The Dreams of Kings: A Comparative Discussion of the Recorded Dreams of Tipu Sultan of Mysore and Peter the Great of Russia

A comparative study of some recorded dreams of two significant royal figures-Tipu Sultan of Mysore and Tsar Peter the Great of Russia-allows us to ask whether we can see similar processes at work. This is done in order to re-assess the view that Peter's actions in this regard reflected his curious nature and not a belief in the prognostic or divinatory qualities of dreams. By drawing on the latest scholarship on historical dreams and dreams in history, this re-assessment underlines the importance of cultural and historical context to the understanding of dreams and dream practices, as well as the close connection between dreaming and authority. © 2009 Brill.