Cite
MLA
“Siege of Bednore.” Hindu History, 2026, https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/siege-of-bednore-1783/. Accessed .
APA
Hindu History. (2026). Siege of Bednore. Retrieved , from https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/siege-of-bednore-1783/
Matthews surrendered on 28 April 1783; the terms were broken and he died a prisoner of Tipu.
01Matthews takes Bednur
Bednur, at Nagara in the Malnad hills, had been the capital of the Keladi Nayakas until Haidar Ali conquered it in 1763 and made it his treasury in the west. In January 1783, while Tipu was in the Carnatic, Brigadier-General Matthews landed on the Kanara coast and marched up the ghats. The Mysore governor Ayaz Khan handed Bednur over to him. Matthews spread his army thin across the region and left a small garrison in the town.
02Tipu’s return
Haidar died in December 1782. Tipu hurried west with his army and was within a few miles of Bednur before Matthews knew it, early in April 1783. Matthews came out to fight, was beaten and shut himself in the fort. Short of ammunition and food and losing men to sickness, he agreed terms on 24 April and surrendered on 28 April, on promise of safe passage to Bombay. Tipu accused the garrison of carrying off treasury money and held them prisoner. Matthews died in captivity.
Bednur undid the Bombay army’s invasion of the Malnad and freed Tipu to march on Mangalore.
