Siege of Bednore, 1783

Summary

This narrative reconstructs the dramatic siege of the fort of Bednore (also called Ikkeri or Nagar) in 1783 during the Second Anglo‑Mysore War. Drawing on Tipu Sultan’s Persian memoirs and on eye‑witness accounts by two British officers, Captain Henry Oakes and Lieutenant John Charles Sheen, the author provides a balanced account of the events. Tipu’s memoir describes how, following his father Haidar Ali’s death, he ordered General Matthews to attack Bednore, a stronghold governed by the mercenary Ayāzkhan. The English forces initially captured the town through treachery, but Tipu’s army soon invested the fort. Detailed descriptions of the siege include the construction of batteries, mining operations, sorties and the eventual capitulation of the British garrison. The memoir portrays Tipu as a brilliant strategist who outmanoeuvred his opponents; by contrast, the British narratives, while acknowledging Tipu’s tenacity, emphasise their own hardships, the betrayal by the local governor and the harsh treatment of prisoners after the fort’s fall. The article critically compares these versions, pointing out exaggerations and contradictions. It concludes that while Tipu’s account understandably glorifies his victory, the British reports corroborate many details and reveal the confusion and poor leadership within their ranks. The siege of Bednore emerges as a significant episode that demonstrated Mysore’s military prowess and influenced the course of the war.