The Tiger King acquired his name because it was prophesied that his death would come from the hundredth tiger. In response to the prophecy, he decided to kill one hundred tigers before attending to other matters. He successfully killed many tigers, earning the nickname "Tiger King" due to his dominance and association with tigers. This story is often linked to the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, who was known for this mission related to tigers.
There is also a separate context in which the Thai king Suriyenthrathibodi was called the "Tiger King" due to his cruel and tiger-like behavior, but the specific acquisition of the name by the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is related to his tiger-killing prophecy and mission.
