Hyder Ali Khan (; , ),
Haidarali; 1721 – 7 December 1782) was the
sultan and
de facto ruler of the
Kingdom of Mysore in
southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers. Rising to the post of
Dalavayi (
commander-in-chief) to
Krishnaraja Wodeyar II, he came to dominate the titular monarch and the Mysore government. He became the de facto ruler of Mysore as
Sarvadhikari (Chief Minister) by 1761. He offered strong anti-colonial resistance against the military advances of the
British East India Company during the
First and
Second Anglo–Mysore Wars, and he was the innovator of military use of the iron-cased
Mysorean rockets. His sultanate ruled from 1768-1799, including the reign of his son Tipu Sultan when the sultanate was ceased post Anglo Mysore wars.