How Chanda Sahib Conquered Trichinopoly from Rani Minakshi
The Nayaka dynasty of Madura was founded in 1529 and ruled until 1738-39. Originally serving as loyal viceroys under Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagar, the Nayakas rose to power after the decline of the Vijayanagar kingdom following the battle of Talikota in 1565.
Trichinopoly (Tiruchirappalli, also known as Trichy) was the capital of the Madurai Nayakas (Naikkars) since 1665. From 1693, they were nominally feudatories of the Mughals. The local representative of the Mughal emperor was the Nawab of the Carnatic (Arcot).
Minakshi's accession marked the beginning of civil disorders in the kingdom. Her brothers, Venkata Nayak and Perumal Nayak, who became ministers, seized all power. They expelled or imprisoned several high officials from the previous reign, such as Dalavai Naranappa Iyer (or Dalavai Venkata Raghavacharya according to some records), on charges of corruption and embezzlement of public funds.
Induced by Naranappa, the former minister, the expelled officials brought back from exile Bangaru Tirumala (Vangaru Tirumala), a cousin of the late king, to claim the crown. Bangaru was believed to be the rightful heir. The feudatory chiefs of the Nayakas, including Vijaya Raghunatharaya Tondaiman supported the pretender. Thus the country was torn apart by the rivalry between the queen and her brothers on one side, and the pretender and his followers on the other.
Naranappa's plan was to seize Tiruchirappalli through a surprise attack and crown Bangaru as king. However, their plot was discovered, and Bangaru and his supporters were forced to flee. Minakshi now solidified her position by removing all suspects from the administration and enlisting more troops in her service.
In 1732, shortly after Dost Ali Khan (r: 1732-1740) became the Nawab of the Carnatic, he dispatched his son Safdar Ali and son-in-law Chanda Khan, also known as Chanda Sahib, to collect tributes from Madura and Thanjavur. As Tukkoji, the Raja of Thanjavur, consented to pay them tribute, they left for Tiruchirappalli.
Naranappa's faction approached Safdar Ali, offering him 30 lakh rupees to overthrow Minakshi, and make over the kingdom to the pretender. However, Safdar Ali, reluctant to attack Tiruchirappalli, declared Bangaru as the rightful king and, after securing a bond for the promised sum, returned to Arcot, leaving his brother-in-law Chanda Sahib in charge of affairs at Tiruchirappalli.
Minakshi's supporters appealed to Chanda Sahib, offering him one crore of rupees to gain his support. Chanda Sahib accepted a part payment of the promised sum, which the Rani borrowed from the Raja of Thanjavur, before returning to Arcot.
In 1733, Naranappa, who appointed himself as the minister of Bangaru Tirumala, raised an army of feudatory poligars and marched towards Tiruchirappalli. They encountered troops led by the Rani's brother and were defeated, being forced to flee. At the same time, Mysore troops advanced towards Tiruchirappalli from another direction, but the Rani's army managed to repel them. Naranappa and Bangaru reassembled their scattered forces and captured the fortresses of Madura and Dindigul.
Minakshi's brother marched to the defence of Dindigul, but had to withdrew, when the Mysoreans ambushed the reinforcements sent from Tiruchirappalli to aid him. Consequently, he had to lift the siege and flee.
Naranappa left Bangaru in charge of Madura and proceeded to Tiruchirappalli with the intention of besieging the fortress. However, his plans were foiled by the arrival of Chanda Sahib's forces who came for the Rani's support. Naranappa then began a correspondence with Minakshi, as a result of which a peace was effected. As per the terms, Minakshi agreed to adopt prince Vijayakumara, Bangaru's son, as her heir. Naranappa was appointed as her prime minister, and certain provinces surrounding Madura were allocated to Bangaru for his upkeep. Naranappa may have obtained approval from Chanda Sahib for the settlement.
Subsequently, Naranappa entered the fortress and confined Minakshi in her palace. He then managed affairs as he wished, disregarding both Minakshi at Tiruchirappalli and Bangaru at Madura. When Bangaru discovered Naranappa's betrayal, he rushed to Tiruchirappalli, only to be captured and imprisoned alongside Minakshi, for a while.
Finally, Naranappa removed Minakshi from power and declared Bangaru as the new king. However, their reign was short-lived as Chanda Sahib and the troops from Thanjavur, led by Ananda Rao, came to Minakshi's rescue. She was reinstated on the throne, while Bangaru was captured and taken to Arcot. Naranappa, on the other hand, was handed over to Minakshi and met a miserable death.
Despite Minakshi being restored to the throne, her younger brother continued to rule in her place. Chanda Sahib received a delegation of dissatisfied individuals, who had suffered under the oppressive rule of Minakshi's brother, requesting the restoration of Bangaru. In January 1736, Bangaru was brought back from Arcot accompanied by a large Mughal army under Chanda Sahib. Immediately after their arrival, the siege of Tiruchirappalli was begun. After a five-month siege, Tiruchirappalli fell under the control of Chanda Sahib.
Chanda Sahib placed his own guards at Tiruchirappalli and took control of its affairs. Minakshi's younger brother was imprisoned, while Minakshi and her elder brother were confined within the palace. Bangaru was then crowned as the new king, although with a hollow title of Raja.
Subsequently, Chanda Sahib attacked Tanjavur and plundered the country, but was won over by their presents. He then moved on to Mysore, capturing a few territories that had previously belonged to the Madura kingdom. Upon his return to Tiruchirappalli, Chanda Sahib dethroned Bangaru and the empty royal dignity was given back to Minakshi.
During this time, Vijayakumara, the son of Bangaru, was declared king at Madura with the support of a powerful Brahmin. Chanda Sahib, on behalf of the Rani, sent another Brahmin with a strong cavalry force to defeat him. The commander was killed, and the young king fled to the neighboring State of Ramnad. Thus Madura, Dindigul and other surrounding districts once again came under Minakshi's authority by 1737.
By the end of 1738, Chanda Sahib proclaimed himself the ruler of the Nayaka kingdom. He placed his two brothers as governors in the strongest towns: Bade Sahib at Madura and Sadak Sahib at Dindigul.
Trichinopoly (Tiruchirappalli, also known as Trichy) was the capital of the Madurai Nayakas (Naikkars) since 1665. From 1693, they were nominally feudatories of the Mughals. The local representative of the Mughal emperor was the Nawab of the Carnatic (Arcot).
Civil War in the Nayaka Kingdom
Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Nayaka (r: 1706-1732), had no male heir, so in his will, he left the kingdom to his favorite queen, Rani Minakshi Ammal (r: 1732-1739). The other seven wives of Vijayaranga committed sati. Following her husband's death, Minakshi ascended to the throne of the Nayaka kingdom at Tiruchirappalli.
Minakshi's accession marked the beginning of civil disorders in the kingdom. Her brothers, Venkata Nayak and Perumal Nayak, who became ministers, seized all power. They expelled or imprisoned several high officials from the previous reign, such as Dalavai Naranappa Iyer (or Dalavai Venkata Raghavacharya according to some records), on charges of corruption and embezzlement of public funds.
Induced by Naranappa, the former minister, the expelled officials brought back from exile Bangaru Tirumala (Vangaru Tirumala), a cousin of the late king, to claim the crown. Bangaru was believed to be the rightful heir. The feudatory chiefs of the Nayakas, including Vijaya Raghunatharaya Tondaiman supported the pretender. Thus the country was torn apart by the rivalry between the queen and her brothers on one side, and the pretender and his followers on the other.
Naranappa's plan was to seize Tiruchirappalli through a surprise attack and crown Bangaru as king. However, their plot was discovered, and Bangaru and his supporters were forced to flee. Minakshi now solidified her position by removing all suspects from the administration and enlisting more troops in her service.
In 1732, shortly after Dost Ali Khan (r: 1732-1740) became the Nawab of the Carnatic, he dispatched his son Safdar Ali and son-in-law Chanda Khan, also known as Chanda Sahib, to collect tributes from Madura and Thanjavur. As Tukkoji, the Raja of Thanjavur, consented to pay them tribute, they left for Tiruchirappalli.
Naranappa's faction approached Safdar Ali, offering him 30 lakh rupees to overthrow Minakshi, and make over the kingdom to the pretender. However, Safdar Ali, reluctant to attack Tiruchirappalli, declared Bangaru as the rightful king and, after securing a bond for the promised sum, returned to Arcot, leaving his brother-in-law Chanda Sahib in charge of affairs at Tiruchirappalli.
Minakshi's supporters appealed to Chanda Sahib, offering him one crore of rupees to gain his support. Chanda Sahib accepted a part payment of the promised sum, which the Rani borrowed from the Raja of Thanjavur, before returning to Arcot.
In 1733, Naranappa, who appointed himself as the minister of Bangaru Tirumala, raised an army of feudatory poligars and marched towards Tiruchirappalli. They encountered troops led by the Rani's brother and were defeated, being forced to flee. At the same time, Mysore troops advanced towards Tiruchirappalli from another direction, but the Rani's army managed to repel them. Naranappa and Bangaru reassembled their scattered forces and captured the fortresses of Madura and Dindigul.
Minakshi's brother marched to the defence of Dindigul, but had to withdrew, when the Mysoreans ambushed the reinforcements sent from Tiruchirappalli to aid him. Consequently, he had to lift the siege and flee.
Naranappa left Bangaru in charge of Madura and proceeded to Tiruchirappalli with the intention of besieging the fortress. However, his plans were foiled by the arrival of Chanda Sahib's forces who came for the Rani's support. Naranappa then began a correspondence with Minakshi, as a result of which a peace was effected. As per the terms, Minakshi agreed to adopt prince Vijayakumara, Bangaru's son, as her heir. Naranappa was appointed as her prime minister, and certain provinces surrounding Madura were allocated to Bangaru for his upkeep. Naranappa may have obtained approval from Chanda Sahib for the settlement.
Subsequently, Naranappa entered the fortress and confined Minakshi in her palace. He then managed affairs as he wished, disregarding both Minakshi at Tiruchirappalli and Bangaru at Madura. When Bangaru discovered Naranappa's betrayal, he rushed to Tiruchirappalli, only to be captured and imprisoned alongside Minakshi, for a while.
Finally, Naranappa removed Minakshi from power and declared Bangaru as the new king. However, their reign was short-lived as Chanda Sahib and the troops from Thanjavur, led by Ananda Rao, came to Minakshi's rescue. She was reinstated on the throne, while Bangaru was captured and taken to Arcot. Naranappa, on the other hand, was handed over to Minakshi and met a miserable death.
Despite Minakshi being restored to the throne, her younger brother continued to rule in her place. Chanda Sahib received a delegation of dissatisfied individuals, who had suffered under the oppressive rule of Minakshi's brother, requesting the restoration of Bangaru. In January 1736, Bangaru was brought back from Arcot accompanied by a large Mughal army under Chanda Sahib. Immediately after their arrival, the siege of Tiruchirappalli was begun. After a five-month siege, Tiruchirappalli fell under the control of Chanda Sahib.
Chanda Sahib placed his own guards at Tiruchirappalli and took control of its affairs. Minakshi's younger brother was imprisoned, while Minakshi and her elder brother were confined within the palace. Bangaru was then crowned as the new king, although with a hollow title of Raja.
Subsequently, Chanda Sahib attacked Tanjavur and plundered the country, but was won over by their presents. He then moved on to Mysore, capturing a few territories that had previously belonged to the Madura kingdom. Upon his return to Tiruchirappalli, Chanda Sahib dethroned Bangaru and the empty royal dignity was given back to Minakshi.
During this time, Vijayakumara, the son of Bangaru, was declared king at Madura with the support of a powerful Brahmin. Chanda Sahib, on behalf of the Rani, sent another Brahmin with a strong cavalry force to defeat him. The commander was killed, and the young king fled to the neighboring State of Ramnad. Thus Madura, Dindigul and other surrounding districts once again came under Minakshi's authority by 1737.
By the end of 1738, Chanda Sahib proclaimed himself the ruler of the Nayaka kingdom. He placed his two brothers as governors in the strongest towns: Bade Sahib at Madura and Sadak Sahib at Dindigul.
Minakshi's Death
Queen Minakshi was the last ruler of the Nayaka dynasty of Madura. Her reign is confirmed until 1739 by the chronicle 'Madurai thalavaralaru'. A copper plate grant issued by the Rani in February 1739 has also been discovered. She died (or committed suicide) shortly after, in March 1739. Chanda Sahib ruled the Nayaka kingdom until March 1741 when he surrendered it to the Marathas.Reference
- A General History of the Pudukkottai State By S. Radhakrishna Aiyar
- Rani Meenakshi's Reign in Madura (1731-1739) By R. Chandramauliswar
- Father Beschi of the Society of Jesus: His Times & His Writings By L. Besse
- History of Madurai, 1736-1801 By K. Rajayyan
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