Gulliver is shipwrecked on a journey to the South Seas, and swims for his life. He is able to make it safely to the shore;
but his other companions are presumed to be dead. Unknown to him, he is in the land of Lilliput – a country where the people are no more than six inches in height. When he wakes, he finds that he has been tied by strings, and made a prisoner. He tries to break free, but he is attacked by the Lilliputians with bows and arrows, and with tiny spears. Given the circumstances, Gulliver decides to rest for a while. Along with food, the Lilliputians also give him some drugged wine; and he is carried in a vehicle to their capital city, where he is put in chains.
The presence of this “Man Mountain” as he is called creates a tremendous stir among the people of Lilliput. The emperor of Lilliput himself comes to see Gulliver in his confinement. Learned scholars are appointed to teach Gulliver the language of the Lilliputians. However, a gang of half a dozen rascals attack Gulliver with bows and arrows. They are captured, and delivered to Gulliver. Gulliver succeeds in gaining favor with the King and the court by his mild disposition towards them (he releases them from their bonds, and sets them free). An exhaustive inventory of his possessions is taken; but they are all returned to him except for his sword and pistols.
Gulliver makes numerous petitions to the King for his personal liberty; and at last it is granted subject to certain conditions. A list of eight articles is drawn up, and Gulliver swears to uphold them upon his honor. In exchange, he is granted food and provisions equivalent to the sustenance of 1724 of the King’s citizens.
The King’s principal secretary meets Gulliver to discuss affairs of state with him. It appears that the neighboring Kingdom of Blefuscu have equipped a numerous fleet, and are preparing to invade Lilliput. Gulliver responds that though it would not be proper of him (as a foreigner) to interfere in the Kingdom’s internal affairs; he is ready to defend the Kingdom against all invaders.
Gulliver swims to the other side of the channel where fifty of the enemy's largest ships are anchored. After cutting them loose from their anchors, and fastening hooks to their prows, Gulliver succeeds in pulling the ships all the way to Lilliput. The enemy’s fleet lost, the enemy sues for peace. As for Gulliver, the highest honor of state is conferred upon him. But he refuses to be a party to the King’s megalomaniac designs of further reducing the Blefuscuans into a state of servitude.
Either to gratify the monarch's resentment, or due to the malice of his courtiers, articles of Impeachment are prepared against Gulliver - on the grounds of treason. Perhaps, the empire simply wants to be free from such an insupportable burden. Initially, Gulliver decides to resist, for the whole strength of Lilliput could not subdue him. But due to the oath he had given to the King, and the favors he had received from him, he decides to leave. Gulliver stayed in the country of the Lilliputians for a total of nine months and thirteen days.