Haidar or Hyder Ali 1728-82
Indian soldier and Muslim ruler of Mysore

He was born in Budikote, and by his bravery he attracted the notice of the Maharaja of Mysore's Prime Minister, and soon rose to power, ousting both Prime Minister and raja (c.1761). He conquered Calicut, Bednor and Cannanore, and by 1766 his dominions included more than 84,000 square miles (218 000 sq km). He waged war against the Marathas and the British. Defeated by the Marathas (1772), he claimed British support, but when this was refused he became their enemy. Taking advantage of the war between Great Britain and the French (1778), he and his son Tippoo Sahib routed the British in the Carnatic, but were defeated in three battles by Sir Eyre Coote.

Bibliography: N K Sinha, Haidar Ali (1941)