'Tippoo Sultaun delivering to Gullumalli the Vakeel his two sons'

Lithograph by Joseph Grozer after Henry Singleton, published 10 August 1793.

Following his defeat in the Third Mysore War (1790-1792) the British made Tipu Sultan cede part of his dominions, pay a substantial financial settlement and surrender two of his 16 sons as hostages. Princes Mohin-ud-din (or Moiz-ud-din) (aged eight) and Abdul Khalik (aged ten) were accordingly delivered to Lord Cornwallis, the Governor-General of India, at Seringapatam on 26 February 1792. An eyewitness to their handover, Major Alexander Dirom, wrote:

'The Princes were each mounted on an elephant richly caparisoned, and seated in a silver howdah, and were attended by their father's vakeels [advisors] also on elephants. The procession was led by several camel harcarras [couriers], and seven standard-bearers, carrying small green flags suspended from rockets, followed by one hundred pikemen, with spears inlaid with silver. Their guard of two hundred Sepoys, and a party of horse, brought up the rear. Lord Cornwallis anxiously assured the vakeels and the young princes themselves, that every attention possible would be shown to them, and the greatest care taken of their persons. Their little faces brightened up [and] all the spectators were delighted to see that any fears they might have harboured were removed, and that they would soon be reconciled to their change of situation, and to their new friends.'

The princes were 'dressed in long white muslin gowns, and red turbans. They had several rows of large pearls round their necks, from which was suspended an ornament consisting of a ruby and an emerald of considerable size; and in their turbans, each had a sprig of rich pearls. Bred up from their infancy with infinite care, and instructed in their manners to imitate the reserve and politeness of age, it astonished all present to see the correctness and propriety of their conduct'.

Dirom also noted that 'the eldest boy, rather dark in his colour, with thick lips, a small flattish nose, and a long thoughtful countenance', also 'conducted himself with great ease and propriety'. He was however, 'less admired than the youngest, who is remarkably fair, with regular features, a small round face, large full eyes, and a more animated appearance'. The princes lived in a house at Fort Madras where they enjoyed the social scene, attending concerts, plays and dances. The princes certainly made a great impact on all who met them. Abdul Khalik is said to have been the favourite of both Lord Cornwallis and Lady Oakley, wife of the Governor of Madras. Cornwallis presented the prince with several fine gifts including 'the most beautiful palanquin'. (Major Alexander Dirom, 'A narrative of the campaign in India, which terminated the war with Tippoo Sultan in 1792', (Bulmer and Co., London, 1794), pps. 228, 229, 230, 247).

In February 1794, after the fulfilment of the treaty, the princes returned to Seringapatam. They enjoyed a few years of peace but the conflict between Mysore and the British resumed in 1799. On 4 May that year Mysore's capital was captured and Tipu Sultan was killed alongside 10,000 of his subjects. The princes were captured by Major-General David Baird, who treated them with great respect and arranged for their safe passage out of the devastated city. After laying their dead father to rest they were then sent to Vellore. In 1806, following a mutiny at Vellore among the soldiers of the Madras Army, the princes were exiled to Calcutta along with the rest of Tipu's family, lest they become a figurehead for opposition to British rule in southern India.