Battle of Savanur

01Savanur between two powers

Savanur was ruled by a Pathan Nawab family who had paid tribute now to the Marathas, now to Mysore, as the frontier moved. In 1786 the Nawab, Abdul Hakim Khan, was tied by marriage to Tipu’s house but took the Maratha side. Haripant Phadke, the Peshwa’s commander, had already taken Badami that summer with the Nizam’s help. He camped near Savanur, expecting the rains to keep Tipu south of the river.

02Tipu crosses in flood

Tipu did not wait. He crossed the Tungabhadra while it was in flood and came up on Haripant’s army in October. There were sharp clashes, and night attacks by Mysore on the Maratha lines, but no single decisive field. Haripant, unwilling to stake the Peshwa’s cavalry against disciplined infantry and artillery, withdrew. The Nawab fled to the Maratha camp and Tipu occupied Savanur. Within months both sides were tired of the war and began to talk.