London, Sept. 19 (AFP): A sword used by 18th century ruler Tipu Sultan and later given to the British general who defeated him was bought at an auction in London today for over £175,000.

Tipu Sultan’s “bedchamber sword” was presented to Scottish imperial general David Baird by the head of the British forces, Lord George Harris, following the capture of the sultan’s stronghold at Seringapatnam in 1799.

Inscribed on the blade in Arabic with the words “the sword of the kingdom”, it was sold to an unnamed private collector for £176,438.

“It was the sort of figure we were hoping for,” auctioneer Pierce Noonan said.

“I believe it’s one of the top five prices ever achieved at auction for a sword,” Noonan added.

Tipu Sultan, who died in the battle, was known as the “Tiger of Mysore” and was considered an enlightened ruler.