Wikipedia:Today's featured article/November 3, 2012

The Kingdom of Mysore (1399–1947) was a kingdom of southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. The kingdom, which was ruled by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire. Around 1565, the kingdom became independent. The 17th century saw a steady expansion of its territory and, under Narasaraja Wodeyar I (pictured) and Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, the kingdom annexed large expanses of what is now southern Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu to become a powerful state in the southern Deccan. It reached the height of its military power and dominion in the latter half of the 18th century under the de facto ruler Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. During this time, it came into conflict with the Marathas, the British and the Nizam of Hyderabad which culminated in the four Anglo-Mysore wars. The British restored a subsidiary alliance, and a diminished Mysore was now transformed into a Princely state until Indian independence in 1947. The Mysore kings were not only accomplished exponents of the fine arts and men of letters; they were enthusiastic patrons as well, and their legacies continue to influence music and art even today. (Full article...)

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