Who among the following established close relations with the French and modernized his army with their help?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, established close ties with French traders and officials and, with their assistance, modernized his army.
Tipu Sultan enlisted the help of French military experts to train his army along European lines. He upgraded his infantry and artillery with French assistance.
He developed the world's first functional iron-cased Mysorean rockets, which were used in the war against the British.
Jacobin Club: Tipu Sultan was deeply influenced by the ideas of the French Revolution. He founded the Jacobin Club in Srirangapatna and preferred to call himself "Citizen Tipu."
To commemorate the French Revolution, he planted the "Tree of Liberty" in his capital, Srirangapatna.
He sent emissaries to Turkey, Afghanistan, and France (including Napoleon Bonaparte) to form alliances against the British.