Mysuru's history is deeply intertwined with Hindu mythology. The city's name derives from 'Mahishuru,' meaning 'the city of Mahishasura.' According to legend, the demon king Mahishasura ruled this region until he was vanquished by the Goddess Chamundeshwari, whose temple now sits atop the Chamundi Hills overlooking the city.
The modern historical narrative of Mysuru begins in 1399 with the establishment of the Kingdom of Mysore by the Wadiyar dynasty. The Wadiyars served initially as vassals of the Vijayanagara Empire but declared independence after the empire's decline in 1565. The 18th century saw a brief but significant interruption in Wadiyar rule when the military commanders Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan, took control. This era was marked by aggressive expansion, modernization of the military, and four fiercely fought Anglo-Mysore Wars against the British East India Company.
Following the defeat and death of Tipu Sultan in 1799 during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the British restored the Wadiyar dynasty to the throne under a subsidiary alliance. Under the progressive reigns of later Maharajas, particularly Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV in the early 20th century, the city saw immense civic, educational, and industrial advancement. Mysuru became the first city in Asia to have streetlights (1905) and established one of India's earliest universities.
After India's independence in 1947, the Kingdom of Mysore acceded to the Indian Union, eventually becoming part of the newly formed state of Karnataka. In 2014, the city's name was officially changed from Mysore to Mysuru to align with its Kannada pronunciation.