Nayakas of Chitradurga

Chitradurga Nayaka Kingdom

Official language	Kannada
Capitals	Chitradurga
Government	Monarchy
Preceding state	Vijayanagar Empire
Succeeding states	Kingdom of Mysore

Nayakas of Chitradurga (Kannada: ಚಿತ್ರದುರ್ಗದ ನಾಯಕರು) (1300 - 1779 CE) ruled parts of eastern Karnataka. During the rule of Hoysala Empire and Vijayanagara Empire, they served as a feudatory. Later after the fall of the Vijayanagara empire, they ruled at times as an independent kingdom and at other times as feudatory of the Mysore Kingdom, Mughal Empire and Maratha Empire. Finally it merged into the province of Mysore under the British.

Origin

The earliest chieftains of the kingdom trace their origins as local chiefs (Dandanayakas) of the Hoysalas during their rule over Karnataka who won the attention and appreciation of the Vijayanagar kings through their acts of bravery and valour and were appointed as governors of the region under the empire.^[1] Another account claims the chieftains under the Vijayanagara empire were from Davangere district in Karnataka.^[2] Some Marathi records call them Kala Pyada in admiration for their fighting qualities.

The Chitradurga Fort was their stronghold and the very heart of the province.^{[citation needed]}

The Nayaka clan

Timmanna Nayaka of Matti: A chieftain from Matti in Davangere taluk during the rule of Saluva Narasimha. He ruled areas covering Davangere district and Chitradurga district^{[citation needed]}.

Obanna Nayaka (1588 - 1602) is also known as Madakari Nayaka.

Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka (1602 - 1652) was a brave soldier^{[citation needed]} who defied the Sultan of Bijapur.

Madakari Nayaka II (1652 - 1674) killed Shah Adb Allah in 1671 in a battle at Chitradurga.^{[citation needed]}

Obanna Nayaka II (1674 - 1675) His rule saw civil unrest. He was killed by his own men.

Shoora Kantha Nayaka (1675 - 1676) His rule saw civil unrest. He was killed by his own men.

Chikkanna Nayaka (1676 - 1686)

Madakari Nayaka III (1686 - 1688)^{[citation needed]}

Donne Rangappa Nayaka (1688 - 1689)

Bharamappa Nayaka of Bilichodu (1689 - 1721) known as the greatest of the Chitradurga Nayakas^{[citation needed]} became a Maratha ally^{[citation needed]} and fought in the battle of Dodderi in 1695 but had to pay tribute later to the Mughals for helping the Marathas. He fought many pitched battles against the Mugals and built many temples and irrigation tanks.

Madakari Nayaka IV (1721 - 1748) was a Maratha feudatory.^{[citation needed]} He was killed during continued hostilities against the Nayakas of Davangere.

Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II (1748 - 1758)

Madakari Nayaka (1758 - 1779) was a brave soldier and a shrewd administrator (also called as Madakari Nayaka V).^{[citation needed]} He allied himself with Haider Ali of Mysore Kingdom^{[citation needed]} at times and at other times with the Marathas. It was during his time that Haider Ali attacked the Chitradurga Fort which lead to the heroics of Onake Obavva. Later having been betrayed by the Marathas^{[citation needed]} and some local officers, Madakari Nayaka was defeated by Hyder Ali, taken prisoner and killed. The Chitradurga Nayakas form an integral part of Kannada folklore.

Notes

1. ^ According to Dr. Barry Lewis, the Bedar or Boyar (caste) chiefs
2. ^ According to Dr. Suryanath Kamat, Timmappa Nayaka the founder of the kingdom was from Davangere in Karnataka

References

• History of Nayakas of Chitradurga, Barry Lewis, Dept of Anthropology, University of Illinois

• Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002)