: Oḍeyar, lit. 'lord'), which the ensuing dynasty retained.
Economy
The vast majority of the people lived in villages and agriculture was their main occupation. The economy of the kingdom was based on agriculture. Grains, pulses, vegetables and flowers were cultivated. Commercial crops included sugarcane and cotton. The agrarian population consisted of landlords (vokkaliga, zamindar, heggadde) who tilled the land by employing several landless labourers, usually paying them in grain. Minor cultivators were also willing to hire themselves out as labourers if the need arose. It was due to the availability of these landless labourers that kings and landlords were able to execute major projects such as palaces, temples, mosques, anicuts (dams) and tanks. Because land was abundant and the population relatively sparse, no rent was charged on land ownership.
Culture
The early kings of the Wodeyar dynasty were followers of Jainism. The later kings, starting from the 17th century, took to Vaishnavism, the worship of the Hindu god Vishnu and Shiva. According to musicologist Meera Rajaram Pranesh, King Raja Wodeyar I was a devotee of the god Vishnu, King Dodda Devaraja was honoured with the title "Protector of Brahmins" (Deva Brahmana Paripalaka) for his support to Brahmins, and Maharaja Krishnaraja III was devoted to the goddess Chamundeshwari (a form of Hindu goddess Durga). Wilks ("History of Mysore", 1800) wrote about a Jangama (Veerashaiva saint-devotee of Shiva) uprising, related to excessive taxation, which was put down firmly by Chikka Devaraja.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kingdom of Mysore (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kingdom of Mysore: Key Facts
| Capitals | Mysore, Mysore, Srirangapatna, Bengaluru |
|---|---|
| Official language | Kannada |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1399 |
| Dissolved | 1950 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
- Mysore State
- India
Facts from Wikidata Q266923 (CC0).
Kingdom of Mysore Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Kingdom of Mysore appears, with the other states of the time.
Kingdom of Mysore Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 91,042 km² in 1754 CE.
Kingdom of Mysore: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Kingdom of Mysore exist?
The Kingdom of Mysore is dated to 1572 CE – 1799 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore?
The capital of the Kingdom of Mysore was Mysore, Srirangapatna, Bangalore.
How large was the Kingdom of Mysore at its peak?
At its peak in 1754 the Kingdom of Mysore covered about 91,042 km².
How did the map of the Kingdom of Mysore change over time?
The Kingdom of Mysore appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1600 CE to 1700 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad