The sword of 1700s Indian ruler Tipu Sultan has become the most expensive sword in history after selling for a staggering $17.5 million at auction.
While it was only expected to gross $2.5 million, the ornate sword surpassed that goal to become not only an unprecedented sword, but also an unprecedented Indian or Islamic item.
Owned by the legendary Tipu Sultan, the sword was used as a bedroom weapon by him during his reign from 1782 to 1799. It is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship, famous for its toughness due to its construction of Wootz steel, which was renowned for being harder than other steel variants at the time.
Swords from this era of Indian history were rumored to cut through armor with ease, making them stand out among the metalwork of the time. The golden hilt is covered in intricate markings and inscriptions on the blade that call it the “Ruler’s Sword,” among other writings that were added after his death, according to the specialized site IFLScience.
After Tipu Sultan was defeated by the British, British troops recovered him from his bedroom in 1799 and presented him to Major General David Baird “as a token of their high esteem for his valor and conduct in the assault he commanded and in the that Tipu Sultan was assassinated,” according to a news release from Bonhams auction house.
This was not Tipu Sultan’s only sword and it was not even one he used in battle; they were lost even earlier and have been kept in British museums ever since.
What makes this sword so special, however, is the art that adorns the hilt, making it an extraordinary journey back in time, along with the close connection it had to the legendary ruler.
Interestingly, Tipu Sultan is also credited as the pioneer of rocket artillery after he used metal tubes filled with gunpowder as long-range artillery against British attacks, which was remarkably ahead of its time.
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