Kingdom of Mysore, Haider Ali (1761 - 82) Gold pagodas

[gsrctr]

Haider Ali was a ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in Southern India. He was born near Kolar in Karnataka in 1722. His father Fath Muhammad was the military commander at the service of Wodeyar Rajas of the Kingdom of Mysore. Haider Ali began his career in the Mysore army as a petty officer. Rising to the post of Dalavayi (commander-in-chief) to Krishnaraja Wodeyar II, he came to dominate the titular monarch and the Mysore government. He became the de facto ruler of Mysore as Sarvadhikari (Chief Minister) by 1761.

The Shiva-Parvati pagodas of Haidar Ali imitated the coins of the Ikkeri Nayakas, whom he defeated in 1763. They were also the source of the gold that funded this coinage.
Obverse: Siva and Parvati seated facing; Siva holding trishul (trident) and mriga (deer)
Reverse: Persian letter He (for Haidar)

Haider Ali gold pagodas come in two types. The reverse is random dots in the first surrounding the letter He, while the second has a beautiful rosette within the curve of the letter. The below two are my recent acquisitions.

[Figleaf]

Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan made their name in history by resisting the British in general and the Wellesley brothers in particular. I think there is an even more interesting angle to this two-man dynasty and it is very well illustrated by these wonderfully preserved coins: religion.

If Fath Muhammad and Haider Ali could prosper in the Wodeyar court, does that say something about the co-existence of two religions? Remarkably, the coins of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan are heavily influenced by Hindu culture, but the coppers also show traces of Moslem culture. Was that a necessary sop to the population or a sign of tolerance? Why would Mir Sadiq, a moslem, betray Tipu Sultan? Why did the EIC re-install the Wodeyars, rather than simply taking over Mysore. The dots are there, but who will connect them?

Peter