History_Of_Gingee_And_Its_Rulers

FOREWORD

BY

DR. SIR C. R. REDDY, KT., (HON.) D. LITT., M.L.C.,

Vice- Chancellor, Andhra University.

Mr, C. S. Srinivasachari, M. A., Professor of
History, Annamalai University, has done me the
honour to invite me to contribute a Foreword to his
monumental History of Gingee and^sJKu^jr^
Good wine nee3s no bush. Mr. Srinivasachari, one
of our leading Scholars and Researchers in Indian
History, needs no introduction. His books speak
for themselves. There is no need for anybody else
to speak for them. And this is only a Foreword,
not a critical review and appreciation, which will
naturally be undertaken in due course by the Histori-
ans in South India.

One of the results of the foundation of the
Annamalai University 'has been, curiously enough,
masterly contributions to the elucidation of Telugu
history and culture in the Tamil country. The
Nayak dynasties of Madhura (Madura), Tanjavooru
(Tanjore) and Chengie (Gingee) have found their
first critical and scholarly histories in the Schools
of the Annamalai University, of which one of the
earlier Directors was Mr. P. T. Srinivasa Aiyangar
and of which the present illustrious Head is the
author of this volume, Mr. Srinivasachari. The

pains that the author has taken to collect all the
- available material from archaeological finds, from
the vast literary output, more especially in Telugu
and in Sanskrit under the patronage, auspices and
authorship of these dynasties, and from the accounts
found scattered in the correspondence of the Jesuit
Fathers, are an example to the younger men engaged
in such investigations. With a fallen and subject
people like the Hindus, there is a tendency to be
vainglorious and boastful of the past. For they
that are not happy in the present and cannot find
happiness in the sure and near advent of a more
successful future, naturally have to console them-
selves by idealising the past. But our author and
his School have avoided this fallacy of defeatist
patriotism, They are scientific historians, not
panegyrists.

People have sometimes wondered hew Telugu
dynasties could have so thoroughly dovetailed, as
they had done, into the more ancient, more indivi-
dual, and in some respects, the grander, civilisation
of the Tamils. The Tamils have developed on lines
of their own, and they constitute, in my opinion,
in some respects at least, the finest flower of Dravi-
dian genius. For instance, there is nothing in
Telugu to approach anywhere near the grandeur of
thought and sublimity of feeling found in Silappa-
dikaram and Manimekhalai. The Saiva Siddhanta
Philosophy is one of their most striking contribu-
tions to the vast mosaic of Hindu culture. And
yet, the more militant and the more vigorous
Telugus who stemmed the flow of Muhammadan

invasions and prevented them from inundating
Hindu culture in Dravidisthan, naturalised them-
selves so thoroughly in the Tamil Nadu that the
Telugu colonists spread out from the banks of the
Palar to Tinnevelly are to-day recognised to be part
of the very flesh and blood of the Tamil folk. I can
only explain this by the synthetic genius of the
Hindu Dharma, It is difficult to translate this
term, * Dharma, ' into English. It did not create
unity in the sense of uniformity. But until the
disruptive influences of the most recent developments
and critical, equalitarian re- valuations were felt, it
served to produce a certain harmony between all
the elements comprised under the generic term,
tc Hindu, " however divergent. Each Order or
Caste or Community was not merely reconciled to
its own position, but actively, on the basis of such
reconciliation, cooperated with the other Orders,
without questioning the justice of the gradations and
degradations that had been evolved or instituted.
And so there was sympathy between race and race,
and Order and Order, and even creed and creed like
Buddhism and Jainism. The Kushans, the Scythians
and hordes of foreign races became in this sense
Hinduised, kept distinct like the Rajputs, but not
separate, and made members of one grand body
social and cultural. This is the secret and miracle
of our History. So long as our Dharma was a living
force and had not spent itself out, we had in India
various creeds, various races, various languages,
various states, but along with this variety, the
unity, without uniformity, of one society, one culture
and one civilisation.

IV

True, the days when Dharma could work this
great miracle have now gone, never to be recalled.
Hindu Society has to reconstitute itself on a newer,
equalitarian basis, if it is to meet successfully the
demands of the present and the future.

Mr. Srinivasachari's book is illustrative of the
epic days of South India in which Tamil and Telugu
mixed to produce the great Nay ak civilisation. In
literature, in architecture, in music, as in the arts
of war and of politics, these are chapters that shine
with imperishable glory. Living as we are, in the
new order of the British which, though it has pro-
duced great changes, has not become the life and
atmosphere of the country, like the Dharma of old,
and preparing as we are, for a new order in India
which would enable the country to play a glorious
part in the comity of nations, it behoves us to
understand both the remote and the more recent
past ; and we can never be too grateful to writers
like Mr. Srinivasachari for the charming manner
and beautiful style in which they present, scientific-
ally and without bias, the facts and lessons of our
history.

(Camp) Chittoor, 1 c R REDDY.

22nd. May, 1943. J

PREFATORY NOTE

The author first brought out an account of the
history of Gingee in small compass in 1912. Ex-
tracts from this book were incorporated into the
supplementary volume of the South Arcot District
Gazetteer (Vol. II. Statistical Appendix (1932)—
pp. LXXVIII— LXXIX). Subsequently, the author
expanded the scope of the treatment and utilised
more fully the materials available for the study of
the subject. In 1938, Mon. Edmond Gaudart, Gou-
verneur en retraite and President of the Societe de
UHistoire de Vlnde Franpaise, Pondicherry, of-
fered to have the enlarged text translated into French
by himself and published under the auspices of his
Society. The French Translation was enriched with
a number of illustrations of the views of the Gingee
fortifications (several of which were taken from
photo-negatives in the possession of the Archaeolo-
gical Survey of India) and with a plan of the forts
as they were at the commencement of the 18th cen-
tury and draw n by the French engineers of the time ;
and it was published in March 1940 (Pondichery
Bibliotheque Publique, Rue des Capucins, and Paris,
Ernest Leroux, 108, Boulevard St. Germain :-pp. 243).

Subsequently additions were made to the text-
ual matter with a view to making it as comprehen-
sive as possible of the history of the surrounding
country down to the close of the 18th century. The

vi

fortunes of Gingee as they developed through the
centuries, are illustrative of the vicissitudes through
which this part of the Carnatic passed,— first
emerging under indigenous tribal occupation, then
coming under Chola rule and under the sway of
Vij^ayanagar and of its Nayak governors, subsequent-
ly serving as the battle-field of Bi japurian and Kutb
Shahi ambitions in the Carnatic, also utilised by
Shahji and Shivaji— with a prevision that is cer-
tainly astonishing — as a possible southern base for
future Maratha resistance to the Mussalmans, conse-
quently experiencing a long-drawn-out siege by
Aurangzib's forces, and after its incorporation into
Mughal dominion, flourishing for a time as the head-
quarters of the Mughal subah of the Carnatic. The
18th century witnessed a kaleidoscopic succession of
quick-changing scenes of which Gingee was the
centre. First, the emergence of the brilliant, but
short-lived and misdirected, chivalry of Raja De-
sing, the well-known hero of ballad and legend ;
next, the appearance on the scene of the French
under the famous soldier, Bussy, the consequent
exposure of the fortress to the violent interplay of
the political forces that indulged in their * Witches'
Revel ' in the decades that saw the birth of British
supremacy, during which some stirring figures
passed over the scene, e.g., Bussy, the ill-fated
Nasir Jang and the adventurous Hyder Ali. The
architectural and monumental glories of Gingee
are even now intact, in substantial volume and pre-
servation, and claim for it a rank among the largest
and most striking of the historic fortresses of our
land.

Vll

In the preparation of this book, the author has
been helped in a variety of ways by and is most
thankful to his students, Mr. K. Subrahmanyam,
M.A., L.T. and Mr. V. Vriddhagirisan, M.A., M.Litt,
L.T., and also to Dr. T, V. Mahalingam, M.A., D.Litt,
of the Madura College, Madura.

He is under a great debt of obligation to Dr. Sir
C. R. Reddy, Kt., D.Litt., M.L.C., Vice-Chancellor of
the Andhra University, for his kind and encouraging
Foreword, To the late Mon. Gaudart whose help-
ful attitude to all students of South Indian History
is to be greatly cherished, he owes a debt of grati-
tude that is not easily repayable. He is thankful
to the Annamalai University for undertaking this
publication.

TABLE OP CONTENTS

PAGES

Chapter I A Description of Gingee Fort

— Its Origin 1

Chapter II The Beginnings of Gingee 27

Chapter III Gingee under the Vi jay ana-

gara Nayaks 65

Chapter IV The Rule of Krishnappa Na-

yaka 131

Chapter V The Mussalman Conquest of

Gingee 152

Appendices . . . 183

Chapter VI Gingee under Bijapuri and

MarathaRule 206

Chapter VII The Mughal Siege and Cap-
ture of Gingee ... 286

Chapter VIII Gingee under the Mughals —

The Period of Bundela Rule (1) 351

Chapter IX The Period of Bundela Rule (2) 410
Chapter X Gingee under the Nawabs of
Arcot and the European

Powers 437

Index ... ... 537

Bibliography ... ... 627

Errata List

Illustrations : —
General View of the Pallava Temple, Melacheri,

Gingee.

Gingee : General View of the Ranganatha Tem-
ple at Singavaram.

„ : General View of the Kalyana Mahal
and Entrance to the Zenana.

„ : View from the South of Krishnagiri with
Buildings.

„ : View from the North-East of the Audi-
ence Hall on the Krishnagiri Hill, show-
ing the Krishna Temple.

„ : General View of Rajagiri Hill in the
background with the Venkataramana-
swami Temple in the foreground.

„ : View from the East of the Rajagiri Hill
with the main entrance to the Citadel.

„ : Bird's-eye view from the North-East of
the Buildings at the bottom of the hills
from Krishnagiri.

„ : General View of Chandrayan Drug from
the Krishnagiri Hill.

„ : The Pondicherry Gate and the Royal
Battery.

Map of Gingee and the Surrounding Country.
Jai Singh of Gingee (Desing ?)
Gingee at the commencement of the 18th century.
(A Plan of the Fortress.)

Fort St. David at the time of the French attack,
May 1758.

A

History of Gingee and its Rulers

CHAPTER I
x
A Description of Gingee Fort— Its Origin

Nothing arrests the attention of a travel-
ler in India more than the appearance of the
innumerable imined fortresses and other
vestiges of ancient glory that lie scattered all
over the country. Each mournful relic has
got its own tale to tell of the ruthless vandal-
ism of the foreign invader, the bitter violence
of internecine warfare or the languishing
inertness of successive dynasties of Indian
rulers. Besides the architectural attraction
they display to students of art, they embody
in themselves a world of political strife,
triumph and defeat, which has an undying
interest for the historian.

Up in the north-western corner of the
district of South Arcot, extending for about
fourteen or fifteen miles, in the centre of the
newly-formed taluk of Gingee, are several
hills (lat. 12" 10' to 12" 18' : long. 79" 25' to
79" 30V whose summits are very jagged, each
consisting of a central stratified rock covered
with huge rounded boulders devoid of all vege-

— 2 —

tation, the mountains crowding about in wild
confusion. These uninviting heights, covered
only with a thick growth of thorny shrubs,
were eminently fitted to serve as the homes
of marauding banditti or of daring political
adventurers who, with the strength of a
small impregnable fort, were able to carve
for themselves principalities in times of dis-
order.

The fortifications of Gingee stand on
three of these hills which form the angular
points of a rough equilateral triangle and the
whole space is enclosed by a huge rampart
about sixty feet in thickness and a ditch about
eighty feet in breadth. The walls which are
even now in a state of good preservation, are
built of strong blocks of granite. The whole
of this huge enclosed tract forms the Lower
Fort. The three rocks form three citadels, of
which that situated in the west and called Raja-
giri forginally Kamalagiri, and then Ananda-
giri; is the most impregnable, being nearly
eight hundred feet in height. Just about its
middle, the hill shoots up perpendicularly at
its northern end into a tremendous eminence,
and its summit is cut off from all communica-
tion with the only path by a deep natural
chasm about ten yards wide, over which there
is now a small wooden bridge. The natural
strength of this rock is still further increased

by the construction of embrasured walls and
gateways along all possible shelves and pre-
cipitous edges and the whole hill appears to
be one mass of fortifications rising tier above
tier in wild picturesqueness.

The three hills of the place rise in the
form of a triangle, all being steep, strewn
with huge boulders which are largely unclim-
bable, and well fortified on every side by
battlemented stone walls equipped with loop-
holes for the use of guns and musketry.
They are connected with one another by a
stone rampart sixty feet thick and an extern-
al ditch eighty feet in width.

The highest of the three hills, called
Rajagiri, forms the principal fortification.
The northern most of them is called Krishna-
giri or the English Mountain so frequently
referred to by the historian, Robert Orme ;
while the southern one is Chandrayan Drug
or the St. George's Mountain. The Chandra-
yan Drug is connected with Rajagiri by a low
rocky ridge, A smaller and less important
fourth hill is the Chakkili Drug (hence called
Chamar Tikri by the 18th century annalist,
Bhimsen), the summit of which was well forti-
fied. A steep flight of steps of hewn granite
leads to the top of the first hill. The triangul-
ar space enclosed by these three hills forms

the lower fort and the hills served as the
citadels of the entire fort area. The lower
fort between the hills was pierced by two
entrances, one on the north by the Arcot or
Vellore Gate and another on the 'east known
as the Pondicherry Gate.

The strongest and the highest of the hills
is the Rajagiri, also called the Great Moun-
tain. On account of its precipitous height,
the hill ought to have been totally inaccessi-
ble before it came to be fortified. This rock
is 500 to 600 feet high at its top levels; and on
the summit of it, rising above the ridge is
the innermost citadel surrounded by strong
walls that render an escalade impossible
except on the north flank where, however,
nature has provided an additional means of
rendering an attack impossible by a narrow
and deep chasm about 24 feet in width and 60
feet in depth. This chasm has been further
artificially deepened further. The entrance
to the citadel, as we find it to-day, is by
means of a wooden bridge thrown over it.*

The citadel can be reached by a fortified
path and the narrow bridge leading to it al-

* Onne has probably alluded to this while referr-
ing to it as a point that could be held by ten men as
against ten thousand. According to one traveller;
"within the fort Btands a steep hill which nature hath
made secure and art impregnable."

ready mentioned. Seven gates have to be
traversed before reaching the citadel. Along-
side the path to it is a grove of trees in which
are a reservoir and a shrine to the Goddess
Kamalakanni Amman. This goddess is one
of the seven guardian Virgin Deities of the
place ; another goddess who is even now wor-
shipped is Senjiamman that is believed to have
given the name Senji to the fort and town.
Buffaloes are usually offered as sacrifices at
the annual festival conducted at the foot of
the hill in honour of Kamalakanni Amman.

The temple of this goddess is the oldest
spot in the place, probably older even than
the nucleus of the fort; and hence people
attach considerable importance to it. Kamala-
kanni Amman was, perhaps, identical with
Senjiamman who gave her name to the fort-
ress. In front of her shrine we find a stone
slab, y\/2 feet by 4^ feet, with representa-
tions of a bow, five arrows, a buffalo's, a
ram's and four human heads which refer to
the sacrifices of men and animals that were
practised. Colonel Branfill who visited Gingee
in 1880 has referred to it in some detail in his
account.

On the top of Rajagiri there is a temple
dedicated to God Ranganatha though the
sanctum is now empty. Besides, there are a

mantapam built in the Vijayanagara style of
architecture, two big brick granaries, a
masonry flagstaff and a strongly built cham-
ber that perhaps served as the treasury of the
fort. A spring of clear water under two big
boulders served the needs of the garrison.
On the hill-side, a little below, is a small
mantapam. There is a big cannon lying by
the side (though now rusty), eleven feet long
and about seven feet in circumference at the
breach. The gun is a miniature of the famous
cannon, Malliki Maidan, in its size and form.

Mosques, temples and pavilions jostle one
another in picturesque confusion at the base
of the hill. The old gate-ways of the fort
have been walled up ; and the new gaps in the
walls made for carrying the road from Tindi-
vanam to Tiruvannamalai are now used as
entrances into the enclosed fort area. The
batteries between the Pondicherry and the
Arcot Gates were probably erected by the
French during their occupation of the place
in the fifties. of the eighteenth century. These
batteries are marked in the sketch-map of
Gingee attached to Orme's plans. The gates
which are modern in their setting are the
work of the French who occupied it for about
ten years (1751 1761). From the old Pondi-
cherry Gate we directly reach Sadatullah
Khan's Mosque.

In the lower fort are found the ruins of
the Venkataramanaswami Temple whose ori-
ginal tall graceful monolithic pillars are said
to have been carried away to Pondicherry by
the French and to have been built into the
base of the statue of Dupleix in the Place de
la Republique at that town. The stone car-
stand at Sittamur nearby, which is still a
township inhabited by a fairly numerous body
of Jainas, is also said to have been built of
stone-pieces dismantled from the Venkata-
ramanaswami temple of Gingee. This temple
is said to have been built by one Muthialu
Nayakan. In 1860 a Jain official and a mem-
ber of the Madras Provincial Service, Sri
Baliah, took away a number of stone pieces
from Gingee to Sittamiir; among them the
great stone elephants placed at the foot of
the Termutti (car-stand), are noteworthy.
The most admirable carvings in the Venkata-
ramanaswami temple are found in the panels
on either side of the gateway under the
entrance ; and they depict well known scenes
from the Ramayana, from the different incar-
nations of Vishnu and the Puranic legend of
the churning of the ocean of milk by the
Devas and the Asuras.

The Fattabhi Ramaswami temple is also
deemed to be architecturally as important as,
and perhaps even more than, the Venkata-

— 8 —

ramanaswami temple. The twelve-pillared
mautapam in it constitutes its most con-
spicuous feature. In 1858 the Collector of
South Arcot suggested the removal of its
pillars to Madras and their utilisation as a
base for the statue of General Neill, (the
Madras hero of the Indian Mutiny) at Madras,
which was then in process of manufacture.
To the west of the Venkataramanaswami
Temple there is the tank known as the Anai-
kulam used for bathing elephants. Further
west of the Anaikulam are situated the famous
tanks, the Chakrakulam and the Chettikulam,
the latter of which is said to have been built
by one Rama Shetty in the days of the
Maratha occupation of the place and under
the rule of Raja Ram towards the end of the
18th century. Near the Chettikulam is a
platform where Raja Bering's (the hero who
fought gloriously with the Nawab of Arcot
and died on the field) body is said to have
been burnt by order of the Nawab with full
honours and in orthodox Hindu style. Bet-
ween the two tanks is a large stone-image of
Hanuman under a tottering mantnpam.

Near the Chakkrakulam we see a big-
sized boulder of rock, 15 to 20 feet high
surmounted at the top with a low circular
brick parapet wall. It is a natural hollow and
artificially enlarged to some extent and now

looks like a dried-up well. This is called the
Prisoners' Well, because it was at that site
that those who were condemned to death were
thrown down and left to die of starvation.
This is referred to as one of the curiosities of
the place by Garstin in the South Arcot Dis-
trict Manual.

In one of the gateways of the inner fort
there is the little known shrine of Venu-
gopalaswami which contains a stone slab de-
picting a remarkable piece of sculpture cut
out in bold relief on the side of a mass of rock.
Herein are carved a panel of Lord Krishna
playing 011 the flute with his two wives,
Rukmani and Satyabhama, and two female
figures. This is the best piece of sculpture
among the ruins of the place. The Venug6pala-
swami shrine is also mentioned in his account
of the place by the Jesuit traveller, Father
Pimenta, who visited Gingee in 1599 A. D.*
We also see some brick-built and large-sized
granaries and a gymnasium in the inner fort.
Further east are to be found two great slabs
of polished stone which are said to have ser-
ved as bathing platforms used by Raja Desing
and his Rani. To the north are found a long
row of low buildings which perhaps served as
horse stables in those days.

* Vide The Indian Antiquary, Vol. LIV, Pp. 42-43.

— 10 —

To the east of these buildings is situated
the Kalyanamahal, which is easily the archi-
tectural treasure of the place and the most
conspicuous and attractive monument. The
Mahal consists of a square court surrounded
by rooms for the ladies of the Raja's or
governor's household; and in the middle of
the rooms rises a square tower of eight
storeys with a pyramidal roof. The plan of
each storey is the same and consists of a
single room about 8 feet square, surrounded by
a verandah built on arches from which very
narrow and steep stairways lead both up-
wards and downwards. Father Pimenta pro-
bably refers to it as the tower where the
Nayak ruler lodged him and his companions.
He calls it the rectangular court in the inner
fort. The Kalyfinamahfil is of the age and
style of the Vijayanagara school. The only in-
teresting feature in the building is a number
of earthenware pipes leading even to the
upper storeys, through which water issuing
from the Chakrakujam situated about three
furlongs from it was taken for the use of the
inmates of the building.

One of the most singular features of the
fortifications is the abundant water supply
ensured for the inmates in all parts including
the hills. There are two natural springs on
the top of Rajagiri, one near the gate-way to

— li-
the citadel and the other on the summit of
the rock. The quality of water obtained in
these is said to be excellent and refreshingly
cool. These pools never dry up even in the
hottest part of the year ; they are sheltered
from the sun's rays on the sides by big bould-
ers of rock, and protected from the heat. This
is partly due to the fact that the tanks, Chak-
rakulam and Chettikulam, are fed by peren-
nial springs.

Going next to Krishnagiri, the hill lying
to the north of the Tiruvannamalai road, we
find that it is smaller in size and height than
Rajagiri. It is noticed by Orme as " The
English Mountain." A flight of steps of hewn
granite pieces carries us to its top where are
to be found several stone-built granaries
and mantupams, an empty shrine to God
Ranganatha, and the king's audience hall.
These buildings are marked by a curious style
of architecture including some traces of
Islamic influence. The domed roof of the
audience-chamber is supported by graceful
and pointed brick-arches ; and under the dome
is a square platform equipped with a pillar at
each corner and encircled on all sides with
embrasured windows and comfortable window-
seats. The chamber is open on all sides,
takes in all the winds of heaven and com-
mands a glorious view in every direction.

— 12 —

Below it is a hall fitted with hooks for swing-
ing seats.

The Chandniyan Drug and the Chakkili
Drug were also fortified to some extent ; but
their military and strategic value is relative-
ly small. Their flanks are now completely
covered with shrubs and stone pieces; the
visitor finds it a hard task to negotiate a
climb up their sides and reach their tops.

Any account of Gingee should include a
notice of the rock-cut shrine of Singavaram
situated Z]4 miles from the fortress. Singa-
varam is a good specimen of the South Indian
type of the rock-cut shrine. It is approached
by a steep flight of steps. The recumbent
deity, God Ranganatha (Lord of the Assembly
Hall) is said to have been the tutelary god of
Raja Desing. The image was hewn out of
living rock and is about 24 feet long and is
in the usual reclining posture, lyins on the
coils of the serpent Ananta. The head of the
image is turned aside ; and according to the
popular ballad of Raja Desing, when the hero
requested the God's blessing before proceed-
ing to fight against Sadatullah Khan, the
Nawab of Arcot, in 1714 A. D., the deity did
not permit him to go to the battle and turned
his head aside as a mark of his disapproval of
DeSing's head-strong haste.

— 13 ~

Singavaram may be identified with the
Bishun Gingee of the 18th century chronicles
(Vishnu Gingee). According to Scott Waring,
there were two separate towns known as
Sheo Gingee (Siva Gingee) and Bishun Gingee
(Vishnu Gingee), the latter being regarded by
him as a popular and flourishing town. He
also says that it was a pilgrim resort ; and he
supplements his notice of the place thus: —
"The city venerable for its antiquity and
supposed sanctity was entirely surrounded by
Muslims who attacked it with great vigour
and resolution. Gingee is one of the princi-
pal places of worship in South India. There
are two great temples, the Sheo Gingee and
Bishun Gingee surrounded by walls of consid-
erable circumference. Within them are in-
numerable edifices of incredible value and
also numerous and splendid temples. The
breadth of the town is trifling, having only
one street of shops with the houses and gar-
dens of the inhabitants surrounding them.
The tanks are numerous, faced with stony
steps. Each tank has a separate name and a
distinct season for bathing in it. The court
of Sheo Gingee was formed into a citadel
with basements and battlements and conse-
quently thinly inhabited. Bishun Gingee was
populous and flourishing and the resort of an
immense number of pilgrims." Hence the

— 14 —

Bishun Gingee of Scott Waring can, with
great probability, be identified with Singa-
varam which has been a well-known Vaish-
nava shrine. The image of the god is believed
to be the very one from the great Srirangam
temple that had been taken away from it for
the sake of safety during its sack by the first
Muhammadan invaders under Malik Kafar.
The idol at Singavaram is supposed to be
larger than the one now at Srirangam and
people believe that the Singavaram idol is the
original one brought from Srirangam during
the Muhammadan invasions. According to
E. Scott Waring [A History of the Mahrat-
fax (1810) pp. 120-21], Singavaram belonged to
the jurisdiction of Gingee and hence we find
that Gingee has often been referred to by
some travellers as consisting of two towns,
44 the great and little Gingee surrounded by a
wall three miles in circumference enclosing
the two towns and five mountains of rugged
rock on the summit of which are built five
strong forts.1' The five mountains referred
to, very probably included the Singavaram
hill, the four others being the Rajagiri, the
Krishnagiri, the Chandrayan Drug and the
Chakkili Drug. According to E, Scott Waring,
Great Gingee should refer to the whole area
including Singavaram; and Little Gingee was
very likely the designation of Gingee proper,

i.e., the area covered by the four other moun-
tains.

The limits of Great Gingee should have
also comprehended Melacheri, or the village
of Old Gingee which had also been obviously
fortified. It formed the chief village of the
Gingee jaghir claimed to have been granted
by the Emperor of Delhi to one Sivanath and
the jurisdiction of which extended over seven
parganas. Subsequently the jaghir came to
be deprived of the parganas when it was
granted to one Tejonath Singh by Lord
William Bentinck, Governor of Madras (1803
—1807).

Greater Gingee covered a vast area, as
noted by acute observers like Orme, Pimenta,
Branfill, Scott Waring and others. Father
Pimenta's description of the fortress as " The
Troy of the East " is also justifiable in some
measure, though put in an extravagant simile.

The Gradual Development of the Fort

As observed by Garstin, it is impossible
to be detailed or definite as to when and by
whom the different fortifications were built.
The great lines of battlemented thick stone-
faced walls that stretch across the plain from
Krishnagiri to Rajagiri and to the Chand-
rayan Drug must have been of gradual forma-

— 16 —

tion. Perhaps the orginal wall was about five
feet thick, built of granite pieces fitted into
one another without any cementing mortar;
and subsequently an earthen rampart about
25 feet thick was added behind the wall, with
barracks and guard rooms built into its thick-
ness at intervals.. These ramparts are believ-
ed to have been built by the Marathas * dur-
ing their occupation of the place in the years
1677—98. The letter of the Jesuit, Andre Freire,
of 1678 written at the time of Sivaji's return
from his South Indian campaign says that
they were credited with the construction of
the ramparts.

* Sivaji is credited with having immensely
strengthened the fortifications, but it is difficult to
believe that he could have done much, for lie only came
into the Carnatic in 1676 and left it in 1678 ; and unless he
had armies of masons and workmen, it seems impossible
that he could have constructed a hundredth part of the
enormous length of works which exist, in the short
space of 18 months, especially when we know that during
14 months of thai; time he was busy with the -siege of
Vellore, and that the country was, according to the
Madras Records, " peeled to the bones."

It is highly probable that he did something towards
strengthening the place, and that Ram Rnja did the
same, especially while threatened by the Mughal army of
Zulfikar Khan during the eight years of the so-called
siege, but the stupendous character of the works carried
out, and the amount of time it must have taken to. split
off all the blocks of granite with which the works are
faced throughout, and to move them into their places,
seem to preclude the idea that the great works of cir-
cumvallation cculd have been constiuctrd by the
Marathas during their comparatively short and troubled
tenure of the place of a little over two decades, and for

— 17 —

There are a few circular towers of stone
here and there, some equipped with square
gun-ports resemblin? Martello towers ; they
were apparently intended for a single gun to
be worked from ; and in one or two places may
be seen " square gun-ports very much resemb-
ling those of a ship ". " The style of these
works may perhaps enable those learned in
such matters to form their own opinion as to
the constructors of different parts of the forti-
fications, but a few brick and mortar embra-
sures seem to mark the efforts of the French
at strengthening the place while in their
possession." (Garb-tin's Manual, p. 416).

The strongest part of the citadel, the
Rajagiri, must have been constructed by the
Vijayanagara Nayaks who enjoye.l peaceful
rule for a number of years and who were very

somewhat similar iv non* w<3 m ly also conc.uds that
they were not the handiwork of the Bijapur governors
of the fort in tho preceding decades, while everything
tends to strengthen the hypothesis that th?y were the
work of the Vij*iyanagar R-iyas and th >ir governors. In
the first place, the long and peaceful tenure of Gingee
by that dynasty, a rendition essentially necessary to .admit
of the construction of tho works ; next the general simil-
arity in character of tho whole; thiidly, the tY.cl tint,
when captured by Bijapur, Gingee wa* a strong fort-
ress; aud lastly, the well-known skill of the Vijayana-
gara, builders in carrying out immense works in 3ionef
as evidenced by th? ruin^ of Vijayan^gar at Hampi,
leave little doubt that the credit of building the fortress
of Gingee belongs mainly, if not entirely, to that ancien:
dynasty.

— 18 —

likely largely responsible for the various im-
provements in the defences of the fort, though
subsequent holders of the place like the Mara-
thas and the French, added to its strength in
several aspects.

The Fort at the Present Day ; and its
Conservation

The most remarkable uiins of the fort to-
day are the Kalyanamahal, the granaries,
the MdnfapawN and the French batteries. The
temples at the base of the hill and some of the
sculptures and remains therein are valu-
able even from an architectural point of view.

The Madras Government have been spend-
ing large sums of money in conserving the
ruins of the place. The audience chamber in
Krishnagiri was repaired after the cyclone of
1913. The approaches to Krishnagiri have been
made easy by the repair of the flight of steps
that were scattered before. Several portions
of the Rajagiri fortress have also beeij restor-
ed. Near the Raja's and Rani's bathing-plat-
forms is a stone roller about 6 feet in circum-
ference and 10 feet in length ; and by its side
are found remnants of a staircase of brick and
mortar which represents probably a portion
of the site of the royal palace. The water
tower near Sadatullah Khan's Mosque is kept

1Q

— "— J.J7 ~— ^

in repair and shows that such reservoirs were
in use in those days.

The historic fortress comprehends the
three hills and the enclosing massive fortifica-
tions arranged in the form of a triangle, the
triangular space enclosed being about three
miles in perimeter and forming the lower fort,
the three hills constituting the citadels. The
work of conservation of the fortress is there-
fore very large. The most important build-
ings in this area are situated in the two
citadels of Rajagiri and Krishnagiri respec-
tively, an I also in the lower fort at the foot
of Rajagiri. They comprise a number of large
granaries and tanks, pavilions, palaces, bar-
racks, temples and mosques, the best of which,
including the Arcot Gate, the Pondicherry
Gate and the Royal Battery constructed by
the French, have now been repaired.

One of the most important buildings of
archaeological interest is the Venkataramana-
swami temple. The mantapa and the com-
pound wall of this structure, both of which
had been badly damaged, have been put in
safe condition and protected from the leakage
of rain water. The roof of the temple has
been made water-tight. The parapets of the
ramparts and those around the Pondicherry
Gate-way have been built up with new brick-

— 20 —

work where necessary and the roads through-
out the fort are maintained in good order.
The over-hanging terrace of the Iswaran Koil
has been secured by the support of a buttress.
The outer fort wall has also been repaired in
several places.

The place had long been the scene of
malaria's virulent scourge. As early as 1760,
soon after its capture from French hands by
the English, Governor Pigot of Madras wrote
to the French general at Pondicherry and
observed that b' the prisoners could be sent to
Gingee, a place to which nothing could tempt
a state to doom any of its subjects, but the
great advantages resulting from its situation
and strength — a place whose pernicious air
and water plunge into irrevocable sickness
and pain almost all whom necessity compels
to inhabit it for a time. That is the place
you have chosen for your prisoners who
would suffer there a lingering death."*

* A peculiar feature* of both s-icli's in the Carnatie,
Wars wa«« their habit of trout in*.' prisoners as men that
ought to b:>, strictly speaking, !'»•<! by t!n» si;l.« to which
they naturally belongrd; and we find that Nuwab
Muhammad All insisted that the French prisoners on
his side should be either frd with French money or
made to go hungry, 'according to European practice.*
Dupleix maintained that this pernicious pructic" was
begun by Lawrence and the EiifrlMi arid only adopted
by the French as a retaliatory measure.

— 21 —

Even as late as 1860 its health conditions
remained notoriously bad. According to an
official report of 1860, " some years previous-
ly the neighbourhood of Gingee was consider-
ed unhealthy (malarial) and became a shelter
for thieves and a den for wild beasts. It re-
mained an isolated spot dreaded by all and
the fort and buildings became a prey to any
one who coveted the valuable store of finely
worked ornamental stones." Gingee had long
enjoyed the reputation of being an unhealthy
locality. The Mnhammadans transferred
their headquarters of the Carnatic subah
from Gingee to Arcot in 1716 A. D., due to the
unhealthiness of the former town. Even dur-
ing the rule of Nawab Daiid Khan (1700—
1708) the transference of the seat of adminis-
tration to Arcot seems to have been planned.
The French are held by Orme to have lost
1,200 European soldiers during their (less
than) ten years ' occupation of Gingee. About
1850 a suggestion was made to convert Gingee
into a depot for the storage of salt as it con-
veniently lay between Marakkanam, Tiru-
vannamalai and other places.

The Origin of the name Gingee

The Tamil name Senji with the popular
appellation of (Hngee has been variously
derived. It is supposed to have had its origin

— 22 —

from Sanjivi, the famous panacea of Hindu
mythology; it has been explained as the com-
bination of two roots, *<nn (pleasure) and ji
(giving) ; the name has also been traced to
Singavaram, a neighbouring Vaishnava
shrine, whose god is supposed to be the guar-
dian deity of the place.** Local tradition has
however another explanation to offer. The
legend runs that seven virgin sisters who
once lived here — oire of them being Senjiam-
man — were threatened with a violation of
their chastity; and though rescued from dan-
ger by a valiant man named Th<nUkiini
Virappan, they could not survive the insult
offered to them and so committed suicide.
Their spirits are even now believed to be
haunting the place and considered the yenH
loci. Each of them has got her own little
shrine still existing and attracts votaries
from the neighbourhood. It is very probable
that Senjiamman who is worshipped on one of
the heights, gave her name to the particular
hill and this afterwards came to be the com-
mon designation of the whole circle of hills
and the village below. Another of the sisters,
KanmlukdHniummani has a shrine dedicated
to her at the base of the shooting scarp on
Rajagiri which, on certain days in the year,
is thronged with worshippers. It was orginal-

Gamin's 'District Manual «f South Arcof\ p. 411.

ly known after the goddess as Kamalagiri, a
circumstance that adds to the probability of
the popular version of the derivation of the
name.

According to accepted tradition embodied
in the KarnCttaka RCtjdkkal Savistdra Chari-
tam of Narayana Kon, written in the early
years of the nineteenth century and forming a
very important item in the historical portion
of the Mackenzie Manuscripts lodged with
the Madras Government, Gingee had an
earlier name known as Krishnapura. This
name was possibly given to it by its first rul-
ing dynasty, who were of the shepherd class
and whose tutelary deity was the Lord Sri
Krishna ; or it might have received that name
under its powerful ruler, Krishnappa Nayak.

The Bijapur authorities who held the
fort from about 16<>0 to 1677 called it Badsha-
bad, while the Marathas who succeeded them
called it Chandry or Chindy. The Mughals,
on their capture of the fort in 1698 after a long
siege, named it Nasrat Gaddah in honour of
Nawab Zulfiqar Khan Nasrat Jang, the com-
mander-in-chief of the besieging army.
Later, the English and the French called it
(Ungee or Jinji. The early Madras records
give the spelling Chingee or Chengey. What-
ever might be the name by which it might

- 24 —

have been known in different epochs, it has
retained the name Gingee, the English form
of the Tamil word, Senji/:;<

Garstin identified Gingee with Singava-
ram where there is a rock-cut pagoda on a hill,,
and which is situated 2^ miles west of
Gingee. Singavaram ought to have been in-
cluded in Gingee according to the description
of the different fortifications and their area.**

* According to the W(nlntx l'/ti verbify Tuihtl Lea-i-
con, Vol. Ill, p. 1582, Gingee is thus explained, merely
giving information taken from the IMriH Uuifttwr of
Month j4/rof.— cenci, n. pern. Srngin. Ginji, a hill fort-
ress of historical interest in South Arc-jt district ;

The suggested derivation from Sanskrit Shringi is
given in the Mntlmx JMmutil <>f A<lniini*trutnw Vol. Ill,
(Hoswrui p. 393; and the Tamil Shingi from which, after
two or three stages of phonetic transformation, the pre-
sent name is held to be derived was a corruption from
the Sanskrit term. The Tamil word Ohingi means
poison and not a fortress, lead monoxide and the gall-nut
and also a fresh water fish ; it is also the corruption of
Simhi, the mother of Rahu, the ascending node; the
feminine form of Singan, meaning a woman of fowler
tribe. These explanations cannot give here any appro-
priate meaning at all.

** The following v* held to be the derivation of
Gingee from Singavaram. Gingee might have been der-
ived from (^inga its original name, Varam the suffix added
to Qinga, generally denoting the place or town like the
suffix puram. The above derivation, though it may seem
very far-fetched, is given below.

Various phonetic changes should have come about
before Singavaram could have became Gingee.

The initial surd *C' in Cinga had given place to its
sonant (J or G) and becomes (Jinga or Ginga). Again

— 25 —

Though the fort had been in existence
even in the 14th century in the times of the
Vijayanagara rulers, Kumara Kampana and
his Brahman general Gopanarya, according to
current tradition, the pagoda at Singavaram
was built only by Tupakala Krishnappa
Nayak (or Tubaki Krishnappa Nayak) who
added largely to the main fort of Gingee.*

the medial Sonant (J or G) in Ginga or Jinga changes
into (J) which is a common feature of the English langu-
age; for instance, in the English word for Ganges for
we find this tendency at work. G changes into J.
Now accordingly we get Jinga or Ginga. Another influ-
ence of a phonetic law inhert nt in all the languages
works. By the law of progressive assimilation we find
vowel i in Ginga, influence* the final vowel a and con-
verts it into i; and we get Gingi or Gingee in its present
form.

* 'There lived at Conjeevaram a very devout wor-
shipper of Vishnu called Tupakfila Kistnappa Nayak,
who possessed a flower-garden which he dedicated to the
use of Varadarajaswami, the famous idol worshipped at
that place, and of which he scrupulously offered every
flower at the shrine. One day. the Swami, with a view
to put his worshipper's faith to the test, appeared in the
garden in the ^hape of a hoar and began to root up the
shrubs. Tiding^ of tho occurrence being brought to Kist-
nappa Nayak, he armed himself with a bow with the
intention of killing the animal which, however, always
evaded the arrows shot at it, while still leading the
Nayak on, until they armed at the rook where the pa-
goda now stands (about 45 miles from Conjeevaram)
when, being satisfied with the faithfulness of his follow-
er, the Swami suddenly made a cavern in the rock, and
assuming his real shape, discovered himself to the
Nayak, who prostrated himself and was ordered by the
Swami to build a temple on the spot, and to dedicate it to
him. He asked where he was to get the necessary funds
from, and was ordered to wait upon a Paradesi, or asce-

4

— 26 —

tic who lived in the hills, close by. This he did. The
ascetic was in possession of a wonderful plant which had
all the properties of the philosopher's stone. It only re-
quired to boil a quantity of the leaves in a large cauld-
ron, and to throw in a holy person, when his body would
turn into gold. On the Nayak's appearance the Puradtw
determind to sacrifice him and made his preparations
accordingly ; but the Nayak being suspicious of the Para-
desi's intentions, threw him into the cauldron and watch-
ed his body turn into solid gold. He cut off a golden
limb, and the next day found it had grown again.
With this inexhaustible treasure at his disposal, the
Nayak built the 6ingavaram pagoda and sub-quently the
fort of Gingee, and then flung the golden corpse into a
corner of the Chettikulam (a tank inside the fort of
Gingee) where it is still said to remain/1

We have a Tubaki Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee
flourishing absut the middle of the 17th century.

CHAPTER II
The Beginnings of Gingee

Gingee had not developed into a place of
note in the age of the Cholas of the Vijayala-
ya dynasty. We have, however, a large
number of Chola epigraphs scattered in the
neighbourhood of the place. An inscription
of Aditya* I refers to Singapuranadu, which
evidently centred round Singavaram. The
Cholas had control over the present South
Arcot District and the province of Jayangon-
da Chola Mandalam, named after Rajendra
Chola I, included the region of Gingee and
extended from the Palar river on the north to
Tiruvati (near Panruti), fourteen miles west
of Cuddalore. There is a village of the
name Jayangondan, situated about two miles
from Gingee. Devanur is another village of
the neighbourhood, said to have been founded
by a Chola chief, Bhnloka Devendran.

In the epoch of the disruption of the
Chola empire in the 13th century consequent
on the encroachments of the Pandyas, the
Hoysalas and the Kakatiyas and on the
increasing turbulence of the feudatories,
Gingee might have become a fortified place.

The chief source for the first two hundred
years of the history of the place, besides a

— 30 —

The narrative was written at the special
request of Colonel William Macleod who was
then acting as Commissioner at Arcot, the
Madras Governor at that time being Lord

short interval of anarchy till we reach the regular Choi a
government. The whole manuscript, but especially the
first half of the eighth section, ought, I am of opinion,
to be carefully translated and edited.'*

On a later examination of Section 8, W. Taylor
makes the following further observation :-—

"I then noticed more critically, than on the first
occasion, how very crude was the language and spelling
of words ; more like a Mahomedan writing Tamil, than
a Tamil-speaking man of noble descent. The barbarism
of Kodctn Ta liter h (vulgar Tamil) is so great, as some-
times to cause obscurity, as to the meaning. There once
existed another abridged copy on palm leaves. Should
it be ever recovered, it might be of use to compare with
the larger book; and a general correction of the ortho-
graphy throughout would produce a book well worth
printing, with a translation on the opposite page<, so as
to form a diglott."

Mr. Taylor remarks that in the 8th section there
were very many " details of intrigues, perfidies and
consequent wars, long before any Europeans intermed-
dled with the politics of the peninsula. Just as similar
things prepared the way in Bengal, for a grand change
of rule, so it was in the peninsula. With these, Orme
was not so well acquainted, as with the early affairs in
Bengal."

There was published in 19,39 at Pondicherry — under
the auspices of the Societe de I'Histoire de 1'Inde Fran-
<?aise— a French translation of the 8th section, on the
basis of a copy obtained from The India Office Collection,
entitled Histoire Detaillee des Rois du Carnatic— par
Narayanampoulle, traduite du tarn on I et anqotee par
Gnanou Diagou, avocat. (Bibliotheque Publique,
R«e des Capucins, Pondicherry- pp. 224) An English
translation of the same mss. is now being prepared
by the author.

— 31 —

William Bentinck. The book is fairly valua-
ble, so far as such crude annals can be, in many
historical details and is marked by an absence
of exaggeration which is the bane of all early
Indian chroniclers.

According to Narayanan, Gingee became
a fortified place only about 1,200 A, D.
Ananda Kon, a shepherd by caste, accident-
ally found a treasure in one of the cavities of
the western hill while grazing his sheep.
Making himself the head of a small band of
warriors, he defeated the petty rulers of the
neighbouring villages like Devanur, Jayan-
gondan and Melacheri (Old Gingee), and built
a small fortress on Kanialcujiri which he re-
named AtMtwhniiri after himself. He raised
his castemen^to high places and bestowed on
them the distinction of Sammanamanar (the
honorable).*

Ananda Kon fortified Perumukkal *?::<
near Tindivanam which was the scene of

* Anantakon gave to his tribe the name of Sonimana-
twlndr. He was succsecbd by CV/s///mA*o/j, Fusly 650:
(ronerikon, Fusly 680; both of them built sacred edifices.
His son was Gon'ndakon, Fusly 700; Palliyukon, Fusly
720, he made roads, choultries, &c. The dynasty now
gave way bafore a Cui iiinba tribe, named Vadaya Ycdiar
(north-country shepherds); the first king of this tribe
was Kohi Jincjdm, Fusly 740; he built a brick fort at
Cht>Hl<tiH<ni(jalam [Sendamangalam) ; he formed some
tanks, and left others unfinished.

** " Permacoil ", as it is called by Orme, but really
44 Peruinukkal" (Dignifying, great travail) is an isolated

— 32 —

some operations in the Carnatic wars of the
eighteenth century and Padaividu *** near
P61ur in North Arcot. After reigning glori-
ously for about fifty years he was succeeded
by one Krishna Kon about 1240 A. D. This
chief perpetuated his name by fortifying the
northern hill and naming it after himself.
Krishna Kon was followed by two princes
successively Koneri Kon and Govinda Kon
who cut out the elaborate steps to the fort-
ress on Krishnagiri and built the Gopala-
swami temple on its top. Puliya Kon suc-
ceeded him about 1300 A. D. He excavated
tanks and built rest-houses by the sides of
the roads leading to Trichinopoly, Tanjore

rock rising out of the plain about 6 miles east of Tindi-
vanain. Its name is said to be derived from the legend
which attaches to it of Sita, the wife of Rama, having
been delivered there of twins (Kusa and Lava) during her
banishment by Rama, after her return from Lanka. It
wa^ a strongly fortified po<t during the 18th cvntury and
was captured and re-captured by the French and the
English on several occasions. Daring the advamv aganist
Pondicherry, in 1760, Sir Eyre Coote ciptured it after a
desperate fight, in which lie received a wound, and the
leader of the sepoys behaved with such conspicuous
gallantry that he got a gold medal. There are a few
ruins hero and there, which suffice to show where the
fortifications stood.

*** Padaividu. Tins desolated plac? i- one of the
most historically interesting in the North Arcot district.
Though it now contains only less than 1,000 inhabitants,
Tradition says that it was the capital of a dynasty, which
many hundreds or thousands of years ago held sway in
this part of the country. This no doubt refers to the
Kurumbas. The town was 16 miles in circumference,

— 33 —

and Vettavalam (a small zamindari in the
neighbourhood.) l

and full of temples, choultries, and fine private residencss.
The extent of the city may be judged b/ the fact that the
present villages of Santavasal, where the fair or santa
was held, and Pushpagiri, the site of the flower-market,
are 4 miles apart. The city is believed to have been
entombed by a shower of dust and stones, which over-
whelmed all the area of its magnificent buildings. Jungle
has overgrown the whole spaca of the original city.
There are two extensive, but ruined, forts upon the plain,
built doubtless by the Kurumbas, and another upon a
peak of the Javacli hills which overlooks the city. There
are at the place two temples dedicated to Renukambal
and Rama.

1 Succession of the Gingee kings of the Kon
Dynasty :— -

Ananta (1190 to 1240 A. D.) ; Krishna (1240 to 1270
A. D.); Govinda (1290 to 1310 A. D.); and Puliyan (1310
to 1330 A. D.) The dates are given in the Chronicle in
Fasli years.

" The Fasli is used solely by Hindu clerks in the East
India Compay's service. Daring the Musulman govern-
ment the Fasly was loosely used ; thus the year Krodhi
(A. D. 1784) is Fasli 1193, but in some documents is 1194.
The year Saumya (A. D. 1789) is numbered Fasli 1198;
but in some places this becomes 1196, and elsewhere
1199.

"About the year A. D. 1800 when the county became
subject to the English, the Fasly year happened to com-
mence on the 13th of July. Whereupon the English
constituted that day as the beginning of the Fasly year;
which hereby was metamorphosed into a solar reckoning:
but devoid of months : being a mere official year. The
Hindus at the present day (only the clerks in Govern-
ment employ) quote the Fasly by the last two figures
alone. Thus A. D. 1820 is called " Fasly Twenty-nine "
(A. F. 1229); which it is the fashion to mention in
Hindustani numerals ; thus "Untis Fasly'* means 1229.
And Fasly 1239 (A. D, 1830) is called Untalis Fasly: that
is 1239.

-r— 34

Twenty years afterwards, this shepherd
race was superseded by the chief of a neigh-
bouring place, K&bilingan by name, who
belonged to the Kurumba caste and now
ascended the throne of Gingee. He built a
brick-fort at Sendamangalam in the taluk of
Tirukoyilur, dug some tanks, left others
which he began in an unfinished condition and
cut out various channels for irrigation purpos-
es, some of which are believed to exist even
to-day. He had a large number of feudator-
ies who acknowledged his suzerainty; and
some of them had fortresses at Asuppur,
Pelakuppur, Kuppam and other places. It
was this Kobilingan that fell a prey to the
ambition of Vijayanagar; but it is not defin-
itely known when and by which general the
conquest was achieved. The loss of independ-
ence of the fort did not lead, however, to any
diminution in its importance.

Thus the dynasty of the Kons gave way
to the Kurumbars whose ruler Kobilingan
(perhaps connected with Kopperunjinga)* is

" Thus in Munro's Report (26th July 1807, Fifth
Report, p. 785) he speaks of the Survey rent in 1215
(meaning Fasly 1215, that is, A. D. 1806); and 1217 and
1218, meaning A. D. 1808 and 1809."— C. P. Brown~^«
Ephcmeris showing the corresponding dates according to
the English. Hindu and Musalman Calendars from A. D.
1751 until 1850 (1850— pp. IV-V.)

* This Kopperunjinga was a chief of the family of
Kadavarayas, who, according to recent research, is re-

— 35 —

said to have built a fort at Sendamangalam in
the neighbourhood. This latter place
was the head-quarters of the powerful Chola
feudatory, Kopperunjinga, With the rise of
the Vijayanagara empire and its absorption of
the greater part of South India, unity of
control and administration spread through-
out the country; and Gingee, like the other
principalities of Madura and Tanjore, was
brought under its wide sovereignty. The sub-
jugation of Gingee by the Vijayanagara
power about the close of the 14th century is
referred to in the Mackenzie Mss. which say
that Gingee submitted to Narasinga Raya,
who held it as a fief of Vijayanagara sending
an annual tribute.

garded as having flourished in some degree of glory and
power in the years 1229 to 1278. He attempted, with
some measure of success, to establish the power and
prestige of his family in the region of the present South
Arcot district by taking an intensive and creditable part
in the triangular struggle for dominance then going on
between the Pfindyas, the Hoysalas and the Kakatiyas.
He became an independent ruler in the year 1243 and
counted hi^ regnal years from that date. He was the
able co-ad.iutor of Sundara Pandya I, whose progress in
Tondamandalam was rendered possible largely by his
assistance and co-operation. His inscriptions are found
largely in the South Arcot, North Arcot and Chingleput
districts and to a less extent in the Tanjore and Kurnool
districts. He assumed many titles like Pandyatnandalu-
sthfipana-sutradlidrd. Sahodara-sundam, Ka rndtaka-
Lakslnul-luntdka. Kdthuku lanka-tilaka. Pwintiiiadhlnatha.

— mm • . »

Sarvayna Kadgainaila, VdlbalapperumdL Kanaka sabha-
jxtthlsabha surcdkru'ya-sarvakrda-nirvCthaka and Kaveri-
Kdtmika. His titles included the name of A

— 36 —
The Kurumbars

According to the Mackenzie Mss. the
Tondamandalam country was inhabited by
wild forest tribes, who had no culture.

and the epithets of KariMlrvobhunnui and Sflhityurntim-
kara.

A theory of two Kopperrunjingas, father and son,
bearing the same name, has also heen put forward; and
also different versions are held of his relations with the
Pandyas and of his other acts like the imprisonment of
the Chola ruler, Rajendra III. The Kadavarayas became
powerful in the South Arcot District and contributed
largely to the dismemberment of the Chola empire
during the 13th and the early purt of the 14th centuries.
They had for their capital Kfidal i.e., Cuddalore which
is at the junction of two rivers, the Gadilam and the
South Pennar) and later at Sendamangalam which is in
the interior in the Tirukkoyilur tdluk. The Kadavarayas
claimed kinship with the Fullava^. That Kopperun-
jinga who ruled or revived hi< rule from 1242 to 1278
A. D., should be regarded as u really great personage.
The chief Kadavaraya ruler had several subordinate
chiefs under him. (Refer to (1) K. A. N. Sa<tri : The
Colas. Vol. 2, part 1, pp, 180-4 H .sr// ; (2) the Kadavara-
ya Problem by Mr. R. Satyanatha Aiyar in the /)/'. &
KrislnuifU'dini Aii/an</(ir Commemoration ['oltunei (3)
the Kadavaraya^ by Mr. V. Vridhagirisan in the Jnnr-
TI nl of Indian tfittory, Vol. XVI, 1937, pp. 137-160 : (4)
The Madras Epigraphist's Reports 1922 and 1923 ; (5)
The Kadavarayas by S. Soma^uiidara Desikar in the
Journal of Indian History, Vol. XVII. Part 3.

Perhaps the Kobinlingan of our chronicle was of
the early 14th century. The chronicle says that he
ruled about Fasli 740. Anyway the last Kons finished
their rule after Fasli 720, i.e. 1331 A. D. which is much
later, nearly half a century after the death of the great
Kopperunjinga of the epigraphs. Perhaps, this Kobilin-
gan belonged to the clan of the Kadavarayas and distin-
guished himself by his particular achievements in
Gingee and its neighbourhood.

— 37 —

Men were then naked savages with no regular
marriage institutions.

Out of such forest tribes arose men who,
though first ignorant of civilisation, in course
of time evolved a rude organisation and
agreed to abide by the decision of one among
themselves whom they made their chief.
Probably, K6bilingan who is referred to as the
first Kurumba chief, was the one who was
followed by the Vijayanagara rulers. This
chief has been credited with having divided
the region into administrative divisions, with
fortified strong-holds, Pulal in Pulalkottam,
being his head-quarters which was situated
near the modern Red Hills Lake adjoining
Madras. The Tondamandalam country was
named after them as Kurumba Bhumi. After-
wards the Kurumba Bhumi was held to have
been invaded by the Chola, Adondai-Chakra-
varthi. The Kurumbars then formed the ruling
class. The ruins of their forts are supposed to
be still visible and some very old walls of these
near Madras are mentioned. The fort destroy-
ed by Krishna Deva Raya at Marutam near
Conjeevaram in the Uttaramerur area was,
according to legend, built by the Kurumbars,
covering more than 40 acres of land with two
boundary walls.

— 38 —

Linschoten says in (Purchas : Vol. X)
"that the Canarins and the Corumbins are
the countrymen, dealing with land, fishing,
and such like labours. They are, in a
manner, of dark brown colour, their dwelling
places being on the sea side. Some of these
Kurumbars became the ruling classes, while
others lived by other means like the rearing
of sheep and goats, which was their main
occupation." According to the Mackenzie
MSB., they made blankets out of goats' hair
and sold them. Some others among them
made and sold chunam, and some were hun-
ters who lived by the chase.

The Kurubas or Kurumbas are generally
regarded by ethnologists and other writers as
being composed of two distinct groups, name*
ly the Jungle Kurumbas of the Nilgiris and
other hilly regions, and the civilised Kurum-
bas of the plains. Dr. G. Oppert would regard
the Kurumbas as very old inhabitants form-
ing the indigenes of the land who can contest
with their Dravidian kinsmen the priority of
occupation of the Indian soil. He would also
say that the terms, Kurumba and Kuruba,
were orginally identical. The Mad rax Ceuxux
Report for 1891 thus first postulated their
widespread character : " The Kurumbas or
Kurrubas are the modern representatives of
the ancient Kurumbas or Pallavas, who were

— 39 —

once so powerful throughout Southern India ;
but very little trace of their greatness now
remains. In the seventh century, the power
of the Pallava kings seems to have been at
its zenith ; but, shortly after this, the Kongu,
Chola, and Chalukya chiefs succeeded in win-
ning several victories over them. The final
overthrow of the Kurumba sovereignty was
effected by the Chola King Adondai about
the seventh or eighth century A. D. ; and the
Kurumbas were scattered far and wide.
Many fled to the hills ; and in the Nilgiris and
the Wynad, in Coorg and Mysore, representa-
tives of this ancient race are now found as
wild and uncivilised tribes. Elsewhere the
Kurumbas are more advanced, and are usual-
ly shepherds, and weavers of coarse woollen
blankets."

The name Kuruba is said to be a deriva-
tive of the Canarese root, kuru, sheep (cf.
Tamil kfiri) ; but it has been contended
that the Kurumbas were not orginally a pure-
ly shepherd tribe, and it has been held that the
particular kind of sheep called kori is so
called because it is the sheep of the Kurum-
bas. Again, the ancient lexicographer of the
Tamil language, Pingaja Muni, defines the Ku-
rumbar as Kurunila Mannar, or petty chief-
tains. But the most common derivation is
from the Tamil A-uru///&u,=(wickedness), so that

— 40 —

Kurumban means a wicked man.5* With this
may be compared the derivation of Kalian
from kalavu,= (theft); and the Kalians were
generally believed to have been closely con-
nected, if not identical, with the original
Kurumbas. On the other hand, the true deri-
vation may be in the other direction, as in
the case of the Slavs.

After their final overthrow, they became
scattered over many of the districts in the
plains and the forest tracts of Malabar, the
Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Mysore. They are
found at the present time in various grades
of civilisation. Those that live in the plains
have adopted the manners and customs of the
Hindu castes in whose midst they live, while
those that inhabit the hills are still in their
primitive state, being more akin in habits to
the rude hill-folk surrounding them.

The assumption that the Kurubas who
are found in towns and villages are of the
same stock as the uncivilized jungle tribes, the
Kadu-Kurubas, is, not withstanding the tradi-
tionally accepted version, highly doubtful. In
customs, beliefs and other vital matters, the
two communities differ fiom each other
very much. This pretension to a descent

* See The Tamil Lixicou (University of Madras) —
Vol.11, rp. 1055-6.

— 41 —

from a ruling race is not advanced anywhere
as far as this enquiry has proceeded; only
some say that they came to Mysore first
from Vijayanagar and that their original
place is Mailara in the Bellary district. Quite
possibly the so-called Kadu-Kurubas are the
locally surviving representatives in Southern
India of the primitive aborigines.

After Fasli 800, according to the Chroni-
cle, Narasinga Udayar is said to have become
the viceroy of Gingee ; and the Maharaya of
of Anegundi, Vijayanagaram and Penukonda,
sent an army against the aforesaid Kobilin-
gan; and having conquered his country, the
Maharaya delivered it over to Narasinga
Udayar, to be held as a fief paying tribute to
head-quarters ; at the same time a donation
was made to a temple. Also, about this time,
the Raja of Wandiwash, named Bhupatiraya
Udayar, ruled over the land(SVzA:a 1341=1419) ;
and Vlravijaya Rayar was also another ruler
in the district. Even before these lieuten-
ants had left Vijayanagara, Vellalaraya is
said to have ruled over the Gingee country
about Fasli 750 and to have made additions to
the shrine at Tiruvannamalai. He paid
tribute to the Raya ; and after he fell, the
country came to be divided among petty
chiefs.

6

— 42 —

This is the gist of the information con-
tained in the chronicle regarding the troubled
period between the disappearance of the Kon
dynasty and the establishment of the over-
lordship of Vijayanagara. Inconsistencies,
both chronological and sequential, occur sever-
al times in this account. Vellalaraya evi-
dently refers to Ballala III, Vira Ballala of
the Hoysala dynasty, (1291 to 1342 A. D.) and
perhaps also to his son Ballala IV, surnamed
Viravirfipaksha Ballala, alias H a m p e y a
Wodeyar, who disappeared in 1346 — 47. The
Hoysalas had been steadily encroaching into
the lower Karnataka country from about the-
early decades of the 13th century. Nara-
simha II (1220-1235 A. D.) occupied Kfinchi,
the old Pallava capital ; and a record of 1229
A. D. says that he was ruling from Kanchi with
the surrounding ocean as his boundary. A
previous record of 1223 A. D. states that
Narasimha, "pursuing after the Trikalinga
kings, penetrated their train of elephants,
displaying unequalled valour." This probably
refers to his driving out of Kanchi, some
years before he occupied it, the Telugu-Chola
chief Tikka, who also claims to have been a
Chola-HthupanCtcharya.

The next Hoysala sovereign, Virasomes-
wara (1234 to 1254 A. D.), claims to have up-
rooted in battle Rajcndra Chola III and, later,

43

to have given him protection when he sought
refuge and to have engaged in a victorious
expedition against the Kadavaraya.* S6mes-
wara pushed on his conquest into the Pandya
territory against its aggressive ruler. One
of his capitals was Kannanur or Vikrama-
pura to the north of Srirangam in the Trichi-
nopoly district. At this place, there is a
ruined fort containing a temple known as
Poysalesvara, whose image was set up by
Somesvara. On the death of Somesvara
there was a division of his kingdom between
his two sons, Viranarasimha or Narasimha
III who got the greater part of the ancestral
kingdom and ruled from DSrasamudra as his
capital and his half-brother Ramanatha or
Vira Ramanatha who got the Kolar district
and the Tamil territories conquered by Nara-
simha and who ruled from Kannanur as his
capital. The two brothers were not at peace
with each other and much of the time of
Narasimha III was spent in fighting against
Ramanatha who was frequently the aggres-
sor. Ramanatha ruled from 1255 to 1295 A. D.;

* Epiy. Canuttica Vol. V : A. K., 123; and S. I.
graphist's Report, 1911 — p. 33. The Hoysala records say
that Vira Somesvara ' uprooted ' Rajendra Chola in
battle and reinstated him when he begged for protec-
tion. For a fuller discussion of this see K. A. Nilakanta
Sastri: The Cola*; Vol. II (1937)— pp. 198—199 and foot-
note 75 on p. 199 ; and S. K. Aiyangar. South India and
her Mtihannuudan Invaders (1921) — p. 38.

44

and after his time there was the short-lived
rule of his son, Visvanatha. Ballala III, the
son of Vira Narasimha, succeeded His father
in 1292 and became the sole ruler of the
entire Hoysala kingdom, including the Tamil
districts, about the year 1298. It was in his
reign that the Hoysala power began rapidly
to decline. He lost the southern portions of
the Tamil country originally subject to him,
but practically retained the control of the
whole of Kongu. About the time of the
death of Ballala III, Harihara, the founder of
the Vijayanagara dynasty, was already estab-
lished in some measure of power. A chief
named Vallappa Danda Nayakar, who frequ-
ently figures in the later records of Ballala
III, was probably the ally a or son-in-law,
Vallappar, a Mahamandalesvara under Hari-
hara I.

This Vallappa was perhaps the same as
Vellalaraya of the tradition in the Chronicle;
he is said to have ruled over the Gingee coun-
try about Fasli 750 (i.e., about 1341 A. D.) and to
have made additions to the shrine at Tiru-
vannamalai and to have paid tribute to the
Raya. Still another feudatory of the Hoysala
was Gopinatha, a descendant of the famous
Peruma} Dandanayaka who described him-
self as the lord of the South. This attempted
identification is supported by the traditional

— 45 —

story relating to the final destruction of the
Hoysalas under Ballala IV. Vallappa Udai-
yar, the aliya or son-in-law of Ballala III
should be very likely the Senji Raja married
to the King Ballala IV's sister.*

Ballala IV had to fight continuously with
the various feudatory chiefs of his kingdom
and the powerful Sultans of Madura who had
built up their independent rule; and the
latter had indeed secured a victory over
Ballala III near Kannanur, where the Hindus
were put to flight and the aged Hoysala

* The story is tbus given in the Mysore Gazetteer,
new edition, Volume II, part II, page 1406 :- -The king's
sister, married to the Senjiraja, was now a widow. She
therefore came on a visit to her brother, accompanied by
her two sons, Lakkana and Vlrana, who were very
handsome young men. One of the king's wives conceiv"
ed a guilty passion for them, but her advances being
alike repelled by each in turn, her love changed to hate,
and she denounc3d them to the king as having made
overtures to her. The king, justly enraged, ordered
them to b<? at once impaled, and their bodies exposed like
those of common malefactors at one of the city gates.
Hearing what had happened, their unfortunata mother
hastened to the palace to demand an inquiry and justica.
But it was too late, the fatal order had been executed,
and she was not only put out of the palacs, but the
inhabitants were forbidden to give her any assistance.
In the agony of despair she wandered from street to
street invoking the vengeance of the Almighty on her
brotner, and predicting the speedy downfall of his
empire. Arriving at the potters' street, worn out with
fatigue and sorrow, she requested and received a draught
of water in return for which act of kindness, she declared
that in the destruction of the capital that street should
be spared. It is the only one that has survived."

— 46 —

monarch himself was captured, strangled and
flayed, the stuffed skin being hung on the
walls of Madura where the Moorish traveller,
Ibn Battuta, says that he saw it suspended at
the time of his visit to the place.* "Thus
did the great struggle of the Hoysala monarch
end (A. D. 1342-3). This monarch had been
striving all along, rebuilding his capital and
fortifying places of strategic importance on
the eastern frontier like Kannanur and Tiru-
vannamalai.1 Evidence has also been forth-
coming that he laid the foundations of the
city of Virupakshapattana, in order to
strengthen his northern frontier, and was
actually in residence there in A. D. 1339. He
had his son anointed as his succeessor against
eventualities; and an inscription of Malur2
would credit him with the setting up of a
pillar of victory at the head of the bridge at
Rameswaram (Sctumula jayast ambha). It is
possible that Kannanur had become the tar-
get of active attacks by the Muhammadans of
Madura against the Hoysala defence of the
Tamil country ; and we find Vira Ballaia fre-
quently fighting near Trichinopoly ; and the
Kabban of Ibn Battuta is held to be no other

*H. A. R. Gibb-//»/ Batfuta-Travel* in Asia and
Africa, (Broadway Travellers. 1929) p. 264.

1 Epiyraphia Carnatica ; III. Md. 100.
8 Ibid. Vol. X. Mr. 82.

— 47 —

than Kannanur near which his last battle
was fought. Soon after this, Ballala IV,
already anointed ruler, succeeded to the dan-
gerous heritage and kept it up till his even-
tual disappearance in A. D. 1346-47 after
which no more of the Hoysalas is heard.3

Thus the Gingee country was under the
rule of the Hoysalas in the latter part of the
13th century and in the first half of the 14th.
From the Hoysalas it passed on, by relatively
easy efforts, into the hands of the first rulers
o f Vijayanagara. The governorship o f
G6panarya (who has been already mentioned
above) over the region, and his able efforts at
seconding the conquests of Kamparaya have
to be noted. The Vijayanagara Empire had
extended its authority over the Tamil coun-
try even beyond Madura by the end of the
14th century. It exercised dominion through
local governors who were practically free to
do as they liked, provided they rendered fealty
to the central power and supplied it with
regular tribute and contigents whenever call-
ed upon to do so. The more important among
these governors developed, in the 15th centu-
ry, into formidable territorial rulers. Saluva

8 For a detailed study of this aspect of the question
relating to the Muhammadans of Madura and the Hoysa-
las, read B. N, Saletore, ' Social and Political Life in the
Vijayanagara Empire '; Vol. I (1934), pp. 4-18.

— 48 —

Narasinga was a typical provincial ruler. In
the 16th century, when the limits of the
empire came to be very far flung and the
whole of the central power weakened even
shortly after Krishna Deva Raya's time, we
find some of the Nayaks emerging out as the
hereditary rulers of Gingee, Tanjore and
Madura. The troubled period of the 14th centu-
ry under the control of governors before the
establishment of the Nayaks is not known to
us in detail. Kumara Kampana, son of
Bukka Raya I, who was the governor of the
Mulbagal country made conquests in the
Tondamandala region with the help of Gopa-
narya and of Saluvamanga, the ancestor of
the great governor of Chandragiri and the
usurper of royal throne itself, Saluva Nara-
simha. This Kamparaya, otherwise named
Kampana Udaiyar, was the governor of the
Mulbagal Rajya from 1356 to 1366 A. D. He is
also called Kampana II, in order to distinguish
him from an uncle and a brother of the same
name. His exploits are described by his
queen Gangadevi in the Sanskrit work, Vira-
kampardya Charitam (published at Trivand-
rum in 1916).

Kampana's conquests in the south

Kampana first reached Virinchipuram on
the Palar river and from it attacked the

— 49 —

strong fortress of Ra jagambhiram, in which the
Sambuvaraya chief had taken refuge. He
captured the fortress and slew his enemy in
single combat, according to one set of authori-
ties. According to other sources, he is
said to have reinstated the defeated ruler on
his throne. The Rajagambhiramalai refer-
red to in the accounts, was evidently a hill-
fort ; and soon after its capture, Kampana
entered Kancbi and set up his authority there.
An inscription found at Madam In the North
Arcot district, dated 1363, specifically states
that Gandaraguli Maraiya Nayaka, son of
Somaya Dandanayaka, the Mahapradhani of
Kampana II, defeated and took captive Ven-
rumankonda Sambuvaraya and captured Raja-
gambhiramalai. This chief built a gopura in
the second prakara of Tiruvagalisvaramudaiya
Mahadeva of Kulattur, according to the
record. Kampala's own inscription at Tirup-
putkkuli near Kanchi, recording his capture of
the Rajagambhirarajya, is dated Saka 1287, (i.e ,
1365-66.) The Rajagambhlra hill has been
identified with Padaivldu in the North Arcot
district. The latest record of Kampana is
dated Saka 1296 (1374 A. D.) ; and his son Jam-
manna Udaiyar is described as governing the
same provinces as his father had ruled ovei^
in that year, i.e. ; Saka 1296. The son made
certain gifts for the merit of his deceased

7

— 50 —

father according to inscriptions dated in the
same year Saka 1296, found at Tiruvanna-
malai and Eyil. Kampana Udaiyar's rule was
almost like that of an independent sovereign ;
and his reputation and power were consider-
able on account of his services against the
Muhammadans of the South. His capital it-
self was, according to the Vlrakampardya
Charitam, Marakatanagara, identified with
Virinchipuram, which was the head-quarters of
a provincial governor in the period of the later
Vijayanagara sovereigns. Kampana Udaiyar
was assisted by several able lieutenants who
served him both as ministers and generals.
Besides Gopana, there was the illustrious
Somappa, whose son Maraiya Nayaka refer-
red to above, was the captor of the Sambuva-
raya and of his fort Rajagambhiramahii.
Another was Govindarasar, who is mentioned
in the K'njiloluhu, a Tamil work detailing the
traditional account of the endowments of the
great charities done to the Srirangam shrine
in the course of the centuries. Sahivamangu is
stated, in the Stilucfibhyudaya and the Rama-
bhyudaya, to have been one of the officers,
who accompanied Kampana in his campaign
against Champaraya (Sambuvaraya) and the
Sultan of the South (i.e., Madura) ; and it was
through his intervention that Champaraya
was held to have been reinstated in his domi-

— 51 —

nion, for he is described as Chamburaya-Stha-
panacharya. He made notable gifts to the
Brahmans of the Srirangam shrine ; and per-
haps on account of the services he rendered
in restoring worship at the temple there, after
his recapture of the place from the Muham-
madans, he was also styled Srirangasthapana-
eharya.*

Kamparaya's inscriptions are found in
the Punyakotlswara shrine at Little Conjee-
varam, one of which says that he conferred
on Parakiila Nambi certain titles and honours
at Kalavai in the Arcot taluk, at Avur in the
South Arcot district and at Tiruppulivanam
in the North Arcot district. Besides Kampa-
raya, there was another son of Bukka, by
name Siiyana Udaiyar, who ruled over a part
of the North Arcot, South Arcot and Tanjore
districts and one of whose inscriptions, dated
Baku 1304 (1382), has been found at Tirukkalak-
kudi in the distant Ramnad district, while
another comes from Kangayam in the Coim-
batore district.

The Alampundi grant of Virupaksha
(Grantha and Tamil) is important for our
knowledge of the history of Gingee under
tha early Vijayanagara rulers. It is dated

* Vim Kampanl}/a Charitam: Introd. 35. See also
Sources of Vijdjanayar History; pp. 23-28.

_ CO

^"^ U<w """"""'

Saka 1305 and records that Viriipaksha I,
son of Harihara II of the first Vijayanagara
dynasty, granted on the Pushya Sankranti
day of Saka 1305, Raktakshin, the village of
Alampundi in the Gingee taluk to certain
Brahmanas as

"The first and second verses of the
(Alampundi) inscription contain invocations
addressed to the Boar-incarnation of Vishnu
and to the goddess of the Earth, respectively.
The third verse refers to Bukkaraja (I), who
belonged to the race of the Moon, and who
was the son of Samgama (I), by Kamakshi.
Bukka's son was king Harihara (II), who, as
in other inscriptions, is said to have performed
4 the sixteen great gifts ' (verse 4). Harihara
(II) mamed Malladevi, who belonged to the
family of Ramadeva ; and their son was
Virupaksha (v. 5), who conquered the kings
of Tundira, Chula and Pandya, and the Simha-
las and presented the booty of his wars to his
father (v. 6). On the day of the Pushya-sam-
kranti of the year Raktakshin (v. 8), which

** R. Sewell-Lf.ste of the Antiquarian Remains in I he
Presidency of Madras - Vol. I (1882) p. 207.

J. H. GaTBtin-The Manual of the SoutJi Arcot listriet
(1878), p. 2.:

Epigraplria Indira, Vol. Ill, pp. 224-29, wherein
the inscription is edited by V. Venkayya.

V. Rangacharya : Inscriptions of the Madras Presi-
dency Vol. I, p. 169 (1919).

— 53 —

corresponds to the Saka year 1305 — (The Rak-
takshin year does not correspond to Saka-
Samvat 1305, but to 1307 current.)— King Viru-
paksha (v. 7) granted to certain unnamed
Brahmanas of various gotras the village of
Alampundi (v. 9). This village had been the
object of a previous grant by Harihara (II)
(v. 9j and had then received the surname
Jannambikabdhi (v. 10;. The pronouns mama
and may a in lines 17 and 21 show that both
Harihara's previous grant and the present
donation of Virupaksha were made at the
instance of a princess who was the sister of
Harihara (II) (v. 9) and, consequently the
paternal aunt of Virupaksha, and whose
name must have been Jannambika, because,
the village of Alampundi received the sur-
name Jannambikabdhi (i.e., Jannambiku-
samudram) (alxlhi is a more poetical synonym
of xaminlm, a frequent ending of village
names; hence the actual surname was prob-
ably Jannambikasamudram; after her own
name. The description of the boundaries of
the granted village is contained in lines 22 to 26.
Then follow three of the customary impreca-
tory verses. The inscription ends with the
name Sri-Harihara."

" The Alampundi plate would add consider-
ably to our knowledge of the history of the
first Vijayanagara dynasty, if we could be

- 54 —

quite sure of the genuineness of the plate.
As in other inscriptions of this dynasty, the
first historical person is said to have been
Sariigama (I). The Alampiindi plate is the only
inscription which informs us of the name of Sarii-
gama's queen, viz. Kamakshi. According to
the same plate, the queen of Harihara II, was
Malladevi. The Satyamangalam plates of
Devaraya II give the name of Harihara's
queen as Malambika. As the two names
Malladevi and Malambika are very similar,
we may, for the present, consider them as
identical. The Alampiindi record adds that
Malladevi belonged to the family of Rama-
deva. It is not impossible that Malladevi
was related to the Yadava king Ramachandra,
who was also called Ramadeva, and who
reigned from Saka-Samvat 1193 to 1230. It is
from the present inscription that we first
learn that Hariliara II had a sister called
Jannambika and a son called Virupaksha,
who is reported to have made extensive con-
quests in the south, and whom his father
appears to have placed in charge of ai least a
portion of the South Arcot district. The date
of the grant of Virupaksha (Saka-Samvat
1305 for 1307, the Raktakshi ttuwrfitxara) is a
few years later than the accession of Hari-
hara II (datable between 1293 and 1301 Saka.)
In referring to a previous grant of the village

— 55 —

of Alampundi by Harihara II himself, the
inscription implies that the latter was ruling
over a portion of the modern South Arcot
district even before Saka-Samvat 1307. We
do not know from other sources, that at this
time, he had already extended his dominions
into that part of the country. The earliest
inscriptions of Harihara II that have hitherto
been discovered in the south, are dated Saka-
Samvat 1315. Consequently, it is at least
doubtful if the date of the Alampundi plate
can be looked upon as genuine. If the week-
day had been mentioned in the date, it could be
verified by an expert, and the result of such
verification would help considerably in decid-
ing whether the grant is genuine or not. The
omission of the week-day and of the names of
the donees may also be urged against the
genuineness of the document. The ortho-
graphical as well as the calligraphical mistakes
in which this small inscription abounds, and
the uncouth language and construction which,
to a casual reader, render it difficult to say
who its actual donor was, — Harihara, Viru-
pakshn, or Jannambika, — are other facts
which may be urged against the genuineness
of the plate. On the other hand, we cannot
definitely pronounce the inscription to be a
forgery, because the date, Saka- Samvat 1305
(for 1307), actually falls into the reign of

— 56 —

Harihara II, who, in verse 4, is spoken of as
if he was living at the time of the grant/-* In
spite of the doubts which may thus be reason-
ably entertained as to its genuineness, the
grant is interesting as the first known copper-
plate inscription in Grantha characters,
professing to belong to the Vijayanagara
dynasty." (pp. 225 — 226 of the Epigraphiu Indi-
ra and Record of the Archaeoloyical Surrey of
India, edited by E. Hultzsch, Vol. Ill, 1894*95).

The Muhammadan Sack of Srirangam:

Its Reconsecration by Vijayanagara:

Its Connection with Slngavaram

The sack of Srirangam by Malik Kafur
is deemed as having very probably occurred,
since he sacked all the temples round Kaixlur
(Kannanur), and since Srirangam had receiv-
ed vast and magnificient benefactions in the
preceding century, particularly from Simdara
Pandya (arc. A. D. 1251) whose munificence is
yet green in the traditions of the people.

Kumara Kampana, son of Bukkaraya I,
led expeditions into the Tamil country, the
exact dates of which have not been ascertain-
ed with precision, but which certainly consti-
tuted a continuation of the Hoysala effort

* The earliest date hitherto discovered for Hari-
hara II is Saka-Samvat 1301, and the latest 1321.

against the Mussalman power of the South.
According to numismatic evidence, we have
the coins of 'Adil Shah of Madura, dated
A. D. 1356, of Fakhru'd-din Mubarak Shah,
dated A. D. 1360, and of Alau'd-din Sikandar
Shah, whose latest coin bears the date A. H-
779 (A. D. 1377—78). Dr. S. K. Ayyangar
holds that the wars of Kamparaya would
have to be brought in the period of the intcrrey-
n um at Madura (A. H. 745 — 757) as indicated
by a break in the coinage. According to the
"Tamil Chronicle of the Temple of Madura"
(Mdduraittaldcardltiru), compiled about A. D.
1801, the founder of the Muhammadan dynas-
ty at Madura was Sultan Malik Nemi, and
the date of the establishment of his power
was Saka 1256 (A. D. 1334) ; and after this
first ruler there followed seven actual
rulers, till the Hindu power was restored in
A. D. 1371 by Kampana Udaiyar, -"commander
of the guards of the Mysore ruler from the
point of view of the writer of the record in its
final form ", who was the viceroy of the Mulba-
gal Maharajya and had all the south for his
sphere of influence. According to this Chro-
nicle, Kampana had been assigned the duty
of "door-keeper of the last great Hoysala
king, Vira Baljala III." Kampana conquered
Tondaimandalam, took possession of the
Rajagambhira-Rajyam which was the domi-

— 58 —

niou of the Sambuvarayans, with its fort at
Padaividu, near Ami, and not the Pandyan
kingdom, as had been held ; and he compeleted
his achievement by the conquest of Madura
and by the restoration of the great temples
of Srirangam and Madura to their pristine
glory. The two great enemies overrun by
Kampana were the Sambuvarayans and the
Madura Sultans. We learn from the Kampu-
nlija Cliantam of Gangadevi, one of the
wives of Kampana (a contemporary epic in
Sanskrit, since published in the Trivandrum
Sanskrit Series), that Kampana started
against Champa, defeated near Virinchipuram
the forces of Champaraya (Sambuvaraya),
laid siege to the citadel of Rajagabhiram
(Padaividu) and killed Champaraya in a duel.
Kampana proceeded to Kanchi and, having
stationed his forces there, stayed for a season
at Marakata (Virinchipuram) where a god-
dess appeared to him in a vision, and after des-
cribing the horrors and cruelties practised by
the Turuskas (Muhammadans) of Madura,
exhorted him to extirpate the invaders and
restore the country to its ancient
glory, and gave him a divine sword of extra-
ordinary potency with which to accomplish
the great mission, saying that "as by fate
the rulers of the Pandya line have lost their
prowess, the sage Agastya has sent this

— 59 —

sword, orginally wielded by the Lord Siva in
his fight with the Asuras, to be placed in your
strong hands." Then Kampana proceeded
against the Sultan of Madura and killed him
in battle. The significance of this epic is
obvious. Since the sword of protection of
the Dharma of Hindu South India had fallen
away from the enfeebled hands of the degener-
ate Pandyas, Agastya, the culture-hero-pro-
tector of the Tamil country, had to invite the
strong arm of the growing Vijayanagara
power in the shape of Kampana Udaiyar, so
that the role of the guardian of the Tamil
country and of its independence and cultural
heritage had to be sustained by the rising
Rayas of Vijayanagara and their chiefs and
official-.

Kampana was aided in this great achieve-
ment by his Brahman minister, Gopanarya
and his general Sajuva Mangu, the ancestor
of the great Sajuva Narashnha who started
the second dynasty of Vijayanagara and
whose achievements are described in the
introduction to the Jaimhri Bhdrutamu of
PiUolauKtrri Pinavirublmdra and in the first
canto of RajSnatha Dindima's Sahtnibhyuda-
yam. The latter work details the expedi-
tions of Sajuva Mangu against the Sambuva-
raya and the Sultan of Madura, and enumer-
ates the several titles which he assumed and

— 60 —

which his descendants continued to bear. The
achievements of Kumara Kampana are borne
out by sufficient epigraphic testimony as well ;
his conquest of the kingdom of Rajagam-
bhlra is clearly evidenced by a record of A. D.
1365 ; and another describes how he destroy-
ed the Turuskas, established orderly govern-
ment throughout the country and appointed
chiefs or ntiyakkajimar* for the control and
proper maintenance of temples.

Another equally meritorious service
done by Kampana was the reconsecration of
the great temple of Srirangam. It had been
most probably sacked by Malik Kafur. The
invasion of A. D, 1327 — 28 ordered by Muham-
mad Tughlak is held to have resulted in its
complete destruction. According to the
Kmjiloluhu, a Tamil work which describe*
the benefactions done to the temple in the
different epochs from its foundation down to
the eighteenth century and portions of whose
information appear to be derived from inscrip-
tions, there is the tradition of the Mussal-
mans (under Malik Kafur) after having con-
quered Pratapa Rudra, entering Srirangam
by the north gate and carrying away all the
property of the temple including the image of
the God, which latter was recovered by a
miraculous chain of circumstances. The
sack of the temple in A. D. 1327 — 28 is support-

— 61 —

ed by a date given in the Kdyiloluhu (Saka
1149, instead of S'aka 1249 — possibly an error
and Aksaya), and also by accounts embodied
in the Vaishnava Guruparampara and the
Telugu work, Acharya Sitkti Muktdvali. From
this sack, both Pillalokacharya and the famous
Vcdanta Desika escaped, the former going
south and the latter to the Mysore country.
After prolonged sufferings the survivors car-
ried the image of the God to Tirupati from
which it was taken over to Gingee by Gopanar-
ya and ultimately installed at Srirangam and
reconsecrated. G&panarya was told by God
Ranganatha who appeared to him in a vision
to lead an invasion against the Muhammad-
ans and to establish his image once more at
Srirangam. He marched, according to Anan-
tarya's PrapaniMmrtam, (a work dealing with
the history of Sri Vaishnavism in South
India, and the lives of its successive Acharyas,)
from Tirupati to Gingee where for a time he
kept the images — there were two of them —
in the neighbouring rock-cut shrine of Singa-
varam. He then advanced south, destroyed
the Muhammadan forces at Samayavaram
and consecrated the images once more in the
Srirangam temple, whereupon Vedanta Desi-
ka returned joyfully to Srirangam, composed
a verse in praise of Gopanarya and his great
achievement and had it inscribed on the walls

— 62 —

of the temple, The reconsecration is said to
have taken place in Saka-Samvat 1293 (A. D.
1371—2).

It is the great sevices of Kampana
Udaiyar, of Saluva Mangu who is said to have
helped in the reconsecration of Srirangam
and made a present to it of 60,000 madax of
gold, 1,000 8<ilmayrama$ and eight villages to
lepresent the eight letters of the Aslitakxcrrci,
and of Gopanarya, praised by Vedanta Desika,
that constituted the consummation of the
successful Hindu reaction against Muslim
sway in the Tamil country- The reconsecra-
tion of Srirangam and Madura, was the restor-
ation of Hindu glory and South Indian inde-
pendence.*

* The political and cultural significance of the
restoration of these great shrines by Kampana, Saluva
Mangu and Gopanarya, should be fully evaluated at its
true worth. It was only after this achievement that
cleared the country of the last vestiges of Muslim sway
and removed all chances of its recovery that Harihara II
assumed imperial titles in "full style" — "the illus-
trious king of kings and the supreme lord of kings, the
lord of the eastern, southern, western and northern
oceans; the unopposed; a Vainateya (yaruda) to the
snakes (of) wicked kings and princes; an adamantine
cage for refugees: the Dharma (Yudhistira) of the Kali
age ; the ear ornament to the Goddess of the Karnntaka
country; the supporter of the four castes and orders;...
he whose only delight is the fame of virtue ; the dest-
royer of the pride of the Tiger- the master in estab-
lishing the Cher a, dull a and Pandya kings ; the pub-
lisher of the Commentaries on the Vedas; the master
in establishing the ordinances prescribed by the Vedas •

— 63 —

The subjugation of the hitherto politi-
cally powerful Kurumbars became a matter
of necessity to the first Vijayanagara rulers
in their attempt to spread their power hi the
northern portion of the Tamil country. Accord-
ing to tradition embodied in the Mackenzie
Mss., we have a curious version of the estrange-
ment between the Kurumtars and the Vijaya-
nagara kings. The Kurumbars had fortified
many places and established their rule over
several districts. They tried to make the land-
owning classes like the Vellalas render them
services which the latter resisted and rejected
with contempt. Hence the upper classes had to
seek the aid of the barbers who promised
them relief. When one of the Kurumbars
died, the barbers went to shave their heads in
accordance with custom and each one manag-
ed to cut the throat of the Kurumbar as he
was shaving. Thus the community of the
Kurumbars was said to have been destroyed
by the barbers.

Krishna Deva Raya, as we have already
seen, destroyed the Marutham fort built by
the Kurumbars with the aid of one Bomma
Raja of Chingleput.

he who has provided the Adhvaryii with employment..."
As Dr. S. K. Aiyangar aptly remarks: — "We may
pardon the egoism, and appreciate the praise — worthy
efferc underlying it" — pp. 187-8— Stmth India an I Icr
Afuhamrnadan Invader.

— 64 —

According to tradition we also learn that
the rulers of Vijayanagara were benevolent
towards the agriculturists who were the here-
ditary foes of the Kurumbars whom they had
supplanted as a result of the conquests of
Chola Adondai Chakravarthi. The Vijaya-
nagara rulers are said to have helped the
VeHalars and the Vanniars against the Ku-
rumbars. The Vijayanagara dominion gradu-
ally expanded over Southern India. It be-
came in course of time so extensive that it
had to be divided into provinces for adminis-
trative purposes. Each province was under
a Nayak who wielded absolute power in his
own jurisdiction. There were three such im-
portant nayaks under the Vijayanagara
Empire besides several minor ones. These
were the Nayaks of Madura, Tanjore and
Gingee-

CHAPTER III
Gingee under the Vijayanagara Nayaks

Gingee became the seat of a line of
Nayak rulers whose jurisdiction extended
along the sea coast from the Palar on the
north to the Coleroon on the south. Gingee
played a prominent role under the Nayaks
who greatly enlarged its fortifications.

John Neiuhoff has referred in his travels
to the three Nayaks of Vijayanagara. He
has observed : " There are three great Nayaks
in this part of the Indies, i.e., the Nayaks of
Madura, Tanjore and Gingee." Another,
Jesuit, Father Vico, in his letter of 1611, has
also referred to the three great Nayaks who
were tributaries to Vijayanagara, paying an
annual tribute of six to ten million francs.
One can well realise the power of the Nayaks
from the considerable amount of tribute they
paid to the Vijayanagara monarch.

The Madura Nayaks were the most
powerful and the longest-lived of these three
lines. The Nayak dynasty of Tanjore was
composed of only four rulers and their rule
lasted only for a little over a century.
Information about the Gingee Nayaks and
their rule is very scanty, relatively very
much so, in comparison with that available
for the other two lines.

— 66 —

Though the Mackenzie Manuscripts give
a list of the Gingee Nayaks, we have reliable
information . only about one, Krishnappa
Nayaka. Epigraphical evidence for cons-
tructing the history of these Nayaks is very
small ; and in fact no single inscription has
been found in the name of even Krishnappa
Nayaka. Two inscriptions (of the year 1918,
Nos. 800 and 861) found in Tirupparankunram
in the Madura district give lists of the
chiefs of Gingee and make a reference to the
last of the Nayaks ^vho made a pilgrimage
to Rameswaram.

Sources for tlie period The sources for
the history of Gingee under its Nayaks
are the following : —

(1) The Mackenzie Manuscripts which
include the Kuniataka Jtajakkal Sdrixtaru-
charitam.

(2) The observations of Jesuit missiona-
ries and other foreign travellers like Father
Pimenta, Anquetil du Perron and others.

(3) The indigenous literary sources that
have the value of contemporary evidence ; c.y.>
the Rayunfithabhyudhuyuni and the Sahityu
Ratndkam.

Criticism of the Source*. The Mackenzie
Manuscripts emfcoiy more of tradition and

— 67 —

legend than of sober historical facts. Colin
Mackenzie collected the above manuscripts
by visiting all the notable places between the
Krishna and the Cape Comorin, accompanied
by his native assistants who were employed
to take copies of all inscriptions and obtain,
from every possible source, all historical and
quasi-historical records and original state-
ments of even existing local traditions and

"'• Colonel Colin Mackenzie joined the Madras Engi-
neers in 1782 and acquired a taste for historical and
antiquarian studies when he was at Madura in the
company of Mr. Johnstone, the son-in-law of Lord
Napier and the father of Sir Alexander Johnstone, one
of the founders of the Royal Asiatic Society. It was
then that Mackenzie formed "the plan of making that
collection which afterwards became the favourite ob-
ject of hi'j pursuit for 38 years of his li"e and which
is now the most extensive and most valuable collection
of historical documents relative to India that ever was
made by any individual in Europe or in Asia" (Sir
A. Johnstone fs evidence before the Select Committee of
the House of Commons in 1832). In 1796 Mackenzie
secured the assistance of a learned Brahman Pandit,
Kavali Venkata Boriah, who served as "the first step
of his introduction into the portals of Hindu know-
ledge ", and from whom he came to appreciate the
genius of Hindu, and especially of Brahman, scholar-
ship. By 1810, Mackenzie was able to collect over 3,000
inscriptions. He became Surveyor-General of Madras
in 1810 and of India in 1816 and carried to Calcutta his
literary and antiquarian colleclions and several of his
Indian assistants. After his death in 1821 the whole
collection was bought by the Marquis of Hastings. A
brge portion, including mss. in Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic
Javanese and Barman, was despatched to England in 2
instalments in 1823 and 1825. Prof. H. H. Wilson, then
Secretary to ths Asiatic Society of Bengal, catalogued
and indexed the material (not the whole) in 2 volumes ;

— 68 —

The History of the Carnataka Governors,
which is embodied in the Mackenzie Manus-
cripts is very faulty in chronology; it was
compiled by one Narayanan who claimed to
be a descendant of the Ananda Kon race of
Gingee rulers. It was done at the request of
Col. Macleod who was the Commissioner of
Arcot in the beginning of the 19th century,
when Lord William Bentinck was the Gover-
nor of Madras. Being compiled two centu-
ries after many of the events described therein,
it is but natural that the chronology is faulty,
and that it relies largely on local tradition
and legends. The chronicle has to be used
with much caution. Though this account
cannot stand the test of vigorous historical
criticism, it is useful as investing the history
of Gingee with some degree of life and blood.

and in an appendix gave short notices of the Local Tracts.
At his suggestion the books etc. relating to the Dravidian
languages were sent over to Madras. In 1835 W. Taylor
published the results of his examination of the w^s. in
Tamil; He followed this up with a number of analyti-
cal reports (in the issues of the Madras Journal of
Literature and Science) and finally with his Catalogue,
Raisounee of Oriental Man uteri iris (3 vols. 1857) which
included a survey of the collections of C. P. Brown and
J. Leyden. The rich Mackenzie Collection in Madras
was subsequently entrusted to Government and housed in
their Oriental MSB. Library. The historical mss. are
being examined, with a view to publication, of their im-
portance, or summaries by the Indian History Depart-
ment of the University of Madras.

— 69 —

The Jesuit records and the writings of
foreign travellers like Father Pimenta,
Anquetil du Perron and others constitute a
more reliable source for our period. Though
the Jesuit letters were intended merely to
report periodically on the activities of the
missionaries to their superiors in Europe,
they embodied notices of historical events.
Their culture and their intimate knowledge of
the country and soms of the people
enabled them to furnish fairly reliable data.
Any history of South India in the 17th centu-
ry cannot be deemed to be full without the
material of the Jesuit records being utilised
therein for evaluation. They contribute
much to a proper perspective of the political
events, particularly regarding those which
affected their fortunes. The Jesuits had a
correct historic sense and had analysed
the political situation of the country, though
they were partial in their views at times, Their
testimony can be tested by other sources
of information.

For our period we have the letters from
Malabar including those of Father Pimenta
who visited Gingee when Krishnappa Nayaka
was its ruler, about 1597 A. D. Pierre du
Jarric was a French Jesuit whose work,
though not original, is a reliable reproduction,
on a large scale, of first-hand information.

— 70 —

He faithfully collected all the Jesuit records
which would have otherwise been inaccessible
and summarised them for our benefit. The
materials he collected were in different langu-
ages ; and hence there have crept in errors of
translation here and there.""

"" Father Pierre du Jarric, entered the Society of
Jesus in 1582 and was professor at Bordeaux. He com-
pleted his Hittoire in 1614 and died three years later.
The work consists of three parts, each part containing
two books. Books I and II give an account of the liio
and work of Sfc. Francis Xavier, and of the misssions in
India (Travanoore, Cochin, Calicut, Vijayanagar, Bengal,
etc.) Pegu and the Moluccas, down to 1599. Part II
gives an account of the missions in Africa, China,
Brazil and the Mughal Empire down to che same date ;
and the third part gives an account of these missions,
bringing the history of their activities down to 1610.

The work of Du Jarric is a compilation, largely
based on the works of Guzman (down to 1599) and of
(xuerreiro (down to 1609) as well as on original letter^
from missionaries. Mr. C. H. Payne who has carefully
studied Du Jarric's work, says that he " used his autho-
rities with fidelity, either literally translating or care-
fully summarising"; and that considering the nature of
the materials he used, 4'our wonder is not that Du
Jarric made errors, but that he made so few ".

A Latin translation of the entire work by Martinez
was published at Cologue in 1615 and entitled T/tewuni*
lit1 ram Tndicanun. The latter is the authority ordinari-
ly quoted and is, on the whole, a faithful translation,
though not free from inaccuracies. C. H. Payne has
translated portions of Du Jarric into English, under the
title of Akbar and the Jesuits (1926 — Broadway Travel-
lers). See E. Maclagan : The Jesuits and the Great
Moyul (1932)— ch. I: Sources of Information: and C. H.
Payne: Introduction.

Father N. Pimenta, whose letters have been utilis-
ed by contemporary and later writers, became a member
of the Society of Jesus in 1562, taught for some years at

— 71 —

The transition of Gingee to Vijayana-
gara rule may now be summarised. After
the achievements of Kamparaya and Gopanar-
ya, we come to the famous Alampundi grant
of Virupaksha (A. D, 1382). The Brahmans
of Alampundi in the province of Gingee were
given the snrvtnmlnijam of the village which
had already been given by his father. In the
Adivaraha temple at Singavaram, there is a
record of Virupaksha dated Saka 1309,
recording a gift (Inscription No. 234 of 1904).
Alampundi is a village bituatei six miles to
the west of Gingee. The grant was probably by
Virupaksha, son of Harihara II, who is here
addressed as Kumara-Viriippanna Udaiyar in
order to distinguish him from his namesake,
the son of Bukka I, who seems to have had
nothing to do with the Tamil country. Virii-

Evora and at Coimbra and was sent to India as Visitor
in 1596, in charge of the Provinces of Goa and Malabar.
He remained in India till his death at Goa in 1614.

Father A. Laerzio was "the true founder of the
Southern Province whose greatest achievement was the
Madura Mission." (See D. Ferroli's The Jesuits ui
Malabar: Vol. I (1939), p. 276). He had written notes
on Guzman's Ifi'story which were useful to Du Jarric in
his work.

Anquetil Du Perron was *'a weird pioneer of oriental
scholarship " and spent some years in India about the
middle of the 18th century. He discovered the Accsta
in 1771, and translated the Persian translation of the
Upanishads brought by Bernier, into a queer jargon of
Latin, Greek and Persian in 1801 ; and this caught the
attention of the German philosopher, Schopenhauer.

— 72 —

paksha is said to have conquered the Tundira,
Chola and Pandya countries and presented
the booty got from his conquests to his
father. The inscription ends with Harihara
II, whose son, Virfipaksha, was in charge of
this portion of the South Arcot district. A
Sanskrit drama, entitled NdrCiyaua Vilfixu*
written by Virupaksha, corroborates the in-
formation of the Alampundi grant. Gingee
had thus become unmistakably the head-
quarters of a province as early as 1383 A. D/:;:

According to the Vdradamlriku Parina-
yam which gives a detailed account of the
campaigns of Narasa Nayaka, the founder of
the third dynasty of Vijayanagara, we learn
that he first marched across the Tondamandal-
am country and then approached the border
of the Chola country whose chief opposed his
progress, was defeated in a fierce battle and
imprisoned by him. Narasa Nayaka took
possession of Tanjore and then proceeded to
the conquest of the region lying further
south.

In the eighth section of his C
Narayanan narrates that during the reign of
Krishnadeva Raya, the Gingee country was
divided among several petty chiefs who

* See above pp. 51 — 56 for an examination of the
£ rant.

— 73 —

did not acknowledge the authority of the
emperors of Vijayanagara. In order to
reduce them, Krishna Raya sent a consider-
able army into Carnatic which is said to have
consisted of 100,000 men, under the command
of four chiefs named Vaiyappa Nayakar,
Tubaki Krishnappa Nayakar, Vijayaraghava
Nayakar and Venkatappa Nayakar. The
army encamped near Vellore. No battle or
attack on the fort is there noticed ; but the men-
tion of the ready submission of all the chiefs
of the surrounding region seems to point to a
victory of the imperial army. Narayanan
says that the chief of Chittoor and other petty
rulers of the Tondamandalam country had an
interview with Vaiyappa Nayakar who
seems to have been the (jeneralissimo of the
army. One of the chiefs mentioned is Bomma
Beddi of Kalahasti. At this interview, Vai-
yappa fixed the tributes to be paid by all the
chiefs who had submitted. From Vellore the
imperial army next proceeded to Gingee.
Here another conference was held with the
chiefs of the Cholamandalam, at which their
tributes were also fixed. While in Gingee, the
general of Krishnadeva Raya despatched the
captains under him towards the south to levy
tributes on and exact submission from the
chiefs of the Pandya, Chola, and Chera
regions. They were respectfully received

10

W A

— ,4 —

by those chiefs who duly agreed to render
tribute and submission. Krishnadeva Raya
derived, in the shape of these tributes, three
crores of rupees from all the rulers of the
eastern Karnataka country. For the admin-
istration of these newly acquired dominions,
he divided the whole land into three divisions
under three viceroys. The first extended
along the coast from Nellore to the river
Coleroon; this was placed under Tubaki
Krishnappa Nayakar who fixed his capital at
Gingee. The second was the fertile country
watered by the Kaveri river, and was govern-
ed by Vijayn Raghava, who resided at Tan-
jore. Finally, the third was the whole coun-
try south of the said Kaveri river, and this
was assigned to Venkatappa Nayakar, who
eventually settled at Madura." *

':;' The Chronic-la further says that "in Tanjor**
Trichinopoly, Madura and Tiru* Nagari (South Travan-
core?) the kings respectfully answered to the demands.
Thus the eastern Carnataca (as distinguished from
Mysore etc.) became subject to the Rayer. He derived
three crores of rupees from this country and in conse-
quence, he divided the whole into three parts under
three viceroys." — Taylor, Catalogue Raibonwt*, III, p. 39.

"The two accounts of these expeditions, that given by
Nuniz, the contemporary chronicler of the reign and that
of Narayanan, seem to refer to the same events, for the aim
of both was the same, viz. the subjection of the eastern
Karnataka. After the expeditions the country was
divided among the generals of Krishna Raya. Moreover,
the Catuir of Nuniz about which so much difficulty had
been raised, may be a corruption for Chittoor. Finally
the first city that fell into the hands of the imperialists

— 75 —

Du Jarric's work was very largely an
account of Catholicism and its spread, and a
history of the labour of the Jesuit missions in
India. Hence it did not contain much politi-
cal information. Anquetil du Perron, a
French traveller and a Jesuit, has also given
an account of Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee.

The indigenous literary sources * of our
period have also brought to light some phases
of the rule of the Gingee N" a y a k s .

seems to have been, according to Narayanan, Vellore.
Now Sewell's note identifies the unnamed city captured
by Krishnadeva Raya with this city of Vellore: *The
description of the town answers to Vellore in North
Arcot, the fine old fort at which place is surrounded
with a deep moat. According to tradition, this place
wa-5 captured by Krishna Deva Raya from a Reddi
chief.' An apparent objection to the identification of
these two campaigns may be the fact that the expedi-
tion mentioned by Nuniz was led by the same sovereign,
who is not mentioned in Narayanan's account. But if
we consider that the capture of Vellore seems to have
been omitted by the latter, wo may also conclude that
the fact of Krishna Deva Raya not being mentioned can-
not afford a valid argument against our theory."

""Note on the indigenous literary sources : — There are
several indigenous chronicles iiko the work of Naraya-
nan in Tamil, the TanjacTiri Andhra Rujula Charitumu
and the Tanjtlt'urfwtrt Char Haw. They are useful as sources
for the 16th century history of Carnataca; and they are
supplemented by a volume of literary evidence, the
largest portion of which relates to Tanjore. Thus
we have the Suhityamtnakara of Yagnanarayana Dik-
shita and the Rayhunathabht/iidayam of Ramabhadram-
ba, both of them in Sanskrit ; and the Vijayarayhava
Vamzacali of ChengahivaUi Kalakavi in Telugu. * The
Smuftta Sudha by Raghunatha Nayaka along with illu-
minating introduction to it by his famous minister,

— 76 —

The two works by the name of Eaglni-
nathabliyudhayam and the Sahityaratnaka-
ram which deal with the brilliant exploits
of Raghunatha Nayaka of Tanjore mention
incidentally Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee
who was a contemporary of his. These
sources do not deal with any of the other
Nayaks of Gingee except the contemporary
of Raghunatha.

The first Rciyhunutlia'byuddyam is a Telugu
drama by Vijayaraghava Nayak, the son of
Raghunatha. It gives a description of the palace
of Tanjore and makes a reference to the pictur-
es depicting Raghunatha's victory over one
Sol aga of Coleroon, (Divukott ah !) and the repre-
sentations of his successes over the Pandya,
Chola and Timdira kings, i.e. Madura and
Gingee Nayaks. The second work of the name
is a Sanskrit poem, which was written by
the talented poetess, Ramabhadnimba, of
the court of Raghunatha. It refers to the
relationship of Raghunatha and Krishnappa
Nayaka of Gingee, who was released by the
intercession of the former when he was in the
prison of Venkata I. The

Govinda Dikshlta and the Kuylntnallul-lihiiudaint Kata-
katn in Telugu of Vijayaraghava Nayaka contain
44 what may be regarded us the official version of the
history of the Tanjore Nayaks" For an evaluation of
these sources see V. Vridhagirisan's The Nuyuks of
Tan jure 9 Ch. I (AnnamaJai University Journal Vol. IX
No. 2) and also Sources of Vijayanayara History.

— 77 —

is a Sanskrit poem dealing
Nayak written by Yagna
son of the famous Govinda
minister of Achyuta Nayak and of
Nayak of Tanjore.

We have also got a few other such similar
sources of information that can be regarded
as contemporary evidence.

The word, Nayak, is derived from the
Sanskrit term Nayaka, meaning a leader,
chief or general. The variations of the word
Nayak, Neyk or Nayaka, signify as much
as a governor, vassal or viceroy under the
jurisdiction of the kingdom of Vijayanagara.
Having subsequently revolted against their
liege-lord or implicitly renounced his over-
lordship, each of them assumed semi-royal
titles and power. The word, Nayak, is gene-
rally used to apply to all army captains. The
use of the term as meaning a provincial
viceroy is peculiar to the Vijayanagara empire.
Hence we find the rulers of Madura, Tanjore
and Gingee being generally known and des-
cribed as Nayaks. But kings like the Pand-
yas, the Cholas, the Hoysalas and other non-
Vijayanagara rulers seem to have applied the
word Nayak to their commanders, captains or
officials, such as agents, as is evidenced in a
large number of their inscriptions.

— 78 —

Two inscriptions found at Tirupparan-
kunram in the Madura district, already
noted, give a list of the Gingee Nayak rulers
and mention that they emigrated first to
Vijayanagara, from Maninagapura or
(Manikhpur near Allahabad) and the immi-
gration is said to have taken place in 1370
A. D. The immigration of the chiefs from Vija-
yanagara to Gingee in the time of Vaiyappa
appears to have taken place five generations
before Vai'adappa Nayc\ka, about the middle or
in the latter part of the 16th century.

We have not been able to ascertain the
causes of such emigration from Aryilvarta to
Vijayanagara and then to Gingee. We find
in the inscription of Surappa Nayaka, the
Nayak being called the Lord of Maninaga-
pura ,

Without establishing the connection of
Surappa Nayaka with the Nayaks of Gingee
it is not possible to support the view that the
Gingee Nayaks came originally from Mani-
nagapura. We have no other evidence to
prove that the Gingee chiefs were the origi-
nal immigrants from Maninagapura to Vijaya-
nagara.

We have not got reliable information
about the circumstances that led to the
foundation of the Nayakship of Gingee.

— 79 —

According to the Karnataka Rajakkdl Saris-
t<lra Charitmn, an army of the Vijayanagara
king defeated the Kurumba chief of Gingee,
Kobilingan by name, and took possession of
the place. An account of the Kurumbars has
been given above. The expedition referred to
must have been that of Kumara Kampana,
for during his campaign in the south, we
find his Brahman general, Gopanarya, having
his head-quarters at Gingee. Gopanarya
seems to have exercised jurisdiction as far
south as Chidambaram, for we find in the Vaixh-
iHtrd Guruparampara, a mention of the great
Acharya, Sri Vedanta Dcsika, persuading
Gopanarya of Gingee to restore the image of
Govindaraja of Chidambaram which had been
thrown out of the shrine. The Guruparmn-
pura, while tracing the fortunes of the Tillai
GovindaraJA temple, refers to Sri Vedanta
Desika who is said to have requested Gopa-
narya to reconsecrate the imag^ in the shrine
about 1370*

""" Another Vaishnava work, the Prapmmdtnrtam,
attributes th? honour to one Mahacharya of Sholinghur ;
and it says that the Chola, Krimikanta Kulottunga, had
the Govindaraja idol removed from the shrine in the
Chidambaram temple. The Kulottunya Chilian Uld and
the Bfijartija Cholon Uld both refer to the same king
who caused the idol to be thrown into the sea. Sri
Ramanuja, the great founder of Sri Vaishnavism, had
then established and consecrated the Govindaraja shrine
in the temple at Lower Tirupati, in the place of the one
fit Chidambaram that had been desecrated by the Chola.
Later Vaishnava Acharyas had, according to the Pra-

— 80 —
The Nayak Rulers of Gingee

A regular viceroyalty seems to have
been established only from 1464 A. D. when
Venkatapathi Nayak became the ruler of
Gingee. The copper plate grant of Vala or
Bala Venkatapalhi Nayaka (son or a des-
cendant of Vala Krishnappa Nayaka, Raja of
Gingee, Saka 1386(1464 A. D.)Parthiva, Kaliyn-
ga, 1465 cyclic year) refers to the adjudication of
a dispute. This Nayak seems to have per-
secuted the Jainas ; and the memory of his
persecution is supported by the still surviv-
ing Jaina tradition in the neighbourhood and
by a mention of it in the Mackenzie Mss. Vol.
I. A number of inscriptions found in the
South Arcot district indicate Siijuva Nara-
singa's dominion over Gingee ; and probably
the Nayaks were the deputies of Narasinga.

According to the Mackenzie J/s.s., Krish-
nadeva Raya had to send sardars into the

, tried to reconsecrate the deity, and trans-
late it on a secure basis to its original shrine, with the
help of the Vijayanagara emperors. The reconsecra-
tion of Gopanarya was certainly not the one in which
Mahacharya (or Doddacharya) of Sholinghur took part
as it was in Achyuta Raya's consecration in 1539 that
he is known to have taken a definite part.

Rao Saheb M. Raghava lyengar has endeavoured to
hold that this Chola who desecrated the Vishnu shrine
in Chidambaram, was Kulottunga II (1135-1146) who did
the act with a view to widen the shrine of Siva. A note
on the vicissitudes of the Vishnu shrine of Chidamba-
ram is given below, later in the book.

— 81 —

Karnataka country to strengthen his authori-
ty there. The Raya himself marched into
the Carnatic along with his chief Nayaks,
Vaiyappa Nayaka, Tubaki Krishnappa Na-
yaka and others. After strengthening his
master's authority in the south, Vaiyappa
left the country 'appointing Tubaki Krish-
nappa Nayaka his second in command, to
rule over the land. We have to take that
Tubaki Krishnappa was the founder of the
Nayak line of Gingee kings. He seems to
have ruled gloriously all over the coast from
Nellore down to the Coleroon up to 1521 A. D.,
(Saka 1443). We are not able to ascertain the
exact extent of his power for want of reliable
inscriptional evidence. The date of the
accepted irruption of Krishnadeva Raya into
the Carnatic could have been only some
years after 1509 ; and if we take it that Vai-
yappa had appointed Tubaki Krishnappa as
the Nayak of Gingee, the latter could have
been the ruler of the place only from after
the epoch of the Raya's conquests, i.e. after
about 1520—21.

Venkatapathi Nayak who acquired notor-
iety as the persecutor of the Jainas in 1478
A. D., was also known in local tradition as
Dupala Krishnappa Nayaka ; and the problem
arises of his possible identity with Tubaki

IT

— 82 —

Krishnappa Nayak.* If we identify Tubaki
Krishnappa with the Nayak of the persecution
fame, we must credit him with a very long
rule of at least 57 years from 1464 to 1521 A. D-
The copper plate grant of Venkatapathi is
dated Saka 1386 (1464 A. D.). Tubaki Krish-
nappa should thus have been very old at the
time of his death. Moreover, the regular Nayak
line of rulers seems to have begun only from
the irruption of Krishnadeva Raya, though
Gingee is said to have been for long a Vijaya-
nagara viceroyalty, and, according to the Alam-
piindi grant, even from 1383 A. D. It has been
said that a duly constituted governorship
began only from 1464 A. D., when Venkata-
pathi Nayak hadbecome the ruler of Gingee. We
have to take 1464 A. D. as the probable date of
the beginning of the regular succession of the
Gingee governors, if we identify Tubaki Krish-
nappa Nayaka with the Nayaka of 1464 A. D.
But it discards the view that the Nayak line
was founded after Krishnappa Nayak's entiy
into the Carnatic which took place only after
1509 A. D.

Moreover, the line of Nayak rulers men-
tioned in the Mackenzie Mss. runs as follows : —
1. Vaiyappa Nayaka, 1490 A. D.

* There was another Tubaki or Tupaki Krishnappa
Nayak ruling in Gingee in the 17th century who was
associated with the Bijapur and Golconda rule over the
place.

— 83 —

2. Tubaki Krishnappa Nayaka, 1490 to
1520 A. D.

3. Achyuta Vijaya Ramachandra Na-
yaka, 1520—1540 A. D.

4 Muthialu Nayaka, 1540—1550 A. D.

5. Venkatappa Nayaka, 1570 — 1600
A.D.

6. Varadappa Nay xka, 1600 — 1620
A. D.

7. Appa Nayak (up to the Muslim
conquest).

The chronology given by S. M. Edwardes
in his paper 'A Manuscr pt H story of the
Rulers of Gingee' (The Indian Antiquary,
Vol. 55,) is as follows : — *

Muthial Naik, 1476 A. D.
Krishnappa Naik, 151 \. D.
Chenam Naik, 1536 A. D.
Vijayappa Naik, 1555 A. D.
Gangama Naik, 1580 A. D.
Venkatakrishna Naik, If 05 A. D.
Venkataram Naik, 1625 A.D.

Trimbakmal Krishnappa Naik, 1645
A. D.

Varadappa Naik, 1655 A. D.

*"The manuscript, which is wric-en on country-
made paper in the Modi character and is in several

— 84 —

places difficult to decipher, owing to the bad writing of
the scribe and the attacks of white ants, bears on its
title-page the English words 'Account of the Chengy
Rajahs '. The identity of the scribe or author is un-
known, and there is no clue thereto in the manuscript,
which purports to be a kaifiyat or record of the rulers of
Chandi (Chengy) or in modern spelling, of Gingee or
Jinji in the Arcot district of the Madras Presidency.
Readers of this Journal may be interested in learning the
main facts set forth in the Mas., so far as I was able to
elucidate them.

"The narrative commences with the statement that
during the reign of Krishna Rayel of Anegondi, a
certain Vijayaranga Naik (according to one account,
Gingee was built on an old foundation of the Chola kings
in 1442 by Vijayaranga Naik, governor of Tanjore)
came with a perm it to Chandi (Gingee) and there secured
a jayir. He cleared the forest, ;i massed riches, and
effected the settlement of Chandi. In Fasli 852 (A. D.
1445) a Dliangar named Anandakona, who was search-
ing for some stray flocks belonging to his tribe, met a
Mahdpur us/in i who informed him that by his exertions
Chandi was destined to become a great place, and that
he should straightway go to Vijayaranga Naik. In
accordance with this prophecy, the kingdom of Chandi
was established with the help of Anandakona, whose son,
Tristapitla, became prime minister of the Chandi
kingdom."

"To revert to the Mss., we are next informed that the
families of Vijayaranga Naik and Anandakona enjoyed
undisputed possession of Chandi (Gingee) for 224 years,
i.e to Fasli 1077, and that the names of Vijayaranga's
successors were as follows: —

Fasli 883 (A. D. 1476) Mutiyal Naik.

918 ( „ 1511) Krishnappa Naik.

943 ( „ 1536) Chenam Naik.

962 ( „ 1555) Vijayapa Naik.

987 ( „ 1580) Oangama Naik.

„ 1012 ( „ 1605) Venkat Krishna Naik.

„ 1032 ( ,. 1625) Venkat Ram Naik.

— 85 —

* Tubaki Krishnappa and Vaiyappa are
credited with having built temples at Sri-
mushnam, Tirukkoyiliir and other places
wherein their sculptures could now be seen.
The big granaries in the Gingee fort, the Kal-
yami Mahal and the thick walls enclosing the

Fasli 1052 TA. D. 1645) Trimbakmal Krishnappa

Naik.

„ 1062 ( „ 1655) Varadappa Naik.
Pp. 1—2 of the Indian Antiquary, Vol. LV (1926).

This account is supposed to be from a ins., bearing
the words, "Mackenzie Collection, Dec. 3, 1833 : No. 38 ".
The existing catalogue does not include "this particu-
lar ms. which has hitherto escaped scrutiny and eluci-
dation'. It associates the Kon dynasty of Gingee with
the Nayak governors of Vijayanagara and makes the
two lines contemporary ; whereas it is fairly well estab-
lished that the Kon rulers preceded the period of the
Nayak rulers.

According to the account which goes down to the
closing years of the 18th century, ending abruptly with
the capture of Gingee by Tipu Sultan (held to have
taken place in Fasli 1199 = A. D. 1792), the place was
burnt by the Mysore Sultan who also destroyed the
artillery-parks in the three forts. Mr. Edwardes says
that u the story of the foundation of Jinji and of the
Naik dynasty and the Dhangar ministers seems to me
to deserve a closer and more detailed inquiry ". All
that we learn from the Camdtaka Rdjakkal Savistdm
Charitam is that Gopalakrishna Pillai, and his son,
Nandagopala Pillai, who were probably of the Yadava
(shepherd) caste, were ministers to the Nayaks from the
trme of Tubaki Krishnappa to Varadappa.

* Tubaki Krishnappa Nayaka gave, according to
Narayana Kon, the name of Rajagiri to the great hill
Anandagiri; he built on its summit a large surrounding
rampart and constructed a tunnel giving access to a
grotto, in which were built the royal palace, granaries for
storing paddy and other foodstuffs, a well, the temple of

— 86 —

three hills of Gingee are also credited to
Krishnappa Nayaka. The images of Krish-
nappa and his companions are sculptured in
the pillars in the shrine of Srimushnam, Tiru-
koyilur and other places in the neighbourhood.
His long and peaceful administration resulted
in the expansion of the town and the creation of
pettahs and suburbs. The building activity
of this earlier Krishnappa is to some extent
confused with that of a later Krishnappa
who ruled in the latter part of the 16th century.

Ramaswami and a powder magazine. On the extreme
top of the hill he built a peristyle going round a court
and furnished it with windows and a grand gateway.
He also constructed a large reservoir at three-quarter
height of the hill, and furnished it with two sluices,
one above and the other below. The brick-built
reservoir previously done by the Kon rulers, was included
in the new. At the middle height of the hill was cons-
tructed the temple of Kodanda Ramaswami, along with
its tank and mantapams. There were also there the
shrine of Kamalakanni and three springs flowing forth
from great depths and ever lighted by the sun; and they
were now provided with masonry parapets and skirting
foot paths. All these were surrounded by a wall pierced
by two gates.

The foot of Rajagiri was also encircled by a thick
wall, furnished with 2 gates. There were also built a
granary with a capacity of 150,000 kolam*, a temple, a
granary for rice and another for other grains.

In the interior of the palace, a tank was built for
bathing surrounded with mantapams. "The Raya
Mahal thus rose splendidly with eleven floors"; and
level with the ground was the great throne-room. The
queen's residence was called the Kalyfma Mahal ; it was
of seven floors surrounded by houses tenanted solely by
women. To the south of the paddy granary were built

— 87 —

According to the Mackenzie Mss., Krish-
nappa's successor was one Achyuta Rama-
chandra Nayak. An inscription in the Ven-
kataramanaswami temple of Gingee (No. 244
of 1904) refers to a gift made by Achyuta Vija-
yaramachandra Nayaka, the governor of
Gingee. We find (in page 192 of the Archaeolo-
gical Survey of India, Annual Report, 1908 — 9)
a reference to the mahamandaleswaras and
generals of Achyuta Raya, the successor of
Krishnadeva Raya. One of such mandales-
waras seems to have been Achyuta Ramachan-
dra Nayaka * who was ruling Gingee in Saka
1464, i.e., A. D. 1540—41. According to the
Mackenzie Mss., the next ruler after Achyuta
was one Muthialu Nayak who is held to have
been the builder of the Venkataramanaswami
temple at Gingee. The next ruler of Gingee

the temple of Rajagopalaswami (Venkataramanaswami ?)
and the Senda-Rayan Fort. All round the Krishnagiri
hill a double brick-wail was built; and on it rose same
paddy granaries, bungalows and 2 temples in honour of
Krishnaswami and Ramagopalaswami. Forts called
Kuttarisi Durgam andKurangu Durgam were also built.

A great surrounding wall encircling the fortress of
the plain was built from the foot of Chandrayan Durg
advancing from the s.e., turning first e, and then ri. and
going by the temple of Gopala Pillai traversing the
bank of the Agaram tank, encircling Krishnagiri and
coming back to Rajagiri.

* There is an inscription (244 of 1904) in a ruined
temple "at Chandragiri, near the palace, recording a
gift by Achutharaya Nayaka, governor of Gingee.

was according to the Mackenzie tradition
Venkatappa Nayaka.

Under these Nayaks the forts were
strengthened and the town was greatly en-
larged/*

* Tubaki Krishnappa and his descendants are said
to have ruled for 150 years. It was under Krishnappa
and his immediate successors that a dam was construct-
ed over the Varahanadi, a few miles distant from the
fortress, at Kutampet ; and after filling the tank of Siru-
kadambur the water of the river was conveyed by a
canal which ran at the foot of the Krishnagiri Hill. A
sardar of the shoe-maker caste fortified at his own
expense the Chakkili Durgam Hill and dug out a small
tank fitted with sluices at its summit. The Pattabhi Rama
temple was built at the foot of this hill. More to the
east was founded the village of Jayangondan, while a
large market town of square shape was also built in
closer vicinity to the hills. All the castes of the Left
Hand were quartered in these two places.

Other suburban villages like Rajakaranampettai,
Stalakaranampettai, Kollapalayam were founded at a
distance of two naliyai to the north of Rajagiri and
of Madana (Krishna) giri, besides two other villages,
Periapettai and Singarampettai, still further north of
Rajagiri. The Right Hand castes were settled in these
villages. Nallan Chakravarti Satrayagam Seshadri Ai-
yangar was the Rajaguru of Tubiiki Krishnappa who gift-
ed an agraharam to his master after the latter celebrated
a yagam in the cleared Elangfidu forest. The Nayak
also gave the guru the village of Miimbattu and the
srotriem of S i n g a v a r a m . He also built the
Vishnu temple of Sirukadambur and the temple dedicat-
ed to Dharmaraja and Draupadi Amman at the north
end of Gingee town and entrusted its administration to
a member of the old clan of the Kons, declaring that
all honours should be first rendered to this Goddess
(Draupadi Amman).

Under Achyuta Ramachandra Nayak (ace. Fasli
930) the four enclosing walls and the majestic gopuram
of the Tiruvannamalai temple were begun in Saka 1443.

— 89 —

An inscription (No. 240 of 1904) found on
the south wall of the central shrine of the
Venkataramanaswami Temple at G i n g e e
dated Saka 1472, Sadharana, in Tamil, des-
cribes a gift by Surappa Nayakar for the
merit of Sadasivadeva and another gift by
Adappattu Mallappa Nayakar for a festival.
Another record engraved on the north wall of
the Akhilandeswari shrine in the temple of
Jambai in the Tirukkoyilur taluk, dated Saka
1471, expired, Saumya, of Sadasiva Raya des-
cribes the gift of a village for the merit of the
king by Adappam Surappa Nayakkaraiyan

Twenty years later he built the Vishnu temple at
Tin divan am, a temple and gopuram at Nedungunram
and similar edifices at Settupattu (Chetpat). He is also
credited with the construction of several other temples
and ayrcilulrums.

Muthialu Nayaka built a small fort on the hillock
situated to the west of Chandrayan Durg and called it
after his own name. He also constructed, besides the
temple of Venkataramanaswfimi a mantapam on the
road leading to Varahanadi, a tvppakulani for the god's
festival and a temple to Chakraperumal on its bank.
The great gopuram of Tiruvannamalai was completed
only in Saku. 1494.

Venkatappa Nayaka, the successor of Muthialu
Nayaka, allowed a Jain merchant to build a Jaina shrine
at Sittamur; and in Tindivanam a Siva shrine and a fort
were built. The Nayaka's wife, Mangammal, dug the
Ammakulam tank on the great Gingee road and another
tank of the same name at Vriddhachalam, on the other
side of its river. It was also about this time that the
great wall and the gopuram of Vriddhachalam were
finished, as well as the mantapam before the shrine of
the goddess.

12

— 90 —

Krishnama Nayakkaraiyan. A poet, Ratna-
khita Srinivasa DJkshitar, lived at the court
of Surappa Nayaka and dedicated to him
the drama of Bhavanapurushottoma. Accord-
ing to this work, Surappa was the son of
Pota Bhupala by Vengalamba and had two
brothers, by name Divakara Nayaka and
Bhairava Nayaka. Surappa founded three
villages named respectively after himself
and his parents ; and he is called by the
author as the "firm establisher of the throne of
Karnataka" (KarnatasimhasanQpratisthapa-
ndcharya), possibly referring to the help
which he rendered to the Raya of Vij ay ana-
gar, against one of the Muslim incursions into
the south after Talikota. The Raja whom he
helped was possibly either Tirumala or
Ranga I. The difficulty comes up when the
question of fixing Surappa among the rulers
of Gingee in that period and particularly of
defining his relation to Krishnappa who w^as
its ruler in the time of Venkatapathi-

At the battle of Talikota (1565) the
Vijayanagara Empire was rudely shaken.
The Empire survived indeed as a living politi-
cal entity for nearly a century more; and
some of its rulers of this period were really
able men like Tirumala, Sriranga and Ven-
kata I ; the last of these was the most illus-
trious of the fourth dynasty of the kings of

— 91 —

Vijayanagara and did much to maintain the
solidarity and the prestige of the empire,
against heavy odds. His accession to the
throne, superseding his nephews, prompted
the nobles and feudatories of the Empire to
rebel against his authority. One of such
feudatories of the Empire was Krishnappa
Nayaka of Gingee.

According to the Mackenzie Mss., Ven-
katappa Nayaka was a contemporary of
Venkata I. The date given in Mackenzie
Mss. for Venkatappa Nayaka (1570 — 1600)
coincides with the period of rule of Krishnappa
Nayaka of the Jesuit records who is regarded
as the contemporary of Venkata I and of
Raghunatha Nayaka of Tanjore. Prof. V.
Rangacharya has followed the Mackenzie Mss.
and has identified Krishnappa Nayaka with
Varadappa Nayaka, the son of Venkatappa
Nayaka, He has based his conclusions by
following mainly the Mackenzie Mss. More-
over, according to inscriptions (Nos. 860 — 861
of 1918) Varadappa Nayaka seems to have
ruled in 1620 A. D. during the last days ofrthe
Nayak rule at Gingee. Varadappa Nayaka
and Appa Nayaka have been regarded as im-
becile rulers who gave way before the Muslim
invasion. The view that Krishnappa Nayaka
was mistakenly written for Varadappa Naya-
ka, the son of Venkatappa Nayaka, cannot
be easily maintained.

— 92 —

We have to take that Venkatappa Nayak
(1570—1600) of Mackenzie Mss. is identical
with Krishnappa Nayaka whose dates given
in the more reliable and contemporary Jesuit
records agree with the dates given in the
Mackenzie Mss. Jesuit and other contempor-
ary records do not mention any Varadappa
Nayaka as a contemporary of the Emperor
Venkata I and of Raghunatha Nayaka of
Tanjore. Nor do the available indigenous
literary sources refer to Varadappa Nayaka.
Hence the ^identification of Mr. Rangacharya
has to be discarded.

When Venkata I was on the throne of
Vijayanagar, Krishnappa Nayaka was the
ruler of Gingee. Anquetil du Perron * calls
him the contemporary of Vencapatir. Perron
has stated that Krishnappa succeeded his
father whose name, however, he does not
mention. After the death of his father,
Krishnappa must have been imprisoned by his
uncle for a time in the fortress of Gingee.
According to Father Pimenta, Krishnappa
managed to escape from his prison with the

*Anquetil du Perron: — Abraham Hyacinthe (1732 —
1805) went to India as a private soldier in 1754, acquired
a considerable knowledge of Sanskrit and translated a
dictionary in that language. On the fall of Pondicherry
in 1761, he conveyed his manuscripts and writings to
Paris and became Oriental Interpreter to the King's
Library and a member of the Academy of Inscriptions
and Belles Lett rev.

help of some friends and imprisoned in turn
his usurping uncle and also put out his eyes.
Anquetil du Perron says that Krishnappa
was freed by his own subjects.

In 1586 Krishnappa Nayaka seems to
have rebelled against Venkata I who captur-
ed him and imprisoned him. Raghunatha
Nayaka of Tanjore rendered help to Krish-
nappa by requesting from the Emperor an
order for his release in return for services
rendered to him in repelling the Muhamma-
dans who were then besieging him at Penu-
lt onda. Venkata, in gratitude for the help
rendered by Raghunatha Nayaka, had to order
the immediate release of Krishnappa Nayaka.
The Nayak of Gingee then paid his respects
to Raghunatha and prostrated himself before
him and showed a due sense of his gratitude
by giving away his daughter in marriage to
him. The Raghumithabyudhayam and the
Saldtya Ratiutkara both definitely refer to
the release of Krishnappa from captivity
effected through the help of Raghunatha.

On the occasion of Krishnappa's rebellion
the Emperor had sent against him an army
under the command of one Venkata, who was
an elder brother of the Kalahasti chief,
Ankabhupala. This Venkata seems to have
marched against him and defeated him.

— 94 —

During the time of Krishnappa's confinement
in prison, the Gingee country seems to have
been ruled by this Venkata, who, according to
the Telugu work, Ushaparinayam, is said to
have constructed a large tank and named it
Chennasagaram, after his father. This imp-
lies a fairly long rule of Venkata at Gingee
and an equally long term of imprisonment for
Krishnappa Nayaka. Venkata, the victorious
general of the Raya and ruler of Gingee
during the interregnum caused by the im-
prisonment of Krishnappa, was the eldest of
the Velugoti chiefs of Kalahasti, of whom we
have knowledge of three, namely, Damarla
Venkatappa, Damarla Ayyappa and another
Anka who was less known, but was a literary
figure and the author of the Telugu work —
Usliaparinayam. Venkatappa lived to a good
age, because he survived in power the great
civil war of 1614 — 16 which followed the death
of Venkatapati Maharaya in 1614 and the reign
of Ramadeva (1616—30) and was -very power-
ful in court in the reign of his successor,
Venkatapathi (1630—4:0, being in fact his
brother-in-law. Venkatappa was the actual
administrator of the Raya's kingdom, remain-
ing at the capital and having his province of
Wandiwash managed for him by his brother,
Ayyappa who he d the government of the
Poonamallee country to the west of Madras.

— 95 —

It was from these two brothers that the
English obtained the grant of Madraspatnam.
(or site of Fort St. George) which, in the
Company's records, is ascribed, to ' Damarla '
Moodu Venkatappa Naick, son of Damarla
Chenama Nayak, Grand Vizier of the afore-
said sovereign, (i e. the Raya) and Lord Gene-
ral of Carnatica."

Krishnappa Nayaka should have been a
wise and able ruler, as Jesuit records bear
ample testimony to the prosperity of the city
of Gingee, which was then known as the
"Troy of the East ". Soon after Krishnappa's
release from prison, through the efforts of
Raghunatha Nayaka of Tanjore, Father
Pimenta made his acquaintance with the
Nayaka during his stay at Gingee. We
possess a valuable account of Pimenta's deal-
ings with the Nayak and of the city and fort-
ress of

Father Pimenta was a Portuguese Jesuit *
and spent a few days at Gingee in 1597 A. D.

"" "This Portuguese Jesuit was appointed visitor of
the Missions of the Society of Jesus in India by the
Most Rev. Fr. Claudius Aquaviva, Superior-General of
the Society. In the course of his trnvels he spem a few
days at Gingee, in the year 1597. There were no Jesuits
then at the court of the Gingee Nayafc; bu: he wanted to
pay his respects to Krishnappa Nayaka v!580 — 1620) the
then ruling chief, and to thank him for his hospualicy
to several of the Jesuit missionaries who had visiced his
court on business."

— 96 —

Probably when he visited it, Gingee was in
the heyday of its glory and was one of the
most impregnable and strongest forts in the
whole of India and extended as far as
and included the present village of Melacheri
three miles to the west of the present fort.

There were no Jesuits at that time in the
court of Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee ; and
Pimenta wished to pay his homage to him and
thank him for his hospitality to the Jesuit
missionaries working in his dominions.
Father Pimenta is reported to have first met
Krishnappa Nayak at Chidambaram where
the latter was superintending the repairs of
the Govindaraja temple. He thus says of the
city of Gingee: — "We went to Gingee — the
greatest city we have seen in India and bigger
than any in Portugal except Lisbon. In the
midst thereof is a castle like a city high wall-
ed with great hewn stones and encompassed
with a ditch full of water. In the middle of it
is a rock framed into bulwarks and turrets
and made impregnable. Father Pimenta
seems to have proceeded through the Arcot
or Vellore gate. He says that the Nayak ap-
pointed their lodging in the square tower,
estimated 80 feet high, which has been regard-
ed as the most conspicuous building in the
fort- The private dwellings are not elaborate
except some belonging to the rich and the

— 97 —

influential people- Among these the palaces
of the king are the most prominent built in a
peculiar style with towers and verandahs."

" The Naicus appointed our lodging in the
Tower, but the heat forced us to the Grove
(taough consecrated to an Idoll) ".

"The next day, the inner part of the
Castle was shewed us, having no entrance
but by the Gates which are perpetually
guarded. In the Court the younger sort were
exercised in Ti ts. We saw much Ordnanse,
Powder, and Shot; a Spring also of Cleare
water. The Naicus had been here kept by
hs Uncle, whom yet by help of his friends
he forced to become in the same place his un-
willing successor, having put out his
eyes/'

Father P i m e n t a describes Gin?ee
this:— "The following day the Naicus
brought the Fathers into the fort (viz. to the
fortress which was already called by the
iiuthorarx); as they entered, the reports of
the guns and the songs of the buglers exoect-
ed them, being the soldiers in p-irade. What-
ever rare and precious the fort contained was
shown that day to the Fathers. Everything
belonging to an impregnable fort seemed to
have been adopted in this one. Here the
Naicus had been ordered by his uncle to be

— 98 —

kept after the death of his father, but freed
by his subjects he confined his uncle in the
same fort, whom he preferred to deprive of
his eyes and his liberty rather than of his life.
Then the king riding on horse back and accom-
panied by a thousand armed soldiers took over
Father Pimenta to the palace." "

* (pp. 42 and 43 of The. Indian Antiquary, Vol. LIV
1925).

The Jesuit Letters. Their letters throw a flood of light
on Venkata I (1578 — 1614) both as a ruler and as a man.
They have been fully utilised by the Rev. H. Heras S.J., in
writing his account of the reign of Venkata, which
occupies more than a third of his book (The Aravidu,
Dynasty of Vijayanaqara, Vol. I, 1927). The most emi-
nent of these was Father Nicholas Pimenta who, as
Visitor on behalf of the General Society of Jesus, direct*
ed the establishment in 1597 A. D. of a mission house at
Chandragiri, the royal residence. To the Rev. Father
Simon de Sa, Rector of the College of San Thome, was
assigned the duty of opening the Mission. He left San
Thome in October 1598 and was duly received by Oba
Raya, father-in-law of Venkata, and introduced to the
King who received him in audience. He gave them
permission to build a church at Chandragiri and else-
where also if they pleased and promised the grant of a
couple of villages for their expenses and for meeting the
cost of erecting their Churches. He also gave them a
golden palanquin for use, a distinction reserved only to
nobles and to religious heads,

Chandragiri had become the capital of the Hindu
empire by 1592; and by 1600, the Jesuits had a house and
a church at that place and secured from the Raya a
yearly grant of 1,000 pagodas, besides certain unsecured
income from some villages and lands, ** as a sign of his
love for the fathers." Venkata I lived generally at
Vellore, though the capital continued to be Chandragiri ;
and by 1606—7, two Jesuit Fathers and Lay Brothers
had come to live at the latter place. Venkatapathi
Raya had a great admiration for the Jesuits. Father

— 99 —

The Nayak brought the Fathers into the
fort with a salute from the fort guns, a wel-
come from the buglers and a parade of troops.

Whatever was rare and precious in the
fort, were shown to the fathers, " Before us 200
Brahmans went in rank to sprinkle the house
with holy water and to prevent sorcery
against the king which they used every day,

when the king first entered the house We

found him lying on a silken carpet leaning on
two cushions in a long silken garment, a great
chain hanging from his neck, distinguished
with many pearls and gems all over his body
and his long hair tied with a knot on the
crown adorned with pearls. Some Brahmans
and princes attended upon him. This shows
the grandeur of the Nayak. He entertained
us kindly and marvelled much that we chew-
ed not the betel leaves which were offered to
us." He dismissed them with gifts and preci-
ous clothes wrought with gold and desired one
of their priests for his new city which he was
building.

In the fort Pimenta found a great quanti-
ty of ordnance, powder and shot. The Nayak

Melchior Coutinho resided in the fortress of Vellore and
enjoyed the friendship of the Raja ; and Father Antony
Dubino resided at Chandragiri. They had influencs
with the Chikkaraya (Crown Prince), probably the puta-
tive son of Venkata, who was suspected to ba of spurious
origin and was always kept apart from the Raya.

— 100 —

was guarded with a thousand armed men.
300 elephants were paraded before the Nayak,
as if they were fitted for a war. At the porch
of the palace, the Nayak was greeted with an
oration in his praise, a thing usual in their
solomn pomp. The Nayak then showed his
store of jewels to the Fathers and gave them
leave to go to his new city.

This new city referred to by Pimenta was
Krishnapatnam which the Nayak had built
near Porto Novo on the banks of the Ve.lar
river, in the Chidambaiam taluk. The village
of Agaram just to the west of Porto Novo,
was probably the Krishiijipatnam of the N^yak.
The building of this town shows the greatness
and the power of the Nayak and also the
extent of his kingdom. Du Jarric says that
" it is located in the country called " Arungor"
near the mouth of the river Valarius (Vellar) ;
and it forms the present Hindu quarter of
Porto Novo. In order to foster the new
foundation, Krishnappa allowed everybody to
select his own building site and a piece of
land was assigned to each in the outskirts of
the city for agricultural purposes. Consequ-
ently many buildings were under construction
when Pimenta visited the place in 1597 — 1598
A. D. To superintend the buildings of this
town, the Nayak had appointed one Solaga of
Coleroon, his feudatory and ally who was an

— 101 —

important chief of the Gingee country
and played a considerable part in the local
history of the period.

Krishnappa asked Pimenta to build a
church in this new city and to erect a resi-
dence for a priest. The Nayak himself gave
a gift of 200 pieces of gold for that purpose.
The present was made in the presence of all
the grandees and nobles of the court. Accor-
dingly Father Pimenta called Father Alexan-
der Levi, " a man of renowned holiness and of
great knowledge of the vernaculars from
Travancore and left him at Krishnapatam, the
city built by the Nayak to superintend the
construction of the church."

Father Pimenta also observed that "in
the court of Gingee the younger folk were
exercised in tilts which are a kind of military
exercise/'

The picture here given from the narrative
of Pimenta affords us an insight into the
splendour of the court of the Nayak of
Gingee, his power and influence, and also
throws some light on some of the customs of
the land.

Krishnappa Nayaka and His Feudatories

One of the Jesuit letters of 1606 states
that among the Nayaks of Madura, Tanjore
and Gingee, the Nayak of Gingee was the

— 102 —

most powerful, as is evident from the descrip-
tion of Pimenta who visited his court in 1597 —
1598 A. D.

Father Pimenta mentions the following
three feudatories of Krishnappa Nayaka.
They were, the Princes of Tiruvati (on the
Pennar), and Salavacha (Silaga of Coleroon)
and Lingama Nayaka of Vellore.

The Solaga of the Raghunathdbhyudha-
yam and the Sahitya Ratndkara is called by
Pimenta, Salavacha, who occupied Devikota
at the mouth of the Coleroon and who was
regarded as one of the chiefs of the highest
rank. During Father Pimenta's stay at
Gingee S^laga's son, a boy of 14, accompanied
by many men and nobles reached the capital,
and asked Krishnappa to name him after
himself, with a further request for the grant
of a golden chair and several pieces of land.
This shows that S6laga, his father, was a
subordinate of Krishnappa. This young S&la-
ga became a friend of the Jesuits; and when
the Nayak took leave of his father, he com-
mended them to the care of the young Solaga
who escorted them safely to the castle of
his father.

The Solaga was living in a small fort at
the mouth of the Coleroon. He was then said
to be 80 years old and exercised absolute

— 103 —

authority among his subjects, being feared by
everybody. Pimenta says that he received
the Jesuits with great kindness. " He is old
and severe and caused crocodiles to be put in
his river for his security, charging them not
to hurt his own people." The description of
6olaga given by Pimenta agrees with that
given in the Raghunathabhyudhayam and the
Sdhitya Ratnokara. He had occupied an islet
near the sea and was giving great trouble to
the inhabitants of the surrounding country
and used to carry away by force women from
the neighbouring region. The Sdhitya Rat-
ndkara describes him also as a very cruel
man of inhuman tastes. The Raghunatha-
bhyudhayam states that the chief1" was so
powerful that he defied even strong gover-
nors like Vittala Raja.

Another feudatory of Krishnappa was
Lingama Nayaka of Vellore whose kingdom
was subordinate to the Nayak of Gingee.
Lingama was the son of Chinna Bomma, the
protege of Appayya Dikshita. He was one of
the feudatories who rebelled against Venkata

* The descendants of the Solaga have now sunk in-
to insignificance. They are petty land-owners and the
Solaga chief is now the poligar of Pichavaram, a jungly
village near the coast between Chidambaram and the
mouth of the Coleroon. Solaganar is the family title ;
and the poligar has been enjoying the right of being
anointed as chief in the great temple-ha)1 of Chidamba-
ram.

— 104 —

and refused to acknowledge his authority. It
is clear from the Jesuit records that he wish-
ed to form an independent principality iree
from his immediate overlord, the Nayak of
Gingee and the Emperor. Thus we find Lin-
gama as a feudatory of Krishnappa Nayaka of
Gingee, though we are unable to know more
detaJs about their relationship.

The region of Trivati on the Gadilam
river was under the rule of another feudatory
of Krishnappa. No information is available
as to this ruler.

Wielding such a power as he did, it is
likely that he should have cherished ideas of
independence of his royal master.

In his first rebellion against Venkata, as we
have already seen, Krishnappa was imprison-
ed and later on released through the efforts
of Raghimatha Nayaka of Tanjore. This
humiliation did not damp the spirit or dimi-
nish the ambition of Krishnappa, who conti-
nued to cherish ideas of independence. The
nobles and courtiers of the Raya urged him
(about 1600) to capture Gingee and humble
the overgrown chief.

Anquetil du Perron states " that Venkata
had many reasons to wage war against
Krishnappa" without giving any one of them.

— 105 —

He believes that "the refusal of the payment
of tribute annually was the main reason for
the war."

News about the insanity of Krishnappa
reached the ears of the Emperor when he was
about to march against him. This madness
seems to have been only a pretence as Fr.
Coutinho says and "that the fraud is now
patent that the king feigned to be out of his sen-
ses in order to please four of the grandees of the
king Jom, who were afterwards killed by his
order." * Venkata seems to have abandoned
his mar jh to Gingee despite the advice of the
nobles, as the Gingee Nayak was reported to
have become insane.

A few years later, in 1604, Krishnappa
Nayaka. sent an embassy to Venkata, accord-
ing to a Jesuit letter. But in the war that
was waged towards the end of 1607, the
Nayak was defeated with ignominy.

According to the letter of Coutinho, the
tardiness of the Nayak in paying the tribute
resulted in the despatch of captains to con-
quer the lands of the kingdom of Gingee. One
of these captains was Velugoti Yachama Nai-
du who, according to the Vclugotivari Vamsa-

* Heras' ' The Araiidu Dynasty ', Vol. I : page 408.

14

— 106 —

vali (Wilson's Collections, p. 274) captured
Gingee.*

" While the imperial army was approach-
ing the fortress, God wanted to punish the
Nayak who was within", says Coutinho.
"Had he remained in the fortress nobody
would have defeated him, for it is impregnable ;
but he the Nayak, being too arrogant, went
out to meet the army of Venkata. Then his
own captains deserted him and the Nayak
fell a prisoner into the enemy's hands. The
Jesuit adds, that "he distributed his ear-
rings and other jewels he bore on his chest

* Velugoti Yachama Nayaka, of the 20th generation
of the Velugoti family, was, 4 perhaps the most distin-
guished warrior of the line, He first distinguished him-
self under his cousin, C henna, in the Muhammadan
wars during the early years of the reign of Venkatapati,
in the siege of Gandikotta and in the capture of the forts
of Gutti and Kurnool. He further distinguished himself
by defeating Davula Papa who came down upon him at
Uttaramallur and played a most heroic part in the great
civil war of 1614-16. The victory at Uttaramallur was
over Davula Papa who was sent by Lingama Nayaka of
Veilore with the help of troops furnished by the rulers
of Gingee and Madura (1601 A. D.) He saved the town
from the attack of the enemy, routed the besiegers and
killed Papa in the fight. After the great civil war,
Yachama had to continue the struggle against Yatiraja
a younger brother of Jaggaraya, still supported by the
Nayaks of Gingee and Madura and defeated him in a
battle near Palayamkottai (South Arcot District). He
then celebrated at Veilore the coronation of Rama as the
emperor of Karnataka, with considerable pomp and
dignity (1616). — (Velugolivarivamsdvali, edited with intro-
duction by Dr. N. V, Ramanayya, (1939)— p.p. 56-59
of Introduction.)

— 107 —

among his opponents in order to induce them
not to kill him. Such was the great victory
won on the New Year's Day 1608 ". (Anquetil
du Perron, quoted by H. Heras : Vol. I, page
166).

The Raya set out for Gingee when the news
was received at his court at Vellore (where
he had established himself after the defeat of
Lingama Nayak at Minnal by Venkata, the
founder of Chennasagaram,) when Lingama
rebelled against him. Father Coutinho says
that the imprisoned Nayak prostrated
before the Emperor's feet with his family and
agreed to pay him 600,000 cruzados. The
King retired to Vellore and the Nayak of
Gingee moved by the loss of his treasure and
elephants, retired to Singavaram near his
capital, saying that he did not want to govern
any more and so on. The Nayaks of Madura,
and Tanjore who were his kinsmen placated
him with many gifts and caused him to
return to the capital and rule the land.

Krishnappa's Relations with the Portuguese
and the Dutch.

The glorious picture of India given by
Huyghen van Linschoten kindled the enthu-
siasm of the Dutch for eastern enterprise.
In 1595 they set out with a fleet of four ves-

— 108 —

sels commanded by Cornelius Houtman and
voyaged to the east. When they reached the
west coast of India they found the political
condition of Malabar quite favourable and
entered into an a liance with the Zamorin of
Calicut, with a view to secure the expulsion
of the Portuguese and the building of a
fort at that place.

The Dutch then tried to penetrate into
the Bay of Bengal and sought the permission of
Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee to build a fort
at Devanampatnam (modern Fort St. David,
Cuddalore N. T.) which was, subsequently,
granted in 1608. The Jesuit letter informs us
that the Dutch were treated hospitably and
were allowed to build a citadel at the place of
their landing.

The Nayak's olla (or farman) in which the
first concession to the Dutch was made is
dated 30th November 1608. The Jesuit letter
states that after obtaining the olht the Dutch
diligently began to build the citadel.

The NuyalS* Olla ;— " We promise to pro-
tect the Dutchmen who will settle in Tegna-
patam to allow them to build a town, to
refuse entrance to the Portuguese to whom
we shall remain hostile. On the other hand
we, the Dutchmen, promise to bring all kinds

— 109 —

of goods, to traffic with all traders on the
condition that they will pay us four for every
100 of our merchandise excepting rice. We
shall also pay 4 for every 100 of our merchan-
dise we c.iiry away frooi there. Those who
ha^e paid on e win not pay again. We
promise to take th^ oath and to keep all the
conditions faithfa.ly."

It seems that at Tegnapatam there was
an old fort (Rea,-Monumental Remains of
South India, p. 13). The Dutch began to
construct the fort on receipt of the ollas*

* The following accou it taken by Father H. Heras
from a book by Suarez D j Fi^ueroa (1) Madrid, MDCXIIII
datable 1607 or 1608 runs tiius :--

" In the year lauxara, in. the March moon :

Letter of the King of Kings, Great Lord, Great

Knight,

King Vencatapati, very great king, to the most

powerful,

Lord of the Sea and of the Land, Don Filipe,
(Philip III), King of Portugal etc

I learn how the Djtch, rebel subjects? of Your Ma-
jesty oi.ne to Girola (Gingea) tz talk with the Naique
and tli3y raquastad fro n bin th 3 harbour of Tanaa-
patan (IWcUiainpatnan, Fort St. David) in which they
werj alrealy baiidin^ a forir^s^. I S3iifc at onca a
messenger of mine with fona letters for the Naique;
a U afterward-? Fathar Nicholas LevaatD, Rector of the
Cjlle.;? of San Thono of the Society of Jesus, at my
raqua^t wait ovar tiero takia? o':h3r letters of mine oa
the sa na subject. And I CJtusad that the Naique might
forbid a fortress to ba built by them and might send

— 110 —

The Portuguese, then bitter rivals of the
Dutch, exercised much influence at the court
of Venkata I, who, when he heard of the
construction of the fort at Tegnapatam by the
Dutch, sent an envoy to the Nayak of Gingee
ordering the expulsion of the Dutch from his
territory. It seems that Krishnappa did not
obey him first, for in the following year we
find Nicholas Levanto deputed by the Bishop
of San Thome, to obtain from Venkata the
expulsion of the Dutch from Tegnapatam.
Levanto went in person to Venkata's court
and easily obtained from him a new order for
the Nayak of Gingee to whom he personally
presented it. He was also well received by
Krishnappa.

Matters were, however, seriously discus-
sed at Krishnappa's court. " The nut was a
hard one to crack" says the Jesuit letter,
44 because of the large profits the Nayak
hoped to get from the Dutch." Hence he told
the Father to hope for the best, but delayed a

them back out of his possessions, because since they are
rebels against your Majesty, they are also so to my
person "

From my kingdom — Ventacja king The letter

further down says that " the fort (Taunapatam) is very
convenient, the town large and the population very
numerous, scattered in the other ports and villages of
that bay, for instance, Paliacate, Arimagan, Seven
Pagodas, which are quite important ports."

— Ill —

definite reply. Venkata issued another letter
reprimanding the Nayak for his disobedience
and ordering him again to act according to
the demand of the Fathers, and to expel from
his territory the foes of the Portuguese, "who
are better friends than the Dutch."

Krishnappa on receipt of the letter sent
for Levanto and ordered that the Devanampat-
nam (or Tegnapatam) fort was to be delivered
to the Portuguese. The letter correspondence
between Philip III of Spain and Portugal
and Venkata I reveals the friendship of Ven-
kata with the Portuguese. In one of his
letters Philip III thanked Venkata for
the hospitality and kindness shown to the
Jesuit Fathers in their successful attempt to
drive away the Dutch from Tegnapatam. In
return Venkata wrote the following letter.

41 1 learnt how the Dutch, -rebel subjects
of Your Majesty, came to Gingee, to talk with
the Nayak and request him for the harbour of
Tegnapatam. I sent at once a messenger of
mine with letters for the Nayak and later on
Father Nicholas Levanto of the College of
St. Thome went at my request to Gingee with
my letters on the same subject. I saw the
Nayak forbade the building of the fortress by
the Dutch and expel them .from my posses-
sions, the Dutch being the rebels of Your
Majesty and also the same to my person."

— 112 —

Great was the elation of the Portuguese,
thanks to Venkata, and the Dutch were
grievously disappointed. They again demand-
ed from Krishnappa permission to settle at
Tegnapatam and Porto Novo, the new city
founded by the Nayak. Again they failed.
Probably, it is on account of these const int
refusals to allow the Dutch to settle in his
territory that Krishnappa is said (in a letter
of the Portuguese Viceroy, Francis Vasco de
Gama 28th November 1604) to have been very
fond of the Portuguese.

Dutch Beginnings in the Gingee Coast

An account of the beginnings of Dutch
enterprise on the Gingee coast may come in
handy at this place. The Dutch fleet that
left Holland in 1607, reached Goa in Septem-
ber of the following year and despatched two
yachts to the Coromandel Coast to take the
cloth that might be obtained there. De
Bitter anchored before Tegnapatam ; and the
local governor offered a piece of ground to
the Dutch for building a house and was
inclined to permit them to rebuild an old dil-
apidated Portuguese fort and to trade with his
people in all friendship (September October
1608). On the 8th October the Dutch yachts
touched Kunimedu on their way to Masuli-
patam and tried to negotiate for a factory at

— 113 —

that place also. They had to go away quick-
ly for fear of the outbreak of the monsoon.
The two ships returned to Tegnapatam in
November; and four Dutchmen (Pieter Ger-
ritsz Bourgonjie and 3 others) went to Gingee
to secure a cowle from the Nayak. They
reached Gingee on the 26th November and
were well entertained by the Nayak, who
showed great joy at their arrival and offered
them, besides the decayed Portuguese fort,
the town of Tegnapatam itself. The Dutch,
however, did not wish to accept this offer,
but requested that the Nayak would take
them under his protection. They secured the
following cowle : —

"We promise to Jacob de Bitter, Captain,
on behalf of the Admiral Pieter Willemsen
Verhoven, to take under our protection the
Dutchmen who shall remain in Tegnapatam,
and to let build the town, to deny the Portu-
guese and remain their enemies. Against
this, we, Dutchmen, promise to bring all mer-
chandise and to trade with all merchants and
that we shall pay*4 per cent for all the goods
that we shall bring here except the rice used
in the house, and the money on that shall not
be paid. We shall also pay 4 per cent on the
goods that we take from there except that
on what has once been paid, a further pay-
ment will not be made. What has been

15

— 114 —

written above, we promise and swear to
guard without breaking in any way. Amen.
30th November 1608 in the great town of
Gingee."*

The Dutchmen were left behind at the
factory of Tegnapatam under Bourgonjie
with 12,000 reals and a quantity of sandal-
wood and other wares. Bourgonjie expected
great profits from the trade and asked for a
sum of 3 or 4 thousand reals of eight for the
building of the castle. Sandalwood and
camphor were greatly in demand at the place,
and apparently also cloves, nutmegs, mace,
green velvet, porcelain, 4 armosignen ' red
scarlet and yellow copper (brass P). We read
that finding that the dilapidated castle was
not fit for them to live in, the Dutch factors
secured the permission of the 'great Aya'
(a eunuch who had great influence in the
land, more than the Nayak himself, and 4 in
whom the government consisted') proceeded
half a mile inland to a small castle, called
Tirupapuliyur where they lodged for the time.
This castle was built of blue free-stone and
"supported on 100 beautiful pillars prettily
and very beautifully covered figures (sculp-
tures) and other things." It was described as

* (Page 81 Journal of ilia Madras University : Vol
IV : No. 1).

— 115 —

"a very beautiful and splendid building/'*
The Ay a of Gingee assured the Dutch that no
toll would be taken from them and helped,
though tardily, in securing them dyers and
weavers. The building of the fort at Tegna-
patam did not however, progress rapidly,
though the Aya promised to promote the
work. He now tried to persuade them to put
off the work of fort-building till the arrival
of their next fleet ; and he said that " without
ammunition the Dutch would not be able to
defend it against the Portuguese;" and
further that the building was hazardous and
the Portuguese would go and complain to the
* Great King' (the Raya) who would see with
an envious eye the Dutch fort springing up
and would only tolerate them as mere traders.
The Aya however permitted them to trade
for the present from Tirupapuliyur. Some of
the Dutchmen in the lodge at Tirupapuliyur
misbehaved and rebelled against the authori-
ty of Bourgonjie and trade diminished (1609).
The Aya indeed helped them to remain on the
coast against the wishes of the Raya and got
over the Nayak of Gingee to his side; and
the Portuguese were not able to drive them
out of Tirupapuliyur though they secured

** The building was evidently a temple or a man-
tapam at Tirupapuliyur about two miles inland from
Tegnapatam across the Oadilam river which falls into
the sea to the south of the factory town.

— 116 —

from the Nayak of Tegnapatam 7 other
villages for 1,500 pardoes in spite of the
Dutch promise made from the beginning to
offer double of what the Portuguese might
give. The Dutch blamed the Aya for all this ;
and the Portuguese utilised the material
collected by the Dutch for the building ; while
a Portuguese Jesuit intrigued at the court of
Gingee ; and the position of the Dutch became
very unsatisfactory, as no dyer or weaver
was allowed to approach their factory without
the special permission the Aya.

But the wheels of fortune turned quickly
in favour of the Dutch. In December 1609,
the Portuguese were driven away by the Nayak
and the Aya for not having kept their promises
and " thrust out as if they had been hounds";
but the Dutch knew that they had to be "free
with promises of gold to both." Bourgonjie
was not over-anxious to return to Tegnapa-
tam before he should feel his way securely ;
he" resolved to write to the ruler of Kandy for
2 or 3 elephants that would be acceptable to
the Nayak as a present. The Dutch had
been friendly with the king of Kandy who
had sent to the factors at Tirupapuliyur a
golden ring set with fine blue stones and
five sacks of cinnamon by envoys who offered
to present annually to the Dutch 10 or 12
elephants to satisfy this Nayak. The Dutch

— 117 —

received similar offers and appeals for help
from the king of Jaffnapatam and from the
Nayak of Tanjore. Bourgonjie and his officers
wrote to the ruler of Tanjore requesting the
grant of Tirumalipatam (Tirumalarayan-
pattinam) situated between Tirupapuliyur and
Negapatam but received no reply to his letter
of request.

When the next Dutch fleet appeared on
the coast in the spring of 1610, it was to
leave nutmegs, maces, cloves, sandalwood,
4scissick' and other wares and also four
'pigs of iron' with some gunpowder* The
coide received by De Bitter about Tegnapa-
tam was to be renewed or a new contract was
to be concluded to the total exclusion of the
Portuguese. In March 1610, two Portuguese
ships of San Thome were captured and taken
to Tegnapatam which had 370 packs (bales)
of Goromandelese linen and 25 bars of indigo
ready for shipping.

Maertssen who brought the captured
ships from San Thome, negotiated with the
great Aya for a new contract which was
concluded, on the 29th March 1610, "between
the Aya Tiere Wangelaye, governor over the
islands Tindamandalam on the one side and
Arend Maertssen and Pieter Gerritsz Bour-
gonjie on the other side." The Aya swore on

— 118 —

his side to keep the contract with his Kayak,
Christoppen Aya (Krishnappa Nayak). The
Dutch should have within the fortress of
Tirupapuliyiir, as a storehouse of ammunition
and merchandise, the house called Noto
Calamatta Coin and were to furnish the fort
with a metal cannon and three iron guns. They
should pay 2^ import and export duties
except for money, rice and other necessaries
of the fort. The Nayak and the Aya should
have the right to buy sulphur from the Dutch
and they should compel the dyers and
weavers to carry out their agreements with
the Dutch and not permit other European
nations to trade, without special papers
from Prince Maurice. The Aya should be
supplied with the goods that he desired from
the Netherlands at cost price. The Dutch
should not trouble ships sailing with the pass-
port of the captain of Tegnapatam. "Thus
the Dutch secured contractual confirmation
for their possession of Tirupapuliyiir and could
use Tegnapatam as the harbour for it. Porto
Novo also stood open before them, but they
did not establish a factory there imme-
diately."

After concluding this treaty with the
Aya, Maertssen and a companion, Abraham
Fontaine, went to Gingee from whose Nayak
they took a letter to the Stadth older of

— 119 —

Holland, wherein the Aya promised to keep
the contract concluded now and requested
that ships might be sent to Tegnapatam.
Towards the end of April 1610, the Dutch at
Tirupapuliyiir received the Raya's permis-
sion to enter into trade negotiations at Puli-
cat. The contract which had been sent to
Vellore from Gingee was ratified by the Raya
a few days afterwards. Difficulties were put
in the way by the Portuguese who offered
5,000 pagodas to the brother-in-law of the
Nayak for driving away the Dutch from
Pulicat. In fact, Portuguese opposition conti-
nued even after the news of the Twelve
Years' Truce of Antwerp reached the coast
in the end of 1610.

Tegnapatam became a subordinate fac-
tory under the supervision of Pulicat where a
fort, called Geldria, was erected. Even as
late as 1613, the Portuguese continued to
trouble the Dutch factors ; they offered 1,000
pagodas to the Aya for driving the Dutch out
of the place, and handing over the head of
the factory, Vander Meer, to them; and the
latter had to pay 2,000 rix dollars to the Aya
to secure his safety. Hard stone was convey-
ed from Tegnapatam to Geldria to be overlaid
on the walls of its fort, as the visitor, de Harze
thought that the factory caused unnecessary
expenditure and proposed to abolish it (1614).

— 120 —
Krishnappa Nayaka— (continued.)

His zeal for Vaishnavism. Krishnappa
H ayaka was a loyal follower of Venkata I in
his attitude towards religion. He was a
staunch Vaishnava like his master and did
much to spread and foster it. His measures
in the Chidambaram temple are sufficient to
show his zeal for Vaishnavism/"

Father Pimenta, the Jesuit traveller who
visited Krishnappa Nayaka at his camp in
Chidambaram in 1597 A. D., found him then
engaged in the settlement of internal disputes
among the managers of the temple. The
Chidambaram temple is famous for its great
and dominant Saiva shrine of Nataraja, and
we find in 1597 A. D. a bitter controversy was
raging over the question whether the shrine
of Vishnu should be included within the inner-
most enclosure of the temple wherein the
shrine of Nataraja was located. The main
reason for these controversies had to be
attributed to the Vijayanagara monarchs
who tried to extend Vaishnavism and who
were greatly helped by their Guru Tatachar-
ya in this task.

It has been said that Vaishnavism reach-
ed its high water-mark in South India during

* Vide infra.

— 121 —

the time of Venkata I and it is no wonder
that Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee showed
great determination in restoring and repair-
ing the Govindaraja shrine within the Nata-
raja temple. Pimenta has given a succinct
account of what he saw at Chidambaram in
1597 A. D. The following is his observation.

"A great controversy arose whether it
was lawful to place the sign of Perumal — a
Vaishnava — in the Saiva temple at Chidamba-
ram. Some refused while the others impor-
tunately urged. The priests of the temple
who were the treasurers, were withstanding
and threatening, if it were done, to cast down
themselves from the top of the temple tower.
The Brahmans of the temple swore to do the
like after they buried the former. Krishnap-
pa Nayaka was unmoved by such threats and
was calmly superintending the repairs that
he had ordered at the Vishnu shrine. The
construction of the buildings of the shrine was
carried on, undaunted by the fierce threats of
the opponents. The priests climbed one of
the high gopurams of the temple and cast
themselves down while the Nayak was
there.1' Pimenta observed "that twenty
people had perished in that precipitation on
that day of departure, whereat the Nayak
being angry, caused his gunners to shoot at
the rest which killed two of them while

16

— 122 —

others fled to different places. A woman also
was so hot in the jealous controversy that
she cut her own throat/1 * Naturally Krish-
nappa's anger and his order to shoot at the
rest, while a few of them threw themselves
down from the tower top, cannot be justified*
at all and can be regarded only as a callous
exhibition of sectarian bigotry.

To understand the spirit of the Nayak in
his attitude towards Vaishnavism, a review of
the events of the time is essential.

The history of Chidambaram under the
Vijayanagara rulers has largely been a
period of acute religious rivalry and secta-
rian disputes between the Saivites and the
Vaishnavites.* * The Prapannam-rtain, an
orthodox Vaishnava work, refers to the Chola
King Krimikanta Kulottunga," * * who is said
to have removed the Govindaraja idol from
the Chidambaram temple. The Kulottunga
Choi a a Ula and the Raja Raja Choi an Ula
refer to the same king who caused the idol to
be thrown into the sea. Sri Ramanuja had
then established and consecrated the Govinda-

* Du Jarric, p. 637; Anquetil du Perron, p. 169
(quoted).

":- * See Rao Saheb M. Raghava lyengar in " The
Annals of Oriental Research of the University of
Madras 1938-39 ", Volume III ; Part I.

* * * Likely Kulottunga II (See infra note.)

— 123 —

raja shrine in the town of Tirupati in the place
of the one at Chidambaram that had been de-
secrated by the Chola. The later Vaishnava
Acharyas had according, to the Prapannamr-
tam tried to reconsecrate the deity on a
secure basis and translate it to its original
shrine with the help of the Vijayanagara
Emperors. Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee
seems to have been one of such men who
tried to restore to its former eminence the old
shrine of Govindaraja in the temple.

* Rao Saheb Pandit M. Raghava lyengar traces the
fortunes of the Sri Govindarajaswami shrine in the
Chidambaram temple. We know that the deity was
praised in song by Tirumangai Alwar and Kulasekhara
Alwar from whom we learn that the worship in the
shrine was conducted by the Tillai Muvfiyiravar.

The shrine itself is said to have been founded by a
Pallava ruler, as Tirumangai Alvar says : —in Pern/a

Tirumozhi (3, 2. 3.)

Again we learn from the Tirukkncaiyar of
Manikka Vfichagar that even in those days the deity in

the Vishnu shrine was shaped as the Vishnu recumbent
on Adisesha and the shrine itself was adjacent to the
Siva shrine.

We know further from Vaishnava literature that
the Vishnu deity was thrown into sea by the order of a
Chola monarch and the shrine itself was pulled down at
the time; the work, — Rainunujilrya Divya Charitai — of
Pillailokam Jiyar, attributable to the 16th century, tells
us that this Chola monarch was Senni Kulottungan,
who can be, with a great degree of probability, identified
with Kulottunga II (A. D. 1135-1146). Ottakkuttan, his

* The Annals of Oriental Research of the Madras University
Vol. Ill, (1938-39) Part I.

— 124

court poet, praising his son, Rajaraja, refers to the
incident of the idol being thrown into the sea, as an
achievement of the father.

Again, in his work, Takkaydgapimrani, he makes
it plain that Kulottunga II pulled down* the Vishnu
shrine to make room for the enlargement of the Siva
shrine.

We know that Kulottunga II was also known by
the titles of Anabhaya and Tirunlrru Cholan. The
RuHMMijiirija Divt/a Charita referred to above, gives,

Saka Ayiratt onpatu as the year of the destruction

of the Vishnu shrine. As the Mss. (including even the
one in the Madras O. M. Library) show a gap in this
place, besides others, and as mere Saka 1009 (A. D.
1087) would only refer to the times of Kulottunga
I, and as the gap is obvious from the metrical struc-
ture of the stanza and also from another verse in
the same work where we read that lour hundred
and twelve years before the reconsecration of the
temple — which took place, as is shown by an
inscription in the first prakara of the Chidambaram
shrine, [No. 272 of 1913, M. E. R.] on the 31st May, 1539
and also Record No. 1 of 1915 M. E. R. (corresponding
to Saka 1461 — Mithuna month, Saturday, Anuraiha
Nakshatra) when Achyuta Ray a Maharaja of Vijaya-
nagara built anew the shrine of Sri Govindaraja in
the ambalam of Perumbarrappuliyur, reconsecrated
the image of the deity and granted villages yielding
500 gold coins for the daily worship etc. — the date of
destruction should ba Saka 1461— 412 -Saka 1049 = A. D.
1127. This date 1049 Saka can easily fit into the
mutilated stanza of the work referred to above ; and
the blank portion made to read as Narpattu (forty).
This word, meaning one thousand and forty-nine is
more fitting to the stanza than either A. D. 1117 or
1137; moreover A. D. 1117 would take us into the
reign of Kulottunga I; while the latter year would
bring us to the time of Sri Ramanuja's demise. Rama-
nuja, we know from other sources, had certainly heard
of the desecration of the Vishnu shrine and of the
s ubsequent transportation of the image by some Bhaktas

125 —

to Lower Tirupati, had gone over to the latter place where
he had the image consecrated and afterwards resided
at Srirangam for some years before passing away.
Hence neither 1117 A. D. nor 1137 A. D. would be
suitable; and 1127 A. D. can alone fit in. The only
objection is that in 1127 A. D. Vikrama Chola (1117 —
1136), the father of Kulottunga II, was ruling; Vikrama
is known to have added to the Siva shrine at Chidam-
baram and made great gifts to it, bringing them to a
completion in 1128 A, D. But since many of these
gifts are actually sung as having been done by Kulot-
tunga by Ottakkuttar and since we cannot be certain that
Vikrama was personally the instrument of these gifts,
it is very probable that Kulottunga II was acting for his
father and in personal charge of the renovations and
gifts to the Siva shrine ; he was also the crown prince
and had been crowned as co-ruler with his father ; and
he can be well held to be the destroyer of the Vishnu
shrine in 1127. The reconsecration of the Vishnu
shrine in 1539 was done under the inspiration of a
famous Vaisnnava teacher of the time, Doddacharya,
alias Mahac'iarya, of Sholinghur by Ramaraya of
Chandragiri, the younger brother of Krishnadevaraya,
according to the Sanskrit work, Pntpannamrtam. This
Ramaraya wa<? a lieutenant of Achyuta Raya and not
the brother of Krishnadeva Raya. It was Achyuta, the
younger brother of Krishnadeva Raya. that did really
reconsecrate the shrine. This is further evidenced by
Varadaraja, the author of V(i*ud<">r<teliaritai or Baghava-
tam in which he praised the deity, Govindaraja, as the
God Vishnu worshipped by the Devas with Uma's Lord
dancing by the side who was restored to his former
shrine and worshipped by Achyutaraya in some
verses.

Achyuta Raya built the several parts of the
Vishnu shrine; and we learn from the pd^jiram of the
VasudC'Mchdritdi, that it was published in Saka 1465 =
A. D. 1543. It is plain that the words used by Varada-
raja refers to the fact that the Vishnu shrine was built,
after four centuries of non-existence, after the old model.
Perhaps Varadaraja might have actually witnessed
this restoration, as he published his work 4 years after
that date. In Saka 1565, i.e. A. D. 1643, Srirangaraya,
the Aravidu ruler, renovated the mahamantapa and the

— 126 —

The first three dynasties of rulers of
Vijayanagara had been tolerant of both reli-
gions. Krishnadevara Raya of the Tuluva
line, though he professed Vaishnavite lean-
ings, is not known to have made any gifts to
Govindaraja. An inscription of Achyuta
Maharaya refers to the fact that he ordered
the Govindaraja image in, Valudilambattu
Chavadi, /. e., Chidambaram, to be set up
according to the Vaikhanasa Sutra ritual and
granted 500 pon, the income from four villages,
for the upkeep of daily worship." With royal
and gubernatorial support the Govindaraja
shrine came into restored prominence."

t'imana over the sanctum of the goddess in the Vishnu
shrine and gave away five villages in rent-free grant
for the benefit of the Sri Vaishnavas of the place
(Inscription No. 271 of 1913). Thus, in or about the
8th century, the Vishnu shrine was consecrated by a
Pallava ruler ; in the first half of the 12th century, it
was destroyed by a Chola; in the 16th century it was
renovated by a Vijayanagara Emperor and further en-
larged by one of his successors in the 17th century.
In 1934, the ruined hall in front of the shrine and the
shrine itself which was dilapidated were renovated at
a considerable cost through the munificent generosity
of the well-known South Indian philanthropist, Raja
Sir Annamalai Chettiar of Chettinad.

* During the period of the Aravidu line of Vijayana-
gara rulers, religious controversies became prominent
and several polemics took place between the champions
of two creeds, Appayya Dlkshita and Mahacharya or
Doddacharya, who established the image of Govinda-
raja at Chidambaram with the help of Tatachilrya.
Appayya Dlkshita was a protege of Chinna fioznma
Nayaka of Velur according to the record at Adaipalam

— 127 —

(Kalakanteswara shrine). According to that inscrip-
tion we find that Chinna Bomma's fame spread far and
wide because of his association with Appayya Dikshita
who established the superiority of Siva and identified
it with the Godhead by raising Sri Kanta Bhashya
from its obscurity. It was natural therefore that the
Vaishnavites also indulged in these disputes. Accord-
ing to the Prapanmlmrtam, the Vaishnava scholar
Mahacharya defeated in disputes the Siva scholars
of Chidambaram among whom was mentioned Appaya
Dikshita. Later on Mahacharya is said to have estab-
lished the Govindaraja shrine in the temple of Chi-
dambaram during the reign of Rama Raya.

The zeal displayed by Tatacharya in the cause of
Vaishnavism naturally enraged the Saivas and disputes
arose among the Saiva and Vaishnava scholars at the
Vijayanagara court. In one of the controversies* bet-
ween Tatacharya and Appayya Dikshita, the latter
seems to have won the dialectical victory. Another
such controversy took place at Kumbhakonam between
the philosopher, Vijaymdra Tirtha, and a famous Vira
Saiva Guru of that Matha in which the latter lost and
had to hand over the mutt to Vijaymdra in accordance
with the previous arrangements. Vijaymdra Tirtha in
his several discussions with Appaya Dikshita had refuted
the Saiva arguments. Such was the antagonism that pre-
vailed between the two sects especially in the Tamil
country ; and Krishnappa Nayaka's attitude at Chidam-
baram can be reckoned only as representing the spirit
of the times.

Venkata I also favoured the cult of Siva for he
partronised Appayya Dikshita and it was he who was
responsible for his work on Aiankara known as Kuvar
laydnamla. Venkata had also distributed offerings to
the Saiva mendicants in the temple of Chidambaram.
His plate of the year 1596 contains a large number of
mythological figures of both Vishnu and Siva. In spite
of this eclecticism of Venkata, one cannot doubt the
great favour enjoyed by Vaishnavism and its successful
extension during his reign.

However, the whole Empire was not Vaishnava.
The Nayakas of Vellore remained faithful to Siva,

— 128 —

Tirumola Tatacharya. The most revered
teacher and scholar at his (Venkata's) court
was undoubtedly the Tatacharya of tradition.
His full name was Ettur Kumara Tirumala
Tatacharya. He was also known as Lakshmi-
Kumara and Kotikanyadana, evidently sug-
gesting the countless virgins he had given
away in marriage to learned Brahmans. In
one record, he is called Venkataraya Tata-
charya, the Tatacharya whom king Venkata
revered. Several inscriptions attest to his
great influence at Venkata's court. He was
the 'royal guru and officiated at the king's
coronation. The king, in the excess of his
admiration, is said to have offered him his
whole kingdom. He was the manager of the
Vaishnava temples at Kanchi, where a number
of inscriptions mentioning him have been found
on the walls of the Arujala Perumal temple.
In 1570 A. D. he got the vimana at Tirupati
gilded. He weighed himself against gold and
silver and used all th^t wealth in the service
of God Varadaraja of Kanchi in erecting the
Kalyanakoti Vimana in gold for the Goddess

Chinna Bom ma Nayaka being raised to fame by Appayya
Dlkshita, Lingama Nayaka, his successor, was also
engaged in establishing the Linga of Siva according to
the Vilpaka grant of Venkata. The Nayaks of Ikkeri
had titles which mean the establishes of the pure
Advaita doctrine and devotion to the faith of Siva and
the guru. They had even converted some Jainas to the
Saiva creed.

— 129 —

Lakshmi in that famous temple. His gifts
of vehicles for the temples, jewels for the
deities, and agraharas for Brahmans, and his
digging of the tank, called Tatasamudram
-after himself, are mentioned in one epigraph
in glowing terms. The Kalyanak6ti-Vimana
was finished about 1614 A. D., and was evi-
dently built in emulation of the Punyakoti-
Vimana set up by King Krishnadeva Raya.
The latter was repaired by Tatacharya and
regilded by him as it had decayed. There is
also a record registering the Hanumad-Vim-
xuti, a poem of 20 verses composed by him in
honour of God Hanuman, whose image he set
up in the temple on the bank of Tatasamud-
ram tank, now known familiarly as the
Ayyankulam, dug by him. According to
an inscription on the bund of the Tenneri
Tank, Chingleput District, it seems to have
been dug by Tatacharya. He is probably
identical with the Tatarya, mentioned in a
record dated in 1590 A. D. as the grandson of
Ettur Tatarya and son of Srinivasa. This
record registers the grant of a village called
Venkatesapura in his favour. His forbears
had been connected with the spread of Sri
Vaishnavism; and the family claimed descent
from Srissilanatha, the uncle of the great
reformer, Sri Ramanuja. He is called, in the
Dalavai-Agraharam grant, as " the ornament

17

— 130 —

of the wise." UA well-known philosophical
work of his is Satvikabrahma-Vidya-Vilasa.
A work of the same name in Kannada by
Ranga Raja, a Sri Vaishnava poet who lived
at the court of Chikka Deva Raja, is known.
(See R. Narasimhacharya,* Karnat aka-Kavi-
charite, II, 449—50). It is probably based on
Tatacharya's work. He also wrote a work
called Panduranga-mahatmya devoted to the
Vittala temple at Pandharpur in the present
Bombay Presidency. This work, however,
should be distinguished from the Telugu work
of the same name, the author of which was
Tenali Ramakrishnakavi referred to below.
The influence of Tatacharya was evidently
felt even by the Jesuit Fathers at the couit
of Venkata. One of these, Father Coutinho,
seems to have entirely misunderstood the
great teacher," (Pp. 2223-2225 of the Mysore
Gazetteer, (New Edition) Vol. II, Part III).

From inscriptions we know that Tata-
charya's dates range from Saka 1496 (1574 —
75 A. D.) to Saka 1552 (1630 A. D.). Two of
his ancestors had obtained the favour of king
Virupaksha II and lived at his court, accord-
ing to the Prapannamrtam.

CHAPTER IV

The Rule of Krishnappa Nayaka— (continued)

The death of the Vijayanagara Emperor,
Venkata I, in 1614 A. D. led to a tragic civil
war between the feudal adherents of the
legal claimant to the throne headed by
Yachama Nayaka, and the supporters of the
putative son of Venkata headed by the
infamous Jagga Raya. One of the allies of
Jagga Raya was Krishnappa Nayaka of
Gingee, who, with Muthu Virappa Nayaka of
Madura, espoused the wrong cause and suf-
fered in the end/"

* We have read that about 1586 A. D. Krishnappa
Nayaka, the Nayak of Gingee, appears to have rebelled
against Venkata I. Troops were marched against him
under one Venkata, a brother of Ankabhupala, the
Kalahasti chief, and he was brought a prisoner, probab-
ly to Penukonda, and there confined ; and Venkata was
evidently put in charge of it. Raghunatha Nayak of
Tanjore secured his release, and the grateful Krish-
nappa offered his daughter in marriage to Raghunatha.
Krishnappa was evidently a wise ruler, and kept his
capital Gingee, in an excellent condition. The Jesuit
letters speak highly of its strength and wealth and refer
to it as the "Troy of the East". He founded a town
near Porto Novo, called Krishnapatam after himself.
Among his subordinates were Lingama Nayaka of
Vellore; the Nayaka of Tiruvati, near Panruti in the
South Arcot district; and the Solaga, who figures in
the BagJiunathabhyudayam and the Sahityaratnakara.
About 1600 he refused to pay the customary tribute
and Venkata I was about to send an army against
him, when the news of his insanity which was, how-
ever, a pretence, prevented the Raya from taking such
a step. Krishnappa sent an embassy in 1604 to Ven-

— 132 —

kata; but nothing evidently came of it; and war was
declared in 1607 ; and Yachama Nayak, the Velugoti
chief, was probably in command of the forces, as the
Velii(jotivari — Vamsavali states that he captured Gingee
in the reign of Venkata I. Krishnappa was taken
prisoner and Venkata advanced from Vellore and
obtained his submission in person.

About 1603, Lingama Nayaka, son of Chinna Bom-
ma Nayaka of Vellore, rebelled. He was loyal up to
1601, when, at his request, the Vilapaka grant was
made. Lingama appears to have chafed at his depend-
ence on the Nayak of Gingee and even on Venkata
himself. He had amassed immense wealth and had
the fort at Vellore, which, even then, was reputed to be
one of the strongest and most beautiful of its kind
known in Southern India. Venkata sent out his Dala-
vay, who was evidently Da mar la Chenna of the Kala-
hasti family. He advanced rapidly to attack and storm
the fort ; but ho was early opposed on the way at
a place called Munnali (or Minnal) by Lingama's
forces which he defeated. He then pushed on with a
view to reach Vellore unexpectedly at the dawn of the
following day. But his forces lagged behind; and the
advance storming party met with a warm fire from
the defenders. Chenna had to retreat; but, undaunted,
he again invested the fortress, despite the prevailing
rains. The siege dragged on for a couple of months ;
and at the end, Lingama was eventually taken prison-
er by a stratagem, almost at the very gates of his
fortress. Negotiations began with a view to induce
Chenna to abandon even the siege operations. But the
twenty lakhs that were offered to him would not tempt
him. He sent word to Venkata that this was the
time to fill his coffers and annex this strongly fortified
town. Venkata hastened to the spot in January, 1604,
with a large army and a number of camp followers
and elephants. Lingama received him with due humil-
ity, but his sons still kept up a continuous fire and
endeavoured their utmost to prevent Venkata from
entering the city. But all was of no use. Vellore at
last surrendered and Venkata Raya and his queen
took up their residence "in the marble palace of
Lingama Nayaka adorned with gold and precious
stones."

— 133 —

Though Venkata had six wives, he had
no issue by any one of them. The senior
consort, Vayyambika, anxious to secure the
rule for herself, contrived, according to Barra-
das, to appear as having become enceinte and
given birth to a male child, which was in
reality, a child born to a Brahman woman of
the palace. Venkata I was evidently un-
aware of this fraud at that time, and accepted
the child as his own for " the love he bore the
queen ", and even made the child the crown
prince. But before his death, he had changed
his mind and nominated his nephew as his
successor.

The nephew who was called Sri Ranga
was very weak and unfit to rule and failed to
justify his choice. Barradas distinctly states
that the new king displeased three of his
great nobles, who had been secretly plotting
with Jagga Raya and who with the help of
other allies forced the Raya to surrender and
crowned his own nephew, the putative prince.
All the nobles and feudatories of the empire

Vellore itself became a second royal residence
from about 1606. This fact is mentioned in the Rama-
rfijyajnu. though not registered in contemporary in-
scriptions. Several Jesuit letters, however, confirm this
statement of the Rawardjiyamn. Evidently it was
not treated as the formal capital of the empire, though
used as a royal residence by Venkata I. Hence the
sobriquet it still enjoys as Rtiya-Veluru, i.e., the Vellore
of the Raya (i.e, Venkata I), who first took up his
residence in it.

— 134 —

rendered homage to the new ruler, except
Yachama Nayaka, the leader of the loyalists,
who refused to acknowledge the usurper and
courted a war. Yachama Nayaka, was the
chief of Venkatagiri * ; and he stood firmly by
the side of Sri Ranga. He succeeded in
securing one of the sons of Sri Ranga, by a
curious device through the washerman of the
palace. According to the Ramarajyamu,
the Sdhityaratndkara and the Raghundthti-
byudhayam, the rescued boy was called Rama.
The barbarous action of Jagga Raya in slay-
ing the king and the royal family, caused a
serious reaction, and many deserted him and
joined Yachama Nayak. A fierce battle took
place between Jagga Raya and the allies at

* Yachama Nayak was of the twentieth genera-
tion of the Velugoti family. According to *A Family
History of Venkatagiri Rajas' by Alladi Jaganatha
Sastri, (1922) he was famous for two military achieve-
ments— one, in a battle of 1602 at Uttara Mallur, when
he put to flight a number of enemies and the second in
•another fight when he espoused the cause of his Vijaya-
nagar protege. Yachama Nayak would not side Jagga
Raya, but helped in the escape of a prince of the royal
family, all of whom were imprisoned by Jagga Raya ; the
boy was 12 years of age, and was smuggled in a bundle
of soiled linen. This boy was later on acclaimed
emperor ; and Yachama took the crown and royal
ornaments of his father as booty from Jagga Raya's
camp. The description given by Kalahasti Damarla
Vengala Bhiipala, in his Telugu work, " Bahuld&va-
cliaritram" bears ample testimony to the military and
victorious career of Yacha Sura and to many other
victories at Uttara Mallur, Chingleput, Palayamkottai,
Madura, Gingee and Trichinopoly.

— 135 — _

Toppur (near the Grand Anicut) in 1617 A. D.
where Jagga Raya had fled with his putative
nephew. Rama Deva II, the only surviving
son of Sri Ranga, was then proclaimed king.*

* Venkata had two of his young nephews, the sons
of his brother Rama, the viceroy at Srirangapatnam
brought up at his court and near his person. When
his brother Rama, the viceroy died, Venkata sent the
elder of his two sons, to succeed his father in the vice-
royalty and kept the younger, called Ranga or Sriranga,
with him. Venkata seems also to have early designed
him for the succession to himself and brought him up
virtually as his heir — presumptive; even giving him the
title of Chikkaraya, which, as it; was understood at the
time, meant the heir-presumptive. One of his queens,
however, who remained childless, and was believed to be
so even by Venkata himself, apparently cherished other
ambitions and produced a baby, which she claimed to
be her own child, and which she brought up in the
palace as her son, without Venkata doing anything to
prevent the course, with the result that she was
strengthened in the belief that she had the countenance
of the Emperor, in regard to the presumptive claim of
this putative boy to the throne. On his death-bed,
however, Venkata, notwithstanding the protests —
whether sincere or not, we are not certain — of Prince
Ranga, his nephew, nominated him as his successor and
thus brought about a conflagration, which well nigh
destroyed the Empire completely.

The queen who claimed to have a son, belonged to
the powerfu1 family of the Gobburi chiefs ; and her
brother, Jagga Raya, was, perhaps also in consequence
of his relationship to the Raya, the most powerful noble-
man^ of the Empire, and, possessed of the largest re-
sources in the state, was next only to the Emperor. He
probably found it would be more advantageous to him-
self, and would meet the needs of his own ambition
better, if the putative boy-nephew of his, were placed on
the throne instead of Ranga, who had received already
some training as prince and was said to possess a mind
of his own and expected to take his own line in the
government of the Empire. Immediately after the

— 136 —

installation of Ranga, Jagga Raya started a movement,
trying to enlist the nobles of the Empire on his side,
as many as was possible.

This attempt to set aside the succession of Ranga,
gradually developed to the extent of a great many of
the feudatories of rank in the Empire joining Jagga,
and left the new Emperor Ranga without the help of
chieftains of rank, with the exception of one doughty
champion of his obviously forlorn cause in Velugoti
Yachama Nayaka, the real founder of the family of
Venkatagiri.

Jagga Raya was able gradually to surround the
palace and set his own guards over the new Rayat
making him entirely powerless in the administration
and later actually imprisoning him in one of his palaces
under his own guard ; he then proclaimed his own nep-
hew to be the rightful Emperor, instead of Ranga who
had ascended the throne. This was opposed single-hand-
ed by Yachama Nayaka, who gradually developed his
resources and strengthened his party by gaining a few
allies ; thus began the great war of succession in Vijaya-
nagar. It took two years of confusion and anarchy in
the land before the fateful struggle could come to a final
decision. It was the massacre of the royal family that
precipitated the war, Jagga Raya having ordered the
wholesale murder, in cold blood, of Ranga and all his
family who were practically his prisoners. Before the
day appointed for the purpose, Yachama Nayaka had,
however, managed cleverly to secure the possession of
Ranga's second son, by name Rama, who was about ten
or twelve years of age — the elder brother being too grown
up for the purpose of concealment — as the arrangement
was that a washerman was to smuggle the boy out of
the fort in his bundle of soiled linen. After a number
of skirmishes, the war was ultimately decided at the
fateful and decisive battle of Toppur, the village now
being called Tohur and situated quite close to the Grand
Anicut on the southern bank of the Kaveri. Among the
principal governors of the empire, the Nayaka of Tan-
jore was the only one that remained loyal, all the other
Nayaks having joined the side of Jagga Raya. The
battle went against Jagga Raya, who also fell in the field ;
and this young prince Rama was installed as Emperor by

— 137 —

The great civil war of Vijayanagara
lasted from 1614 to 1617 and caused a con-
siderable dislocation. The short-lived rule
of Ranga II, son of the brother of Venkata,
has not got much interest for us. Queyroz
tells us that " he was a prudent man" ; and he
was, indeed, at first anxious to renounce his
rights and retire into peaceful obscurity and
not become the cause of bloodshed which, he
foresaw, was bound to ensue after the death
of Venkata. Ranga had spent time before
his enthronement in Tanjore, where he had
made the acquaintance of several Veljalas of
Jaffnapatam and whom he now appointed to
various posts in his service. This act of his
caused much discontent among the old nobles
of the court. It is considered by Manuel
Barradas, who is one of the chief sources of
our information and was the Provincial of the

Raghunatha Nayaka of Tanjore at Kumbakonam, where
there is a temple built to God Rama in memorial there-
of. This Rama Ray a, who was a mere boy at the time
of his fateful accession to the throne, ruled over Vijaya-
nagar down to the year 1630, his father Ranga having
hardly been Raya for more than a month after his ac-
cession. When he was installed in due form as the un-
disputed Emperor in 1616 or 1617, he could count upon
the support of Raghunatha Nayaka of Tanjore, who offi-
ciated at his accession, and the loyal chieftain, Yachama
Nayaka, with, perhaps, a few more chiefs of compara-
tively minor rank. All the other feudatories of the
Empire were up in arms, or at least had compromised
themselves by taking up arms against him, and it was
a question of almost conquering the Empire over again,
before it could be brought into effective loyalty to him.

18

— 138 —

Jesuit Province of Malabar and whose account
was published by R. Sewell in his 4 Forgotten
Empire ', Chapter XVII,* that Ranga compell-
ed some of the captains of his army to leave
the fortress (probably Vellore) and kept others
by his side ; and it was this action that is held
to have precipitated the rebellion of Jagga
Raya, who was one of the three chiefs who did
not pay homage to him at the time of his ac-
cession. According to Barradas, he could put
20,000 men into the field and had a revenue of
600,000 cruzados. He was assisted by Timma
Naique who had territories yielding 400,000
cruzados of revenue and kept an army of 12,000
men. The third of the chief conspirators was
Macaraju (Makaraja), who had a revenue of
200,000 cruzados and could muster in the field
6,000 men and who has been identified with one
of the Karvetinagar chiefs by Mr. H. Krishna
Sastri.** These three chiefs spread the rum-
our that the new emperor Ranga did not
belong at all to the Aravidu family, but had
been fraudulently imposed on the kingdom.
They first concealed their disaffection till the
Raya had openly alienated the three prominent
captains of the kingdom, namely, the Dalavay,

* From letter dated Cochin, December 12, 1616 A.D.
and found in the National Archives at Lisbon.

** H. Krishna Sastri's * The Third Vijayanagara
Dynasty,' : Archaeological Survey of India Report for
1911—1912, p. 188, note 3).

— 139 —

the Minister and one Narapa Razu, who
was a brother of the widow of the late king.
There were also other nobles, besides these six,
involved in the conspiracy. When their plot
had matured, Jagga, Timma and Maka cont-
rived to enter the fort with large bodies of
armed men. Jagga Ray a left 1,000 men at
the first gate and another body of 1,000 at the
second gate, while the Dalavay seized two
other gates on the other side of the fort. He
then compelled Ranga to make a promise to
surrender and pledged his word to him that
he would do him no ill. Soon Ranga left
the tower in which he was staying, with his
wife and children, as Jaggaraya insisted that
his nephew must be crowned king, he being the
son of the late monarch.

According to the RaghundthC&hyudayam,
Jagga Raya's rebellion took place after the
new emperor had ruled for some time, perhaps
about a month or more. The crowning of
the usurper by Jagga Raya probably took
place in the fort of Vellore. We are told that
Jagga Raya found a great quantity of jewels
and precious stones in the palace ; but his
action is indicative of his political talents.
He first attempted to reconcile the deposed
monarch to his new position because, accord-
ing to Queyroz, he gave half the imperial re-
venue to him and treated him with great con-

— 140 —

sideration. Yachama Nayak was the only
one of the chiefs at the capital, who refused
to join Jagga Raya. He was known by the
names of Pedda Yachama Naidu and Yacha
Surudu. His brother-in-law as noted above,
dedicated to him the poem, Bahuldsva-
charitram, from which we gather details
about him. Yachama Nayak now took the
field with his army numbering about 8,000
soldiers, in spite of all persuasions on the part
of Jagga. He attempted to obtain access to
the imprisoned emperor and, by means of a
contrivance, got hold of the second son of the
latter, aged about twelve years, secreting and
conveying him in a bundle of washerman's
cloths. The above mentioned Jesuit account
of the rescued prince Rama, who later on was
placed on the throne after the civil war which
ended in a complete victory for Yachama and
his ally, is confirmed by the RCuuarajiymmi,
by the Sahityaratnakara* and by the Rayhu-
nathCiWnjudayain. Jagga Raya was greatly
depressed by the escape of this prince ; and as
a consequence, he doubled the guard set over
the deposed emperor and even subjected him
to partial starvation. But soon there arose
numerous defections from his camp to Yacha-
ma Nayaka's side. Failing in all his attempts

* This work mentions Yacharna Nayak as Yacha
Bhupati and Yacha Mahipa (Canto XIII, Slokas 76
and 78).

— 141 —

at i escape, the unfortunate emperor was killed
by his captors. There are different accounts
of his end which was accompanied by the
slaying of his elder son and even of his little
daughter, mainly through the instrumentality
of China Oba Raya, the younger brother of
Jagga.* A letter from the Portuguese Vice-
roy of Goa to King Philip III, dated December
31, 1614, announces the fact of the regicide
and this might have taken place a short time
before, being confirmed by epigraphic testi-
mony.

After the murder of Ranga and his family,
confusion intensified everywhere ; and, accord-
ing to the testimony of Barradas, many of
the remaining loyal chiefs went over to
the side of Yachama. Jagga'.=i army was
thoroughly defeated, the royal insignia were
taken from him .and the prince (second son of
Ranga), who had been already rescued from
his hands, was proclaimed as the rightful king.
Jagga and his partisans were forced to take
refuge in the forest. The Baliuldsvacharit-
ram mentions the younger brother of Yacha-
ma and his brother-in-law Chenna and says
that the latter fought with the Nayal

* According to Barradas, the poor
own hand beheaded his wife and his littl,
then killed himself by falling upon his s
son killed his wife in a similar manner,
end to his own life.

— 142 —

Madura, who was persuaded to join Jagga
after his defeat. Chenna was the captain-
general of the army of the loyalists, who now
requested the Nayak of Tanjore to take up
the cause of the rightful prince Rama. After
some negotiations, in the course of which
Yachama Nayak proceeded on his way to
Tanjore to get the assistance of Raghunatha,
we learn from the Raghundthabhyudayam
that the traitors to the empire had effected
a junction with the rulers of Tundira (Gingee)
and Pandya (Madura) and with their armies
were hunting for the late emperor's surviving
son to put him to death.

The Sdliityaratndkara further says that
the Parasikas (Portuguese?) were allied with
the Nayak of Madura in favour of the nep-
hew of Jagga Raya. Father Heras denies
that the Portuguese joined the war at all on
the ground that if they had done so, toth
Barradas and the Viceroy of Goa, would have
mentioned it. Perhaps, the Parasikas might
have merely meant a body of Mussalman sol-
diers. Barradas records towards the end
of his account which was, however, not pub-
lished by Sewell, an actual agreement of this
body with the party of the young king. The
particular war to which this has reference
is doubtful.

— 143 —

Raghunatha, the loyal Nayak of Tan-
jore, who was a bosom friend of Ranga II
and had helped him on previous occasions,
immediately joined the party of the loyalists
and proceeded to Kumbakonam to effect a
junction with the legitimate ruler and to
celebrate his coronation at that holy place on
the Kaveri. Raghunatha then entrusted his
kingdom to the charge of his famous minister,
G6vinda Dikshita, and took a solemn vo\v to
proceed against the treacherous Pandya and
his allies (i.e., Muthuvirappa Nayak, Jagga
Raya and others.) The Nayak of Gingee,
Krishnappa, was one of the allies of Jagga
Raya. His name, however, is not mentioned
by Barradas ; but both the Raghundthdbhyu-
dayam and the Bahuldsvacharitram mention
this piece of information.

Thus the three great Nayaks of the Tamil
country were involved in this momentous
civil war, which commenced towards the end
of 1614 or in the beginning of 1615 and lasted
up to the end of 1616, since Barradas, writing
at the end of 1616, distinctly says that " the
war was continued these two years." From
the beginning, the legitimist party gradually
gained strength and the Nayak of Madura
cut the great dam across the Kaveri in
order to prevent the enemy from advancing

— 144 —

further south.* Jagga Raya was wandering
with his forces near Srirangam when this
action was done. Barradas states that at the
end of 1616, the Nayak of Tanjore, though not
so powerful and resourceful as the Madura
Nayak, was " with the aid of the young king
setting the upper hand " and the legitimists
had assembled in large numbers in the open
plains round Trichinopoly. Raghunatha Na-
yak marched with his army to Toppur (or
Tohur), situated on the southern bank of the
Kaveri about two miles west of the great
anicut. He first encamped at the village of
Palamaneri ** and prepared for battle and on
the next morning gave fight to the enemy,
after arranging his cavalry in semicircular
formation. " The troops of the Pandya (the
Nayak of Madura) could not stand the attack,
broke and fled from the field." Then Jagga
Raya became enraged with fury on seeing
the defeat of his ally and advanced against
Raghunatha of Tanjore. The sight of the

* The STtkityaralnOkara (Canto XIII, 78 and 83) says
that some-one should have broken the dam at the insti-
gation of Jagga Raya. Ramabhadramba, the authoress
of the Rai/hunathabhijiidayanii distinctly says that the
dam should have been cut up by the rulers of the west.
(RaghunathdbJiyudayatn, Canto IX, 26.)

** The RayhMiathtibliyudayam of Vijayaraghava fixes
the date of this encampment in the cyclic year Nala,
month Ashada, Suddha Panchami — August 1616. There
was probably an interval before the actual battle took
place.

- 145 —

traitor Jagga Raya advancing to attack him
in person, made Raghunatha furious. The
infantry of the legitimists, checked Jagga
Raya's advance. A bloody fight ensued.
In the course of the struggle, Jagga Raya and
some of his relatives* and attendants were
killed by the spears of the Tanjore infantry.
Jagga Raya's death was the signal for a gene-
ral flight of the rebel army. Krishnappa
Nayak of Gingee also fled from the battle-
field, " making himself ridiculous in the eyes
of his officers." * The Madura Nayak was
one of the last to abandon his post and fought
on till many of the important officers under
him had fled. Then he began to grow anxious
for his personal safety and fled from the field
for the distance of a league, but was captured
by the soldiers of Raghunatha Nayak and
brought before him. Raghunatha pardoned
his rival of Madura, " gaining great glory by
the act.1' Then he ordered a pillar of victory
to be erected on the banks of the KaverL
The battle of Toppur was fought between
December 1616 when Barradas finished his
account and November 1617 which is the date
of Father Rubino's letter, mentioning Jagga
Raya's death, some months before ; probably
it took place in the first half of 1617. Jagga
Raya's brother, by name Yatiraja, now headed

* See the RayhunatMbhyudayam.

19

— 146 —

the rebel party, joined the Nayak of Gingee
and others and prepared again to offer battle
to Raghunatha. The Tanjore Nayak quickly
despatched an army under one of his gene-
rals to attack the Gingee territory and the
fortresses in it. This 'army quickly captured
Bhuvanagiri, a few miles to the north-west

of Chidambaram, on the banks of the Vellar

«»

and also some other fortresses in the neigh-
bourhood. He then encountered the army
of Krishnappa Nayaka in battle and obtained
a great victory. Yatiraja continued to resist
the legitimate emperor for some time longer ;
and according to the Bahulasvacharitam,
Yachama Nayak, the protector of the emperor,
indeed won a victory over Yatiraja in the
neighbourhood of Palayamk&ttai in the Chi-
dambaram Taluk of the South Arcot district.
This shows that the campaigns of 1617, after
the death of Jagga Raya were mainly fought
in the region subject to the Gingee Nayak.
A reconciliation was effected between Raghu-
natha and the Madura Nayak who offered
one of his daughters in marriage to the former,
according to the Raghunathabhyudayam of
Vijayaraghava. The drama, Rayhunatha-
vilasa Natakam, tells us of the fact that the
Nayaks of Madura and Tanjore effected a
family union and subsequently recognised the
son of the murdered Sriranga as the rightful

— 147 —

emperor. The Nayak of Gingee probably
presented his homage to the new ruler about
the same time ; for he is said to have ruled
over his state in complete peace after these
events. Yatiraja, the rebel brother of Jagga
Raya, himself seems to have submitted to the
legitimate king and ruled over a petty princi-
pality in the neighbourhood of Pulicat.*

Effect of the civil war on the strength of the
Empire and on the position of the Nayaks

" This war was extremely disastrous for
the country. Naturally three years of conti-
nuous fighting tended to impoverish the whole
kingdom. Both the Portuguese and English
records, which we shall quote later on, speak
of the miserable state of agriculture and the
meagre efforts of trade. Besides, the famous
thiefs of the forests between Madura and

* Yatiraja figured to a prominent degree in the
events of Carnatic in the subsequent decades. He took
up his brother's cause and rose to prominence as the
chief of the territories that took in Pulicat and Arma-
gaon which Yachama tried to retain effectively in his
own hands. Gradually King Rama and Yachama,
his guardian, consolidated their position, though we hear
of wars in the neighbourhood of Pulicat between Yacha-
ma Nayak and Oobburi Yatiraja in 1622. As a measure
of reconciling himself with Yatiraja, King Rama marri-
ed a daughter of his who is described as the second wife
of the Raya. Yatiraja had plenty of trouble with the
European powers, settled on the coast of his dominions,
•w>., the Datch at Pulicat and the Portuguese at San
Thome.

— 148 —

the Marava country became very bold when
they saw the rulers of the land engaged in
waging war among themselves. The devast-
ations in the Madura country were as cala-
mitous as the war itself. They even dared
to maraud the villages round the capital
itself. A Jesuit letter informs us that it was
very dangerous to go from place to place, for
the public roads were so infested with the
miscreants that everybody was afraid of
losing not only their fortunes, but' their very
lives." (Journal of Indian History, Vol. V ;
page 186).

Yachama Nayaka, the real hero of this
civil war, deserved the title of the ' Father *
of his country and the 'Saviour' of the em-
pire. According the collection of stray verses
called Chatupadya Ratnakaram, " a crore of
Jagga Raya, 70 crores of Maka Raja's father
and one lakh and sixteen of Ravilla Venka's
put together, would not be a match for Yacha,
who bore the title of Ibbaraganda just as
any number of goats joining together would
not be a match for the tiger." We do not
also hear much of Yachama Nayak subsequent
to this war, except that Venkatagiri, the head-
quarters station of the family, was put into
the possession of Yachama on the successful
execution of this mission. Yachama was the
son of Kasturi Rangappa and first ruled over

— 149 —

Perimidi with his capital at Madurantakam.
He is famous for his two military achieve-
ments, viz., the battle of Uttaramallur in 1602
in which he defeated Pedda Nayudu, with the
help of his younger brother, Sarvagna Singa-
ma Naidu; and the battle of Toppur. He
also distinguished himself by victories in
Chingleput, Palayamkottai, Gingee and Tri-
chinopoly.

When Krishnappa Nayaka rebelled in
the early part of the reign of Venkata I in
1604, he was put into prison by the latter.
Then Raghunatha who was at that time the
crown prince of Tanjore, marched to Penu-
konda to help the Emperor against a Muham-
madan invasions and, in return for his help,
secured the release a Krishnappa Nayaka.
As a mark of gratitude for his kind interven-
tion, Krishnappa Nayaka gave one of his
daughters in marriage to Raghunatha. In
spite of the service thus rendered to him by
Raghunatha, Krishnappa Nayaka allied him-
self with Jagga Raya and the rebel party on
the outbreak of the civil war of succession.
For this act of ingratitude to his ally and to
his overlord, Krishnappa met with much
misfortune that he fully deserved.

We have no definite information as to
whether Krishnappa Nayak of Gingee render-

— 150 — "

ed homage to the new Emperor, Rama Deva.
An inscription* acknowledges the overlord-
ship of Rama Deva to be in the cyclic year
1644 A. D. We can assume that Krishnappa
Nayaka and, later, his son rendered homage
to Rama Deva who was established on the
throne by the efforts of Raghunatha Nayaka.

The Later Nayaks of Gingee

The successors of Krishnappa Nayak
were insignificant. According to the Macken-
zie Mss. we hear of two Nayaks by name
Varadappa Nayak and Appayya Nayak who
were merely noted for their imbecility. An
inscription of Tirupparankundram, in Madura
district, refers to Varadappa Nayaka of Gin-
gee who gave some land and a golden plan-
quin (Amdala) to God Kumaraswami on his
wa^> back from Sethu Rameswaram whither
he had gone on pilgrimage. There is another
inscription in Telugu (860 of 1918) of the same
place referring to the same Nayak. The
date given in the inscriptions is Saka 1593
(A. D. 1670-71). This date cannot be accepted
in view of the fact that the Muhammadans
occupied Gingee some years before this
event, about 1660 A. D. Probably the Nayak

* Page 172, Vol. I, Rangachari — Inscriptions of the
Madras Presidency, No. 359 of Vala (Bala Venkatapathy
Naicken, son or descendant of Vala Krishnappa Nay akan
dated Saka 1386- A. D. 1464.

— 151 —

enjoyed merely the nominal title. The last
of the Nayaks, i.e., Appa Nayak, has been de-
scribed as weak and extremely vicious and as
one who was responsible for the easy conquest
of Gingee by the Muhammadans. " Taylor's
Catalogue Raisonnee of Mss. (Vol. Ill, page
31) " * refers to the Chenji Rajakkal Kaifaiyat
which conciously endeavoured to glorify the
heroism of the last of the rulers of Gingee
who headed his troops in person and when he
found himself deserted by them, rode on alone
and unsupported into the ranks of the enemy,
dealing destruction around him until he was
overpowered and slain. The liberality of the
Nayak and his wife is also lauded in the
Kaifkiyat.

* XI. Historical, 2. No. 2293. Chenji Rajakkal
Kaifaiyat. Old No. 232, C. M. 98, Kings of Gingee.

44 This is a Ms. of twenty-eight palm leaves, damaged
by worms. It is written in Tamil verse of an easy
kind. Its c.hief object is to celebrate the heroism of the
last of the rajas of Gingee, of the dynasty, proceeding
from the original viceroy from Vijayanagaram. The
final defence of the forfc of Gingee was very obstinate.
According to this poem the raja headed his troops in per-
son, and whom he found himself no longer supported by
them, he rode among the Mahomedans, dealing destruc-
tion around him, until overpowered and slain. This
rashness the writer magnifies into extraordinary heroism.

The liberality of the king and his queen, in gifts, is
greatly lauded in this poem."

CHAPTER V

The Musalman Conquest of Gingee.
(1639—59)

The Nayaks of Gingee and Madura had
already played an inglorious but substantial
part in the civil war of 1614-17 against the
loyalists. After Muthu Virappa Nayaka of
Madura, the famous Tirumala Nayaka came
to power. He is held to have begun to
rule, perhaps from 1623 or 1624, though
Virappa died only in 1627 and he became
actual ruler in his own right only in 3627-28.
Tirumala Nayak of Madura asserted his in-
dependence by refusing to pay his tribute to
Sri Ranga III. According to the letter of
Fr. Proenza, dated A. D. 1659, the Nayaks of
Madura had been unpunctual in the payment
of tribute ; and now Tirumala Nayak refused
to pay it altogether having resolved to free
himself entirely from every kind of imperial
control.* Tirumala's policy towards his over-
lord was in the first instance, to humour him
with occasional presents while desisting from

* The ambition of Tirumala was based on the exam-
ple of Raja Udayar of Mysore, who captured Seringa-
patam in 1610 and put an end to the imperial viceroyalty ;
and it was also, in one aspect, a continuation of the
policy of Muthu Virappa who cherished the ambition of
independence against the Empire which became weaker,
as Madura gained in strength.

CHAPTER V

The Musalman Conquest of Gingee.
(1639—59)

The Nayaks of Gingee and Madura had
already played an inglorious but substantial
part in the civil war of 1614-17 against the
loyalists. After Muthu Virappa Nayaka of
Madura, the famous Tirumala Nayaka came
to power. He is held to have begun to
rule, perhaps from 1623 or 1624, though
Virappa died only in 1627 and he became
actual ruler in his own right only in 3627-28.
Tirumala Nayak of Madura asserted his in-
dependence by refusing to pay his tribute to
Sri Ranga III. According to the letter of
Fr. Proenza, dated A. D. 1659, the Nayaks of
Madura had been unpunctual in the payment
of tribute ; and now Tirumala Nayak refused
to pay it altogether having resolved to free
himself entirely from every kind of imperial
control.* Tirumala's policy towards his over-
lord was in the first instance, to humour him
with occasional presents while desisting from

* The ambition of Tirumala was based on the exam-
ple of Raja Udayar of Mysore, who captured Seringa-
patam in 1610 and put an end to the imperial viceroyalty ;
and it was also, in one aspect, a continuation of the
policy of Muthu Virappa who cherished the ambition of
independence against the Empire which became weaker,
as Madura gained in strength.

— 153 —

paying any regular tribute. After his war
with Mysore ancf the invasion of Travancore,
Tirumala naturally turned against the Emper-
or. The subordination of the Madura Nayak
to Venkata at the time of the issue of the
Kuniyur Plates in A. D. 1634 (Ephigraphia
Indica, Vol. Ill : pp. 236 258 and M. E. R. 1891,
p. 9) is plain from the wording; but there
may be another meaning found in the
expression " Srimat-Tirumalendrasya Vig-
naptimanupalayan " which really means, 'in
accordance with the wishes of the prosperous
and eminent ruler Tirumala.' Jesuit evi-
dence says that Tirumala aimed at practical
independence by non-payment of tribute.*

* The policy of the Nayaks of Madura generally,
since the commencement of the new century at any
rate, cannot be regarded as having taken into calcula-
tion the actual political condition of the times. The
empire was struggling for existence during the first
forty years of the century and had barely succeeded in
maintaining its existence by being driven successively
out from one capital on to another. Penukonda had to be
vacated because of the constant harrying of the Muham-
madan invasions, Chandragiri had similarly to be aban-
doned | and early in the reign of Sriranga III, Vellore was
being laid siege to. These changes did not happen in a
short campaign or two, but by persistent effort during a
period of three decades. The absorption of the Chenna-
pattana viceroyalty by Mysore enabled her to make a
stand against the aggressions of Bijapur which were now
under the guidance of a man of genius, Shahji the Maratha.
The whole brunt of the efforts of Golkonda had to be
borne by the empire practically single-handed. If Tiru-
mala had only realized this serious situation of the
Hindus and had the foresight to perceive the political
consequences of the disintegrating movement of which

20

— 154 —

Bijapur Intervention in the Affairs of the
Carnatic

Even early in the reign of Venkatapati
Raya his hold on Penukonda was threatened
by a vigorously aggressive attitude on the part
of Golconda. Raja Udayar of Mysore cap-
tured Seringapatam in 1610 and the Raya was
then in no position to punish him for this
aggressive act. He had to ratify Raja Uda-
yar's possession of Srirangapatnam by a
charter and even allowed him to rule over the
territories that were hitherto under the vice-
roy of Srirangapatnam, in A. D. 1612. This

he had made himself the sponsor, if not the author, he
would certainly have adopted a policy of co-operation
with the empire. The question of Tirumala's loyalty
or disloyalty therefore depends upon the question
whether, in the political conditions of his time, he could
have foreseen the direct results of his action. The
action of his predecessors and their attitude towards the
empire must necessarily have made it impossible for
him to take an impartial view of the situation at the
time. The interests of Mysore and the empire ran to-
gether a great way. (Dr. S. Krishnaswami Ayyangar —
Pp. 118-119 of R. Satyanatha Aiyar's ' History of the
Nayaks of Madura '.)

Indeed we have no positive evidence to prove that
Tirumala prepared for war against his overlord even
from the beginning of his rule. " He was careful to
make himself strong in defence ; even later on he was
not disposed to b3 aggressive." Why he began to
organise the defenc3s of his dominions even at the out-
set of his reign, is not quite clear. His first idea was,
probably, to send occasional presents to the Raya,
instead of any regular tribute. " But he was not allow-
ed to continue the ambiguous relationship for long."

— 155 —

viceroyalty had comprehended the charges of
(1) Srirangapatnam itself, (2) the territories
subjected to Chennapatna, which happened to
be under a governor, Jaggadeva Rayal, and
(3) the so-called Baramahal region of Salem.
The viceroy was also in controlling charge
of the area ruled by the Nayak of Ikkeri and
the frontiers of Srirangapatnam. Raja Uda-
yar could not get effective hold of all these
regions. His grandson, Chamaraja Udayar,
achieved, by steps, the conquest of the Chenna-
patna governorship, without the Baramahals ;
he also made an attempt upon Ikkeri. His
successor brought about a Bijapur invasion
in order to divert the attention of his enemy,
the Nayak of Ikkeri. One of the petty poli-
gars in the neighbourhood of Ikkeri was
Kenga Hanuma of Basavapattana ; and he,
along with a few of his f ellow-poligars, was
set up against Virabhadra Nayak of Ikkeri.
But Virabhadra put- down Kenge Hanuma
and other rebels and dispossessed the former
of his fief. Thereupon Kenge Hanuma went
over to the Bijapur court to solicit the aid of
its Sultan against the Nayak. Already a
similar appeal had been made to Bijapur by
another poligar, Channayya of Nagamangala,
who had been deprived of his fief by Chama-
raja Udayar. Just at this time peace had
been established between the Bijapur Sultan

— 156 —

and the Mughals who had been troubling him ;
and he readily accepted the invitation to
intervene and undertook what may be called
the first Mussalman invasion of Mysore.

The invading army was under the com-
mand of Ranadulla Khan and it reinstated
Kenge Hanuma (A. D. 1638-39). After restor-
ing Kenge Hanuma, the Bijapurians took
possession of the three provinces of Ikkeri,
Sira and Bangalore, the last of which was
under the viceroyalty of the powerful Jaga-
deva Rayal, but had been lately conquered by
Mysore. The Bijapurians next laid siege to
Mysore and Srirangapatnam simultaneously ;
but they encountered a most unexpected and
vigorous resistance ; and the whole campaign
ended in a treaty by which the Bijapurians
took all the country to the north of the
Kaveri, including Bangalore and Sira. Rana-
dulla Khan left Kenge Hanuma in charge of
the territories now acquired by him and re-
turned to Bijapur. Now Virabhadra Nayak
of Ikkeri reported against Kenge Hanuma to
Bijapur, alleging that the latter was disloyal
to the Sultan. Thereupon a commission of in-
quiry was ordered by the Bijapur government
to investigate the matter; and among the
commissioners was Channayya of Naga-
mangala. Kenge Hanuma, however, behaved
in a very treacherous manner towards this

— 157 —

commission, while Kanthiravanarasa of
Mysore was not at all anxious to fulfil his
obligations to Bijapur under the treaty and
continued to give trouble. Ranadulla Khan
was thereupon put to disgrace ; and two of
his successors in command of the invading
armies, the latter of them being Mustafa
Khan, had to march against Srirangapatnam
to punish the Mysore ruler, but were unable
to do anything. A fourth invasion by Abdulla
Khan and Hemaji Pandit was not able to do
much more. Taking advantage of this weak-
ness, of Bijapur, Kanthiravanarasa resumed
the Chennapatna viceroyalty, entered the
Kongu territory and forcibly took possession
of Satyamangalam and thus came into hosti-
lity with the Nayak of Madura. Kanthirava-
narasa was the contemporary of Tirumala
Nayak and was frequently engaged in strug-
gles with him, mainly owing to his encroach-
ments into the Kongu territory.

Throughout the reign of Venkatapathi
Raya, the administration of the Raya was
controlled by the Velugoti brothers of Kala-
hasti, of whom Damarla Venkatadri (or Ven-
katappa as he is called in Dutch records) who
was the chief of Wandiwash, was the most
important. His brother, Aiyappa, resided at
Poonamallee to the west of Madras and ad-
ministered his territory for him, while Venka-

158

tappa remained at the head-quarters of the
Eaya and helped him in the general adminis-
tration of the empire. It was from these
two brothers that the English obtained the
grant of Fort St. George, which, in the Com-
pany's letters, was ascribed to the Great
Nayaka Damarla Venkata. When Venkata-
pathi Raya died in 1642, Sriranga, his nephew,
succeeded ; but the Damarla brothers did not
desire his succession and in combination with
the other governors, created a considerable
amount of discontent. Venkata had apparent-
ly championed some other claimant ; and he
was seized and put in confinement by the
new monarch ; but his kinsmen raised a large
army and hoped to restore him to freedom
44 with the aid of the Muhammadans whom
they were hourly expecting/' or else 44 to ruin
the whole kingdom." Sriranga was a strong-
er man than his predecessor and was bent
upon consolidating the central authority.
Sriranga was not only a pious sovereign, but
one endowed with political insight and vigour.
He tried alternately to establish a control
over the great Nayak chiefs and to use them
against the Muslim enemies. " Though his
efforts were not crowned with success, justice
requires he should be given credit for putting
them forth." His authority was recognised
during a considerable part of his reign over a

•— — J.OV/ """""

large portion of his kingdom ; certainly he was
not a sovereign merely in name.

Sriranga successfully beat off an invasion
of Golconda in 1644 ; and there was no interrup-
tion in the dating of his records down to 1649 ;
though he lost Vellore in 1645. The decade,
1649-59, is barren of inscriptions.

Sriranga ascended the throne towards
the end of 1642. Soon after his accession, the
rulers of Bijapur and Golconda began an in-
vasion of his territories ; and the Jesuit letters
of the times mention the Muhammadan in-
vasions as being the result of Sriranga's deal-
ings with the southern Nayaks. Sriranga had
already invaded the dominions of Tirumala
Nayak, who had entered into an agreement
with his neighbours of Tanjore and Gingee;
and when the Nayak of Tanjore divulged the
schemes of his allies to Sriranga, the latter
turned on Gingee. Tirumala now sought the
help of the Sultan of Golconda, whose invasion
Sriranga succeeded in resisting. When the
Sultan made active preparations to renew
his attack on the Raya, Sriranga entered into
negotiations with the southern Nayaks and
"spent more than a year with the three
Nayaks in the midst of festivities, feasts and
pleasures, during which the Muhaiumadans
quietly achieved the conquest of his domin-
ions. Soon, vain joys gave place to jealousies

— 160 —

and divisions. Rejected again by the Nayaks,
Sriranga established his court in the forests
of Kalians (lying to the north of Tanjore),
where he spent four months, a prey to all
discomforts; his courtiers soon abandoned
him."

Anyhow Sriranga's plans did not unfortun-
ately succeed. He soon lost even his capital,
Vellore, wandered about the country, became
a refugee at the court of Kanthiravanarasa
of Mysore and with the help of the latter re-
covered a portion of his old territories and
defeated the Golconda army which advanced
to an attack.

Sivappa Nayak of Ikkeri (1645 — 60), who
possessed an enormous treasure and an army
of 40 to 50 thousand men, now came to the
help of Sriranga and assisted in the recovery
of Vellore from the Muslims. It was possible
that Sriranga fled to Sivappa Nayak who had
suffered at the hands of Eanadulla Khan and
now advanced against the Muhammadans in
occupation of Vellore. He commenced a
regular blockade of it and soon reduced it to
submission, Sriranga was enabled to return
to Vellore and honoured Sivappa Nayak with
many titles including those of Ramabhana
and Paravarana-Varana. It is also stated in
the Sivatatva Ratnakara that Sriranga pre-
sented Sivappa with the head of his enemy,

— 161 —

which perhaps meant the general of the Gol-
conda forces in charge of Vellore at the time
that it surrendered. Sivappa Nayak is also
said to have subdued some of the recalcitrant
feudatories of the Empire and handed over
their dominions to Sriranga.

Inscriptions dated from 1645-46 to 1649,
signifying the continued rule of Sriranga,
issued not from the recorded capital of Penu-
konda, but his personal residence at Vellore.
It may therefore be assumed that the restor-
ation of Sriranga to Vellore took place shortly
before this period. The Jesuit records say
that Sriranga was victorious against Golconda
on two occasions and that on the second occa-
sion, he was helped by the Mysore army. It
is this second victory that is celebrated in the
Siva Tatra Ratnakara. It is also about this
time that the English at Madras got from Sri-
ranga a confirmation of the charters for their
settlement, and their envoys were received by
him at Vellore. This was after Sriranga had
secured a victory and probably put down the
machinations of Damarla Venkatappa. An
English letter of the time says that Sriranga's
authority was now stronger than ever and
that he had brought all his great lords under
his command, " which hath not been this
forty years before." The Raya's letter to the
English inviting them to confide in his word

21

— 162 —

was dated Arlour (Vellore), 25th September,
1645. His grant to the English, after the visit
of their Agent Greenhill to his court, was
dated October-November, 1645.

A letter of the Madras Council, of 1645
says that Sriranga had by that time brought
his enemies under control and had restored
himself to his original position. The Dutch
governor of Pulicat, writing about a year
before, had said that the Golconda invaders
could not attack Pulicat, finding it well equip-
ped. The Nayak of Gingee who was then in
rebellion against Sriranga, advanced with the
intention of joining the Golconda army,
whereupon the Raya recalled the army of
Krishnappa Nayak who was operating against
the Gingee chief and restored Chinnana, />.,
Mallayya, to favour. Krishnappa fell un-
expectedly on the Moors and completely
routed them, killing their commander and
several other captains. Mallayya was en-
trusted with the task of putting down the
power of the Damarla brothers and of subdu-
ing their forts on the coast.

Mallayya (Mallai alias Chinana Chetty)
had been broker to the Dutch at Pulicat. He
was at first hostile to the English at Madras
and was " apparently an astute man who not
only managed to supersede Venkatadri in the

— 163 —

Pulicat province, but also did good business
as the Indian merchant through whom the
Dutch made their investments on the coast."
Sriranga greatly favoured Mallayya and was
helped by him, probably in securing Dutch
aid in the matter of completely taking posses-
sion of Venkatadris' territories. This was in
1643. The English feared that Mallai who
was assisted by the Dutch with guns and men
and had been appointed the local governor as
well as the 4 Treasurer ' of the Raya and
raised to a position where he 'does in a manner
command all ' would soon " govern all the
seaports even to the very verges of Ceylon."
(Letter from Fort St. George to Bantam, 28th
January, 1643).

When the Golconda troops laid siege to
Pulicat, because the Dutch had joined Sri-
ranga, the English feared that the turn of
Madras would follow. Mallayya had tried to
mollify the Moors with presents, but could
not avert the siege. Fortunately, Sriranga's
troops routed the Golconda forces and pursued
them up to Udayagiri where they gained a
victory (probably the one referred to in the
Jidmardjiyamu and attributed to Sriranga
(September 1644).

Mallayya had later to fight the Dutch and
besieged Pulicat. The siege lasted several

— 164 —

months, after which the besieging troops had
to be withdrawn on account of the Raya hav-
ing to fight enemies elsewhere (beginning of
1646). Mallayya very cleverly recovered his
old position of confidence and influence with
the Dutch who were tired of hostilities and
received him into favour, though, as the
jealous English said, " he was of little use to
them " on account of " the great alteration
and present poverty of those parts ".

Golconda did not take its defeat easily.
Mir Jumla, the minister of Golconda, now
allied himself with Bijapur and even applied
to the Raja of Mysore for assistance ; and in
the Madras records dated January 1646, we
read that Sriranga was definitely attacked by
both Bijapur and Golconda. Mir Jumla took
possession of Udayagiri, which was the capi-
tal of the eastern portion of the kingdom of
the Raya, from Mallayya. The surrender of
Udayagiri depressed Mallayya who was the
governor of that region in succession to
Damarla Venkatappa. We learn that the
Raya fled, leaving the defence operations to
Mallayya who proved treacherous and sur-
rendered " the strongest hold in the kingdom
to Mir Jumla, upon composition for himself
and all his people to go away free." In October
1647, the Company obtained a renewal of the
grant of Madras from Mir Jumla, while the

— 165 —

Eaya had fled from the coast region definitely*
Mir Jumla now marched upon Gingee, having
strengthened himself by an alliance with
Bijapur. Before the walls of Gingee, the
Bijapur troops joined the Golconda forces and
were allowed by the latter to occupy the
place. The Bijapur army took possession of
Gingee and also Tegnapatam nearCuddalore;
and it was now that Sriranga took refuge with
the ruler of Mysore, who was then at war
with Bijapur.

The Bijapur occupation of Gingee and
the coast country near it intensified the
prevailing famine and depression of trade.
Food became dear, cotton goods were difficult
to obtain ; Porto Novo and Pondicherry were
in a manner ruined, while Tegnapatam was
fleeced very much.* Soon afterwards, prob-
ably in 1648, Mir Jumla came to be at war
with Bijapur. This war between Bijapur and
Golconda lasted some years. Bijapur now
captured Penukonda and wanted permission
to march to Gingee through the territory
belonging to Mir Jumla. It was now that
Mir Jumla sought the assistance of Mysore
and even made overtures of friendship to Sri-
ranga. The Bijapur army advanced up to
Vellore, took possession of it and left Sriranga

* See letter from Madras of October 9, 1647.

— 166 —

•stranded, with perhaps Chandragiri for his
capital and a few miles of territory dependent
thereon. This can be regarded as the second
flight of Sriranga from his capital.

Let us revert to a survey of events lead-
ing to the Mussalman penetration to Gingee,
Vellore and the rest of the Carnatic country
down to the first capture of Gingee in 1648.
In the half a century of confusion that inter-
vened between the battle of Toppur and the
death of Shahji in 1664, Mysore did some ser-
vice to the Hindu Empire by resisting the
aggressions of Bijapur, though ultimately the
latter power was able to occupy the districts
of Chitaldrug, Tumkur and Kolar and also
one half of Bangalore. Through all the vicissi-
tudes of the Empire in this epoch, Madura
discharged no such duty either to herself or
to the Empire. In one sense, indeed, Mysore
could claim to have acted as the champion of
the Empire, while Madura had not that credit
or claim. When Sriranga III ascended the
throne of Chandragiri some time about 1642,
the Empire was in a very bad condition and
could barely maintain an unequal struggle
for existence, chiefly through the want of
loyalty of the feudatories of the south, parti-
cularly of the powerful Tirumala Nayak of
Madura. The Raya made, even soon after
his accession, an organised effort to bring

— 167 —

these Nayaks under effective allegiance to
and co-operation with him. In this move of
his, he could let Mysore go on her own path,
as she had so far committed herself to no
open act of disloyalty, but, on the other hand,
by actually occupying the region of the previ-
ous Chennapattana viceroyalty, had put her-
self in the way of the aggressions of Bijapur,
thus rendering a positive service to the
Empire, though only indirectly.

With regard to the aggressions of Gol-
conda, the Empire had to bear the brunt alone
and unaided. Madura which was the only
strong feudatory power, did not perceive this
root danger to the cause of Hindu independ-
ence ; and its non-co-operation and frequent
treachery might be regarded as constituting
one of the primary factors responsible for the
gradual extinction of the Hindu Empire-
This evil was largely due to the attitude of
Tirumala Nayak. Mysore openly threw off
its nominal allegiance to Vijayanagar only in
1646, when it was threatened seriously by
Golconda.

It was now that Shahji, the Maratha gene-
ral of Bijapur, showed himself in his most
important aspect as the ultimate saviour of
the Hindu cause. Along with Ranadulla
Khan, he had attacked the Nayak of Ikkeri

— 168 —

and occupied his capital as well as one half of
his kingdom (1637—38). Two years later, he
once again helped in the defeat of the Nayak,
but also contributed to his subsequent restor-
ation to his principality. It was about this
time also that the Nayak of Sira was defeat-
ed and killed treacherously by Afzal Khan,
one of the Bijapur generals, in the course of
an attempted negotiation. Sira was handed
over to Kenga Hanuma of Basavapatnam, the
sworn enemy of the Nayak of Ikkeri ; while
Kempe Gowda, the chief of Bangalore, was
likewise threatened into submission and
forced to retire to Savandurga, Shahji had
been promised a jagir in these new conquests
of Bijapur and was actually given charge of
Bangalore in 1638. He subdued the Udayar
ruler of Seringapatnam, Kanthirava Narasa-
raja, but arranged to leave him undisturbed in
possession of his territory and fort. He is
also credited, according to the Shiva Bharat,
with winning over the Nayaks of Madura and
Kaveripatam to his side. He distinguished
himself again by an attack on Kenge Hanuma
of Basavapatnam. A most notewortl/achieve-
ment of Shahji at this point of his career was
his attempt at the formation of a confederacy
of the local Nayaks and of several Maratha
and Muslim chiefs in support of the Bijapur in-
vaders against the powerful Nayaks of Ikkeri,

— 169 —

particularly Sivappa, who had indeed restored
and vastly increased the strength of that
state and who showed himself a warm sup-
porter of the cause of the Hindu Empire.
In 1644 and in subsequent years, Shahji con-
trived to earn further honours for himself and
to organize a combination of the Nayaks of
Gingee, Madura and Tanjore against the
opposition of the Raya and against Jagadeva
of Kaveripatnam. When Vellore was invest-
ed by the Bijapur forces, Shahji commanded
the right wing of the army and was given the
charge of the place along with a Muhammadan
colleague, as well as the high titles of Maha-

Shahji contrived to become,

by 1648, the effective governor of all the
Bijapur conquests from the Ghats (hence
called Karnatak Bijapur Balaghat). He ruled
over all these territories from Bangalore, but
sometimes also from Kolar and Dodballapur.

When the great campaign of 1648 was be-
ing waged by Bijapur against Gingee, conse-
quent on its investment by Mir Jumla, the
famous general of Golconda, Shahji found
that the Bijapur troops, instead of helping
Tirumala Nayak of Madura who had repented
of his short-sighted policy and sought an
alliance with them for the defence of the
Gingee Nayakf was actually in league
with the foe. He saw that his Muslim

22

— 170 —

colleague had come to a secret understanding
with the enemy and therefore contrived to
prolong the operations. After the Bijapurians
had acquired Gingee towards the end of 1648,
Shahji became even more powerful than be-
fore. Even during the course of the opera-
tions against the place, Nawab Mustafa Khan,
the Bijapur generalissimo, had begun to fear
that Shahji was helping the enemies and was
even then secretly planning a powerful combin-
ation of the Hindu rulers of the country con-
sisting of the Nayaks of Madura, Tanjore and
Gingee and the chiefs of Mysore, Kaveripat-
nam and Ikkeri, the coalition to be headed by
the Emperor Sriranga and Shahji himself.
There followed shortly afterwards Shahji's im-
prisonment at Bijapur at the instance of his
redoubtable enemy, Mustafa Khan. His re-
lease from prison must have been due in some
measure to the opportune death of his enemy,
Mustafa Khan, and partly to the threatening
attitude of the Mughals who now began a series
of attack^ on the northern frontier of Bijapur.

In the course of the expeditions of the
Khan-i-Khanan (Muzaffar-ud-din) in 1644-45
and of Nawab Mustafa Khan in the years 1646
-48, Shahji had contrived to gain further
honours for himself. The campaign of 1644
had been the outcome of an%lliance between
Bijapur and Sriranga Raya of Vellore who

— 171 —

was opposed by a powerful combination of the
Golconda Sultan and his own ministers and
Nayak feudatories. In the latter campaign
led by the Bijapur general, Mustafa Khan, he
organised a combination of the Nayaks of
Gingee, Madura and Tanjore and also those
of Harpanahalli and Ikkeri against the deter-
mined opposition of Sriranga Raya. He
fought in January 1646 against Jagadeva, the
Raja of Kaveripatnam, and forced him to take
refuge in Krishnadrug and also compelled the
Raya to take to flight. Subsequently, the
Bijapur army annexed a large part of the
Baramahals and proceeded against Vellore,.
under the walls of which a terrible battle was
fought, in which the slaughter on the Hindu
side was very great. In this Shahji com-
manded the right wing of the victorious army.
Then followed an investment of the fort of
Vellore and the submission of the Raya who
paid a large indemnity in gold and gave 150
elephants. Shahji and a Muhammadan coll-
eague were left in charge of the government
of the conquered territories. The Golconda
forces also joined in this campaign.

The campaign against Vellore was the
outcome of events by which Golconda had
contrived to annex a good part of the Carnatic
on the eastern side, from Masulipatam on the
coast down to the neighbourhood of Madras.

— 172 —

The contracted power of the Raya of Vellore
was thus hemmed in on both sides by its two
old enemies, Bijapur and Golconda. Udayagiri
was captured by the Golconda forces in 1646-
The internal dissensions that now beset the
disintegrating kingdom of the Raya were
worsened by the infectious treachery of the
brothers, Damarla Venkatadri and Ayyappa,
who called in the aid of Golconda ; and this
treachery was copied by Tirumala Nayak of
Madura, who seduced the Nayaks of Tanjore
and Gingee over to his side. Though the
Nayak of Tanjore went back to his loyalty,
Tirumala Nayak ultimately brought about the
break-up of the Vijayanagar Empire by his
continued treachery. By 1645, Mir Jumla, the
general of the Golconda forces, had success-
fully penetrated the country as far as Vellore,
advancing by way of Ongole, Nellore and
Chittoor. At the same time, the Bijapur forces
also converged on Vellore. The combined
forces first laid seige to Vellore about the
beginning of 1645 A, D. Sriranga Raya had
to flee for his life, leaving the defence to one
Mallayya who proved treacherous and sur-
rendered to the forces of Mir Jumla, upon
composition for himself and all his people.
Sriranga then sought the help of Sivappa
Nayak of Ikkeri ; and the latter took advant-
age of the opportunity to advance against

— 173 —

Vellore and to reduce it to submission. The
restoration of Sriranga by Sivappa Nayak
was a great service to the Hindu cause. It
led to Sriranga granting him the titles of
Ramabhana and Paravarana Varana, (Ta-
ranga xiv, Kallola vii, of Keladi Basava's Siva
Tattva Batnakara). We have a number of
inscriptions testifying to the continuous and
effective rule of Sriranga from 1645-1646 to
1649 ; and this would lead to the inference that
Sriranga was then in undisputed occupation
of the interior country, at least round Vellore.

In 1648, there was waged the great cam-
paign against Gingee which had been invested
by Mir Jumla. This campaign was now in-
duced by Tirumala Nayak of Madura who
repented of his short-sighted policy and sought
an alliance with the Bijapur ruler and with
the help of the latter, marched to relieve Gin-
gee from the forces of Mir Jumla. But the
Muslims soon came to an understanding among
themselves ; and Tirumala Nayak could not
effectively help the defence of Gingee. In the
course of the operations, Shahji, as noted
above, being dissatisfied with the conduct of
Mustafa Khan, the commander-in-chief, con-
trived to prolong the operations ; while Mir
Jumla took advantage of the dissensions
amon? the generals of the Bijapur army and
even formed a secret alliance with the Raya.

— 174 —

The Nayak of Gingee was at last forced to
surrender to the Bijapur army towards the
end of December 1649.* The city of Gingee
was given ever to plunder and the victors
got several crores worth of cash and jewels.
In this campaign, the Pindari free-booters
who always hung in the rear of the army,
were allowed to spread desolation and devas-
tation through the land, particularly round
the ports of Devanampatam, Porto Novo
and Puducheri (afterwards to become the
French settlement).

After this Bijapurian acquisition of Gin-
gee, Shahji became easily even more powerful
than before. The rebellious conduct of his
son, Shivaji, against the Adil Shah, led to
secret orders from Bijapur for the arrest of
Shahji. According to the Muhammad Nam ah,
some incidents occurred during the seige of
Gingee, that led to a misunderstanding be-
tween him and Nawab Mustafa Khan. Sir J.
N. Sarkar holds that the arrest of Shahji was
due to his disloyal' intrigues with the Raya of
Vellore and with the Sultan of Golconda.
Shahji had now become the virtual ruler of
the Carnatic ; and probably, he thought that he
might throw off the yoke of Bijapur and be-
come openly independent. Perhaps, Shahji

* 17th December, 1649— Sarkar. History of Aurang-
zib. Vol. I, p. 254.

— 175 —

did not like the idea of Nawab Mustafa Khan
making common cause with Mr. Jumla. Per-
haps, also, Mustafa Khan might, by having
Shahji arrested, have planned to forestall
a. powerful combination of the Hindu rulers
of the country consisting of the Nayaks of
Madura, Gingee and Tanjore and of the chiefs
of Mysore, Kaveripatnam and Ikkeri, headed
by Sriranga and Shahji himself.

Shahji returned to his charge and in 1651
got a definite victory over Mir Jumla, who
had made himself the effective master of a
rich tract of country on the Madras coast and
also concluded a peace with Sriranga. This
defeat of Mir Jumla greatly enhanced the
reputation of Shahji and gave a new vigour
to the campaigns of the Bijapurians, who
contrived to capture the important fortress of
Penukonda. This loss of Penukonda greatly
alarmed the Hindu ruler; and Sriranga at
first appealed for help to Prince Aurangzib,
then the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan ; he
even contrived to re-conquer with the help of
the Mysore ruler, a part of his territory and
to regain Vellore for a time. Vellore was
quickly recaptured by the Bijapur forces and
the Raya was forced to conclude a treaty by
which, he had to be content with the posses-
sion of Chandragiri and the revenues of certain
adjoining districts. Even from these, the

— 176 —

Raya was ultimately driven out by the
treachery of the Nayak of Madura and had to
finally seek shelter with Sivappa Nayak.

In September 1654 the English factors at
Madras reported that the Sultan of Golconda
suspected Mir Jumla of a plan to make
himself the independent sovereign of the dis-
tricts he had brought under his control in
South India, with the help of Bijapur.
Aurangzib, the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan,
who was eagerly waiting for an opportunity
to interfere in the affairs of the Deccan
Sultans, caught Mir Jumla in his own net of
persuasive intrigue and the latter agreed to
enter the service of the Mughal Emperor.
This news so alarmed the Sultan of Golconda
that he sought to win back the friendship of
his old minister ; and Mir Jumla consequently
wavered in his attitude and delayed joining
the service of the Mughals till the latter part
of 1655, when the Sultan imprisoned his family
at Golconda, having been provoked into action
by the haughty behaviour of his son. So Mir
Jumla precipitated his breach with his master
and betook himself to the camp of Aurangzib
openly. Mir Jumla got a confirmation of his
possessions in the Carnatic from Shah Jahan
and continued his advance in that region
up to July 1656. In November 1656 Sriranga
had recovered some districts and laid seige to

— 177 —

Pulicat as against "Mir Jumla, very likely with
the support of the king of Golconda, who was
-angry that the Mughal Emperor should have
decided to treat as his dominion whatever Mir
Jumla had conquered in the Carnatic and
had ordered the Sultan to recall his officers
from these territories. Sriranga took advan-
tage of this attitude of Golconda and called
upon his father-in-law to seize the territory of
Peddapalayam (Periyapalayam) near Madras
and the neighbourhood of Pulicat and see the
country rendered obedient to him.*

According to the Dutch records of Janu-
ary 1657, Koneri Chetti who was entrusted
with the operations on behalf of Sriranga
Raya, betrayed his master and made overtures

* " And all the country hereabouts (Punnamalee
castle excepted) rendered to the Jentu King's obedience,
who now, in the Nabob's absence, is up in armes for the
recovering of his kingdome, and hath already recovered
a large part."

'Next, from .'a letter sent by the Madras factors to
Bantam, dated November 5, we learn that —

44 All these countries that were formerly conquered
by the Nabob are now of late (in his absence at the
Moghulls court) upon the revolt, the Jentue King with
diverse Nagues being in arms ; some of whose forces are
now at the seige of Paleacatt, where tis said most of the
Nabobs riches are stowed. Here is nothing but takeing
and re takeing of places, with parties of both sides, in all
places ; soe that tis very dangerous giving out monies
for goods in these tymes. But wee hope ere long it
will be settled especially for us if the King recovers his
c.mntrey."

23

— 178 —

to Tubaki Krishnappa of Gingee, who had
become Mir Jumla's lieutenant ; and the latter,
i.e., Tubaki Krishnappa, is said to have in-
flicted a defeat upon Sriranga in September
1657. The letters of Greenhill and Chamber,
from Madras in January 1657, mentioned the
treachery of Koneri Chetti, who was the
general of the Raya in the districts round
Poonamalle and charged him with having
neglected the subjugation of Poonamallee
castle and delayed till the enemy overpowered
him. Koneri Chetti gave himself up to the
Muhammadans as a prisoner, " but was re-
ceived in state by the commanders with more
than accustomed honour in such cases ; which,
considered with his alliance and near relation
to Topa Kistnappa, the Nabob's general, to-
gether with other circumstances and observ-
ations in his present deport and continued
respect from ditto Kistnappa, are sufficient to
ground the general suspicion of his betraying
the king's army." (Report made to the Com-
pany by Greenhill and Chamber on January
28, 1657).

A letter from Batavia, written towards
the end of January 1657, mentions that Sri-
ranga had by that time captured the pagoda of
Tirupati and designed the conquest of the
districts of Conjeevaram, Chingleput and Puli-
cat and now requested the Dutch at the last

— 179 -

place either to help him by getting for him the
Nawab's treasures secured there for safety
or at least to remain neutral in the event of
his making an attack on that place. Mir
Jumla had by this time betaken himself to
the Mughal court at Agra. His general, Tubaki
Krishnappa, who was an experienced soldier,
gained an advantage over the Raya's army
in an engagement from which they fled preci-
pitately and ignominiously in the direction of
Ami, " a strong castle on the borders of
Ginge " (Gingee). From Arni they were try-
ing to get the alliance of the Bijapurians in
order to take the field with greater force than
before. In the meantime, Tubaki Krishnappa
was reported to have strengthened himself by
all possible means in order to see whether he
could not gain an advantage over the Raya
before he should seek help from the Bijapuri-
ans. Taking advantage of the absence of Mir
Jumla, the Golconda forces began to attack
Tubaki Krishnappa in the neighbourhood of
Poonamalie. In August 1658, there was fight-
ing between Tubaki Krishnappa and the
Golconda troops round Poonamalie. Tubaki
Krishnappa came to terms with the Governor
of Fort St. George with whom he had been
on inimical terms, in order that he might
be free for this struggle with Golconda.
We learn from the Madras factors that

— 180 —

Krishnappa besieged the castle of Poonamalle
which had revolted to the king of Golconda.
In October 1658, Kuli Beg, the commandant of
the Golconda forces, inflicted a serious defeat
oh Tubaki Krishnappa, who was wounded and
taken prisoner. The victor subdued all the
districts round Madras ; the settlement of San
Thome submitted to him ; and the Dutch at
Pulicat came to terms with him. In the next
year, 1659, there was further fighting. Bijapur
had definitely gone over to the side of the
Raya ; and Rustam-i-Zaman Bahlol Khan and
Shahji, who were regarded as great friends at
the Bijapur court, were expected to march
across the Carnatic to Gingee with a large
number of troops and overthrow the govern-
ment of Krishnappa. Shahji was to proceed
from his government in the Mysore country
to Gingee. We now come to the final sacking
of Gingee and the fall of Tubaki Krishnappa.
1659 was therefore a very eventful year, in
which Bijapur got into a definite occupation of
Gingee. It was also marked by the last death-
throes of the revivalist ambitions of Sriranga
at the recovery of his dominions and by the
death of Kanthiravanarasa of Mysore and of
Tirumala Nayak of Madura.

Flushed with the conquest of Gingee, the
Muslims advanced upon Tanjore and wrought
there incalculable havoc. The Nayak hid

— 181 —

himself in the forests and allowed the enemy
to plunder and devastate the country. Thus,
after conquering a vast country and subduing
two powerful rulers and gathering incalculable
treasures, the Muslim army returned trium-
phantly to Bijapur. The emperor Sriranga III
continued his efforts to recover his lost terri-
tories ; and Father Proenza has observed in
his letter of 1659 thus : — " Encouraged by the
good reception and help of the King of Mysore,
he took advantage of the absence of the
Bijapuri general in the Deccan and advanced
with an army of Mysoreans to expel the army
of Golconda." He concluded then, that if the
three Nayaks had joined the Emperor with all
the troops they could gather, success would
have attended their efforts. There was, un-
fortunately, no union amongst the Nayaks;
and especially Tirumala Nayaka did not co-
operate with him, but assumed the role of a
hostile power. Sriranga III having failed in
hJs attempts, had to take refuge in Mysore
where he led a miserable life.*

* The one consequence of the fall of the Vijaya-
nagara empire was the expansion of the Muhammadans
further south. Golconda retained mastery^
Carnatic plains down to the banks of the
comprising Guntur, Nellore, North Arcot^
districts, while Bijapur was allowed to
the Carnatic. Prof . Rangacharya r/fiw/s : - -" W^
Malik Kafur failed to do, and what thapapmam $fef
and their successors failed to do for fttrtoifrffes^wAa. unflr

— 182

done by the treachery of Tirumala Nayak." Mr. R
Satyanatha Iyer in his * Nayaks of Madura ' takes the
other side of the question and says that Sriranga did
not seem to have considered the practicability of revital-
ising the Empire in the teeth of provincial opposition.
" What was witnessed at Rakhastagdi (Talikota) in 1565
was repeated at Gingee in 1649. The Muhammadan
powers perceived their strength and were determined to
use it for themselves. They found a way in the disunity
of the Nayaks and utilised it to their own advantage.
Ever since the battle of 1565, the feudatories of the)
Empire were caring more for their separate interests
than for the imperial ones. Moreover, the civil war oij
1614 — 17 had damaged the prestige of the Empire anc
accentuated the provincial interests."

APPENDICES

Account of the operations of the capture of

Gingee in 1648 as recorded in the
Muhammed-Namah and the Basatin-al-Salatin.

Finding Gingee impregnable, Mir Jumla
succeeded in securing the assistance of the
Bijapur army. Thereupon, Tirumala Nayak
of Madura deserted by his Muslim friends
began to actively help the besieged. He also
succeeded in fanning the flames of enmity
between Golconda and Bijapur, and the
effect of his diplomacy was the raising of the
siege by Mir Jumla. The latter retired to
make new acquisitions in the present Cud-
dapah district and to consolidate his previous
conquests. Thus the Bijapuri army was left
alone to conduct the siege. There was further
trouble ahead. The principal commanders
like Shahji, Khairiyat Khan and Siddi Raihan
were dissatisfied with Mustafa Khan; and
their insubordination and non-co-operation
naturally prolonged the operations. Some-
time after, Mustafa himself succumbed to old
age and died in harness there on 9th Novem-
ber, 1648. The command passed on first to
Malik Raihan, and then to Muzaffar-ud-din,
Khan-i Khanan Khan and Muhammad. With
the heroic assistance of Afzal Khan, the fort

- 184 -

is said to have been ultimately reduced in
December 1648.

According to the Basatin-i-Salatin, Rup
Nayak, " the Raja of Gingee, was very proud
and wealthy. His family had been in posses-
sion of the fort for seven hundred years.
Being given to a licentious and luxurious life,
he had neglected the affairs of his kingdom.
As he was not helped by the neighbouring
chiefs during the siege and because his pro-
visions and fodder were exhausted, he was
ultimately forced to surrender the fort to the
Bijapurians on 28th December 1648. Besides
the vast quantities of wealth plundered by the
soldiers for themselves, the Bijapuri army
got hold of all the accumulated riches of the
Gingee rulers. It amounted to four crores of
huns and 20 crores of rupees in cash and
jewels."

" The country which had nothing except
idol worship and infidelity for thousands of
centuries was illuminated with the light of
Islam through the endeavours and good
wishes of the king. The treasures, gems,
jewels and other property worth four crores
of huns were added to the imperial treasury.
Mosques were erected in the cities which
were full of temples and the preachers and
criers were appointed in order to propagate
the Muhammadan religion."

185

All the Muslim army was not employed
in reducing the fort of Gingee. It appears
from the English Records that in this cam-
paign the Bijapur rulers employed the well-
known Pindaris for the wanton desolation
and devastation of the land. This fact is
worth noticing, since afterwards Shivaji
followed in the foot-steps of the Muslim rulers
in some of his activities. His system of
plunder was surely more humane than the
one that was used by the Bijapuri war-lords
in the Carnatic.

" Nations who lye within two daies jour-
ney one of another with powerful armies,
watching all advantage upon each other, yet
both strive to make a prey of this miserable
and distracted or divided people. These are
the Gulcandah and the Vizapoore (Bijapur)
Moores, the latter of which hath brought in
8,000 freebooters who receave noe pay but
plunder what they can ; whose incursions,
roberies, and devastacions hath brought
desolation on a great part of the country
round about, specially the three prime cloth
ports, Tevenampatam, Porto Novo, and Pulla-
cherey (Pondicherry) of which the two last
are in a manner ruin'd, the other hardly
preserveing itselfe in a poore condition with
continueall presents."

24

— 186 —

Flushed with the conquest of Gingee, the
Muslim lords advanced into the territories of
Madura and Tanjore. Both the weak-
minded Nayaks shut themselves up in inac-
cessible forests and allowed the enemy to
plunder and devastate the country in the
manner described above. Finally, they open-
ed negotiations and submitted to the Muslims.
Thus, after threatening two powerful Nayaks,
gathering incalculable treasures, and without
losing many men, the army returned to
Bijapur.

Gingee should have finally fallen in 1658,
shortly before Tirumala Nayak's death. Orme
has placed the conquest of Gingee by Bijapur
about 1655 A. D. The date, 1658 A. D., can be
accepted, as we have got the corroborating
evidence of the letter of Father Proenza, dated
1659 A. D., which deals with the capture of
the place by the Bijapur forces.

Gingee suffered much from the cruelties
of the Muhammadans as is evidenced by
the Jesuit letter dated 1666 (from Andrew
Friere to Paul Oliva). " Nothing can equal
the cruelties which the Muhammadans employ
in the Government of Gingee. Expression
fails me to recount the atrocities which I have
seen with my own eyes." Another letter of
1662 from Proenza to Oliva says that, "the

— 187 —

people were not very uneasy thereby. They
sufficiently accommodated themselves to the
yoke of the conqueror."

II.— Attempts at the Restoration of the Nayak
Dynasty of Gingee, 1660.

An energetic prince, Chokkanatha Nayak
of Madura, the successor of Tirumala Nayak,
reversed the policy of his predecessor and
made preparations to carry out the ambitious
scheme of an offensive war against the
Muhammadans and to restore the old political
order of things. Chokkanatha was aided in
this by his Pradhani, the Rayasam and the
Dalavay. The Dalavay, Lingama Nayaka, was
sent with an army of 40,000 men to drive
Shahji (Sagosi of the Jesuit letter— who was
one of the commanders of the Bijapuri forces
employed in the conquest of Gingee) from
Gingee and take possession of it. Lingama
procrastinated with the plan and enriched
himself with bribes from the Muhammadan
generals. The ministers at Madura hatched
a plot, in the meanwhile, to dethrone Chokka-
natha Nayak and put his younger brother in
his place. Chokkanatha heard- about it and
punished them with death. Lingama who was
also a member of the plot, joined Shahji
and persuaded him to besiege Trichinopoly.
Chokkanatha was successful in driving them ;

— 188 —

and Lingama and Shahji had to flee to Tan-
jore and thence to Gingee. Thus this earnest
attempt of Chokkanatha to restore the old
order of things and, especially, to restore the
Nayak line of Gingee was frustrated by intri-
gues at his own court. His failure has been
recorded in the Jesuit letter of Proenza to
Oliva, dated Trichinopoly, 1662.

Bijapur was in possession of the fortress
of Gingee till 1677 when the famous Sivaji,
the son of Shahji, fell upon it in his moment-
ous Carnatic expedition.

The inscriptions (860-861 of 1918) which
are dated 1671 A. D. and found at Tirupparan-
kunram, refer to Varadappa Nayak and his
gifts to the temple there on his return from a
pilgrimage to Sethu Rameswaram. Probably
this Nayak had the nominal title, being the
last descendant of the old Nayak line of
Gingee. Orme has referred to the fact that
the title Nayak was used long after the estab-
lishment of the Muhammadans by certain
representatives of the old line of rulers.

III.— Social and General Conditions under the
Nayak Rulers of Gingee.

REVENUE : — The gradual expansion of the
Vijayanagara empire made it so unwieldy for
one monarch to have control over all its parts,

— 189 —

that it had to be divided into provinces that
were entrusted to the Nayaks and other feudal
chiefs. Such provinces were those of Madura,
Tanjore and Gingee. " The letter of Proenza
to Nickel, dated Trichinopoly, 1652, refers to
the three Nayaks being the feudatories of
Narasinga of Vijayanagar." Another travel-
ler, John Nieuhoff, had also referred in his
" Travels and Voyages in the East Indies ",
to the three great Nayaks. These Nayaks
were very powerful, and they paid a tribute of
six to ten million francs to the government of
Vijayanagar. The revenue administration of
the empire was so excellent and systematic
that the sources of revenue were finally fixed
and reduced to a regular form. Whenever
the central government showed any signs of
weakness, the feudatories became unpunctual
in their payment and even sometimes openly
refused to acknowledge their obligations. The
total revenue of the Vijayanagara empire has
been considered to be very great and un-
paralleled in.South India. Foreign travellers
like Paes and Nuniz have given accounts of
revenue of the feudatories of the Empire.
Moreover, the splendour of Vijayanagara
excited their astonishment. Varthema wrote
in 1502 : — " The king of Narasinga is the
richest monarch. His Brahman priests say
that he has a revenue of 12,000 parados a day."

— 190 —

According to tradition, Krishnadeva Raya
derived three crores of rupees from the
districts of Karnataka.

Thus we find that the empire was rich
and powerful. No wonder each Nayak was
powerful and was remitting to the central
treasury annually six to ten million francs
which amounted to £ 24,000 to £ 40,000. The
tribute was one-third of the total revenue ; and
hence the income of each Nayak should have
been about £ 120,000 annually. If the country
was not prosperous, such an amount of
revenue could have hardly been realised by
the central power. The letter of the Jesuit,
Vico dated (Madura) the 30th August 1611,
refers to the fact that, on the refusal of the
Nayak to pay tribute, the Vijayanagara mon-
arch sent one of his generals with 100,000 men
to demand it by force. On such occasions
the poor paid heavily for the default of the
rulers. The country was devastated and the
people plundered and massacred. This view
of the Jesuit seems to be exaggerated. The
Nayaks of Gingee were paying an equal
amount of tribute with those of Madura and
Tanjore.

In the material relating to the Bijapur
conquest of Gingee in 1658, the Nayak of
Gingee was described in the different records
as the richest and the proudest of monarchs.

— 191 —

The Basatln-al-Salatin * gives us an idea
of the total acquired by the Muhammadans.
It says : — " The total wealth amounted to four
crores of huns or 20 crores of rupees in cash
and jewels. Another Jesuit letter (1659,
Proenza to Nickel) stated that the booty
acquired by the Muhammadans was immense,
consisting of silver, gold and pearls and
precious stones of inestimable value.

The condition of the people.

The Hindus have ever been noted for their
hospitality to foreign travellers and envoys.
Travellers of the Vijayanagara period like
Abdur Razaak and Nikitin have given details
of how they were hospitably treated. They
were assigned lofty mansions for lodging and
feasted very well. The Jesuit travellers of
the reign of Venkata I were also hospitably
treated wherever they went ; and the Nayak
viceroys and other feudatories imitated their
masters in this as in other matters.

Father Pimenta who visited the court of
Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee in 1599 A. D.

* This is a Persian history of the Adi I Shahs down
to Aurangzib's conquest, with a brief summary of sub-
sequent events, and contains eight sections called bctsatln.
An Urdu translation, in Nagari character, was published
of the work at Baroda. The author completed the work
in 1822, and intended it for presentation to J. C. Grant-
Duff.

— 192 —

has told us how he was received at the court.
" The Nayak of Gingee was come hither in
whose dominions it standeth. He commanded
that we should be brought to his presence.
He appointed our lodging in the tower though
the heat forced us to the grove nearby. What-
ever was rare and precious in the fort was
shown to the Fathers. He entertained us
kingly and marvelled much that we chewed
not the leaves of betel which were offered to
us and dismissed us with gifts of precious
cloths wrought with gold and desiring a priest
of us for his new city which he was building."
Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee allowed Father
Pimenta to build a church in Krishnapatam,
i.e., Porto Novo, which he had built and even
gave a large endowment of 200 pieces of gold
for the purpose. This grant was made in the
presence of all the nobles of the court.

At the end of 1608 an embassy from the
Dutch traders arrived at Krishnappa Nayaka's
court at Gingee requesting permission to
establish themselves at Devanampatnam
Fort near Cuddalore. According to the Jesuit
letter of 1609 the Nayak received the Dutch
very hospitably and allowed them to build a
citadel at the place of landing.

The letters of Fr. Pimenta throw light on
some of the peculiar customs and ceremonies

— 193 —

of the Nayak court of Gingee, like the puri-
ficatory rites: — The customs and manners of
the Hindus seemed peculiar and fantastic to
the foreigners; and the strange and curious
observations of Fr. Pimenta are largely due
to his ignorance of the ancient customs of the
land. His description of Krishnappa Nayaka
reveals the orthodox surroundings of the
ruler. "The Nayak showed us his golden
staff amongst which were two great pots
carried on men's shoulders full of water for
the king to drink." Men who returned from
the north generally brought in such vessels
Ganges water for the use of the king. It was
always considered so sacred that it was used
for purificatory purposes.

The anxiety of the people to perform
purificatory ceremonies on their pollution
caused by their association with foreigners,
is illustrated in a number of epigraphs.

According to Father Pimenta, tilting, (i.e.,
a kind of martial exercise) was practised in
the court of Gingee in 1597 A. D. Great
importance was attached to games and amuse-
ments in the festival seasons in the Vijaya-
nagara days. These games were an index
of the martial character of the people- The
Vijayanagara people were more attracted by
fencing, duelling, wrestling and hunting than

25

— 194 —

by sedentary amusements. Fencing and duel-
ling seem to have been held in high repute in
the land. Castenheda, in his " History of
Portugal ", writes thus of Vijayanagar :
" There were many duels on account of love
of women wherein many men lost their
lives." Barbosa, another traveller, has also
referred to the wide prevalence of such duel-
ling. According to Nuniz, great honour was
done to those who fought in a duel. Paes,
writing about 1520, has informed us that
women too were engaged in wrestling which
was another of their pastimes. During fes-
tivals women were said to have wrestled in
a large arena in the presence of the nobles
and the king. Thus foreign travellers have
given accounts of the various games and
amusements practised at Vijayanagara ; and
these were given sufficient encouragement
by the monarchs themselves. The provincial
viceroys followed their master ; and hence,
in the court of Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee,
tilting with swords was practised.

The splendour and magnificence of the
court of Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee is best
visualised from the account of Fr. Pimenta.
He writes of the Nayak thus : " We found him
lying on a silken carpet leaning on two cush-
ions, with a long silken garment, a great chain
hanging from the neck, distinguished with

— 195 —

many pearls and gems all over his breast, his
long hair tied with a knot on the crown
adorned with pearls. Some princes and
Brahmans attended him. He was guarded
homeward with a thousand armed men. The
streets were ranked with three hundred ele-
phants as if fitted for war. At the porch or
the entrance of the palace one entertained the
Nayak with an oration in his praise, a thing
usual in their solemn pomp/' Krishnappa
Nayaka then showed him and his companions
his store of jewels and gave them leave in his
new city which he was then building. Fr. Du
Jarric has described the gaudy dress of the
orator in red robes. Thus we are enabled to
get a picture of the pomp of the Nayak of
Gingee.

The Palace of the Nayak at Gingee.

According to Father Pimenta, the resid-
ences of the Nayak were noble and prominent,
being built in a peculiar style and equipped
with towers and verandahs. The Nayak
had two such palaces, one inside the fort and
the other in the city or the pettah of Gingee.
The gates of the palaces were carefully guard-
ed and when anybody entered them with per-
mission, there followed the firing of the guns,
the parade of the soldiers and the soundings
of the buglers. Paes has given a vivid de-
scription of the royal palace of Vi jayanagara.

- 196 —

Regarding the residences of the nobles,
there are but meagre notices available from
our travellers. The private dwellings were
plain and not elaborate, except those belong-
ing to the rich and influential people. Father
Heras has referred to the spacious houses
found in Gingee ; very probably they belonged
to the nobles.

Barbosa has written in one of his passages
thus : " In the city as well there are palaces
after the royal fashion with many enclosed
courts and great houses very well built and
with wide open spaces with water-tanks full
of fish in great numbers wherein dwell the
great lords and governors." Paes has written
that the houses of the army captains and
other rich and honourable men were adorned
with many figures and decorations that were
pleasing to look at.

The habitations of the ordinary people
were modest in appearance. Generally a
house had a garden around it ; and it was
usually built of bricks and tiles. According
to the Karnataka inscription of 1372 (E. C. IV-
Gu. 34) the houses in the Karnataka and the
Tamil countries were built according to stand-
ard rules. Barbosa informs us that the houses
of the poorer classes were generally covered
with thatch, but, none the less, well built ; and

— 197 —

they were arranged, according to the re-
spective occupations of the owners, in long
streets with many open spaces.

An inscription of the year 1632 of the
reign of Sriranga (65 of 1922) registers an
undertaking by the residents of the village of
Tiruvamattur in the South Arcot District,
that the three artisan communities (KammCda)
carpenters, blacksmiths and goldsmiths of the
several villages in the northern ward should
no longer be ill-treated or deprived of their
privileges, and that the same rights and
privileges as were being enjoyed by their
brethren in Padaividu, Senji, Tiruvannamalai
and Kanchipuram should be accorded to them
and that in case of default a fine of I2pon was
to be paid by the residents. The record has
mentioned by name Krishnappa Nayaka,
probably the well-known N ayak of Gingee of
the time.

The above record throws light on the
occasional interference in social affairs that
was indulged in by the state. Such inter-
ferences generally concerned the mutual rela-
tions and respective rights of the minor com-
munities of weavers and artisans and often
took place at the request of the people them-
selves. The government carefully inquired
into the disputes and settled details which

— 198 -

were mostly about trivial formalities that
however caused much concern in the locality.
The state had settled similar questions under
the Cholas.

In the Vijayanagara period we have
numerous instances illustrating state inter-
ference in social matters. An inscription of
Saka 1407 A. D. (1485-1486, 473 of 1921) refers
to the privileges granted to the Kaikkolars of
using taudu (palanquin) and conch as their
insignia carried in processions on festive and
other occasions on the model of those of
Kanchipuram who were enjoying those privi-
leges. Another inscription of A. D. 1546 (41
of 1922) refers to Surappa Nayak, the gover-
nor over the Tiruvati Rajyam who enacted
similar measures in connection with Ilaivani-
yars who were accorded the same privileges
as the KaikkSlars of the place. The inscrip-
tion of 1632 A. D. already referred to (65 of
1922) is one of such instance of the interfer-
ence of the state. These indicate the care
bestowed by the government in maintaining
the needed equilibrium of the privileges
among the different communities, particularly
of the trading and industrial sections of the
population.

The continued vitality of the Hindu Em-
pire required a proper encouragement of the
commercial and agricultural castes who were

— 198 -

were mostly about trivial formalities that
however caused much concern in the locality.
The state had settled similar questions under
the Cholas.

In the Vijayanagara period we have
numerous instances illustrating state inter-
ference in social matters. An inscription of
Saka 1407 A. D. (1485-1486, 473 of 1921) refers
to the privileges granted to the Kaikkolars of
using taudu (palanquin) and conch as their
insignia carried in processions on festive and
other occasions on the model of those of
Kanchipuram who were enjoying those privi-
leges. Another inscription of A. D. 1546 (41
of 1922) refers to Surappa Nayak, the gover-
nor over the Tiruvati Rajyam who enacted
similar measures in connection with Ilaivani-
yars who were accorded the same privileges
as the KaikkSlars of the place. The inscrip-
tion of 1632 A. D. already referred to (65 of
1922) is one of such instance of the interfer-
ence of the state. These indicate the care
bestowed by the government in maintaining
the needed equilibrium of the privileges
among the different communities, particularly
of the trading and industrial sections of the
population.

The continued vitality of the Hindu Em-
pire required a proper encouragement of the
commercial and agricultural castes who were

— 199 —

very keen that their hereditary rights and pri-
vileges should be unimpaired and thus be
helped to maintain the social harmony and the
material prosperity of the land. The barber,
the KaikkSlar and the Kammalar castes had
been prominent in the Vijayanagara country
and deemed to have been greatly serviceable
to the state. The privileges demanded by
these communities on the basis of precedents
were therefore readily conceded, if they did
not result in collision. Relative harmony
was thus established among the various com-
munities.

The offering of the betel-leaf and areca-
nuts to guests has been an ancient practice
of the Hindus and other immigrant communi-
ties. The offering of the betel-leaf and nuts is
the first as well as the last courtesy that one
is expected to show to a guest. The author of
the Sukra-Niti has mentioned the presenta-
tion of the betel-leaf and nuts. This peculiar
system ought to have originated in Southern
India and was said to have been practised by
the Yadavas of Devagiri. It was one of the
acknowledged modes of conferring honour
and recognition on warriors and statesmen.
The offer of the betel-leaf in royal assemb-
lages and military reviews had a political
significance besides and played a conspicuous
part in the social life of the people. Foreign

— 200 —

travellers that visited the Vijayanagara
country have told us of the presentation of
the betel-leaf by the king to the generals on
formal occasions. They have also indi-
cated the importance of the betel-leaf in the
every day life of the people. An inscription
at Ennayiram in the South Arcot District
(332 of 1917) of Sadasivadeva Maharaya,
dated Saka 1467, refers to the provision made
for presenting the betel-leaf offering in the
temple of Alagiya Singaperumal Swami.
When Father Pimenta and his companions
visited the court of Krishnappa Nayaka at
Gingee in 1599 A. D., the latter is said to have
" marvelled much that we chewed not the
leaves of betel which he offered us." This
shows that the offering of betel-leaf, as an
invariable sign of courtesy and respect, was
in vogue even in the case of the reception of
foreigners.*

* The betel-leaf was a hoary indigene of India and
the Indo-China regions. The word is derived from
Malayaiam rdjjla (/>., rent -f- Ha — simple leaf), through
the Portuguese corruption thereof, bet re (tn<l bctlc. For
long the sale of betel-leaf was a monopoly of the Com-
pany in its early settlements. Marco Polo, Abdur Raz-
zak, Vasco da Gama, Varthema, Barbosa and all the
earlier European travellers have remarked on the use
of the betel; and Sri Thomas Roe has also noticed the
distribution of betel-leaf and areca-nut as well as cocoa-
nuts among the folk assembled at any important func-
tion. The betel-leaf bearer (tilnibula-karundanlhin) has
been from the earliest times an important household
functionary in the royal court. The first Nayak of
Tanjore was the betel-leaf page to his royal master.

— 201 —

We have already seen that the Nayak
rule in the Gingee country enabled the
strengthening and further fortification of the
capital and the construction of forts in many
strategical places. The temples and mania-
pams in the capital were largely the handi-
work of the Nayaks. The Venkataramana-
swami temple at the foot of the Rajagiri hill
has already been referred to as having been
built by one Muthialu Nayakan, about whom
we have no authentic information, though his
name is mentioned in the dynastic lists fur-
nished by the Mackenzie manuscripts.

The Kalyana Mantapam, a most peculiar
structure in the fortress of Rajagiri, must
have also been built by the Nayaks, for it is
marked by the mantapam style of construction,
so characteristic of the Vijayanagara period.*
According to Mackenzie Mss. ** one Krish-
nappa (probably the first Krishnappa) is said
to have built the Kalyana Mahal. " His long
and peaceful administration resulted in the

* A record of the year 1924 (426 of 1924) of Sevvappa
Nayaka of Tanjore engraved on the Pushya Mantapa of
Tiruvadi near Tanjore refers to the steps of the ghat in
the river, called the Kalyana Sindhu, being built by him.
The adjoining buildings of the bathing ghat go also by
the name of Kalyana Mahal. Hence we find the prefix
Kalyiina attached to prominent structures under the
Nayaks.

** Volume I, page 353.

26

— 202 —

expansion of the town of Gingee and the
founding of many pettahs and suburbs. His
successor, Achyutha Ramachandra Nayak, is
said to have built the temples of Tiruvanna-
nialai and Tindivanam."

According to the same source, we know
that the images of Krishnappa and of his
successors were sculptured on the pillars of
the temples at Srlmushnam and at Tirukoyi-
lur as well as in several other temples of the
district. The Tiruvikrama Perumal temple
of TirukSyilur bears prominently the marks
of the Vijayanagara style of architecture.
The earliest part of the temple is supposed to
be the mantapam in front of the shrine of the
goddess. The sculptures on some of the
pillars seem to have been removed by later
pillagers. The mutilation of the sculptures
of these temples has been attributed to the
vandalism of Haidar Ali's troops in the course
of his descents into the Carnatic country.
Among the figures that were thus injured
were the portraits of the Gingee Nayaks which
had been carved on the pillars of the Kalyana
Mantapam in front of the Amman' shrine,
which, being 55i/£ feet by 31J/£ feet in dimen-
sion, is considered to be the biggest of the kind
in the Presidency. The Vaishnava temple of
Srlmushnam contains a fine and spacious 16-
pillared mantapam which bears on its pillars

— 203 —

the sculptures of several of the Nayak rulers
of the period. The sculptures are held to be
those of Achyuthappa Nayak of Tanjore and
of his three brothers. Achyuthappa is tradi-
tionally regarded as the rebuilder of the
temple ; and the figures of his brothers are
known as Ananta, Govinda and Kondalu
respectively. Other kinds of sculptures in
the mantapam are representative of the Vija-
yanagara style.

In Venkatamraalpettai, a village 14 miles
south-west of Cuddalore and one of the Panch
Mahals, there are two mantapams which are
considered to have been constructed by Ven-
katammal who gave her name to the village
and who was the sister of one of the Nayaks
of Gingee. The Mack. Mss. refer to one
Venkatapathi Nayak who persecuted the
Jainas in 1478 A. D. The Diary of Ananda-
ranga Pillai frequently refers to Venkatam-
malpettai as an important place. Venkatam-
mal might have been the sister of Venkata-
pathi Nayak.

The great Krishnappa Nayak of Gingee,
the contemporary of Venkata I, built the town
of Krishnapatam, i.e., the modern Hindu por-
tion of Porto Novo, which was named after
him. The village of Agaram near the 'Porto
Novo railway station can be identified with
Krishnapatam. When Father Pimenta, the

— 204 -

Jesuit, visited the Nayak in 1599 A. D. the
town was under construction. According to
the Jesuit's letter, the Nayak " allowed every-
body to select his own building site and a piece
of land was assigned to each in the outskirts
of the city for agricultural purposes. He also
allowed the Jesuits to build a church in the
town and even granted an endowment of 200
pieces of gold for the building of the church
and for the residence of a priest."

We have dealt already with Krishnappa
Nayaka's religious activities. He favoured,
in an abundant measure, the Sri Vaishnava
faith ; and in that respect he followed faith-
fully the attitude of his master Venkata I.
His conduct at the Chidambaram temple
which marked his religious bigotry has also
already been dealt with.

The great Vijayanagara empire, started to
stem the tide of Muhammadan invasion and do-
minion, gradually expanded and covered such
a vast area, that it was divided into .various
provinces ruled by the Nayaks and other
feudatories. Each provincial viceroy tried to
maintain the prestige of the Hindu power by
following the footsteps of his master. Though
the battle of Talikota in 1565 had shaken the
prestige of the Hindu Empire, the rulers were
able to recover in a few years their old power
though in a more restricted region, so that, at

— 205 —

the end of the 16th century their state was still
reckoned as an important power, capable of us-
ing and willing to use its power and resources,
before, for the promotion of Hindu culture.
The Nayaks paid allegiance to the Raya even
after 1565 and continued to do so nominally at
least till 1614. Then the great civil war of
1614-17 destroyed the remainder of the waning
prestige of the Empire ; and the Nayaks, ex-
cepting the ruler of Tanjore, threw them-
selves in open opposition to the Raya. The
ill-planned and traitorous policy of Tirumala
Nayak of Madura brought about the Muham-
madan invasion of Gingee which also surely
affected Tanjore and Madura. The Nayak of
Madura, in alliance with his brother of Gingee,
resisted the last efforts of Sriranga III to
restore the power of the Empire and brought
in the Muslim occupation of the land.

Though the Empire disappeared before
the onslaughts of the Muhammadans, it had
left to the Hindus of the south its vast herit-
age in religion, social life, literature, fine arts,
architecture and learning. The modern Hindus
of the south have largely adopted or imbibed
the ideals of life practised at and encouraged
by the court of Vijayanagara ; and they still
look back with pride to the glorious past that
had given such a valuable legacy for the
generations that have followed.

CHAPTER VI.
Gingee under Bijapuri and Maratba Rule.

The short-sighted policy of Tirumala Na-
yak of Madura brought upon Gingee the com-
bined forces of the Muhammadan powers of
Golconda and Bijapur, and forced it to fall
ultimately into the hands of the latter, with-
out any possibility of recovery.

Gingee assumed a new and enhanced
strategic importance under the Bijapuri gover-
nors who ruled over it. According to the
Mackenzie Mss., Sayyid Nasir Khan was
appointed to be the first killedar of Gingee,
while Sayyid Amber Khan was created its
faujdar of the Bijapuri (or Balaghat)Carnatic.

The contribution of Bijapur to the strength
of Gingee and its defences is brought to light
by the two Persian inscriptions engraved on
the south wall of the inner fort at the foot of
Rajagiri. One of these is dated Hijra 1063
(1651-52 November) and says that the Hussain
Bastion was built in that year. The other
inscription, though undated, refers to the
improvements effected in the fortifications by
Amber Khan, the killedar

Apart from the improvements effected in
its fortifications and defences, Gingee grew

— 207 —

in importance on account of its strategic
central position in the eastern part of the
Carnatic and of its nearness to the rising
European settlements on the coast extending
from Madras to Tranquebar and Negapatam.

The Bijapuri authorities renamed Gingee
as Badshabad and put subordinate officers in
charge of the killas of Valudavur, Tiruvanna-
malai, Palayamkottai (now a ruined fort near
Chidambaram) and other forts in the neigh-
bourhood. The Muslim power at Gingee was
further strengthened by the settlement of a
number of fief-holders on a military tenure at
Devanur, Malayanur, Ulundurpet and other
places in the neighbourhood. Consequently,
there was a large influx of Muslims from the
Deccan to the neighbourhood of Gingee ; and
a Kazi or a civil judge had to be appointed to
administer the Quranic law to the Muslim
litigants.

Since the plantation of the settlement of
Fort St. G?orge by the English in 1639, no
other place on the coast seems to have
attracted their attention till 1673 4674, when a
suggestion for a settlement in the Gingee
country was made to them by Muhammad
Khan, the Bijapuri governor of the land. The
English who were exposed to the inconvenient
neighbourhood of the Dutch at Pulicat and at

— 208 —

Sadras and also feared the establishment of
the French in permanence at San Thome,
gladly took advantage of the offer of Muham-
mad Khan and sent Mr. Elihu Yale (later
Governor of Fort St. George, 1687-1692) to
treat with the governor of Gingee for the
acquisition of a port in his territory.

A letter of 20th March 1673-74* refers to
the offer of Muhammad Khan and says:—
" The Khan of Gingee, Nazir Muhammad
Khan, having by his letter of 10th of March
and by his agent (Hakim Ismail alias Manoel
de Olivera) offered to the Agent and Council at
Fort St. George to give them leave to settle
factories at or near Porto Novo and at
Valudavur near Pondicherry, and to make
forts for their own defence with promises of
great privileges and a very friendly invitation
thereto, and requested an agent to be sent to
him along with a present sent by him."

" The Agent and Council, considering the
great trouble they are having for almost twro
years, and the dangers they are exposed to
from the Dutch and the French and also to
the disturbances in trade, they did not want
to neglect wholly this invitation, but returned
him a civil answer with a handsome present

* The Madras Diary and Consultation Book of
1673-74 Records of Fort St. George.

— 209 —

by a servant of the Company to the value of
seventy or eighty pagodas with instructions
to propose and receive such terms as the
Khan shall think fit to grant and to survey
the places and rivers offered to them and send
a report/'

" The said Khan likewise desires, if we
find the said places worthy of the Hon'ble
Company's acceptance, to send an English-
man or two with peons to take and keep
possession of the same and set up their flag
to free him from the importunities of the
Dutch and the French, who were continually
soliciting him for the same with great offers
of considerable presents."

Another despatch from England says :
"We approve of the settlement you have
made in the Gingee country and would have
you nourish it by all means possible."

As we have not got any definite inform-
ation about the success of the mission of
Elihu Yale, we have to conclude that no active
steps were then taken by the Company at
Fort St. George to establish factories in the
Gingee country or till 1681-82 when they
were forced to be serious in the matter by
the oppressions of the officers of Golconda
Sultan, within whose territory lay the town

of Madras.

27

_ 210 —

The French who were also competing for
settlements on the Carnatic coast, got permis-
sion in 1674 from the Bijapuri governor of
Gingee for a settlement at Pondi cherry
through Francois Martin. Francois Martin,
who entered the service of the French East
India Company with slender resources, pushed
on the projected enterprise which resulted in
the founding of Pondicherry in 1674. Pondi-
cherry was a mere fishing village when it was
granted to Martin. Though it was small and
insignificant, it was conveniently situated on
the sea shore and was little over 1^ miles
in circumference. The place was later forti-
fied by Martin.

Gingee fell a prey to the famous Maratha
leader, Sivaji, who captured it in 1677 in the
course of his momentous Carnatic expedition
from its Mussalman governor. The irrup-
tion of Sivaji into the Carnatic brings us on
to the epoch of Gingee under the Marathas
who greatly strengthened its fortifications
and defences.

Sivaji was able to acquire the strong fort
of Gingee from its Bijapuri garrison and
governor. The opportunity occurred to
Sivaji when the Bijapur court was involved
in factions between the two leading factions
among the nobility, the Deccanis and the
Afghans ; and he marched into the Carnatic,

— 211 —

aided with men and money by the Golconda
Sultan with whom he had entered into a valu-
able offensive and defensive alliance.

Sivaji was taken seriously ill in the last
months of 1676 and recovered his health only
by the month of March 1677. Early in May,
he sent out into Bijapur territory a body of
" 4,000 horse that ranges up and down, plun-
ders and robs without any hindrance or
danger." In Bijapur itself, the Afghan faction
became triumphant for the time ; and this
drove the new regent, Bahlol Khan, to seek the
friendship of Sivaji; and the latter entered
into a treaty with him through the mediation
of the Golconda minister, Madanna Pant.
This alliance was a short-lived one ; but Sivaji
was really bent upon the great Karnatak
campaign, which has been viewed by Sir J. N.
Sarkar as " the greatest expedition of his life."
His diplomacy had won a triumph over the
Mughal viceroy of the Deccan ; the Adil Shahi
government was tottering ; and a close alliance
was established with Golconda, to which Prah-
lad Niraji, a shrewd diplomat, was sent as the
envoy of the Maratha state.

According to C. V. Vaidya * the motive of
Sivaji was even higher, as could be gathered

* Shivaji, the Founder of Maratha Swaraj (1931)
— [Chapter XXXV— Daring Expedition into Distant
Karnatak,] pp. 279 80.

— 212 —

from his long letter to Maloji Raje Ghorepade,
written from Hyderabad, in March, 1677 during
his stay at that place in the course of the
expedition. This letter ran thus :— " Adil-
shahi has been seized by Bahilol Khan Pathan.
It is not good that the Deccani Padshahi
should be in the hands of a Pathan (a north-
erner). The Padshahi of the Deccan belongs
to us, the Deccanis. Our castemen, the Mara-
thas, should go over to Kutbshahi which is a
Deccani state." I forget all that your father,
Baji Ghorepadc, did to my father and I did to
Baji what he did to me. Let the past be past.
We will combine. Adilshahi can subsist no
longer. You are a Maratha, and in order that
you may be benefited come to Kutbshahi. My
father Shahfiji when he become supreme in
Adilshahi, raised to dignity many Marathas,
and your father, Baji, among them..."

Sivaji strengthened his relations with
Golconda whose ruler was " for Deccanis
fighting with the Northerners " and whose
ministers were very favourable to him and
helped Prahlad Niraji in making a treaty by
which Sivaji was to have a free passage through
Golconda territory to Karnatak on condition
that the Kutb Shah might share in Sivaji's
conquests there. Sivaji arrived at Hyderabad
(Golconda) in Phalgun, Saka 1598, (March 1677)
and was welcomed with royal honours, while

— 213 —

Hambir Rao Mohite, his commander-in-chief,
took a southerly route from Maharashtra and
engaged in a battle near Gadag with Hussain
Khan Mayena, aBijapur captain, and defeated
and took him prisoner. Sivaji got a large sum
of money from the Golconda Sultan and pre-
sents of considerable value from Akkanna and
Madanna, his Brahman ministers. With a
strong Golconda contingent, Sivaji marched
south.

According to the Rain Bakhar, Sivaji
explained to the Sultan that if Golconda and
Bijapur would but co-operate with him, he
could easily conquer the whole of India for
them. The Sultan agreed to pay Sivaji a daily
subsidy of 3,000 pagodas, while Wilks says
that the Maratha received ten lakhs of pago-
das in cash and some jewellery besides. With
a plentiful supply of cash and an efficient park
of artillery, Sivaji compelled the ruler of
Cuddapah Kurnool (Wilks gives his name as
Anand Rao Deshmukh) to pay a tribute of
five lakhs of pagodas; he then bathed at the
holy Nivritti Sangam, the confluence of the
Krishna with a tributary stream, the Bhav-
nashi. While the main body of his army
advanced along the route to Cuddapah, Sivaji
took a chosen body of cavalry with him and
struck eastwards in order to pay his devotions
at the sacred shrine of God Mallikarjuna at

— 214 —

Sri Saila, which appeared to him like a * Kailas
on earth ' and " stirred into a wild commotion
the spiritual impulses of his heart." He even
made an ill-timed vow to spend the rest of his
life as a recluse ; and only after great diffi-
culty, was Raghunatha Pant able to argue
him out of his resolve. Sivaji distributed
a great quantity of alms and built a ghat on
the river, called the Sri Gangcsh Ghat, besides
cells on the mountain sides for hermits to
live in.

The main body of the army had descended
into the eastern Carnatic by the Damalcheruvu
Pass (Kallur Ghat) and Sivaji quickly
overtook it; and he then pushed forward
with his cavalry and a body of mavles, past
Madras, towards Gingee (called Chandi or
Chanji in the Maratha bakhars). There he
proceeded to plant batteries for a regular
siege of the place.

Gingee was then in charge of Rauf Khan
and Nazir Khan* with whom Raghunath Pant
had made one of his secret agreements, before
he proceeded to Satara to persuade Sivaji to
embark on the expedition and who were re-
warded with money and jaghirs elsewhere.

* Prof. Sir J. ET. Sarkar holds that they were the
sons of the late Bijapuri Wazir, Khan-i-Khannn (probably
Khawas Khan); while Grant-Duff makes them out to have
been the sons of Amber Khan, the previous governor.

Sivaji arrived at the neighbourhood of Gingee
with 10,000 troops and encamped at Chakra-
puri on the banks of the Chakravati river ; and
soon the fort opened its gates to him. He is
said to have fallen upon the place like a thun-
der-bolt and carried it at the first assault ",
according to Jesuit testimony/*

•• Th£ account given in some of the baklmrs would
support the capture of the fort by treachery, which is not
held by Prof. Sarkar to be supported by any contemporary
authority. The Rairi Buklutr has the following story
about the capture of the fort. " Shivaji informed the
governor Amber Khn,n that he had come down after
making treaties with Bijapur and Golconda. He should
therefore come to see him. The governor of the fort
believed this and came out to see Shivtiji, with his eight
sons, when they were all arrested and the fort captured.
The Shircli(/rij(i,/(i says that Amber Khan came with a
nazar to Shivnji, who told him to surrender Jinji, if he
cared for the tranquillity of his district, or, as an alterna-
tive, to stay in his camp and not return to Jinji, so that
the Marathas might capture the fort in any manner they
pleased. Upon this he promised tD surrender the fort
and made a deed of surrender, thinking that his safety
lay in keeping good relations with Shivnji. But his eight
sons who were in the fort refused to relinquish it and
prepared for resistance. However Raghunathpant had
intrigued with the garrison, and the governor's sons
found that very few people were on their side; upon
which they got terrified and consented to surrender the
fort. Shivnji assigned to them some villages for their
maintenance and in return they were tD serve Shivnji
with their vassals.'*

Wilks says that, rm his march to Gingee, Sivn ji did not
molest the people and gave out that he was marching
southwards as a friend and ally of Bijapur. When
Amber Khan sent his envoy to Sivnji, the latter told him
that he had made his peace with Bijapur and declared
himself to have accepted the supremacy of that state.
Under this pretence he induced the old governor and his

— 216 —

After Sivaji had got possession of Gingee,
he entrusted the fort to one of his most loyal
Mavali captains, Ramji Nalage, who had for
his assistants, Timaji Keshav as sabnis and
Rudraji Salvi as karkhaunisor superintendent
of stores. The adjoining district of Gingee
was brought under the same regulations and
discipline as those of Maharashtra and was
entrusted to Vithal Pildcv Goradkar (Garud)
as subhadar ; and he was ordered to introduce

sons to visit him in his camp, put them under arrest and
captured the fort. The bukliurs speak of Rauf Khan as
Rup Khan. Prof. Sarkar is of the opinion that Rauf
Khan and Nazar Khan were the sons of Khawas Khan
of Bijapur. He disbelieves the story of the fort having
been taken by treachery ; and he quotes a Jesuit priest of
Madura (La Afi&sion du Aftiduw), to prove that Shivaji
carried the fort at the first assault/' (* Lif e of Sivaj.
Maharaj ' by Takhakhav and Keluskar, p. 437, foot-note \

Khawas Khan was the leader of the Deccani nobles
at the Bijapur court and also of the Abyssinian faction ;
while the rival Afghan party was led by Bahlol Khan.
In 1676 Khawas Khan was arrested and put to death by
Bahlol Khan who had seized the administration.
Khawas Khan's friends took up arms and raised a civil
war. Nasir Muhammad, the governor of Gingee was,
according to Professor Kaeppelin, a brother of the
deceased Khawas Khan; according to the SaMin&ad, he was
a son of the Khan Khanan. Sher Khan Lodi, the gover-
nor of some districts, was an adherent of the Afghan
faction; and he did not, naturally enough, join forces
with the governor of Gingee at the time of Sivaji's attack
upon the fort. Nasir Khan, according to Martin, was
only concerned about preventing Sher Khan Lodi from
rendering himself the master of Gingee; he was informed
that Sivaji was coming on behalf of Golconda ; and he
consequently did not scruple to send envoys to the Mara-
thaas soon as he heard that he had entered the Carnatic.

— 217 —

therein the revenue system already adopted
in Maharashtra.

Besides the Maratha chronicles, we have
got the Fort St. George Records (which consist
of Con saltations and Diaries of the Councils and
copies of the letters sent and received from
various places) and the Jesuit letters which
give ample references to the Carnatic expedi-
tion of Sivaji. Apart from the Jesuit letters,
we have got reliable contemporary European
records to enable us to build a regular account
of Sivaji's expedition into the Carnatic.

One Valentin, who, however, wrote long
after Sivaji's death, has remarked thus :
" Sivaji accomplished great things in the year
1676, at Golconda, in Surat and elsewhere ; but
these we pass over as being not to our con-
cern." Nicolo Manucci, the famous Venetian
traveller, has also made a brief reference to
the activities of Sivaji in the Carnatic. He
has written as follows : " Sivaji having no idea
of allowing his arms to rust, asked the king
of Golconda to grant him a passage to his
campaign in the Carnatic and obtained by his
valour and determination the great fortress
called Gingee. He, like a dexterous falcon,
pounced on many other fortresses belonging
to Bijapur ". An equally meagre account is
given in an unpublished manuscript found in

28

— 218 —

the Archives Marines of Paris. It says: —
44 Sivaji entered into the Carnatic with a big
army, resolved to take possession of the pro-
vince and defeated many princes who opposed
him."

The best foreign account of the Carnatic
expedition is found in the Memoirs of Francois
Martin, who founded the settlement of Pondi-
cherry in 1674. Martin took a keen interest
in the Carnatic affairs of the time ; and his
Memoir* which deal with the Maratha acti-
vities in the Carnatic constitute a document of
great accuracy and importance and have* fur-
nished us with the best contemporary account
of Sivaji's expedition into the Carnatic. The
Fort St. George Records, the Jesuit letters
and the Maratha chronicles corroborate the
account of Martin.**

* " Martin served the French East India Company for
forty eventful years ; and, as one who took a keen interest
in the Carnatic affairs, his account of the Maratha acti-
vities in that region is of the greatest value and import-
ance....He left for India in 1665. ...In 1670 he was at
Surat and heard a rumour th.it Sivaji contemplated a
second sack of that wealthy emporium of oriental trade.
He was with De la Haye during the siege of San Thome;
and on the 13th January 1674 he left that place with one
hundred and fifty men only, under cover of night. His
resources were extremely meagre and consisted of the
paltry sum of sixty pagodas that he carried on his person
and twenty to twenty-five louis in the possession of his
friend Lespinay. Thus began the enterprise that ulti-
mately resulted in the foundation of Pondicherry."

" As an ally of Sher Khan Kodi of Valikandapuram,
Martin closely watched the political movements in the

— 219 —

neighbourhood. He was not, however, quite ignorant of
what was going on in Western India. In August 1675
he received some letters from Monsieur Baron, then at
Rajapur, informing him of Sivaji's fresh conquests at the
expense of the king of Bijapur. Martin also learnt that
Phonda, an important place about four to five leagues
from Goa, had been recently reduced by Sivaj\ The
French Director at this time intended to bring about an
understanding between Shiva ji and Bahlol Khan, the
Commander-in-Chief of the Bijapur forces, and requested
Martin to approach Sher Khan with this proposal. Sher
Khan told Martin that he could not write to his master
unless Siviiji took an oath on a " Shalagrama " in testi-
mony to his sincerity. Whether Monsieur Baron made
any further attempt in this direction we do not know.
]n February 1676, Martin wrote in his Memoirs of the
confusion at Bijapur caused by the death of Khawas
Khan. Sivaji, of course, did not fail to exploit the
differences among the Bijapur officers and he tDok posses-
sion of the best places in that kingdom."

Martin's Memoirs : —Martin therefore, wrote a daily
journal of everything that deserved notice since his
arrival in Madagascar, and these notes were later conti-
nued after he came to India. From time to time, when
he had leisure, these notes were revised and reduced to
their present shape. The revision was probably made by
a copyist under Martin's personal supervision and he
made numerous corrections and add^d many notes with
his own hands."

14 Besides his Afcmoiis, two bit? fragments of his
journal have been preserved ; one of these deals with the
twelve months extending from February 21, 1701 to
February 15, 1702 and the other contains his journal from
February 18, 1702 to January 31, 1703."

" It is needless to say that Martin furnishes us with
the best contemporary account of Shivaji's Karnatak
expedition. His Memoirs constitute a document of first
rate importance and were copied by the late Monsieur
P. Margry with a view to publication. Margry's trans-
cription is now in the Bibliotheque Nationale, while the
original manuscript of Martin has been preserved in the
Archives Nationales of Paris." (Introduction to S. N.
Sen's Foreign Bio(iraj>hi<\* of Shied ji: Pp. xxvi-xxx).

- 220 —

The movements of Sivaji attracted the
serious and anxious attention of the English
at Fort St. George ; the Council th vis minuted in
the Diary and Consultation Book of 1672-1678
(letter of 9th May 1677) :— " Sivaji being enter-
tained in the king of Golconda's service and
now upon his march to Gingee with an army
of 20,000 horse and 40,000 foot had already
passed Tirupati and Kalahasti. The sad ex-
perience of all countries and places through
which he passed obliged us to take care of
ourselves and we resolved to strengthen our
outguards and observe his motions." A letter
from Madras dated 14th May 1677, observes,
that in consequence " of a letter from Sivaji
to Fort St. George with a request for some
cordial stones and counterpoisons, we resolved
to send them with a civil letter together with
fruits the garden afforded, three yards of
broad cloth and a few pieces of sandal wood
without asking him money for such trifles
though he had offered to pay the money in his
letter, considering how great a person he is
and how much his friendship has already and
may import the Hon'ble Company as he grows
more and more powerful as it was obvious to
them, especially when the army was very near
and was only a day's march," The letter con-
cludes with the list of medicines, (cordial-
stones) and other items that were thereupon

— 221 —

sent to Sivaji. On 18th June 1677 a letter was
received from Sivaji thankfully accepting the
presents (cordial-stones) and counter-poi-
sons, with a further request for an additional
supply of the same and other sorts and with
an assurance of his friendship and offering a
price for them. On the 3rd October 1677,
another letter came from Sivaji requesting the
English to supply him with engineers to which
was returned to him " a civil excuse fearing
the enmity of the Golconda Sultan and the
Mughals and also the increasing power of
the Marathas."

The English letter of August 1678 refers
to the siege of Vellore and the surrender of
the fort to Sivaji by Abdullah Khan, its Bijapuri
governor. The letter says :— " Sivaji's forces
under the command of his half-brother,
Santaji, appeared before Vellore which was
being besieged for over fourteen months and
whose captain, Abdulla Khan, held it very
resolutely in spite of great difficulties and the
sickness that reduced so much the number of
his men that he had to surrender the fortress
on condition of receiving 30,000 pagodas with
a small fort and country for himself." An
entry in the Madras Diary of October 1678
tells us that Sivaji did not stay at Vellore to
receive the money and country, but marched
towards the coast. The letter of August 1678

— 222 —

refers to u Sivaji being in quiet possession of
all the country between the two strong castles
of Gingee and Vellore which are worth 23 lakhs
of pardoes or £550,000 per annum at 5sh. per
pardoes and in which he has a considerable
force of men and horse, 72 strong hills and 14
forts being 60 leagues long and 40 broad so
that they will not be easily taken from him."

The letter of Henry Gary from Bombay
to the Company at Fort St. George dated 16th
January 1677—78, also mentions the Maratha
capture of various places in the Carnatic.
" Sivaji, carried by an ambitious desire to be
famed a mighty conqueror, left Raigad, his
strongest fort in the Konkan and marched into
the Carnatic, where he took two of the strong-
est forts in those parts, the one called Gingee
(Chindi) and the other called Chindawar (Tan-
jore) where there are many merchants. With
success as happy as Caesar's in Spain he came,
saw and overcame and reported such a vast
treasure in gold, diamonds, emeralds and
rubies that strengthened his arms with very
able sinews to prosecute his further designs/'
The Maratha chronicle, the Sabhdsad Bakhar,
gives a long list of forts under Sivaji's control ;
and among them are included Gingee and
Vellore. Another Maratha record— the Jedhe-
sakhavali, a bare summary of events with dates
covering the years 1618—1697, kept by the

— 223 —

Jedhes, who were the deshmukhs of Kani —
while narrating the events intheCarnatic, also
refers to Sivaji's conquests. " Sivaji took Gin-
gee and the whole of the Carnatic in Chitra
Sudha, Saka 1599 (April 1677) ".» The Jesuit
letter of Andre Freire, dated July 1678, has not
only corroborated the other records in Sivaji's
conquest of Gingee, but has also referred to the
fortifications effected therein by him. Accord-
ing to that letter Sivaji is said to have devised
every means for strengthening the Gingee fort.
Extensive ramparts seem to have been built
around it, with deep and wide ditches sur-
rounding them. The place was rendered very
compact and strong and was also fully garri-
soned and provisioned. The following are the
relevant extracts from the Jesuit letter of
July 1678 : — " Sivaji applied all the energy of
his mind, and all the resources of his domin-
ions to the fortifications of all the principal
places. He constructed new ramparts around
Gingee, dug ditches, erected towers and exe-
cuted all the works with a perfection that

* Tho Jed he Sakhavali is, the words of Sri J. N.
Sankar, " a new and very valuable source for the politi-
cal history of this most interesting and least known for-
mative period of the Maratha state " ; and " its informa-
tion on some very minute and otherwise unknown points
is corroborated in a surprising degree by the English
Factory records which no modern Maratha fabricator
could have read." It is the most copious of the Maratha
family chronicles we possess.

— 224 —

Europeans would be ashamed of." The Madras
Minutes and Consultations of April 1678 con-
tain a reference to the fortifications erected
by Sivaji : " Santa ji with his army returned to
Gingee castle, a great part of which is very
strongly built since Sivaji took it, and there is
a great store of grain and all things necessary
for a long siege already laid in and he has a
good stock of money, besides the rent of the
country he had taken." Martin's Memoirs
have also given ample testimony to the forti-
fications of Sivaji. They say :— " Sivaji after
having examined the site of Gingee which
offered great protection gave orders to cut off
a part and to erect new fortifications." They
also add that, by February 1678, a large body
of workmen were vigorously " labouring at
Gingee for demolishing a portion of the wall
and to fortify the area enclosed by it."

The Marathas were said to have built
ramparts about twenty feet thick behind the
original enclosing walls, with barracks and
guard-rooms built into them at intervals. Such
ramparts might have been the work of Sivaji,
or, more probably, of the lieutenants whom he
left behind him in charge of the place, who are
credited, according to Jesuit letter and other
sources with the erection of the fortifications.

One cannot believe that Sivaji during his
short stay in the Carnatic for less than a year

— 225 —

could have personally added much to the
strength of the fort. In the absence of other
sources of information to the contrary, we
have to rely upon the statement of Fr. Andre
Freire. Mr. C. V. Vaidya has said that " it
is not strange that Sivaji with his advanced
wisdom and high political and military genius
foresaw that a life-and-death struggle with
Aurangzeb was inevitable and that a strong
and extensive fort like Gingee in the distant
south would afford him the last stand even if
Panhala and Raigad were lost." Actually
we will see in the following pages how Raja
Ram, the second son of Sivaji, finding himself
unsafe in Panhala owing to the Mughal
attacks, took refuge in Gingee where he form-
ed his own government. The very fact that
Aurangzeb coveted its possession and that he
had to secure it from Raja Ram only after a
prolonged blockade lasting several years,
shows that Gingee was rendered impregnable
by the Marathas during the years of their
occupation. The Maratha nationality sur-
vived this Mughal attack by taking shelter in
Sivaji's southern conquest during the critical
years of the War of Independence.

According to Wilks, Gingee was captured
by Sivaji even at the first assault. One can-
not believe that Sivaji could have got the fort

so easily from the Bijapur captains, especially

29

- 226 —

when the latter had but recently strengthened
it. We know, from the Dagh Register of
July 1677, that i the Bijapuri captain, Nasir
Khan, held the fort with 7,000 men and defend-
ed it against Sivaji who assaulted it with
16,000 cavalry and 15,000 infantry." The fact
that Sivaji had to bring down such a huge
army to invest the fort reveals the strength of
the fortress and hence we could not easily
believe that it was taken at the first assault.
We have also the statement of Grant-Duff,
which is also corroborated by the Maratha
chronicle, Sabhasad, which says that Sivaji
" captured the fort by using treachery, having
previously entered into an agreement with the
sons of Amber Khan through the famous
Raghunath Narayan Hanumante who was
later appointed the Subhedar of Gingee."

A Critical Study of the Climatic
Expedition of Sivaji.

Raghunath Narayan Hanumante is refer-
red to as the originator of the Carnatic ex-
pedition by the Maratha chronicles. Both
Grant-Duff and Sarkar have accepted the view
of the chroniclers. Raghunath Narayan who
was serving Ekoji at Tanjore, left his court
on account of a quarrel with him and sought
service in Maharashtra, where Sivaji utilised
his schemes for his expedition to the Carnatic.

— 227 —

Raghunath seems to have concluded the treaty
with the Sultan of Golconda which enabled
the advance of Sivaji to Gingee and Vellore.

We may admit that Raghunath Narayan
suggested the scheme of an expedition into
South India by inducing Sivaji to claim a
share of his paternal jaghirs in the South.
One need not discuss here the right of Sivaji's
claim to his father's jaghirs in the Carnatic ;
and G. S. Sardesai has shrewdly and logically
contended that if Sivaji claimed his share in
the Carnatic, Ekoji, his brother, could also
equally claim his share of Maharashtra.

Whatever might have been the motives
that induced Sivaji to march into the Carnatic,
the scheme seems to have been discussed as
early as 1675. In a letter from Surat dated
20th December 1675 (Archives Coloniales
Inde) Baron. Fells De la Haye says that he
met Annaji Pant, one of the ministers of
Sivaji, who admitted that if the Mughals were
engaged in the north, Sivaji would carry his
arms on to the coast and that he had already
sent an embassy to the Golconda court to
minimise his difficulties, to explain his plans
to the king, and obtain some money from him."
The expedition, as we have already seen, was
launched at a very opportune moment when
Bijapur lay paralysed by its internal court

— 228 —

dissensions. Madanna Pant of Golconda had
been maturing, according to the account of
Martin, plans to recover a part of the Carnatic
for Hindu rule and " to make himself a power-
ful protector of Sivagy by virtue of the facilities
that he gave him (Sivagy) to make himself
the master of it ; and perhaps they had still

more far-reaching designs He (Sivagy)

had many consultations with the minister
(Madanna); orders were sent to the governors
of various places in Carnatic and to the pallea-
gars to give Sivagy whatever assistance he
might demand of them ; troops, provisions,
artillery, munition, etc. ; the Duke of Gingy
was informed of everything and of the fact
that Sivagy was the commander of the army
of the King of Golconde and that he had
orders to conclude the treaty about which
they had agreed. Nasirmamet (Nasir, the
governor of Gingee) who only sought the
means of preventing Chircam (Sher Khan)
from rendering himself the master of Gingy,
did not make any alteration to the terms and
got ready to receive Sivagy to whom he sent
ambassadors as soon as he learnt that he was
in Carnate."

The historian, Robert Orme, has given the
following account of Sivaji s Capture of Gingee.

"The want of contemporary record has
disabled us from acquiring any regular ac-

— 229 —

count of Sevagi's expedition into the Carnatic,
although on ground in which the arms and
interests of our nation have of late years
taken so much concern ; he returned not to
Rairee, as had hitherto been his usage, at the
setting in of the rains, but rendezvoused in
May of the year 1677, in a fortress belonging
to the king of Golconda ; from whom he had
perhaps obtained the permission, in their con-
ference the year before ; from hence he set off
with his whole force, passed by Tripetti, and
afterwards within fifteen miles of Madrass,
but seems to have made his main push direct-
ly against Gingee, of which with Volcondah
and several other forts, we find him in posses-
sion in the month of July and it was impos-
sible that this rapid success should have been
the mere effect of his arms ; but that availing
himself of the discords which prevailed in the
council of Viziapore, he had gained several of
the principal members, whose recommenda-
tions facilitated his compromises with the
governors in the Carnatic. He appointed
Hargee Rajah his viceregent in the conquered
country, and fixed its capital at Gingee.
Whether detained by the prosecution or regu-
lation of his conquests we cannot ascertain,
but it does not appear that he quitted the

— 230 —

Carnatic before the beginning of the year
1678." *

The Ultimate Object of the expedition

We have to settle now whether Sivaji
was animated by the idea of plunder or con-
quest and annexation when he marched into
the Carnatic. Sir Jadunath Sarkar has main-

* ( Pp. 63-64 of Orme's Historical Fragments

Note. Bombay writes to Surat, June 27th, 1677*
*" Mr. Child (he was afterwards Sir John Child, Governor
of Bombay) (from Carwar, where he was chief of the
factory) writes, that Sevagi is in a castle of the king of
Golcondah, where he intends to winter ; and after the
rains, it is thought intends against the Carnatic ............

July 11, 1677. Again, Sevagi at present is a great way
off in the Carnatic country, whore he wintered. In his
absence, Morah Pundit and Anagi Pundit, and another
Brahmin are left to govern affairs, to whom we have
sent to procure their cowl (pass) to all generals of armies
that shall come towards Surat, that they molest not the
English in any part where they come, nor plunder any of
their goods.

August 24th 1677. *4 Sevagi is at present in the
Upper Carnatic, where he has taken the strong castle of
Chingy (Gingee), Chingavore, (Tanjore), Pilcundah
(Volcondah) and several others, and shamefully routed
the Moors, and it is believed has robbed Seringapatam
and carried away great riches from thence ; and they say
he designs, on his return back, to take Bridroor (Bid-
noor) and so join the Canara to his own conquests."

Madras, in a letter dated September 1, 1677, which is
not to be found, advised the Company, that the nearness
of Sevagi engageth all their attention to fortify ; they
describe his force and success, and had received three
messengers from him with letters. July 9, 1678, they
say that little action hath passed between the armies of
the king of Golcondah and Sevagi." (Ibid. Pp. 233—235.)

— 231 —

tained that he was motivated by plunder alone.
He says : " He could not have intended to annex
permanently a territory on the Madras coast,
separated by two powerful and potential states,
Bi japur and Golconda, and situated more than
700 miles from his capital. His aim was mere-
ly to squeeze the country of its wealth and
that a partition of his father's jaghirs was
only a plea to give a show of legality to the
campaign of plunder." Dr. S. N. Sen in his
'Studies in Indian History ' has refuted Sar-
kar by saying that there would be " no diffi-
culty in maintaining an empire situated some
hundred miles away from the capital, provided
the communications were safe and good.11

Martin's Memoirs speak of havildars sent
by Sivaji to govern Pondi cherry and other
places in the conquered territory. The ap-
pointment of such havildars shows that Sivaji
had decided to annex and govern the country
on a permanent basis. Martin has also praised
the Brahman officers 'of the Pondicherry dis-
trict for their industry in utilising waste and
uncultivated lands near Pondicherry and
rendering them profitable. He has noted that
the prompt appointment of havildars and sub-
hedars for the government of the conquered
country and the reclamation and cultivation
of unprofitable lands by these officers meant
that the Marathas wished to retain their

— 232 —

conquests. Ranade has written that Sivaji by
his conquests and alliance formed a new line
of defence on the Cauveri valley in Southern
India to which he could retire in case of
necessity. Though Sivaji did not stay long at
Gingee and Vellore, he returned to Maha-
rashtra to continue the Mughal war only
after appointing capable men in charge of
the Carnatic.

Martin's Memoirs give us a clear indica-
tion of the motive which prompted Madanna
Pant and Sivaji in projecting the Carnatic
expedition of the latter. . Madanna Pant had,
within two years of his accession to the minis-
tership of Golconda (1674 according to the
testimony of Baron's Letters and Martin's Me-
moirs} succeeded in getting the whole govern-
ment and revenues of the state farmed out to
himself and only allowing a monthly stipend
for the expenses of the Sultan. He had
changed the personnel of the administration to
a considerable extent and removed many
Pathan, Persian and Deccani grandees from
their charges and put his own creatures in
the chief offices. One of the most important
features of Madanna's foreign policy was his
co-operation with Sivaji in the conquest of the
Carnatic.

Even by the beginning of 1676, the Afghan-
Deccani struggle at the Bijapur court which

— 233 —

had become intensified by the assassination of
Khawas Khan by Bahl61 Khan, had spread to
the provinces ; and in the Carnatic, Sher Khan
L6di, the Afghan governor of Valikandapuram
and champion of the Pathan faction, made
war on Nasir Muhammad, ruler of Gingee
and a partisan of the Deccani faction. Owing
to his greater strength and the help which
Sher Khan received from the French at Pondi-
cherry, this person was able to defeat Nasir
Muhammad and wrest a considerable part of
his territories from him. The latter, being
disgraced and depressed, sought the protec-
tion of the Sultan of Golconda and agreed to
give Gingee into his hands, in return for the
grant of certain jaghirs to him (May 1676).
Madanna now represented to his master that
Nasir Muhammad's request offered an excel-
lent chance for the Sultan not only to get
Gingee, but also to obtain possession of Madu-
ra, Tanjore and other portions of the Carnatic
in the south. But he pointed out that " it would
not do for Golconda to send a large army
into the Carnatic for the declared purpose of
conquering it, without rousing the opposi-
tion of the Mughal.1' According to Martin,
Madanna suggested that Sivaji should be
invited to undertake the conquest, as he would
readily agree if he were to be helped with
artillery and money ; and he would only retain

30

— 234 —

certain parts of the country he should conquer,
such as Tanjore which he claimed as his patri-
mony, and give over all the rest to Golconda.

As we saw, Sivaji met Sultan Abul Hasan
at Golconda and completely held him in his
grip by force of his magic personality. The
Sultan agreed to help the expedition with
troops and money and to send orders to all
the Golconda officers in the Carnatic that
Sivaji was acting on behalf of himself and
should get all the help he might need.

After Sivaji took possession of Glngee from
Nasir Muhammad, he refused to put the Gol-
conda officers in possession of it, which refu-
sal, in the words of Martin "opened Abul
Hasan's eyes to the deception which had been
practised upon him " and " made him realise
that Shivaji and Madanna had come to a secret
understanding with each other to the prejudice
of his own interests/' * Martin further adds

* Adrian Duarte: — An Estimate of Madanna from
the French Records — (Journal of Indian History — Vol.
XI : pp. 298-313).

Duarte thus explains the significance of Madanna's
co-operation with Sivaji.

44 Madanna's meeting with Shivaji at Golconda did
not represent, as it was intended to appear, the com-
mencement of his negotiations with the Mahratta chief,
but their final consummation. We have Baron's conclu-
sive evidence (AnagiPent m'avoua avec beaucoup

de franchise que si le Mogol continuait la guerre du
cote de Laor que Sivagy porterait ses armes de ce

that " Madanna's views were to place this
part of the Carnatic once again under the
domination of the Hindus, and by facilitating
its conquest for Shivaji, to make of him a
powerful protector."

c6te le et pour avoir moins de difficulte a 1'entre-

prise il avait envoye un ambassadeur & la Cour de
Golconde. Baron a De la Haye, AC. C"63. 316-7), that
Shivaji had entertained the project of invading the
Carnatic as early as in 1675. Since that time continuous
negotiations had been in progress between his emissary
Raghunath Narain, and Madanna. Madanna had al-
ready fully made up his mind to subsidize Shivaji with
Golconda money, to enable him to conquer the Carnatic
for himself. Only the pretext for Jetting Shivaji loose
into the Carnatic was wanting, and the pretext had
opportunely arrived in the request of Nazir Mohomed.
When Shivaji finally set out on his mission as Golconda's
accredited agent, and with the sinews of war which
Golconda had supplied, nobody knew better than
Madanna that Sivaji would never give Abul Hfisan the
territories he had promised to give him. As Martin
observes, Madanna " knew Shivaji too well not to realize
that he would never keep the promise that he had made/*
The whole was a carefully planned conspiracy to hood-
wink Abul Hasan into pulling the chesnuts out of the
fire for the greater benefit of the Mahratta chieftain."

" We have reached the year 1677 which is, in

several respects, the year of the fullest maturity of
Madanna's diplomatic system. Everything that the
system stood for — absolute rule at home, a Brahmin
administration, the restoration of Hindu rule in the
Carnatic, a firm alliance with Shivaji as the chief plank
of national defence — all these had, by the year 1677,
become concrete accomplished facts giving expression to
his aims and definitely influencing the history of the
Deccan."

" Madanna doubtless favoured the existence in

Central and Southern India of a community of Hindu
and semi-Hindu states as a defensive bulwark against

— 236 —

Santaji, his brother, was placed in charge
of Gingee and its dependencies and was assist-
ed by Raghunath Narayan Hanumante, the
subhedar of Gingee and Senapathi Hambir
Rao Mohite in the general management of
administrative affairs in the Gingee country.
Havildars were appointed for the Pondi-
cherry, Kunimedu and Porto Novo districts.

One of these havildars stopped a Dutch
ship at Porto Novo in 1678 for payment of
customs dues to be collected from vessels
touching that fort. The Dutch Government
refused to pay such dues as they had already
reduced the salaries and emoluments of the
Dutch officials employed in the Coromandel
Coast. When, therefore, a Dutch ship was
stopped at Porto Novo by the Maratha subhe-
dar, they had to abandon the Porto Novo

the ever pressing encroachment of Mogul India from the
North and West. Nothing short of such a theory can
satisfy the facts of Madanna's rule since his accession to
power in 1674. He had imposed himself and a Brahmin
bureaucracy on the Golconda state ; one of the clauses of
the Treaty of Kulburga stipulated that his brother
Akkanna should be wazir of the Bijapur state (Sarkar :
Hi&tory of Auranyzib, p. 150) ; he had helped to establish
Hindu rule in the Carnatic ; and finally he had secured
the firm alliance of Sivaji. What other supposition can
these facts warrant than that Madanna sought to con-
solidate Hindu rule in Central India, and use it as a
defensive weapon against the constant menace of Maho-
inedan India from the North ? These doubtless were the
" vast designs " which Martin is always hinting at in
his comments on Madanna's policy in the memoirs."

— 237 —

and Devanampatnam factories as they were
under the Maratha control. In September
1678, some Dutch vessels under embargo
touched the Cuddalore (Devanampatnam) port
and embarked all their goods, including timber
as well as the women-folk and sent them to
Pulicat with a convoy. In 1680, however, the
Dutch seems to have obtained the factory at
Porto Novo from the Marathas.

Sivaji died in April 1680, less than three
years after his annexation of Gingee and
Vellore in the Carnatic. He had no time to
consolidate his gains in the South. The
forts he acquired were however garrisoned
and strengthened by him, while the havildars
and subhedars appointed for Porto Novo and
other places indicated the establishment of
the Maratha rule. The military and revenue
system that prevailed in Maharashtra were
also held to have been introduced in the
Carnatic.

Sambhaji and Gingee.

Sambhaji, soon after his accession to pow-
er in 1680, is said to have dismissed and im-
prisoned Raghunath Hanumante, the su-
bhedar of Ginjee ; this might have happened
as early as January 1681. Sambhaji seems
to have been irritated by the open rebuke

— 238 ~-

administered to him by Ragunath Hanumante
in a banquet arranged in his honour. Conse-
quently Raghunath Pant was probably ordered
by him to be imprisoned. The Madras Diary
of 1681 has recorded the popular report that
Raghunath was seized and put in irons by
Santaji, a younger brother of Sivaji, on hear-
ing a false rumour that Sambhaji was dead
and that Raja Ram was on the throne. The
Diary has also recorded " that letters intended
to be written to Raghunath Pandit about
settling a factory in the Gingee country must
now be written to the subhedar of Porto
Novo."

Sambhaji appointed his sister's husband,
Harji Mahadik s;% to govern Gingee with
Shamji Nayak Punde as his adviser. They
arrived in Gingee with troops in March 1681
and took charge of the Government. A letter
to Fort St. George of 20th September 1681-82
from the subhedar of Porto Novo to William
Gyfford, (the Governor of Madras 1681-1687),
has referred to the assumption of office by
Harji Raja who had taken charge of the
government of all the countries and fortified

* Harii Mahadik was married to Ambikabai, daugh-
ter of Sivaji by his first wife, Saiya Bai, and Sambhaji '&
full-sister. After the Carnatic campaign, he was made
governor of the fort of Gingee. On the death of Raghu-
nath Pant, he was rais9d by Sambhaji to the post of
viceroy of the south.

~ 239 —

places and to whom he had sent horses and
jewels ; also letters had been sent to all the
subhedars and governors of the country com-
manding them all to obey Harji Raja. The
above letter has also referred to the imprison-
ment of Shamji Nayak. Probably he was
suspected of complicity in the plots formed
against Sambhaji and the other Raja Ram,
the son of the eldest surviving wife of Sivaji,
Sorya Bai by name. Sorya Bai claimed the
throne for her own son, whose character, she
thought, promised better times for his sub-
jects. She did not like Sambhaji as he was
quite unfit, alike by character and conduct,
to rule Maharashtra. Each party desired
to vindicate its own rights and hence plots
and conspiracies were rife at the court of
Raighad.

Harji Mahadik seems to have ruled Gin-
gee with considerable authority as circum-
stances enabled him to become practically in-
dependent of his master. Sambhaji's absorp-
tion in debauch, the baneful predominance of
his minister who enjoyed the title (Kavi-
kulesh) and the increasing Mughal pressure
in Maharashtra all tended to make Harji
Raja supreme in Gingee. He seems to have
been so very powerful that he even neglected
to send the surplus revenue to his sovereign
at Raigarh,

- 240 —

Attempts at an English settlement In the Gingee
country In this epoch

The English at Madras had been suffering
in trade owing to the attempts at exactions
and impositions levied by the deputy of the
Golconda government, Podili Lingappa by
name. Hence they wanted to escape from
this oppression by effecting settlements in the
Gingee country. The Madras Diary of 1681
relates to the anxiety of the English to have
a settlement in the Gingee country. " Upon
consideration of Poddela Lingappa's threat to
stop trade and besiege Madras by order of the
court, it is resolved to be for the Company's
interest to be at the charge of obtaining a
cowle to settle a factory in the Gingee coun-
try— which is out of Golconda's dominions —
which is a matter of great security to the
Company's investments. The settling of a
factory in the Gingee country will keep them
in greater respect to this place and secure
large investments, that being the best country
for cloth. It is resolved that letters should
be written to the Maratha Subhedar of Gingee
to grant the English a cowle for factories at
Cuddalore or Kunimedu and at Porto Novo.
If we think fit a person may be sent to obtain
the said cowle as soon as possible."

Having heard in 1681 that Raghunath
Pandit was no more the Subhedar of Gingee,

— 241 -

the English began to negotiate with the subhe-
dar of Porto Novo, one G6pal Dadaji Pandit.
He seems to have discussed with Harji Raja
about the proposed English settlement in the
Gingee country. Harji Raja seems to have
been very much pleased with the account
given by Gopal Dadaji about the English and
showed his willingness to grant the Company
liberty of making a settlement on his sea coast.
In February 1681, the subhedar of Porto Nova
sent a letter of credence through a Brahman
envoy about settling a factory in the Gingee
country, offering very fair terms. In April,
Robert Freeman (who was serving the Com-
pany and found fit for such employment) was
despatched to inspect the ports and places
in the Gingee country, with presents of five
yards of scarlet, a looking-glass and a piece of
sandal wood (Madras Diary and Consulta-
tion Book, 1681). According to Orme, Elihu
Yale, Second in the Madras Council, who was
deputed to Harji Raja at Gingee in 1681 pro-
cured a factory at Cuddalore. A ship that was
sent from Madras to Porto Novcr in July 1682,
had to return with the factors and cargo on
board, owing to the exorbitant sums demanded
by the Maratha subhedar at that port, Even
Harji Raja imposed an additional duty on all
the cloth woven for the Company within
his jurisdiction. In consequence, the Council

31

— 242 —

at Madras requested the Presidency of Surat
to procure a farman from Sambhaji for the
abolition of imports and for permission to
build a fort near Cuddalore and for the punish-
ment of the subhedar of Porto Novo.

In 1683, an incident occurred which gave
an opportunity for the English to demand
certain privileges from Sambhaji. An English
ship proceeding to Bombay was attacked by
the Arabs who were believed by the English
to have been hired to do so by Sambhaji him-
self. The English at Bombay complained
about it to Sambhaji who, however, denied the
charge, but promised to grant privileges for
the Company's trade in the Gingee country.

In 1684, Gary was sent on a mission to
Sambhaji for the freedom and increase of
English trade in the Gingee country. " Sam-
bhaji, from the fear of the English and in the
hope of gaining the island of Bombay for him-
self, treated Gary with much attention and
granted a factory at Cuddalore and Devanam-
patnam with the ancient immunities allowed
to the factories at Kunimedu and Porto Novo."
Keigwin and his Council are named in the
patents as the parties to whom the grants are
made.

Freeman who was sent to visit the ports
and places in the Gingee country in 1681

— 243 —

seems to have reported in favour of Cuddalore
since he was appointed to be the chief of that
place in 1682. He did not go there, because
he was sent to Masnlipatam in the meanwhile.
The settlement at Cuddalore seems to have
failed in 1682, for we find, according to the
Diary of that year, attempts being made to
settle a factory at Kunimedu. The subhedar
of Kunimedu who seems to have been kind
towards the English, offered them a settle-
ment in the territory under his jurisdiction.

A letter from Fort St. George of the year
1684-1685, has referred to the demand of a loan
of 3,000 pagodas by the subhedar of Kuni-
medu. The English wished to favour him as
they stood to gain by it. " We have carried out
buildings very considerably and by 50 yards
exceed Harji Raja's coivle and by 20 that of
Amb6ji Pant for convenience of godown room."
Gopal Pandit allowed them to continue the
work and promised to go to Harji Raja and
get a confirmation of the grant. The letter
has also referred to the great desire for
money by the subhedar who had favoured
them by allowing them 100 yards square more
for godown room, in excess of the cowle. The
above letter indicates that Kunimedu had
been granted by the subhedar as early as
the year 1682.

— 244 —

The following despatches from England of
the years 1682—84, indicate the approval of a
settlement in the Gingee country by the Home
authorities. A letter, dated 28th August
1682, says : " We shall be very glad to hear that
in pursuance of our former orders you have
found as much encouragement to settle a fac-
tory at Porto Novo and other places in the
Gingee country." By the 20th September 1682,
from another despatch we learn as follows : —
" We approve of the settlement you have made
in the Gingee country and would have you
nourish it by all means possible and you can
also proceed further in building forts with all
the privileges/' By the 27th October, a letter
was sent with money in bullion, asking for an
increase of investments in the Gingee country.
By the 2nd April 1683, the Home authorities
wrote : — " We have great expectation that
the Gingee country may afford us new sorts
of goods and some dyed calicoes which may
be marketed.1' On the 2nd July 1684, they
stressed, in another letter, that they were
more interested in trade than in strengthening
the Madras fortifications. " Finding the Gol-
conda Governors encroaching so much upon
you, we find ourselves more concerned for a
fort in the Gingee country, being resolved to
defend our privileges in all places. We shall
now write to the President at Surat who is

— 245 -

fair with Sambhaji, to press him to give you
speedy and favourable despatch to build a fort
in his country with ample privileges. We
shall send you more privileges and if Lingappa
(of Poonamalle) or any other Governor say
anything that you raise more revenue and put
you under a customer, you may tell them that
the place hath cost £ 300,000 sterling or give
them the fort and town and remove yourself
to the Gingee country.'1

The fall of Bijapur into Mughal hands in
September 1686, and their imminent a§ Jge of
Golconda roused Sambhaji to a lively sense of
the danger to Gingee from an extension of
Mughal dominion in that direction. Accord-
ing to Orme, we learn that, in October 1686,
he sent Kesava Pingle and Santa ji Gh6rpa.de
with 12,000 horse southwards to strengthen
his garrisons in the Carnatic, with secret orders
to seize and depose the refractoryiHarji Raja
and take over the government of Gingee.
According to the same authority, Harji Raja
was perhaps suspected of an attempt to secure
his own position by disowning Sambhaji's
authority and declaring himself a tributary
vassal of the Mughal. Kalasha, the vile
favourite of Sambhaji, had persuaded his
master to believe that Harji wished to make
himself independent. The latter had har-
houredno disloyal feelings towards his brother-

— 246 —

in-law ; but his agents in the Maratha capital
had warned him of the suspicions entertained
against him and urged him to be careful as to
how he should conduct himself towards
Kesava Pingle and Santaji Ghorpiide.

This measure of Sambhaji seems to have
alarmed the Mughal Emperor Aurangzib, who
detached a large body from the dtfifie of Gol-
conda to invest Bangalore which was still in
Maratha hands, before the latter power could
concert measures for its defence.

Kesava Pant, however, in his ecstasy of
joy at the new post to which he was raised,
revealed the object of his march to Gingee,
as we find from a letter from Kunimedu
addressed to Gyfford, dated 26th March 1687,
which says that " Harji Raja was out of
employment and a new person has come down
in his place." Another letter of April 1687
from Kfmimedu says that " all the Subadars
had been to Gingee to give Kesava Pant, the
new man, a visit."

Harji Raja, having learnt the real object
of Kesava Pant's mission from his friends at
court, had effectively strengthened his hold
over the Gingee fortress. Kesava Pant, finding
himself disappointed in his first hopes, treated
Harji with some outward respect and recognis-
ed his authority to all appearances. This act

— 247 —

removed the apprehension of an open attack
on Harji; and the letter readily lent his
troops to Kesava Pant, to march into the
Mysore country. The straits to which Banga-
lore was now reduced led Harji and Kesava to
forget their mutual jealousies and combine
their resources for its relief.

But the Mughal troops had already taken
Bangalore, before Kesava Pant could go to its
relief ; and he had to return to Gingee. Harji
is held by Kincaid and Parasnis to have ac-
companied Kesava on his march to Bangalore.
He then returned to Gingee and sent 18,000
horse under his two new allies to invade
Mysore. Then came news of the capture of
Golconda by Aurangzib, and of his appoint-
ment of Mughal officers in the place of those
of the deposed Sultan. Kasim Khan was
appointed to be the faujdar of the Carnatic and
was directed to march against the Marathas ;
while Asad Khan seized all the country from
Masulipatam to the Palar river. The Madras
Diary of 1687 has referred to the unsettled
nature of this region at this period in these
words :— " 10,000 horse having come into the
Gingee country commanded by Kasim Khan
to war against the Marathas." Another letter
from Kunimedu, dated 18th November, refers
to the Mughal danger in the Gingee country
which " has so much discouraged all trade that

— 248 —

the merchants ceased to invest." These
Mughal disturbances necessarily compelled
the English factors to fortify Kunimedu, Porto
Novo and other depots. Harji Raja had hoped
to reduce Mysore before Aurangzib should
capture Golconda ; the Mughal advance had
been too quick for him. Kasim Khan and
Asad Khan were in the field with large armies ;
the Golconda governor of Cuddapah had
accepted service under the Mughals ; and the
Hindu rulers of Conjeevaram and Poonamalle
(to the west of Madras) were ready to follow
his example. The latter held that " the world
was constantly turning on its axis and alter-
ing the side which it presented to the sun and
it was not strange that an inhabitant of the
world should follow so excellent an example."
Harji Raja recalled Kesava from the Mysore
country and ordered him to attack the coast
districts between the North Pennar and the
Palar rivers occupied by the Mughal generals.
When Kesava refused to obey, Harji Raja
detached a portion of his own troops in
Gingee and managed to impose his authority
again on the governors of Poonamallee, Arcot
and Conjeevaram. Ashamed and humiliated
at Harji's success, Kesava and Santaji garri-
soned all this country with their own troops
and thus enabled Harji to recall his own men
to Gingee.

— 249 —

On Kesava Pant's return to Gingee, fresh
quarrels arose between him and Harji Raja ; he
now demanded the surrender of Gingee to him
in obedience to his master's orders. Harji
Raja had, however, secured a retreating place
at Devanampatnam near Cuddalore, in 1688.
Now he sent out a detachment of his army to
plunder and conquer on his account the terri-
tories of Golconda north of the Palar river,
which had submitted to the Mughals.

The Madras Diary, of December 1687, has
referred to the activities of the Marathas in the
Golconda territory : — " Having advice from the
Maratha camp that Maratha forces in the
Gingee country under the command of Harji
Maharaja were upon their march with 2,000
horse and 5,000 foot, with a great number of
pioneers and scaling ladders, that they had
plundered and taken several towns belonging
lately to the kingdom of Golconda and commit-
ted various other atrocities and that most of
the inhabitants left Conjeevaram and other
places to secure their persons and estates."

Thus the Marathas were carrying on their
ravages with the Mughals ; and fully a year
passed with both sides watching each other
plundering the country. " No regular battle
was fought. Skirmishes and alarms were fre-
quent. Trade was ruined, industry ceased and

32

— 250 —

men flocked to the European settlements of
the coast."

Orme thus says of Harji Raja's behaviour
during this crisis :— " On his (Kesava's) return
the grudge between him and Harji Raja broke
out openly; the surrender of Gingee to the
orders of Sambagi was publicly demanded and
refused; but Harji fearing that respect to his
sovereign might at length predominate am-
ongst the troops of his own command, secured
the fort of Thevenapatam, near Cuddalore, as
a retreat on emergency ; but to keep up their
attachment to himself by an exertion of
national loyalty and the hope of plunder, he
summoned Keisswa Puntolo to march and
reduce the countries to the north of the Paliar,
which had just submitted to the Mogul.
Keisswa Puntolo seems to have refused any
connexion with him ; on which Harji sent for-
ward a detachment under the command of two
officers, in whom he had special trust, who
met with no resistance of any consequence
from the new converts to the Mogul govern-
ment, and in a fortnight were in quiet posses-
sion of Arcot, Conjeveram, and Punamalee,
with their districts, of which they sat about
collecting the revenues, favoured by the sea-
son, for it was the end of December." *

* Orme's * Historical Fragments of the Mogul
Empire, of the Morattoes, and the English Concerns in
Indostan ' ; (1805) p. 158.

— 251 —

The French Agent, Mons. St. Germain,
who left Pondicherry on 17th October 1688,
reported that on his arrival at Gingee, he
found there a great amount of confusion,
consequent on an attack launched by the
Muhammad ans. Harji Raja, in return for a
consideration of Rs. 11,760, allowed the French
to build walls and four high towers at Pondi-
cherry, while the actual farman for this was
granted only on 9th January 1689. (Kttep. 262)*

The year 1689 was as bad as 1688- The
roads were unsafe for travellers, for both the
Mughals and the Maratha troopers plundered
the country impartially. The English had to
close down their factory at Porto Novo and
move to Kunimedu and Cuddalore, which were
better protected against external attack.

Sambhaji who had obtained a great acces-
sion of troops after the fall of Bijapur and had
reduced all the country south of Panhala, had
aggravated his war against the Mughals with
every species of barbarity. "Aurangzib
swore that he would never return to Delhi
until he had seen the head of Sambhaji welter-
ing at his feet." Kesava Pingle now became
ashamed of himself, and being jealous of Harji
Mahadik's easy success on the coast, ceased
to be mutinous. Early in 1688, twelve thou-
sand Mughal cavalry and a large number of

— 252 —

local levies entered the east coast territory
under Muhammad Sadik, in order to drive out
the Marathas from this region. The latter
immediately retired to Conjeevaram and the
line of fortified places on both sides of the
Palar river and allowed the enemy to seize
Poonamalle and Wandiwash ; but the Mughals
did not venture to attack the inner strong-
holds, while, on their own side, the Marathas
avoided a decisive encounter with the Mughal
cavalry. " So .both armies avoided each other
and contented themselves with ravaging the
country-side and robbing and torturing the
unfortunate peasantry."

In 1689 Sambhaji was captured by the
Mughals.* Harji Raja then seized the oppor-
tunity of imprisoning Kesava Pant and his
followers at Tiruvannamalai and made him-
self independent. Then he strengthened his
army and improved the defences of Gingee
against an immediate attack by the Mughals.
He released Kesava Pant on the 19th August,
but himself died within a month.

Harji Raja's wife, Ambikabai, continued
to govern the fort and province of Gingee
on behalf of her minor sons. Shortly, how-

* For a discussion of the date of his execution, see
appendix to Chapter XXVIII of Kincaid and Parasnis :
A History of the Maratha People, Vol. II.

— 253 —

ever, the situation at Gingee was unexpected-
ly reversed by the arrival of Raja Ram there.

On the capture of Sambhaji by the Mu-
ghals, the Maratha state created by Sivaji
seemed to break to pieces. Soon afterwards,
all the important leaders of the Maratha king-
dom assembled at Raighad. Sambhaji's widow,
Yesubai, and his young son Sivaji (born in
December 1680, shortly after his father's
accession) had to be cared for. Yesubai pre-
sided at the council which was attended by
such great leaders as Santaji Ghorpade,
Dhanaji Jadav, already distinguished for his
great courage and soldierly talents, Khande
Rao Dabhade who was to become the con-
queror of Gujarat, the great Brahman minister
Hanumante, the chief justice Prahlad Niraji,
Khando Ballal Chitnis, who was a son of the
famous private secretary of Sivaji himself
and had saved Sambhaji from drowning during
the %ijge of Goa and had been restored to his
hereditary office and, last but not least, Rama-
chandra Nilkanth Bavdekar, who was the Pant
Amdtya or finance minister throughout Sam-
bhaji's troubled reign. The council of ministers
decided that the boy-prince, Sivaji, should be
considered king and Raja Ram, the younger
brother of Sambhaji, should be the regent.
Prahlad Narayan's weighty eloquence finally
decided the plan to be adopted, namely, that

— 254 —

while the forts in Maharashtra should be
rearmed with artillery and have their walls
repaired and be properly garrisoned, a field
army should be formed from local levies and
by reinforcements from the Carnatic, com-
manded by Raja Ram ; and Ycsubai and Prince
Sivaji should remain in Raighad. Raja Ram
made a bold speech on the occasion, and urged
the councillors present to forget all their anger
and resentment at Sambhaji and to transfer
to Prince Sivaji all the loyalty and love that
the nation bore to his great namesake.* Yesu-
bai blessed Rajaram and assured him of cer-
tain victory. Raja Ram left Raighad along
with his two wives and with Prahlad Niraji,
Khand6 Ballal Chitnis, Santaji GhSrpade,
Dhanaji Jadav and Khande Rao Dabhade,
He went to Pratapgad to invoke the blessings
of its Goddess Bhavani, worshipped at Ram-
das's shrine at Parali, inspected all the forts
that lay on the road and arranged for their
strengthening, Santaji Ghorpade suggested

* Raja Ram thus concluded his speech : — *' Had not
Shivaji foretold that he would be born again as Yesubai's
son? Had not Bhavani told Shivaji that his namesake
would rule long and gloriously and conquer all India
from Attock to Rameshwaram ? 4 1 am but the Prince's
servant '; 'you must, it is true, give me your obedience,
but your loyalty and devotion you must keep for my
master. Do but this and I am confident that we shall
not only save the kingdom, but bring to pass the prophecy
of the Goddess." (Page 63, Kincaid and Parasnis : A
History of the Maruthas, Vol. II, quoting from the
Chitnis Bakhar.)

— 255 —

that a large army of 40,000 men already
organised by Ramachandra Amatya, should
be put under the immediate command of
Dhanaji Jadav, and from the base of Phaltan
draw to itself all the attacks of the Mughals.
Santaji himself was to make a daring raid on
the camp of Aurangzib himself at Tulapur
and, if possible, kill him in the midst of his
attendants. In fact, he made a sudden rush on
the Mughal Imperial camp, cut off the ropes of
the tent in which the Emperor was supposed
to be sleeping and carried away its gold tops.
Fortunately, the Emperor was sleeping else-
where and escaped. Santaji achieved several
other successes, while Dhanaji was able to
repulse an attack on his position at Phaltan.
But, unfortunately, Raighad was captured,
along with the boy-king Shivaji and his mother
Yesubai, by the Mughal forces. Raj^ Ram
himself was besieged first at Panhala; and
when he escaped from it to Vishalgad, he was
hemmed in at the latter place also. The milit-
ary governor of Raighad was in treacherous
communication with Itikad Khan, the Mughal
general and opened the gates of that fort on
condition that he should be made a Deshmukh
(October 1689). Yesubai and the young Sivaji
were taken to the Imperial camp ; but they
were befriended by Princess Zinatunnnissa,
the second daughter- of the Emperor, who was

— 256 —

the head of the Imperial zenana and bore
the title of Begam Sahib. Maratha chronic-
lers have been fond of giving a romantic
explanation of this attachment, saying that
the Princess had learnt to admire Sivaji during
his visit to Agra in 1666 and conceived a
great regard for his fine appearance and
gallant bearing; and they even went to the
length of saying that she took seriously the
desperate offer of Sambhaji, on the eve of his
execution, that he would demand her hand
in marriage as the price of his apostasy.

The Mughals, after they had reduced Rai-
ghad, advanced against Panhala and secured
its surrender after a bitter struggle ; and its
chief, Ghatge, accepted service under the
emperor, with the title of Sarje Rao Ghatge ;
but in order to convince his rightful master,
Raja Ram, that he meant to prove his real
aim on the first available chance and to
return to his true loyalty, he sent his brother
with all his valuables and property to Gingee
to join the forces there. Raja Ram was then
at Vishalgad which was expected to be the
next objective of the Mughals. His council of
officers advised him to carry out the strategic
plan of Sivaji, to abandon Maharashtra in this
crisis and to fall on Gingee, from which for-
tress the Maratha field-army could strike
blow after blow at the long line of Mughal

— 257 —

communications stretching from Poona to the
Carnatic. Ramachandra Amatya was to re-
main in the Western Deccan to continue the
resistance to the extent that might be possible.
Raja Ram was to be escorted to Gingee by
Prahlad Niraji who was to serve as his chief
counsellor and by a number of noted captains
including Dhanaji Jadavand Santaji GhSrpade.
Raja Ram left Panhala about the end of June
1689 and, after many perilous adventures and
a period of concealment in the Bednore terri-
tory, reached Vellore in the last week of
October and entered Gingee in humble disguise
four days later. He then took over its govern-
ment and formed his own court. His leading
councillor, Prahlad Niraji, was appointed
regent and deemed second to him in rank and
power. The Peishwa, Nilkanth Pingle, accom-
panied Raja Ram to Gingee, but was allowed
no extra-ordinary share of authority.

News of the coming of Raja Ram to Gin-
gee had been conveyed in advance to Harji
Mahadik and to Nilkanth Pingle who was the
latter's lieutenant. Raja Ram and his com-
panions clung close to the Western Ghats,
passed through Sunda and Bednore and finally
reached Bangalore safely. But that place
had fallen into Mughal hands and its Mughal
soldiers grew suspicious of this party, all

33

— 258 —

of whom were disguised as Lingayat pil-
grims.*

However Raja Ram contrived to escape
and baffle all the vigilance of the Mughal
officers. Raja Ram went one way and Prahlad
Niraji departed by another route, while some
servants stayed behind maintaining their
character of pilgrims. They were apprehended
later on by the Mughals and though they were
flogged and subjected to torture, they would
not give particulars of the routes taken by
their masters. After a few days they were
allowed to go free and they contrived to catch
up Raja Ram near Gingee. Raja Ram had met
a Maratha force, sent by Harji Mahadik and
Nilkanth Pingle. One version is, that the
viceroy greeted the regent with every mark of
respect and escorted him with great pomp
and ceremony to Gingee, which became the
new capital of the Maratha state.* *

* A danger that threatened to overwhelm the fugi-
tives at Bangalore where a close watch was maintained,
was averted by the devoted loyalty of Khando Ballal
Chitnis who advised Rajaram to go away by one route,
when the party had been discovered in their identity and
himself chose to remain at the spot and successfully
maintained his character as one of a pilgrim band to
Ramesvaram, saying that the others who had left, were
also of the same party.

* * Paper 347 in Rajwade's Volume XV is dated
April 1690. It contains the news of Rajaram's arrival
at Gingee. The Viceroy at the time was probably Har-
ji's son.

— 259 —

A Mughal force which was evidently a
small body of advanced troops, had been des-
patched by the Emperor to penetrate into the
Gingee country a few weeks after the fall of
Golconda ; and this is reported in the Madras

Sir Jadunath Sarkar says: — " Rajaram fled from Rai-
garh to Pratapgarh, on 10 Chaitra Badi 9 (5 April 1689)
issued from Panhala on 8 Ashwin Badi (26 Sept.) and
reached Vellore on 11 Kartik Badi (28 Oct.). The initial
and final dates are correct, but in the middle one I sug-
gest Asharh for Ashwin (thus getting 30 June for the
departure from Panhala), because it is hardly possible
for a man to cover the 500 miles from Panhala, via
Bednur to Vellore in the 32 days (26 Sept— 28 Oct.) that
Z. S. gives to this journey. Moreover, we know from the
contemporary imperial history, Maaslr-i-Alaniyin (328)
that Rajaram went through many adventures after leav-
ing Panhala; he was overtaken by the Mughals on
an island in the Tungabhadra on the frontier of Bednur,
escaped from the ring of his enemies, and was concealed
by the Rani of Bednur and subsequently allowed to go
away. A week or two of time must be allowed for these
causes of delay, but Z. S.'s dates leave no room for them
in the last part of Rajaram's journey. Chitnis's itiner-
ary of Rajaram (ii. 26 — 31) seems to me to be imaginary
and of no value." (Sarkar's 'History of Aurangzib?
Vol. V, page 25).

The Jcdlic Chronology (given in the Shiva ji Souvenir
Volume (Tercentenary Celebration Bombay, 1927) gives
the following dates.

Saka 1011, Aswin, Krishna 11, (29th September 1689,)
Harji Mahadik died. Poush, Krishna 4, (20th December
1689) Yachappa Nayak, Ismail Khan Maka and others,
and 4,000 canalry of the Mughals rebelled
viewed Rajaram through Nilopant at Channj

In that year, on Aswin, Krishna 8,
September 1689) Rajaram rode fror
reached Vellore on Kartik, Krishna,
from thence he went to Gingee.

— 260 —

Diary and Consultation Book of 22nd Novem-
ber 1687.

Bar ji Raja at Gingee

Harji Mahadik who had been appointed
early in 1681 to be the governor of Gingee,
had, as his colleague, Shamji Nayak Punde.
Shortly afterwards, Harji got rid of his
partner on ground of his treachery and plots
against Sambhaji; and he began to rule the
Gingee country with undivided power and
practically as an almost independent sover-
eign. Harji soon extended his power over
the neighbouring districts, " gave himself the
airs of a king, assumed at least in popular
speech the title of Maharaja and neglected to
send the surplus revenue to his sovereign at
Raigarh." In 1683 he interfered with the
affairs of the Trichinopoly Nayak, taking his
part against the Mysore ruler and driving
back an invasion of the latter's army. Harji's
attitude was one of alliance with the Nayak
of Trichinopoly and Madura against his tradi-
tional foes, the rulers of Mysore and Tanjore.

Sambhaji woke up to a sense of his
responsibility for the secure possession of the
Gingee territory only in 1686, when he realized
the seriousness of the consequences of the fall
of Bi japur into the Mughal hands. He now sent
an army of 12,000 men under Kesho Trimbak

— 261 —

Pingle, ostensibly to strengthen his garrisons
in the Carnatic, but in reality to get rid of the
troublesome and overgrown power of Harji
Mahadik and, if possible, to depose him and
assume the government of Gingee. Just then
there arose a rumour that Harji contemplated
taking measures to disavow Sambhaji's author-
ity and even to set himself up as a vassal of
the all-powerful advancing Mughal authority.
Kesho Trimbak arrived in the neighbourhood
of Gingee in February 1687 ; but he could not
do anything to prevent the fall of Bangalore
and Penukonda into the hands of the Mughal
forces ; nor could he even assert any definite
control over Harji Raja and Gingee. Harji now
took up a defiant attitude ; and Pingle had to
pretend that he had no idea of superseding
Harji and to profess open submission to him ;
nor could he make any effective endeavour to
recover the territories recently lost to the
Mughals. The situation at the time of the
fall of Golconda into Mughal hands was thus
very bad for the Maratha power in Gingee.
Mughal officers had been appointed to all im-
portant charges, even to the outlying districts
of the Golconda kingdom like Chingleput,
Conjeevaram and Poonamalle; and Qasim
Khan was ordered to proceed to the Carnatic
and conduct a vigorous warfare against the
Maratha forces there (January 1688). Kesho

- 262 —

Trimbak had chosen this unfortunate moment
to quarrel with Harji for the possession of the
Gingee fort ; while the latter had carefully
secured a retreat for himself in the fort of
Tegnapatam in case he had to quit Gingee
and had sent his lieutenants to raid the terri-
tories of Golconda to the north of the Palar
river. They even succeeded in bursting into
Conjeevaram and in plundering the land.
Kesho Trimbak imitated their example and
likewise plundered the districts of Settupattu
and Kaverippakkam. The Marathas had to
retire from Conjeevaram before the advancing
Mughals and suffered a severe attack at
Wandiwash. Both Maratha and Mughal
forces continued in camp, the former at Settu-
pattu and the latter at Wandiwash, for nearly
a year, each side sending out indiscriminately
detachments for foraging and plundering the
surrounding country. Harji Raja received a
French agent at Gingee in October 1688, at a
time when he was greatly pressed for money ;
and for a consideration of 11,760 rupees, he
allowed the French colony at Pondicherry to
raise walls and four high towers in their fort
and gave the requisite farmau for the purpose
in January 1689, after the usual delay due to
haggling over the amount to be received.

An indication of the anarchy that prevail-
ed even in the neighbourhood of Gingee can be

— 263 —

gleaned from the fact that an agent of Harji
Raja who was directed to plunder the Golconda
territory, betook to raiding the neighbourhood
of Pondicherry itself and making a sum of
20,000 huns in a short time. The situation
continued to be bad throughout 1689; trade
suffered and famine conditions prevailed in
an aggravated form, particularly in the coast
country. The English factory at Porto Novo
had to be closed down and the reaction was
felt even in their trading settlements further
north.

When Harji Raja heard of the death of
Sambhaji in February 1689, he promptly impri-
soned Kesho Trimbak Pingle and his adherents
at Tiruvannamalai as noted above, and made
himself free from all possibility of opposition
from his rivals ; but he was afraid of the grow-
ing strength of the Mughal arms, and even
entertained for a time the idea of submitting
to the Mughals and paying them tribute. He
finally resolved to strengthen his army, im-
prove the fortifications of Gingee, and " defy
the Mughals from its impregnable shelter."
Unfortunately, he died in the month of Sep-
tember, shortly after he had released Kesho
Trimbak ; and his wife Ambika Bai, a daughter
of Sivaji, was in charge of the fort and terri-
tory till the arrival of Raja Ram. Unwillingly,
she had to give up her rule to her brother.

— 264 —

Kesho Trimbak who now became the chief
favourite of Raja Ram, put Harji Raja's son
in confinement and squeezed a large sum of
money from the property of his widow. Raja
Ram had been instructed to proclaim himself
king by Yesu Bai who, realising that the
consequences of Sahu's imprisonment would
be to split the Marathas into factions, urged
him to assume the insignia of royalty him-
self, lest a faction might decline to fight on the
ground that the rightful Maratha king was a
prisoner. But he was careful to announce that
he would continue to be the king only so long
as Sahu continued to be in the Mughal's
hands and assumed royal insignia for the
time being.

Raja Ram first aimed at a combination of
his forces with those of the Maratha chiefs in
the Deccan and of other Hindu Nayaks, in
order to raise a considerable army to retake
Golconda and Bijapur. Prahlad Niraji who, as
already told, had supreme influence over Raja
Ram was appointed to be regent of the king-
dom. Timmaji, the son of Kesho Trimbak
Pingle, was appointed subhedar of the Gingee
district. The regent, Prahlad Niraji, craftily
kept Raja Ram, "constantly intoxicated by
the habitual use of yanja and opium " and
" caused the Brahmans who had enriched them-
selves under Harji to disgorge their monies."

— 265 —

Raja Ram appointed his own Ashtapra-
dhdn, held his court in Gingee, gave inams and
jaghirs to those who had rendered meritorious
services and directed his commanders to carry
on the war against the Mughals. Chauth and
sardeshmuki were also collected.

The Ashtapradhan of Raja Ram at Gingee.

(1) Nilo Morcshwar

Pingle : —

(2) Janardhan Hanu-
mante, son of Raghu-
natha Hanumante,
the former governor
of Gingee

(3) Shankarji Malhar
Rao

(4) Shamji Rao Punde

(5) Mahadhaji

Gadadhar

(6) Santaji Ghorpade

(7) Srikaracharya

Kalgankav

(8) Niraji Ranaji

Peishwa or Prime

Minister.

Amatya or Finance
Minister.

Sachiv or Account-
ant-General.

Mantri or Minister

of the Interior.
Sumant or Foreign
Minister.

Senapathi or
Commander-in-chief.

Pandit Rao.

Nyayadish or Chief
Justice.

None of the eight seats in the council was
given to Prahlad Niraji, who was made the

34

— 266 —

Pratinidhi and given a position superior to
that of all the ministers except the Peshwa.
A number of other appointments were also
made at the time. The remnants of the
Maratha army still struggling in Maharashtra
were given a new moral vigour by this as-
sumption of royalty by Raja Ram and his
constitution of a regular government at Gin-
gee. The army was naturally divided into
two portions, with head-quarters partly in
Gingee and partly in the Deccan. Free-booters
like the Bhosle brothers, Babaji and Rupaji,
whose depradations earned for them the re-
putation of establishing " Bhalleraj " or spear-
rule, were attempted to be absorbed into the
army by Ramachandra Bavdekar who com-
manded in Maharashtra and by Santaji
GhSrpade who began a systematic hunt of the
bandits and gave them " the choice of death
or enrolment in Rajaram's army."

In consequence of a lavish distribution of
offices and jaghirs to his favourites, Raja Ram
experienced financial difficulties and the minis-
ters had to look round to raise money by all
means. According to the Madras Council's
Diary and Consultation Book of 1689 (page
97) the subhadar of Gingee demanded 3,000
pagodas as tax from the factory at Kunimcdu
and a like amount from the French and the
Dutch factories lying within his jurisdiction.

— 267 —

The Madras Diary of May 1690 (page 30) says
" that the Marathas at Gingee, force money
from the people there to defray the charges of
the army which has made them leave Panhala."
As we shall see later, the anxiety of Raja
Ram to sell the Devanampatnam fort (Fort
St. David) to the highest bidder was also due
to his financial difficulties. The English Chief
and Council at Kunimcdu wrote complaining
that the local subhadar was very troublesome
and his " sole aim was to make money and
those who raise money are in his esteem."
The above references indicate the penury of
the Maratha government at Gingee. Hence
they offered to sell the fort of Devanampatnam
(Fort St. David) together with " a gunshot " of
land around it to any European power which
began to bid for it. The French and the Dutch
were also desirous of possessing the fort and
tried to make representations that tended to
lower its value to the English and raise it for
themselves.

The English Purchase of Fort St. David

A Madras Consultation Minute of 4th
December 1689, resolved to send the chief of
Kunimedu to Gingee to negotiate with Rama
Raja. In June 1690 the actual negotiations
were begun with the Raja and details of the
sum for which the settlement was offered by

— 268 -

the Marathas were given, amounting to 200,000
chakrams, equivalent to 120,000 pagodas. The
total included the following items : —

For the Fort 150,000

Present for Prahlad Niraji 15,000

do. for Raghuji Pantulu 10,000
do. for other officers of the

Gingee court 25,000

Total 200,000

The Madras Council continued their
negotiations in order to get the sum lowered
for themselves or raised to the Dutch and the
French who were also very pressing in their
demand for the place. A letter was received
from Gingee soon afterwards, asking for
a final offer from the Madras Council and, in
the event of their refusal to accept the de-
mand, threatening to sell the fort to the
Dutch. Thereupon, the Council proposed to
offer 50,000 chdkrams as detailed hereunder : —

40,000 chakrams for the Fort.
4,000 do. for the Chief Minister.
2,000 do. for his Brother.
3,000 do. for the Officers.
1,000 do for the Conimeer Subhadar.

In July, Sundara Balaji the Maratha
subhadar of Kunimedu, arrived at Madras and

— 269 -

negotiated on behalf of Rama Raja for the
place, first by lowering his demand for the fort
itself and coming down ultimately from 120,000
chakrams to 100,000 but finally offering to give
possession of the Fort along with a farman
under the seal of Rama Raja for a considera-
tion of 60,000 chakrams. The Madras Presi-
dent and Council agreed to this offer and wrote
that " it was certainly to the interest of the
Company, in carrying out their orders to build
a Fort in the Gingee country to buy the one
Devanampattanam, because it would cost three
times as much to build another, it being
reported to be very strong, double-walled,
about 500 feet long and 400 broad with many
buildings and conveniences therein, all of free
and iron stone which, 'tis said, cost the builder,
a rich Gentue merchant, named Chinnia Chetti,
above 1,00,000 pagodas ; excellently well situ-
ated in a plentiful country for cloth trade and
provisions, near the sea, surrounded with a
good river whose barr is constantly open and
capable of receiving vessels of 100 tons,"

The President of the Madras Council also
presented a copy of the farman that he pro-
posed to demand, which included a request for
the grant of some privileges in excess of what
were offered; and it was resolved by the
Council that " in as much as if the Fort fell into
the hands of the Mughals, it would not be able

— 270 —

to be purchased for five times the sum asked
by the Mahrattas while it would cost no more
to keep than the CSnimeer and Porto Novo
factories, and the large extent of ground pro-
posed to go with it, would probably yield a good
revenue with care, it should be purchased."
The President had a private talk with Sundar
Balaji and contrived to beat down his demand
to 51,500 chakrams. The agreement entered
into by Sundar Balaji was as follows :— " I,
Soundee Ballojee, servant to the magnificient
Ram Raja King of the Chingie country, &c.,
have by his authority and order agreed and
contracted with the Honorable Elihu Yale,
Governor of Madras, and Council, for the said
King's Fort at Tegnapatam with ground privi-
leges and all things belonging thereto accord-
ing to the form of a Phyrmaund now delivered
me by the said Governor, &c., for the sum of
fifty-one thousand five hundred Chackrams to
be paid the King after delivery of the said
Phyrmaund and Fort into the said Governor's,
&c., free and secure possession for account of
the Right Honourable English East India
Company. Witness my hand this 15th day of
July, Maras, 1690."

Mr. Thomas Yale and Mr. Charles Barwell
were sent to Gingee as commissioners to
arrange matters with Raja Ram for the f arman
being signed, but with instructions to insist

- 271 -

upon all the terms included in the draft far-
man, particularly the land and villages within
the gunshot of the Fort with the exception of
the Dutch factory and the town of Cuddalore
and exemption from taxation for all the Com-
pany's goods passing throughout the Maratha
dominions.

In the beginning of September, the two
commissioners reported that when they gave
a small bribe to the chief Brahman at the
Maratha court, they were able to succeed and
44 brought the young king to allow us what
towns, villages, &c., our guns could command,
the rents &c., free possession to the Right
Honorable Company, and accordingly has the
Phyrmaund drawn out verbatim to be signed
and confirmed the day following by His
Majesty with orders for the delivery of the
Fort to them."

Raja Ram was also persuaded to grant to
the English the control of Cuddalore, together
with the river and the bar at its mouth.
Hatsell was thereupon asked to go to Tegna-
patam and receive possession of the fort and
pay the stipulated sum and remove a quantity
of military equipment, stores, etc., from
Kunimedu and the southern factories to
that place. Mr. Hatsell's commission con-
tained minute instructions as to the pay-

— 272 —

ment of the sum to Raja Ram and as to
the method of taking possession of- the fort,
after which the " randome shott " was to be
fired, which was to be done with the best
brass gun from Madras that was sent specially
for the purpose. Hatsell was instructed that
" it lies in the gunner's art to load and fire it
to the best advantage " and to carefully fix the
marks and boundaries at the points where
the shots should fall. Accurate and detailed
minutes and consultations were to be kept of
all transactions ; while a mint was also to be
started for striking gold and silver coins. The
Fort was to be named Fort St. David, probably
in honour of the Welsh Saint, whom, Mr. Yale
the then Governor of Madras, himself a
Welshman, wanted to honour.*

* The full text of the farm an executed by Raja Ram
is given hereunder : — "Whereas, wee, Ram Raja by the
Providence of God King of the Chengie kindome and
territories have at the desire of the Honorable Elihu
Yale Governor and Council of the citty and castle of
Maddrass and Chinnapatam for account of the Right
Honorable East India Company and from our royal love
and friendship to them and their nation here condescend-
ed to sell and grant unto the said Elihu Yale and for
account of the said Right Honorable English East India
Company upon ye just consideration and satisfaction of
forty thousand Chuckraes paid by our order to our serv-
ant Ragojee Pontuloo, which I hereby acknowledge to
have received and do for ourselves Heirs and successors
freely and fully give over the Fort of Tevenepatam
with all its gunns, buildings and necessary es thereunto
belonging to be for ever the said English Company prop-
er and rightfull possession, as also all the ground woods
and rivers round the said Fort within the randome shott

273 —

of a great gun to be in their sole and free possession and
Government and that the said Company or their assignes
shall have at any time full power and liberty to dispose,
alter, build or plant the said ground within the same
limitts, or to be for the feeding their cattle, makeing of
gardens, or dwellings for their merchants and servants
to be soly under the disposure and order of the said
English Company and noe others whatsoever and that
neither the Duan, Subidars, Avaldars or any other Gover-
nors or Officers shall upon any pretence whatever have
anything to say or doe within the said Fort or ground,
thereunto belonging, but that the sole Government
and possession of the same shall be in the said English
Company and their Governors &c., so long as the sunn
and moon endures, to be governed by their own Jawes
and customes but civill martial and Criminall, and to coyn
money either under our Royal stamp or such other as
they shall judge convenient, both in silver or gold and
that no stop imposition, custome or junckan be at any
time layd or imposed thereon or upon any goods belong-
ing to the English Company or their servants that shall
be either bought or sold within our country or tsrri-
toryes, and wee also hereby promise to assist and defend
you in the quiett and free possession thereof from ye
French and from all other European nations or other and
all this we fully and freely grant four ourselves heirs
and successors to the said English Company and servants.
Given under our Royal Signett at our Court in Chingie
this August 1690." (This farman appears from the
Commissioner's report to have been executed on the 2nd
of September 1690 and this copy is taken from the Madras
Records).

A few months later, towards the end of the year
1690, Governor Yale contrived, as if for confirmation of
his possession of the place from the invading Mughals
who were expected to overrun the country and get it
into their possession shortly, to obtain from Nawab
Zulfikar Khan who had been entrusted by Aurangzib
with the charge and conquest the Gingee country, a far-
man confirming the English Company in possession of
all their factories on the coast. The translation of the
Mughal general's farman runs as follows : —

" Translate of the Cowle or Phyrwanna of Nabob
Zullphakeer Cawn Bahadur sent the Honorable Elihu

35

— 274 —

A note on tbe negotiations of the English for the

acquisition of the settlement in the

Gingee Country.

The first idea of a settlement on the Gin-
gee coast was suggested to the President of
Fort St. George in 1674 by Muhammad Khan,
the Bijapuri governor of Gingee at the time.
4 Having received an invitation from the Cawn
of Gingee, Nazir Muhmud Cawn, by letter and
by his Egyb Hakim Ismael, alias Manoel
d'Olivera, to set up factories and build forts at
or near Porto Novo and at Vardavur near
Pondicherry, resolve to send a civil answer
and present by one of the Company's servants,
with instructions to receive such terms as the
Cawn may think fit to grant and to survey

Yale President and Governor, received the 18th Decem-
ber 1690 :

44 Whereas in the time of the late shameless and
faithless rebellion the President of the English, Elihu
Yale, Governor and Captain of Chinapatnam, protected
and assisted Mamood Alice and other servants of the
Mogull, and supplied me with powder with other services,
in consideration whereof I made and given this my
Cowle or grant. That the rent of the fort and factory of
Chinnapatnam with accustomary privileges, the English
Factorys of Metchlepatam Maddapollam, Vizagapatam
&c., within the territories of Darullichaud, alias the
Golcondah country, also their settlements and factories
of Dewnapatnam. Estlambad (alias Cuddalore,) Mamood
Bunder (alias Porto Novo), Trimlwassill &c., Factories
within the territories of Chingie, according to the former
custom and the usual practice of the English, let it
remain undisturbed in SallabadL"

— 275 —

and report on the places and rivers. The
Cawn requests that, if the places are approved,
an Englishman or two and a half score of
peons may be sent to take possession and to
set up the English flag and to hold it, freeing
him from the importunities of the French and
the Dutch."

In April, Mr. Elihu Yale, then a writer of
the factory at Madras, was sent to Gingee to
come to terms with its Khan ; and though the
exact terms of the settlement made by him
are not known, it appears from the proceed-
ings of the Court of Directors, dated 24th De-
cember 1675, that the treaty made with the
Khan was approved. But no action seems to
have been taken in the matter at all for some
years after this.

The Dutch had already established fac-
tories at Porto Novo and at Tegnapatam where
there existed a small fort built by Chinniah
Chetty, a prosperous merchant of a previous
generation. In 1678 the Dutch, having already
made an offer for the purchase of this fort as
against the French and having also quarrelled
with its Maratha Subadar— the whole coast
having come under Maratha rule just a little
while previously — abandoned their factory at
Porto Novo and planned to withdraw even
from Tegnapatam. They later on endeavour-
ed to capture Pondicherry from the French

— 276 —

and to seize the district of Tegnapatam by
force from the Maratha deputy ; but these
attempts came to nothing. In 1680, the Dutch
returned to Porto Novo, having got permission
from the Maratha rulers to erect a factory on
a plot of land granted to them.

A Madras Consultation of 6th January
1680 — 81, revived the plan for a settlement in
the Gingee country. The resolution runs in
its latter part as follows : *

One of the main reasons why the Dutch
keep so many factories upon this coast, which
being divided into several Governments, if
they be obstructed in their business by one
Governor they have another place to find and
besides this advantage of preventing Lingappa
or any other Subadar of this country from
being capable of spoiling all our business when
it depends wholly upon their courtecy . . . and
may be a means to prevent interlopers or
private traders from procuring soe good
lading as the ship commerce hath done this
year, wherefore after due consideration of all
circumstances and by advice of the Company's
Merchants upon this point ; it is resolved that
letters be written to the Soobidar of Sevagee's
country of Chengy to grant the English a
cowle to settle a factory at Coorallor and at

* Vide p. 240, supra.

— 277 —

Coonemerro, also at Porto Novo if we think
fit, and a Braminy, a fit person, employed
upon said business to obtain the said cowle as
soon as possible that we may be ready for
next year's business. The Company's Mer-
chants in joynt stock promising to deliver the
cloth at our Factory in that country at the
same rates and by the same musters which
they are to deliver it by agreement here."

The subsequent negotiations have been
detailed above. After the proposal of Freeman
to settle at Cudalore was given up, orders
were given for the planting of a factory at
that place ; on the 9th of November a cowle
for the port of Kunimedu was received from
the havildar of Tindivanam. The above men-
tioned consultation recorded "the great dis-
appointment received at Codalour and the
great charge the Honourable Company have
been put at towards the settlement of that
factory- which is all lost and proved in-
effectual " ; and it resolved that considering
" the great tonnage the Honourable Company
have requir'd this year which 'tis feared we
shall hardly comply with', 'tis therefore
thought convenient to order the settlement
for a factory at Conimere."

In March 1683, it was once more resolved
to plant a factory at Cuddalore ; and it was

— 278 —

actually started inlMay. Another was opened
at Porto Novo which had, however, to be
shortly closed; and in August 1687 it was
resolved to transfer the Porto Novo factory
to Cuddalore, as the latter place and Kunimedu
were deemed to be quite sufficient for the
needs of the ^Company in view of the limitted
amount of business transacted. In the same
month a cowle was received from Harji Raja
Mahadik, the Maratha governor of Gingee, for
Kunimedu, Cuddalore and Porto Novo. In
November, it was resolved to withdraw the
bulk of the factors from Kunimedu to Madras,
leaving only one writer, two soldiers and a
few peons. Shortly afterwards the previous
resolution was reversed ; and it was proposed
to build a fortification at Kunimedu for which
purpose some large guns were sent from
Madras. In July, the southern factories of
Cuddalore and Porto Novo were transferred
to Kunimedu, it " being now in the nature of
garrison having several pieces of ordnance
and a guard of fifty soldiers." Kunimedu wa&
then deemed to be so important that Mr.
Gyfford, the chief of Vizagapatam, was ap-
pointed to be the second in council there. On
the 4th of December 1689, it was resolved to
send the chief of Kimimedu to pay a visit to
Raja Ram who had recently arrived at Gingee
and taken charge.

— 279 —

After the receipt of the farman for Fort
St. David, the English despatched two commis-
sioners, Messrs. Thomas Yale and Charles
Barwell, to arrange matters with Rama Raja
and procure his signature to the farman.
Rama Raja granted the farman by the end of
August 1690 which gave the Devanampatnam
fort and the 4 random shot ' of land around it,
together with all the privileges including the
government of the country with their own
laws and customs and the liberty of coinage.*

Mr. Hatsell was sent with the necessary
supply of money to take possession of the fort,
along with the equipment to strengthen it.
Then the random shot was fired by the best
brass gun " that arrived from Madras. The
gun was reported to be so strong that it lay
in the gunner's art to load and fire it to the
best advantage." The villages which fell with-
in the random shot marked the limits of the
English territory. Such villages are known
even to-day as Gundu Gramam or Cannon Ball
villages. As the random shot fell on Manja-
kuppam which was then held by the Dutch on
a three years' lease, at an annual rent of 300
chakrams, and besides the Dutch possessed
at the time a factory and some buildings at

* Diary and Consultation Book August 1690: pages
64-65.

— 280 —

Devanampatnam, it was feared that they might
give some trouble. But they did not do so and
even helped in the transference of the Fort to
English hands and also in the demarkation of
the limits included within the 4 randome shott '
line and " never advanced any claim of owner-
ship to any part of the land included therein"
at the time. But, a little later, in the begin-
ning of 1691, they created trouble, asserted a
right to Manjakuppam and even threatened
to convert their factory at Devanampatnam
into a fort and mass there the troops which
they could get from their other possessions on
the coast. This led to " some warm corres-
pondence between them and the English." The
Dutch forwarded a complaint to Rama Raja
who thereupon wrote to the Madras Council
that Devanampatnam and Manjakuppam were
out of their limits and directed them not to
disturb the Dutch or their business. There-
upon the Madras Government took an affidavit
from Thomas Yale and Captain Metcalfe, who
had both been employed on the mission to
Rama Raja for negotiating the purchase of
the Fort, and sent a copy of it to the Deputy
Governor of Fort St. David, Mr. Hatsell, with
specific instructions to seize Manjakuppam, if
the Dutch should decline to rent it from the
English on the same terms as from the Mara-
thas and if they should oppose the enforce-

- 281 —

merit of the levy of the customs dues by the
English " to force them to reason, but to avoid
blood-shed offensively.11

The affidavit of Messrs. Yale and Metcalfe
is very important as showing a phase of the
real powerlessness of the Indian rulers of the
interior over the affairs of the European settle-
ments on the coast ; and the letter of the Mad-
ras Council, dated 21st July 1691, to the
Deputy Governor of Fort St. David is clearly
illustrative of this point, showing how the
English power had really advanced to the
claiming of a serious and extensive kind of
control. The affidavit shows how the Dutch
had at first no idea of creating trouble and
were even prepared to assist and did assist in
the transference of the fort to the English ;
and the letter of the Madras Council held that
Manjakuppam had been justly included in the
purchase of the English who had thereby be-
come the proprietors of the place and they
were justified in establishing their own courts
of justice in their acquisitions in virtue of the
charters granted to them by their own Kings.*

* The affidavit of Thomas Yale and Charles Met-
calfe dated 20th June : —

44 We the subscribers being employed by order of the
Honourable Elihu Yale Governor and Council of Fort St.
George for account of the Right Honourable English
East India Company on a negotiation to King Ram Raja
at Chingie about the purchase of his Fort at Tevana-

36

— 282

patam and adjacent towns, villages &c., within ye ran-
dome shott of a piece of ordnance with several! other
privileges as particularly mentioned in His Majesty's
and Privy Councill's bill of sale or Phyrmaund to the
said President and Council for account of the Right
Honorable English East India Company to have and to
hold for ever as their full and lawful propriety and in-
heritance to be always under their own free jurisdiction
and government, exclusive of all others whatever no
exception being mentioned or discount much less allowed
of, but only that the Dutch should enjoy their Factory
buildings and trade at Tegnapatam as formerly and upon
the same tearms and conditions of rent and customes
and nothing else agreed to by us nor was there any
offers made to us about Mangee Copang, nor do we
believe they had at that time any thoughts thereof the
Dutch then only renting it from the Duan and as we are
informed but for three years at 300 Chuckrams Pan, nor
did the Dutch make the least exception against our pur-
chase when the Phyrmaund was publisht and the Fort
delivered to us, as likewise our randome shott made,
which took in Cuddalore and its circumference much
beyond Tevenapatam or Mangee Copang to all which the
Dutch Chief Sen Joan Coart &c., were wittnesses assist-
ing us therein without the least declaration or exception
against the legallity and free enjoyment of the purchase
or any part thereof, nor one word to that time that
Mangee Copang belonged to them, to the truth whereof
to the best of our knowledge, we solemnly make oath."

Extract from a letter dated 21st July, 1691, from the
Council to the Deputy-Governor of Fort St. David : -

" As to your disputes and differences with your un-
reasonable neighbours the Dutch, we have endeavoured
all fair ways to give them satisfaction therein, as also
with Rama Raja to doe us that justice with them accord-
ing to the tenure of his Phyrmaund, but by their insinu-
ation and bribes they take the advantage of a variable
necessitous Prince to dishonour his word and deeds to
deprive the Right Honourable Company and nation of
their just purchast rights, tho' as the Dutch argue for
themselves, that Rama Raja had no power to sell their
factory being their own proper building which we allow,
but the same reason must hold for our purchase too, and

- 283

that any collateral! after graunt or sale of any part there-
of can be of no right or vallidity, our purchase and tenure
being sufficiently proved and apparent by the King and
all his Privy Councills deed of sale or Phyrmaund to the
Honorable Company without the least exception of
Mangee Copang Tevenapatam or any other place within
our randome shott, nor any persons or place within said
limitts exempted from our Government and customes,
and had the Dutch the least pretence to such a right
they would undoubtedly have declared it at its being
delivered into our possession, which they did not tell long
after our peaceable enjoyment of it, besides in their
severall papers to us and you they acknowledge they duly
paid two and half per cent, custom at the time of our
purchase and possession and that they were only renters
of Mangee Copang for twenty five Chuckarums per
month, these are sufficient instances and arguments of
our undoubted rights to their customes and said Copang
which by Mr. Yale's and Captain Metcalf 's affidavit is
confirmed beyond all question doubt or equivocation, they
being the persons employed to the King &c., about the
purchase and were not only privy, but actors and witnes-
ses to the whole managery of that affair, and therefore
unquestionable testimony s against all Dutch quibbles
and prevarications, as also those of the mercenary
Morattaes who no doubt may be tamper'd and induc'd by
bribes to resell the fort too ten times over to the same or
severall persons, nay they will sell their honour and
conscience too to any that will buy it, a strange instance
whereof lately received from our Bramenees at Chingie
that notwithstanding their underhand dealings and many
great bribes received from the Dutch in this business the
King by them now offers for 15,000 Chuckrams, nay
10,000, to resell to us Mangee Copang and Tegnapatam,
exclusive of all Dutch pretences and Company too, but
we scorne such base concessions as well from its infamy
as that it would much weaken our substantiall Phyr-
maund, and might be bought in as an instrument or
engine to batter it, we do therefore now resolve and
accordingly order you to stand by our Phyrmaund it
being a sufficient authority and support for the Right
Honorable Company's rightfull possession, which you
must secure and maintain against all opposers whatever
and 'tis but naturall and just to defend our rights;
Mangee Copang is the Right Honorable Company's just

— 284

purchase therefore take possession of it, except the
Dutch will engage to pay to you the same rent they paid
the Duan but* this to be only for the time they rented it
for, when that's expired, take into your own manage-
ment and make the best of it for the Company ; then for
the Dutch custom es let it be the same they usually paid
the Duan, which if they refuse then deney them the boat
and people, to serve them, giving them notice that what
goods are or shall be landed within your precincts with-
out your licence are seizable and shall be confiscated to
the Right Honorable Company as Lords Proprietors of
the place, which if they oppose you in, we order you to
force them to reason, avoyding bloodshed offensively ;
and for what you write us about a Commission for your
administring Justice and punishing offenders for your
fuller satisfaction and authority therein, wee have sent
you Printed and attested copys of severall charters
graciously granted the Hight Honorable East India
Company's by their late Majesties King Charles and
James the second and confirmed by their present Majes-
ties King William and Queen Mary all which we are
humbly of opinion are of full force and authority till
repealed by their Majestys, which there is no doubt of
since without Laws their can be neither justice or
Government, no order trade Conversation nor living ;
every one will say, act, and take, what they please, with-
out controul, and much more in Garrisons amongst
turbulent ungovernable soldiers, but there can be no
question of our Authority, the Charter being confirmed
wherein we believe your power in that near equall to
ours therefore act accordingly, and for your doing justice
upon the natives Kama Raja's subjects his Phyrmaund is
a further and sufficient power for it, wee therefore for the
encouragement and quiet of the place, order and appoint
Mr. Haynes, Mr. Watts and Maccudum Nina, Justices
of the choultry to try and determine causes Civill and
Criminal and to execute according to sentence, lyfe only
excepted, which must be done by another Coart of
Judicature, and for this purpose wee would have you
choose or make a convenient Choultry at Cuddalore,
where said persons are to sitt twice a week, viz., on
Tuesday and Fryday mornings from 8 to 11 of the clock,
and at Tegnapatam once a week on Thursday mornings,
to have accustomary fees appointed them according to
the custome of that place or this, for which purpose we

— 285 —

Towards the end of August 1691, Manja-
kuppam was taken possession of by the
English. The Dutch chief of the Devanam-
patnam factory threatened to retake posses-
sion of it and hoist the Dutch flag there by
force. Thereupon the Madras Council sent a
Union Jafck with orders that it should be
pitched in the village of Manjakuppam and a
guard mounted over it, to defend it by force if
necessary. In 1694, a farmanwas granted by
Nawab Zulfikar Khan, the Moghul general-
issimo, in which were mentioned eleven villa-
ges included within the limits covered by the
" randome shott " of the grant of Rama Raja.

shall send a list of our Choultry fees to regulate yours by
where we would have all tryalls of moment registered
by an English Clark of the said Coart and the differences
among the Black Merchants to be decided by arbitrators
of their own cast, only Justices to examine the bussi-
ness and confirm the execution, this we find to be the
most just and satisfactory way of proceeding with them
but differences among Christians, the justices may
decide."

CHAPTER VII.

The Mughal SJE^ge and Capture of Gingee
(1690 98 )

The arrival of Raja Rarn in Gingee meant
to the Mughals the rise of a new centre of the
Maratha power. Aurangzib was very desir-
ous of crushing their power and wished to
destroy them at Gingee. Nawab Zulfikar
Khan who invested Raigarh, was hence des-
patched to the Carnatic in June 1690. The
approach of Zulfikar Khan towards Gingee was
thus recorded in the Madras Diary and Consul-
tations of September 1690 : — " A letter was
received from Zulfikar Khan, General of the
Mughal forces against Gingee and son to Asad
Khan, the grand Wazier, Lord High Chancel-
lor to the Mughal, wherein amongst other
things he importunately desired the English
to supply him with 200 maunds of gun powder
and 500 soldiers which if we deny him, will be
resented and they will conclude, we side with
Raja Ram and complain to the Mughal against
us thereof, to the hazarding of our peaceful
settlement and trade overseas. Having been
obliged to be friendly towards him, it was
ordered that 200 maunds of powder alone
should be sent as soldiers could not be spared."
In February 1691 Zulfikar Khan had been
persuaded to grant a cowle to the English

— 287 —

confirming the privileges enjoyed by them
before, in consideration of their services to the
Mughals by their supply of gunpowder.

Raja Ram sent his own troops, along with
the contingents of his allies, to the north to
obstruct the descent of Zulfikar Khan into the
Carnatic. The Maratha raiding bands were
driven back by the Mughals and an attack
threatened Raja Ram at Gingee.

Though the Maratha retreat to Gingee
was itself sudden, the coming of Zulfikar
Khan, flushed with his great victory at Rai-
garh and the capture of Sambhaji's entire
family, created considerable consternation at
Gingee. Raja Ram had to leave the fort for
some safer refuge in the south near his cousin,
the Raja of Tanjore. He seems to have sought
help from the Raja of Tanjore and also from
the English at Fort St. David. The Madras
Diary for September 1690 says that " Ekoji is
sending a considerable supply of horses, men
and money to Rama Raja who has resolved to
keep the Mughals at bay."

According to the letter of the Madras
Council of October, 1690 Rama Raja requested
Elihu Yale, Governor of Fort St. George (1687
— 1692), to grant help whenever necessary in
consideration of the grant of a farman for
Fort St. David. According to Kaeppelin (279)

— 288 —

in October Zulfikar Khan (Dhul-Faqar Khan)
even wrote to the French to prevent Raja
Ram's escape by the sea in an English ship."

The miserable country from Gingee to the
sea coast continued to be pillaged by the camp
followers of both sides. People fled for safety
to the south into the Tanjore territory or to
the European factories on the coast. The
population of Pondicherry doubled in the
course of one year, rising to 60,000 souls.

Zulfikar Khan, on reaching Gingee in Sep-
tember 1690, found that the fort was too strong
to be attacked with his few heavy guns and
insufficient munitions.* The old officials of
Golconda whom Aurangzib had allowed to
continue in their offices, had proved disloyal ;
and two of them, Yachama Nayak and Ismail
Maka, had revolted against the Mughal
authority in January 1690, and made an alli-
ance with Rama Raja through the meditation
of the Peishwa, Nilo Moreshwar Pingle and
plundered the country indiscriminately from
Madras to Kunimedu, forcing the Mughal offi-
cials to flee to the coast and compelling Askar
Ali Khan, the Mughal governor of all Gol-
condah-Karnatak, to take refuge with his

* On his march, the Khan was attacked near Gur-
rumconda by a large army of the Marathas under Ismail
Makh, and Yachama and other poligas.

— 289 —

family at Madras (April). Nawab Zulfikar
Khan was however able to restore Mughal
dominion without much effort ; and on his ap-
proach to Gingee by way of Cuddapah, Gurrum-
konda and Conjeevaram, the Maratha captains
and their allies of Tanjore, Trimbak Rao and
Yachama Nayak were forced to return " with-
out doing anything." Rama Raja left Gingee
and sought a safer place and shelter further
south and nearer the dominions of the ruler
of Tanjore ; and the Mughal general was so
confident as to write to the French at Pondi-
cherry asking them to prevent his escape by
sea in an English ship. Zulfikar Khan set
down to an investment of the Gingee fortress-
es ; but he lacked the necessary equipment of
heavy guns and munitions. He now demand-
ed from the English 200maunds of gunpowder
and 500 soldiers. They sent only the gunpow-
der and pleaded that they could not spare the
soldiers. (Diary and Consultation. Book of
1690, page 80). As many as 100 European
soldiers were tempted by offers of high pay to
join his army and to form a corps of white
men in the Mughal service.

By April 1691 the Mughal army before
Gingee had become powerful and well provi-
sioned enough to threaten the besieged with a
prospect of immediate and serious assault.
The letter from Fort St. David, dated 25th

37

— 290 —

April 1691, says that " the Mughal forces at
Gingee being considerably supplied with men
and provisions, the natives of those parts are
very apprehensive that the Mughal power
being so great they will not be able to with-
stand them." The letter also gave the inform-
ation that the Dutch were helping the Mu-
ghals with their presents and military assist-
ance, by endeavouring to make the English
odious in the Mughal camp by giving false
representations.

In reality, however, the siege operations
could make little progress, as a complete
blockade of such an extensive fort was beyond
the Mughals' power. Even in November 1690
help had come to Rama Raja from three
Maratha chiefs who brought him 2,000 horse-
men and took charge of the defence works at
Chakkrakujam in the lower fort. In Febru-
ary 1691, Rama Raja was enabled to return
to Gingee from his shelter. His troops had
recovered from " their first consternation "
and begun " to harass them incessantly."
The Raja of Tanjore aided him throughout
the siege with men, money and provisions,
partly from family affection and partly for
promises of territory.

There was considerable internal trouble
facing Rajaram in the fort. The captains of
the troops who were daily exposed to the

— 291 —

attacks of the enemy were jealous of the ease
and luxury indulged in by the ministers and
the principal Brahmans of the court. Raja-
ram was forced, by the growing feeling, to send
away some ministers and a few Brahmans of
his entourage. But these latter intrigued from
outside to bring about their recall and con-
trived their reinstation to their respective
posts * Rajaram's attempts to secure the help
of the petty chiefs of the coast region and to
form a confederacy against the Mughal domin-
ion in South India were utterly frustrated
by the mutual jealousies that raged among
these.

The Mughal besiegers came to be hard
pressed even in the course of 1691 ; and the
activity of the Maratha marauding bands
prevented the supply of sufficient quantities
of grain to the camp of Zulfikar Khan. Seve-
ral Golconda officers who had accompanied
him now deserted to the enemy side. One,
Sayyid Lashkar Khan, brought a welcome
supply 'of provisions and money to Zulfikar
Khan's camp from Cuddapah which gave
much relief. Zulfikar Khan had to report to
the Emperor that " the enemy were hemming
him around, stopping his supply and provi-
sions and that he needed reinforcements
urgently."

Memoirs of Francois Martin (1934). Vol. Ill, p. 151.

— 292 —

Hence Asad Khan, the Wazir and father
of Zulfikar Khan, was sent to Gingee to hasten
to his son's aid ; while Prince Kam Baksh, the
last and most-favoured son Aurangzib, who
was then engaged in the siege of Wagingera,
was ordered to march to the Carnatic and
strengthen the position of the Mughals. In
June 1691 the arrival of Asad Khan at Gingee
was recorded in the Madras Diary thus :
"Having advice of the Grand Wazir Asad
Khan coming with an army to the assistance
of his son Zujfikar Khan at Gingee, to whom
we think it would be absolutely necessary to
send some presents to compliment and make
him a visit with a suitable present to engage
his favour to the Company, he having been
the prime minister and chief person of state
and also the chief person in the Mughal
court."

9

Professor Sir Jadunath Sarkar explains
the cause of the delay in the march of Asad
Khan to the Carnatic, who, though he had often
expressed a desire to see his son, now Hesitat-
ed to go to help him in sore straits. " He had
frequently taunted the other imperial gener-
als with failure against the Marathas and
bragged of what he could have done, saying: —
4 His Majesty has not charged me with any
enterprise. When he does so, he will see
what ' Turk ' means. This speech had been

— 293 —

reported to the Emperor, and now, on hearing
Asad Khan's supine inactivity, Aurangzib
turned to his librarian and said, "His Turk-
ship is over. How runs the proverb ? " And
then they both recited it,—' Don't brag again,
as your boast (Turki) has come to an end ! '
This verse was embodied in a despatch now
sent to Asad Khan."*

After this reproof from his master, Nawab
Asad Khan had really to go ; and having been
joined in the meantime by Prince Kam Baksh
both proceeded towards Gingee which they
reached in December 1691.** The advance of
Kam Baksh at Gingee was known to the Eng-
lish at Fort St. George, who wished to send
him a present to the amount of 2,000 pagodas
with other rarities including arms and cloth
(July 1691). " The news of the Mughal's son
(Prince Kam Baksh ; coming down towards
Gingee being now confirmed to us and Asad
Khan the Wazir, and himself, being two of the
greatest peers in the kingdom, it was thought
necessary that a fitting person should be sent

* J.N. Sarkar's ' History of Aurangzib,' Vol. V, p. 75.

** According to Scott, Asad Khan met the Prince at
Cuddapah (sixty kos from Gingee) and accompanied him
to Conjeevaram, while Rao Dalpat wa<* despatched
with reinforcements and a large amount of treasure to
Zulfikar Khan. Martin says that the Prince and the
Minister reached the neighbourhood of the Mughal camp
in October 1691.

— 294 —

with a considerable present to the amount of
2,000 pagodas with rarities including arms and
cloth."

In the meantime, Ziijfikar Khan had sus-
pended active operations on the fortifications
on Gingee and turned to the south to levy
contributions from the chiefs of that region.
With the help of Ali Mardan Khan, the faujdar
of Conjeevaram, he marched with a small body
of troopers against the kingdoms of Tanjore
and Trichinopoly and returned with the
tributes collected from their chiefs. He re-
turned to Gingee by way of Cuddalore and
contrived to capture Tiruvannamalai by the
end of 1691. He also asked the French at
Pondicherry to seize the neighbouring fort of
Valudavur for him; but they would not agree
to any open hostilities with the Marathas-
Thus the year 1691 passed " without any deci-
sive success for the imperialists."

Zulfikar's plundering raid was closely
followed by Maratha hordes who added to the
desolation of the country, and the people had
to hide themselves in the jungles of thepoligar
chiefs. Martin thus comments on Ziilfikar
Khan's procrastination of the operations : —
" The conduct of the general appeared sus-
picious by his lack of application to make
himself master of Gingee." The Khan wrote
to Rajaram to give up the fort to him as a

— 295 —

result of negotiation and that after Kam
Baksh should assume charge, he could no
longer secure his own terms and would lose
the advantageous conditions he now offered.
Thus, in the words of Martin : — " The great-
est hope of Rajaram and his Brahman minist-
ers was neither in their forces, nor in the
help (from Tanjore) which they anticipated,
but in the understanding that they had with
the general Zulfikar Khan."*

In spite of the help rendered by Asad Khan
and the Prince, the year 1692 was not propitious
to the Mughals. As the fortifications of Gingee
comprehended a group of hills with forts and
embrasures and walls, well furnished with
artillery and with an abundance of provisions
and military stores, it was found impossible
from the very beginning to invest the whole
area intensively; and hence posts were allotted
to different commanders who were stationed
on all sides of the place ; and attempts were
made to cut off any communications of the
bed^ged. Zulfikar Khan took up a post opposite
the eastern or Pondicherry gate. Asad Khan
and the Prince lay encamped on the road be-

""" Further, Martin wrote that to all outward appear-
ances the Khan offered to Rajaram Vellore and all the
territories dependent upon it in return for Gingee, but at
the same time sent secret envoys to him urging him not
to give in. (Memoirs — Vol. Ill — p. 173).

- 296 —

yond the north gate leading from Krishnagiri
to Singavaram hill. Ismail Khan Makha who
had again returned to the Mughal allegiance
and others were stationed in an outpost north-
west of the fort near Rajagiri. Each of these
camps was walled round for safety. The gate
of Shaitan Dari (or Port-du-Diable of Orme)
could not be blockaded; and uthe garrison
freely came and went out by it and brought in
provisions whenever they liked." An outpost
under Kakar Khan guarded the approaches
through the Vettavalam wood towards the
south-west by which supplies could be brought
in. On the whole the line of investment was
neither intense nor effective.

The bes(<$ged shot at and threatened the
Prince's camp, though Zulfikar Khan had
strengthened the guards at that post. One
night a Maratha force, 5,000>strong, sallied out
of the north gate and were only forced back
by a gigantic effort on the part of all the
Mughal besiegers. Zujfikar Khan had, how-
ever, the prince's camp transported by the side
of his own, and Sayyid Lashkar Khan was as-
signed to take charge of the Prince's outpost.
Zulfikar Khan next selected Chandrayan Drug
as the objective of his attacks and ran trench-
es around it as a first measure. Then he began
a bombardment of the hill as well as of the
Pondicherry gate.

— 297 —

Then " rains set in with great fury. Grain
again became exceedingly scarce and the
constant strain of the siege was beyond mea-
sure fatiguing to the troops.*

As Prof. Sarkar well remarks, all the exer-
tions of Zulfikar Khan became "a mere show as
the country around knew well.'1 The entire
district round Gingee looked like a big lake
on account of the heavy rains. The Madras
Diary of July 1692 has recorded the disturbed
state of the country due to the wars.

At the close of the rainy season, a body
of 30,000 Maratha horse advanced for the
assistance of Rama Raja at Gingee, under the
able commanders, Santaji Ghorepade and
Dhanaji Jadhav. As there were not sufficient
troop to keep an intensive blockade and at the
same time oppose the enemy, the various
detachments which had been sent out for for-
aging and collecting plunder were recalled by
Zulfikar Khan to join the main army. All
the Mughal outposts were ordered to fall in
on the main army as their scattered positions
could no longer be added. As a consequence,
Sayyid Lashkar Khan and KakarKhan quick-
ly returned to Gingee and joined their general.
But Ismail Khan Makha, who was stationed

* Hitfory of the Deccun by Fcrislitu edited by Scott:
Vol. II, page 87.

38

— 298 —

at a somewhat distant place, made some
delay, being engaged and employed in collect-
ing his baggage and provisions, when Dhanaji
arrived. He was therefore attacked by Dhana-
ji's army and was wounded and taken a prison-
er with much booty into Gingee. According to
Scott, he was later released by the kindness of
Ajit Naire on account of the latter's former
friendship.

Santaji who first burst upon Conjeevaram,
met Ali Mardan Khan, the Mughal faujdar of
that place; the latter sallied out to encounter
the Maratha army, not being aware of its real
strength. His small force was hemmed round
and he himself was captured, along with 1,500
horses and six elephants. All the stores and
weapons of his army were looted (December
1692). He was then taken to Gingee and held
up to ransom. The seizure of both Ali Mardan
Khan, the faujdar of Conjeevaram and Ismail
Khan Makha by the Marathas is recorded in
the Madras Diary for 1693.

A letter from Yachama Nayak to the
Captain More (Governor) of Chennapatnam
(Madras) says : — " You are very sensible that
the Mughal army against this place cannot
effect their design after a long time lying before

it Since 30,000 of our horses came from

above, we took Ali Mardan Khan and Makh
Ismail Khan prisoners and had kept them at

— 299 -

Gingee." (Diary and Consultation Book, 1693 :
2nd January, pp, 22-23).

Upon the capture of Ali Mar dan Khan,
many people fled from Conjeevaram to Madras.
By the 23rd of December 1692, an Armenian
merchant came to the President of Fort St.
George (Mathaniel Higginson 1692-1698) and
told him that, as a result of a letter from Puli-
cat from the brother-in-law of Ali Mardan
Khan at Gingee,,the Marathas had offered his
(Ali Mardan Khan's) liberty for a lakh of
pagodas. He requested the Madras President
to receive jewels and money to that amount
into his custody and then write to Rama Raja
engaging to pay that sum on the arrival of
Ali Mardan Khan at Madras (Madras Diary
and Consultation Book, 1693 : page 9).

The English, however, did not like to inter-
fere at first. Some days later, the Armenian
merchants brought pressure on the government
by their influence to interest itself in the
release of Ali Mardan Khan by engaging to
pay the ransom amount to Rama Raja. Thus
Ali Mardan Khan was released. It was
through the efforts of his brother-in-law, Ali
Qadir, that this sum was raised.

After their seizure of Ali Mardan Khan,
the faujdar of Kanchi, and Ismail Khan Makha,
the Marathas appointed one, Kesava Raman,

— 300 —

as their subhadar of Conjeevaram and streng-
thened him with the command of 1,000 horse
and 4,000 foot in January 1693. Dhanaji Jadav
led frequent attacks on the siege-posts of the
Mughals ; and when he joined his forces with
those of Santaji, Zulfikar Khan became alarm-
ed, abandoned his outposts and concentrated
the scattered troops under his own command.
Before the siege-camp of Ismail Khan on the
western side of the fort could be dismantled
and transferred to the head-quarters of the
Mughal general, he was intercepted by the
enemy and captured along with 500 horse and 2
elephants and carried into Gingee a prisoner.*
It was after this strenuous victory that Rama
Raja issued a proclamation, declaring the as-
sumption of the government of Golconda-Kar-
natak by the Maratha state and appointing
Maratha governors to take charge of its
head-quarters stations of Conjeevaram and
Cuddapah.

The revival of Maratha activity and their
predominance in the surrounding country put
a stop to the plentiful supply of grain to the
Mughal camp. Letters from the Emperor's
court were also not regularly received. The
Mughal army outside Gingee was besieged and
its condition became critical by reason of inter-
nal disputes. Prince Kam Baksh, who was a

See p. 298 supra.

— 301 —

foolish young man, had opened a secret corres-
pondence with Raja Ram. The Marathas
were greatly elated by their securing such
an ally in the enemy's camp. Zulfikar Khan
.had however learnt of the prince's deceit and
kept him under surveillance. Dalpat Rao,
the Khan's bravest and most trusted lieuten-
ant, was posted at the Prince's camp in con-
stant attendance on him. Moreover, the arrival
of Santaji and Dhanaji increased the difficult-
ies of the Mughals. The grain supply of the
siege camp was cut off. Famine began to
rage among the multitude and communica-
tions were rendered unsafe. Alarming ru-
mours of the Emperor's death arose immedi-
ately, which the Marathas gladly spread and
exaggerated. It was said that Aurangzib
was dead and that Shah Alamhad succeeded
to the imperial throne. Kam Baksh was
naturally afraid of losing the chances of his
succession to the throne and of his possible
degradation under the new regime. His only
hope of safety, as he was an enemy of Asad
Khan, lay in an alliance with the Marathas.
He thought of escaping into the fort of Gingee
with his family by night, of effecting an alli-
ance with the Marathas and then trying to
win the throne of Delhi with their aid. How-
ever, Kam Baksh could not pursue his plans
for fear of Asad Khan and his men posted in

— 302 —

his camp, while Zulfikar Khan had many
spies even among the Marathas. The latter
quickly learnt of all the Prince's projects and
secured from Aurangzib to whom he duly
reported all the happenings, an order to keep
him under surveillance and arrest. Dalpat
Rao was ordered to keep watch over the
Prince's camp and to prevent his moving
about freely.

The activities of Kam Baksh were duly
conveyed to Asad Khan by the spies of Zul-
fikar Khan who also reported everything to
the leading officers of the imperial army and
decided that the Prince should be kept under
close watch. The siege operations were then
suspended for some time. uThe Prince, in the
intoxication of youth and under the influence
of evil counsellors, made the entire long jour-
ney (from Kadapa) to Jinji on horseback,
prolonging it still further by hunting and
sight-seeing on the way. Asad Khan, as
bound by etiquette, had to ride on horseback
alongside the prince, in spite of his great
weakness and the infirmities of old age. It
embittered his feelings towards the prince,
and wicked men on both sides aggravated the
quarrel by their intervention."

" After reaching Jinji, the prince acted
still more foolishly. Through the medium of

— 303 —

some reckless and madmen he opened a secret
correspondence with Rajaram." *

Ziilfikar Khan is reported to have burst
his big guns by firing excessive charges of
powder and abandoned them where they stood.
Lewis Terrill, one of the soldiers who served
under Zulfikar Khan in the siege of Gingee,
has given the following account of the affair,
as recorded in the Madras Diary, dated the
30th January 1693.

" Two months since Zulfikar had ordered
to split all the great and brass guns, which he
supposed was occasioned by the Mughal's
death, whereof he also heard reports that
Kam Baksh attempting to go over to Rama
Raja was seized by Zulfikar Khan and kept a
prisoner." The Ma'atlriri Alamglrl (357) says
that nails were driven into the touch holds
of the guns **.

The Marathas fell upon the Mughals
whenever they gained an opportunity. They

* J. N. Sarkar's ' History of Aurangzib,' Vol. V,
p. 81.

** do. _ do. do. p. 84, foot-note.

The Ma'atMr-i-JLlantgirii (a chronogram = 1122, 17-10-11,
the date of completion) is a history of the reign of
Aurangzib, the account of the first ten years which was
a later addition, being an abridgement of the Alanicjir-
Ndmah (see Elliot and Dawson : History of India, Vol.
VII ; pp. 181 — 197 and Persian Literature, A Bio-Biblio-
ypaphical Survey, by C. A. Storey, Section II ; Fasciculus
3, M. History of India (1939) : pp. 593—4.

— 304 —

hemmed round the Mughal army ; and " the
audacity of the infidels passed all bounds and
death stared Muslims in the face." Zulfikar
and his men fought very bravely. In the
great battle that ensued, the Marathas lost
3,000 foot and 350 cavalry, while the imperial-
ists lost only 400 troopers, 400 horses and
8 elephants." *

In the meanwhile, the plot of Prince Kam
Baksh who wished to be freed of the vigilant
surveillance of Asad Khan and Zujfikar Khan,
and to arrest Zulfikar Khan, however leaked
out and Zulfikar Khan had him arrested im-
mediately. Kam Baksh is reported to have
come out of the harem by the main gate. He
was dragged bare-footed before Asad Khan
who first rebuked him for his bad conduct but
then treated him with marked kindness and
the consideration due to his rank.

Zulfikar Khan, thereupon endeavoured to
restore harmony and unity of control over
the singhor army by a lavish distribution of
presents and by assurances of the ultimate

* Zulfikar Khan had burst his big guns and been
forced to abandon them. He started the attack from the
trenches ; but as his front was four miles in width and
the walls were only at a distance of half a mile from his
front line, it was easy for the Marathas to effect a sortie
and a combination with their own troops outside. Never-
theless, the Mughal general contrived to drive back the
besiegers behind the walls.

— 305 —

success of the siege operations. The Mara-
thas hoped to profit by the internal difficulties
of the besiegers and tried " an astonishing
amount of tumult and disturbance near the
camp from dawn to sun-set." Zulfikar Khan
however overcame the crisis successfully.

Santaji Ghorepade, flushed with his suc-
cess over Ali Mardan Khan of Conjeevaram,
now arrived at Gingee and added to the
attacks against Zujfikar Khan- There was
almost daily fighting and the Marathas were
only kept away with difficulty from attacking
the Mughal foraging parties.

Bhimsen, an eye-witness, has given the
following account : " The enemy exceeded
20,000 men, while the Imperialists were a small
force, a great part of which being employed in
guarding the prince and the camp." The whole
brunt of the fighting fell on Zulfikar Khan and
Dalpat Rao who however fought like heroes.

The scarcity of grain became so great in
the Mughal camp as to make the situation
intolerable; and Zulfikar Khan had to march
to Wandiwash, 24 miles north-east of Gingee,
in order to get an adequate supply of food
grains. Under cover of darkness his soldiers
plundered the corn merchants and "fell on
the helpless grain-dealers and carried off what-
ever they could seize." In the morning, the

39

— 306 —

general himself collected the grain left un-
plundered by his men and returned to Gingee-
But Santaji with 20,000 men barred his path
before Desur, 10 miles south of Wandiwash.
The Mughals after a hard fight contrived to
reach the fort of Desur and encamped at the
foot of its walls. ZiUfikar's retreat to Wandi-
wash for provisions, and his forced stay at
Desur Fort are recorded in the Madras Diary
of January 1693. In their further progress,
the Mughals were attacked by the Marathas
and forced to fight a most determined engage-
ment. It was only the bravery of Dalpat Rao
that saved the situation ; he and his Bunde-
las got the credit of saving Zulfikar Khan's
division and consequently the main army
before Gingee/*

A letter to the Governor from Conjee-
varam, dated 8th January 1693, refers to the
imprisonment of Ali Mardan Khan and Ismail
Makha. The same letter says : — " Zulfikar

* The Maratha attack is thus described: "They
fired so many muskets that the soldiers and banjaras of
our force were overpowered. Bullets were specially
aimed at the elephants ridden by the imperial command-
ers. Many of these animals were hit. Regardless of
the enemy fire, Rao Dalpat and his Bundelas boldly

charged to clear a way ahead The transport animals

and guns stuck in the mud of the rice-fields, artillery
munition ran short, no powder or shot was left with any
musketeer," (J. N. Sarkar's 'History of Aurangzib,'
Vol. V, pp. 88—9).

— 307 —

Khan, lately marching out of the Mughal
camp to Wandiwash to get provisions, and
Santaji Ghorepade meeting him with 20,000
men, forced him to take shelter in Desur fort,
so that he can't get out of it being surrounded
by the Marathas." (Madras Diary and Con-
sultation Book, 1693, page 23). By letters sent
by Yachama Nayak from Gingee and from
Conjee varam and by means of daily reports of
their spies employed in those parts, the English
were able to record in their Diary of 1693
(under date January 10) that " Zulfikar Khan
and Asad Khan are reduced into such straits
by the Marathas and that unless there is a
speedy arrival of men and provisions they will
be forced to quit the siege of Gingee and with-
draw their forces out of those parts. The
Marathas who have grown very strong of late
by a recruit of numbers have encircled
Zulfikar Khan at Desur, a place of little de-
fence, and Asad Khan in the camp. There
have also been various reports for ten days
past of the Mughal's death and Shah Alam's
succession to the throne." Lewis Ten-ill's
report of the war, recorded on January 30, 1693,
has also referred to the camp " being reduced
for extreme want of provisions for men and
cattle so that if they had stayed longer they
would have been starved to death/' It further
tells that " they made truce with Rama Raja

— 308 —

for two days in which time Zulfikar Khan
removed to Wandiwash, but for want of camels
and oxen he was forced to leave much of their
baggage behind to the destruction of the
Marathas, which gave occasion to the report
that peace was made."

To return to Zulfikar Khan's movements
after the battle of Desur: — As already told
the Khan halted at Desur for a day or two
and resumed his march. The Marathas made
a determined attack by firing many muskets
which overpowered the corn merchants and
the soldiers. Dajpat Rao and the other
Bundelas boldly withstood the attacks and
thus saved the position of Zulfikar Khan's
camp before Gingee.

The grain brought from Wandiwash was
not at all sufficient and thus the condition of
the starving imperialist troops became very
bad indeed. Many men daily walked over to
the Maratha camp at the foot of Gingee
where provisions were plentiful, bought, cook-
ed and ate the grain there and returned with-
out taking anything back with them. The
Madras Diary of January 8 (1693), has recorded
a letter from Conjeevaram where it is said :—
"The Mughal army being before Gingee,
Dhanaji Jadhav and several other great per-
sons surrounded the army, cutting them off

— 309 —

ft

from all manner of provisions coming to the
Prince and Asad Khan, whereupon many of
the Mughal merchants and shop-keepers came
to us upon granting them a cowle for safe
conduct." Every day from dawn to sunset the
Marathas assembled round the Mughal camp
and made threatening demonstrations. " No
aid came from any source except from the
gracious to the lowly; neither money nor food
stuff arrived. All the army high and low alike
were in a distressed condition/'

Asad Khan now made overtures of peace
to Raja Ram and offered heavy bribes to
enable him to retreat to Wandiwash un-
molested. The Marathas wished to continue
the war and drive the Mughals to desperation
as they were suffering keenly from famine
conditions. Asad Khan successfully induced
Raja Ram to agree to his proposal ; and the
latter, contrary to the advice of his followers,
proposed a truce with the Mughals if he could
thereby secure, with the guarantee of the
Wazir, a permanent peace with Aurangzib.
Dalpat Rao, however, strongly advised Zulfi-
kar Khfin and Asad Khan against complying
with Raja Ram's request and remarked that
any truce with him would be followed by the
anger of the Emperor and by their own dis-
grace and even offered to give away his per-
sonal effects for the army expenses.

— 310 —

9

In the meantime, the artillery men who
were dying of hunger were moving to their
camp to Wandiwash. Owing to long continu-
ed starvation, most of the horses, camels and
other animals of the camp had perished. The
retreat to Wandiwash was very hasty and
many had to leave behind their property and
even friends and relatives. They reached
Wandiwash in three days, on 22nd January
1693. It was the resolve of the gunners to
retreat that produced this miserable move.

Kasim Khan, the newly appointed faujdar
of Conjeevaram in succession to A.K Mardan
Khan, came with supplies and a strong force
from Cuddapah, but was intercepted near
Kaveripak by Santa ji from proceeding further
south and had to shut himself up in Conjee-
varam. Zulfikar Khan, however, had him
escorted safely to Wandiwash (beginning of
February 1693).

The arrival of food supplies in the Mughal
camp and the report of the Mughal Emper-
or's safety brought rejoicings to the imperial-
ists ; and Bhimsen remarked that "life came
back to our bodies." Zulfikar Khan remained
at Wandiwash for four months (February to
May 1693) and the siege of Gingee was there-
fore practically abandoned for the season.
Asad Khan and Zulfikar Khan were anxious

— 311 —

as to how the Emperor would regard his son's
incarceration, for already there had spread
wild rumours of his growing anger towards
his generals. Aurangzib first ordered that the
Prince should be brought before him in charge
of Asad Khan. Prince Azam, the second sur-
viving son of the Emperor, was posted to
Cuddapah to support the Gingee army from
the rear. With the arrival of Kasim Khan,
the new faujdar of Conjeevaram at Wandi-
wash, the Mughal line of communication to
the Emperor's court was secured from inter-
ruption for the time being.

When the Wazir, Asad Khan, proceeded
with the Prince to the imperial court at Gal-
gala, he was stopped on his way at Sagar and
the Prince alone reached his father's camp.
Sir J. N. Sarkar believes that the stopping of
the Wazir on the way was done by the Emper-
or, as a mark of his displeasure at his conduct.
According to the account of Bhimsen, the
Emperor fined Asad Khan, a huge sum as the
price of the Prince's stores which had been
looted and abandoned at Gingee and for which
the old Wazir was held responsible.

A letter from Fort St. George, dated 22nd
June 1693, refers to the displeasure of the
Emperor with the Wazir. It says: — "Grand
Wazir Asad Khan has not arrived with Zulfikar

— 312 —

Khan. We do not yet know whether he is
called away from Gingee in displeasure, of
which there are various reports." Another
letter from Fort St. George, dated 14th Sep-
tember, has also referred to the above fact.
" We should not be mistaken in one concern-
ing Asad Khan, the Grand Wazir, who, by
reason of his son's failure in the conquest of
Gingee, and the unkind usage of Prince Kam-
baksh, was recalled by the Mughal many
months ago, but not yet admitted into the
King's presence." Asad Khan seems to have
been permitted to meet the Emperor, only
after the lapse of a number of months, in the
beginning of 1694, when he was forgiven ; and
the Emperor approved of the verse, — " For-
giveness has a sweet taste which retaliation
lacks " — which was given expression to by a
cqurtier standing nearby.

A letter (No. 33 of 1694) from Fort St.
George has referred to the restoration of Asad
Khan to the King's favour and also to the
differences that existed between Asad Khan
and Kambaksh. We shall return to Kam-
baksh who went to the Emperor on llth June
1693. He justified his conduct before the
Emperor by charging Zujfikar Khan with
treachery and with a collusive prolongation
of the siege for his own enrichment. Accord-
ing to Professor Sarkar, Aurangzib did not

— 313 —

take the charge of Khan Buksh seriously."
Though the reinforcement brought by Kasim
Khan enabled the reassertion of Mughal auth-
ority in the country, Zulfikar Khan's retreat
to Wandiwash was taken advantage of by the
enemy who plundered and seized several forts,
and intercepted the supplies to the Mughal
camp. The petty zamindars gave plenty of
trouble and worsened the situation by plunder-
ing the grain-caravans of the Banjaras. Of
these chiefs, one of the most prominent was
. Yachappa (or Yachama) Nayak of the Velug6ti
family, whose ancestors had gained possession
of Satghar fort and acquired from Golconda
the command of the levies recruited in the
neighbourhood. *

* Rajah Bangaru Yachama Naidu Bahadur (1693
A. D.) was of the 22nd generation of the family and held
sway over Mallur and some of the neighbouring par-
gfmahs in the Chittoor district. He gave as free gift, or
(njruharam, a village, named Mahadevamangalam, in the
Tiruvannamalai taluk of Gingee and also Mannur in the
Venkatagiri taluk of the Nelloro district, renaming the
latter as Kuinara Yacha^amudram in honour of his
father. In 168? he granted the Village of Siddavaram
near Venkatagiri and named it Varadamambapuram.
He built a iwnitapn in the temple of Vijayaraghavaswa-
mi at Tiruppukkulli, near Musaravakam. He is credited
with a victory at Lakkireddipalli over a chief who had
rebelled against the Sultan of Golconda and got from the
latter as reward, the titles of Rajah Bahadur and shash
hazari mansab (command of 6,000 horse) and privileges
of sabji ambari, (joshpesh and the honours of pane ha nm^
rdtib. He is also credited in the chronicles, with having

- 314 -

Zulfikar Khan set out in February 1694
from Wandiwash to conquer the isolated rock-
fort of Perumukkal,* 18 miles north of Pondi-
cherry and 6 miles east of Tindivanam ; and
the akhbarat (of 14th November 1694, quoted
by Professor Sarkar) records that the Emper-
or received a report from Zulfikar Khan that
in the storming of this fort, one Aziz Khan
distinguished himself. Then Zulfikar Khan
went to the coast to " gaze on the ocean for
the first time,'' and marched down towards
Tanjore by way of Pondicherry and other
factories, capturing many forts and skirting
Cuddalore on the way. A letter from Fort
St. George of the year 1694, has thus referred
to the approach of Zulfikar Khan near Fort
St. David : — " With the approach of Zulfikar
Khan's army to Tanjore from Gingee, their
near approach to the bounds of Fort St. David

been highly esteemed by Aurangzib himself for his
valour and was once thought of by that emperor for re-
placing Nawab Zulfikar Khan himself. This last is
held to be the motive of the Nawab for bringing about
his death during the Mahanavami festival, at a time
when all weapons were reserved for worship and could
not be used for war or wear, by inviting the unarmed
Rajah to his tent and treacherously murdering him
therein, by causing the whole tent to fall on his head,
while he himself had withdrawn outside on some plea.

For a genealogical account of the earlier chiefs — see
N. -Venkataramanayya's VOhmoticarivdfnsavali (1939) —
Introduction.

* For a note on the fort, see above p. 31.

— 315 —

(near Cuddalore) gave them cause to stand
upon their guard. The Governor and Council
of Fort St. David sent Messrs. Haynes and
Montague to compliment Zulfikar Khan with
presents which cost 600 to 700 pagodas, to
him and his officers. They were received
courteously by the Nawab who gave a farman
to free them from trouble by his army." An-
other letter, dated 19th June 1964, also refers
to the devastation caused by Zulfikar Khan's
march from Gingee to Tanjore ; his army
" passing through the country adjacent to
Fort St. David, made so great a devastation
that the English will not undertake to make
any investment till the country is settled.'1

Yachama Nayak acted for some time
as the chief adviser of Rajaram at Gingee ;
but when he found himself thrown into the
background by other military advisers like
Dhanaji, he left the Marathas in a huff in
March 1693, and sought to carve out a domin-
ion for himself. And it was only after he had
contrived to get possession of Satgarh and
extended his power eastwards in the direction
of Vellore and had actually come into hostil-
ities with Rajaram, that he was cajoled by Zul-
fikar Khan to go over to the Mughal side, and
tempted with a bait of a six thousand rank
mansab and a fief in the Carnatic which would
fetch about three lakhs of hun per annum.

— 316 —

When Zujfikar Khan reached Tanjore in
March 1694, the Nayak of Trichinopoly who
had joined the Mughals and had helped them
with men and money now besought him to
recover for him some districts and forts from
the Raja of Tanjore (Shahji II). Zujfikar
Khan helped him with the conquest of some
forts from the Raja of Tanjore, who had to
yield to the Mughal attacks. Shahji submit-
ted to the Mughal suzerainty, promised to
obey the Emperor's orders like a faithful
vassal and to desist from assisting his cousin,
to pay a tribute of 30 lakhs of rupees and to
cede the forts of Palayamkottai (near Chidam-
baram) Kattumannargudi, Srimushnam, Titta-
gudi, Tirunamanallur, Elavanasore, Kalla-
kurichi, Pandalam, Sittamur and other
places, which had been mortgaged to him by
Raja Ram. Shahji II made, in addition to the
above, large gifts to Zujfikar Khan and other
officers.

Raja Ram, who had mortgaged the fort of
Palayamkottai, (near Chidambaram) to Tan-
jore, sent three thousand horse and seized the
fort himself, so that when Zulfikar Khan's
army approached before it, he was refused
admission and had consequently to lay siege
to it. After six days of trench warfare, Dai-
pat Rao seized the fortified village (pettah)
before the fort-gate, losing 150 of his Bundela

- 317 -

followers in the action. The garrison then
capitulated and escaped by a postern gate
under cover of the night (23rd June 1694).

Then the Mughal army returned to its
base at Wandiwash by way of Tiruvati near
Panruti and made an attack on Gingee. But
the Marathas had taken care to plant out-
posts in the Vettavalam forest through which
provisions could enter the fort.

Zulfikar Khan renewed the siege opera-
tions actively by the end of 1694, though the
people in the country knew that it was a mere
show intended to deceive the Emperor. His
treasonable collusion with the Marathas was
well-known in the land. Yachama Nayak
wrote a letter to the Mughal Emperor, expos-
ing Zulfikar Khan's treasonable collusion with
the Marathas and his deliberate prolongation
of the siege of Gingee with a view to seizing
power for himself on the death of Aurangzib.
The Nayak moreover offered that he himself
would capture the fort in eight days with his
own troops unaided- This letter to the Mughal
Emperor was, however, intercepted by Asad
Khan; and Zulfikar Khan accused Yachama
Nayak of treason against the Mughal and had
him killed. On the day of the Mahanavami
feast, he went on some pretext to North Mall-
ur, the Rajah's capital, and knowing that on
that day all weapons of war were reserved for

— 318 —

special worship, and were not therefore avail-
able for war or wear, he invited the Rajah to
his own tent for a short interview. The latter
of course went unarmed, and after a few min-
utes' conversation with him in the tent, the
Nawab withdrew on some plea, leaving the
guest inside. Soon the ropes were cut and
the whole tent was instantly pulled down on
the head of the Rajah inside, so as to cause him
immediate death. His followers, being also
unarmed, were of no avail in saving the Rajah.

When news of this treachery reached the
Rajah's palace, a son of his by his first wife,
Sarvagna Kumar a Yachendra and another son
by the third wife, Kumara Nayana, and Rama
Rao, a Brahmin boy who was brought up in the
palace, were all entrusted to the care of a ser-
vant-woman, Polu, to be safely handed over to
their relations, Juppalji Varu, and some Brah-
min house-holders, known as Pasupati Avaru
and Divi Varu, living in distant parts ; and the
maid-servant was secretly despatched out of
the palace with the three children and with a
small sum of money to cover the expenses of
the journey. The ladies in the harem, name-
ly, the three wives of the Rajah, his two
daughters by the first wife, and one other by
the third, committed suicide, preferring death
to falling into the hands of the heinous Nawab
and being dishonoured The destruction

— 319 —

of the palace records consequent on the Na-
wab's occupying North Mallur marks the end of
any history of the previous members of the
royal line ..... the particular plot of ground
where the tent treachery took place is even
now known as Dera Gunta (tent-pit) and there
are two temples with the images of the heroic
women who thus sacrificed their lives." *
Manucci has also given very ' horrible details '
of the self-destruction of Yachama Nayak's
family. He writes that Zulfikar Khan had
brought a false charge of treason against the
Nayak and killed him, because he had written
a letter to the Emperor himself, exposing the
traitorous designs of the Khan and offering
that he himself would bring about the capture
of the fort in the incredibly short space of
eight days.**

A Madras letter of 18th September 1694
(Diary and Consultation Book, 1694, page 99) re-
fers to the advice received from Zulfikar Chan's
camp that Arasama Nayak (Yachama Nayak?)
had been seized and put in irons and that the
siege of Gingee had been renewed. By the 22nd
September 1694 (Madras Diary and Consulta-
tion Book, 1694, page 102) a letter from Zulfikar

* A. Jagannatha Sastri : 4A Family History of
the Venkatagiri Rajas' (1922), p. 61.

** Storla Do Mogor : edited by W. Irvine, Vol III
pp. 271—72.)

— 320 —

Khan confirmed the report of the capture of
Arasama Nayak (Yachama Nayak) and added
that he and his family had been slain by his
order.

Francois Martin, the Governor of Pondi-
cherry, who was in close and constant touch
with the court at Gingee, had referred fre-
quently in his Memoirs to the fact that Zulfikar
Khan had come to a secret understanding
with Raja Ram during the course of the siege
and* was guilty of traitorous proceedings.
Zulfikar Khan was evidently trying to placate
the Marathas, with the object of carving out
an independent principality for himself on the
death of Aurangzib, when the country would
be involved in civil wars that would follow
inevitably among his sons and his own safety
and prospects would be in jeopardy/"

* The Memoirs of Francois Martin, recently edited by
Mon. A Martineau, ex-Governor of Pondicherry and
published in 3 volumes (1933), give an account from a
reliable contemporary, of the details of the politics and
military operations of the Gingee country. They came
to an end with 1694 when Martin, having had to leave
Pondicherry on its capture by the Dutch, arrived at
Chandernagore. As noticed, above, (see p, 219 : note on
Martin's Memoirs) they were supplemented by two big
portions of his Journal covering the period, February
1701 — January 1703. Martin was very positive that it
was Zulfikar Khan and his father, Asad Khan, who
spread the false rumour as to Aurangzib's death and the
accession of Shah Alam to the throne. Believing this
possibly, Yachama Nayak wrote to the Captain More of
Chennapatnam (Governor of Madras) (Diary and Consult-
ation Book, 2nd January, 1693) about the Mughal's death
and the succession of Shah Alam. The rumour was

— 321 —

fairly widespread. From Martin we also learn that
Zuifikar Khan went at the head of a corps of soldiers to
the tent of Prince Kara Baksh to arrest him. The
servants of the Prince tried to prevent the Khan's
entranc? and in the ensuing confusion, many were
killed and wounded, the cords of the Prince's tent were
cut and the Prince was arrested. To appease the troops
who would murmur at such a hard action against their
Emperor's son, it was given out that they had secured
some letters of the Princa in treacherous correspondence
with Raja Ram. Martin says that Zulfikar Khan and
Asad Khan had another motive also in arresting the
Prince; it was to take advantage of the disorders that
would ariso on the rumour of the Emperor's death and
the war of succession among the imperial sons, and that
they wished to use Kam Baksh in the designs they had
projected of getting power completely into their hands,
by handing him over to one of his brothers whom they
might favour.

Consequent an all this confusion and the Emperor's
•anger at the arrest of his son, the Marathas proclaimed
their sovereignty over Haidarabadi Carnatic and the
Cuddapah and Conjee varam districts. Rajaram was
greatly elated and demanded a heavy sum of money on
loan from the English at Fort St. David.

After the Maratha victory at Desur, Zulfikar Khan
sent his envoys to treat with Rajaram in return for
100,000 pieces of gold, provided the Mughals were given
the liberty of retiring with all that they had in camp
without hindrance. The Mughal army left on the 22nd
and 23rd January 1693, escorted by a corps of Maratha
cavalry right- up to Wandiwash. Many articles of
value had to be left behind, including the tents and
carpets of Prince Kam Baksh.

According to Martin, this agreement was the result
of a collusion between Raja Ram and the two Khans who
aimed to establish themselves as sovereigns of the
Carnatic with a body of Marathas drawn to their side.
44 This design was confirmed by the subsequent conduct of
Zulfikar Khan in helping Raja Ram in the many expedi-
tions he made in the territories of Gingee, Tanjore and
Madura and even furnishing him with means of sub-
sistence." They had in view the kingdoms of Gol-

— 322 —

Zulfikar Khan's deliberate prolongation of
the siege-operations were also obvious to the
Madras Council ; and the Diary of Novem-
ber 1696 recorded as follows:—" Zulfikar Khan
had been frequently ordered to take Gingee
and it was in his power to do so and destroy
the Marathas in the country. Instead he had
joined counsel with them." Even Bhimsen,
the right-hand man of Dalpat Rao, frequently
charged Zulfikar Khan with treasonable
neglect of duty. " If he had wished it, he could
have captured the fort on the very day he
reached Gingee. But it is the practice of
generals to prolong operations for their own
profit and ease. And again God alone knows
what policy he adopted." It has been noted
above that Manucci was also of the same
view.

Zulfikar Khan held a war council where
he discussed the best method of taking Gingee
before he renewed active operations by the
end of 1694. In October 1694, he marched out
of Wandiwash and encamped north of the

conda and the Carnatic; and Rajaram was to have for his
share the kingdom of Bijapur. Santaji and other
Maratha leaders were angry with Raja Ram for having
treated with the Mughals, with the advice of only one
minister. Santaji was *4 later pacified with some presents;
the murmurs ceased ; but the spirit was ulcerated."
Other commanders were also disgusted and Yachama
Nayak and others also retired, so that Rajaram was left
barely with 1,500 men.

— 323 —

Chengam fort which the Marathaa frequently
raided and from which they carried away
horses and other booty. The Mughals how-
ever were able to retaliate by plundering the
surrounding country and carrying away both
men and goods.

The Mughal camp was then torn by dis-
sensions among Zulfikar Khan and his officers,
like Daud Khan Panni and Dalpat Rao who
were believed to have even planned to seize
their master and send him in chains to the
Emperor. Zulfikar Khan was even believed
to have sent ten camels laden with coin to
Raja Ram ; but that the convoy was intercept-
ed by Daud Khan on the way. Another report
charged the Marathas with having poisoned
the wells of the country and thrown " milk-
hedges " in some of the tanks and thus
brought about the death of a number of people.

Zulfikar Khan however captured a few
forts from the Marathas and vigorously re-
newed the siege operations on the receipt of
three lakhs of rupees from the Mughal court.
During this period there were many deser-
tions from his army and the continuing scarcity
of grain intensified the sufferings of the
Mughals. The year 1695 was as uneventful
and unprosperous to the Mughal arms as the
previous^ones had been.

- 324 —

By the end of 1695, came the alarming
news of the approach of a large Maratha
army under Santaji and Danaji Jadhav. A
letter from Fort St. David, dated 12th Decem-
ber 1695, advised the English at Madras that
12,000 Maratha horsemen had come to Gingee.
Another letter from Fort St. David, dated 17th
December 1695, gave the camp news of Dhanaji
Jadhav's arrival with 6,000 horse at Gingee.
These reinforcements to the Maratha forces
had so much upset the Mughals that many
took fright and fled to places like Madras for
protection.

The increase of the Maratha forces at
Gingee obliged Hatsell, the Governor of Fort
St. David, to be friendly towards Raja Bam
whose position was greatly strengthened by
the accession of Santaji and Dhanaji. The
Madras Diary and Consultation Book of Janu-
ary 1696 thus recorded :— " The Marathas in-
creasing at Gingee and frequently sending raid-
ing parties into several parts of the country
near Tegnapatam (Fort St. David) it was found
necessary that Hatsell should accommodate
the demands of Raja Ram and his officers, as
circumstances required. There ought to be a
fair correspondence with the Marathas during
the present uncertain state of things between
them and the Mughals, the former appearing
to be very powerful in the country, unless the

— 325 -

Mughal Emperor shall speedily send a con-
siderable army to the help of Zulfikar Khan."

The arrival of Santaji and Dhana ji * oblig-
ed Zulfikar Khan to concentrate all his forces
in order to protect himself against a possible
attack. Throughout the year 1696, he was
hampered by extreme want of money. He
vainly begged the English merchants of Mad-
ras for a loan of one lakh of hun, for which he
offered to mortgage to them any part of the
country. Sometime later, in a moment of des-
peration, he sent out to them a threat of open
attack on

'"" Santaji had previously quarrelled with Dhanaji
and had departed in dudgeon for Maharashtra even in
1693- Thereupon Dhanaji had been appointed the Sena-
pati of tho Maratha army in the Gingee country. On
their way, the advancing Marathas had crushed Kasim
Khan, the Mughal governor of Sera and the Mysore
Balaghat country.

"""* In 1693 Nawab Asad Khan, the Wazir, granted a
punrnna for three villages in the neighbourhood of Mad-
ras, for which an application had been made in the pre-
vious year by Governor Yale. Meanwhile, two of the
three villages granted were claimed by one Velayuda
Arasama Nayak as having been included in a jaghir
granted to him by Nawab Zultikar Khan. On a represent.
ation by the English Governor, Zulfikar Khan had to
give a fresh grant of these villages 'in dispute in order
to supersede his gift to Arasama Nayak. In February
1694, President Higginson of the Madras Council thus
wrote to Asad Khan, the Grand Vizier:-14 Since the
King's beginning to reign it is now 37 years. I have
often acquainted your Excellency of the many services
done to His Majesty and his servants in Ascar Cawn and
Allemerdecawn's (Ascar Cawn and Allemerdecawn l All

— 326 —

Asghar Khan' and 'All Mardan Khan,' successive
Nawabs of the Carnatic — P.O., vol. xvi., 24th August and
1st September, 1690. The latter, on being taken a pri-
soner at Gingee by the Marathas, was succeeded by
Kasim Khan— P.O., vol. xix, 25th February, 1693) time.
You cannot chuse but be sensible of it; besides the pro-
vision wee have allways sent up, and still continueing
the same, to your Camp atfc Ghingee and Wandewash.
Upon which your Excellency gott from Prince Cawn
Bux his Neshawn for us for three towns, which was
given as a free gift, together with your own Seal and
Perwanna for the same. Besides which, your Excellency
have often promised in your letters that you would get
the King's Phirmaund for us at the King's Camp to send
it us presently."

In 1693, Dr. Samuel Brown proceeded from Madras
to Gingee in order to get from Kasim Khan, the Nawab-
designate of the Carnatic, a purwana for six villages on the
northern side of Madras. In July 1695, the Council sent
a message through Narayanan, their Indian agent, re-
questing from Zulfikar Khan the grant of the village of
Vepery, now an integral part of the city of Madras,
which was then wedged in between the three villages
granted in 1693.

In order to make clear the sequence of English
transactions with the country powers, regarding their ac-
quisition of new territories, the following extract from
the original records of Fort St. George, namely, the
account of Edward Harrison, then Governor of Madras,
despatched, in October 1711, to the President and Council
of Fort William in Bengal is given. The account traces,
so far as could be obtained from the records then preserv-
ed at Madras, the genesis of the first settlement at Fort
St. George " with the Severall Priviledges granted us
From Time to time att this and other Places upon the
Coast of Choromandell."

Extracts

4 We remained in Peaceable possession of our Privil-
edges till the Mogull came into these parts to the Con-
quest of Golconda and Visapore, when Mr. Elihu Yale
and his Councill thought it necessary to send an Armen-
ian, One Ovannes, to Reside in the Mogulls Camp as
their Vakeel to treat for a Phirmaund, which was in the

— 327

Year 1688. The Vakeel wrote word that he had brought
matters very near to a Conclusion; when, at the same
time, Letters were sent from the Camp that Generall
Child (Sir John Child, ' Generall of India') at Bombay
had made a Peace with the Moores (Peace was proclaim-
ed in 1698), and was to have a generall Phirmaund from
the Mogull, in which this Place and Bengali were to be
included. Which put a Stop to what Governour Yale
was then doing, And the Vakeel was ordered to distribute
no more mony till further orders. All that we can find
of this Phirmaund upon our Books is a very slight Paper
Containing nothing materiall to the Purpose.

4 The next Steps that were made towards getting a
Phirmaund were in the Year 1692 by Mr. Yale, when
Cawn Bux, Assid Cawn and Zulphakur Cawn were at
Chingee, when Messrs Trenchfield and Pitt (Richard
Trenchfield and John Pitt) were sent from this Place to
wait upon them with a Considerable Present. Upon
which they obtained liberty for our Mint, with a
Nashawn from the Prince, a Phirwanna and Dustuck
from Assid Cawn, of which we send you Copys ; and you
may observe that a Phirmaund is therein promised, but
has never been complyed with.

4 Another Essay was made in Mr. Higginson's time,
Agno 1695 -(Meanwhile, on the 10th February, 1693, Asad
Khan had granted the villages of Egmore, Pursawaukum
and Tandore — to procure a Phirmaund when Zulphacer
Cawn was with a Camp in these parts employed in the Con-
quest of Ellore; (Apparently Vellore is meant. — Cf. P. to
Eng., vol. i, 6th June, 1695) ; but all that Mr, Higginson
oould procure was Parwannas to Confirm our Priviledges
According to Sallabad. And so this matter has rested from
that time to this, and we have been pretty easie; only
upon Alterations of Government the Great Men have
been always troublesome and exacting of Mony. We
have now given you a full account (of all) that has ever
been done for Securing our Priviledges in this Settle-
ment.

* Fort St. David and Cuddalore was granted us in
1688 (they were acquired in 1690) by Ram Raz, Raja of
Chingee; and when Zulphakur Cawn Conquered that
City he was pleased to Confirm the grant of that and the
depending Villages.

— 328 —

In April 1696, Santaji was defeated near
Arm by Zulfikar Khan who had to confine
himself to the defence of Arcot on the death
of one of his chief officers, Raja Kishore Singh
Hada. Santaji however marched towards
Cuddapah where he intercepted the treasure
despatched by the Emperor to Zulfikar Khan
who however set out for him. Santaji changed
his plan and Zulfikar Khan had to fall back
on Arcot towards the close of December 1696.
Santa was pursued into central Mysore where
Zulfikar Khan was enabled to gain strength
from the army of Prince Bider Bakht who had
been despatched by the Emperor and advanced
to Penukonda.

The financial difficulties of Zulfikar Khan
being as great as ever, he had to go south to
exact tributes from Tanjore and other places
in the south. He spent all his treasure in a
very short time ; and he could not pay off the
arrears due to the troops. He returned to
Wandiwash by way of Tiruvannamalai and
Tirukovilur and found that the Marathas had
some internal dissensions which greatly tend-
ed to weaken them. Such dissensions
among the Marathas had been manifest from
time to time in Gingee. The present one was
a bitter and final rupture between the two
Maratha commanders, Santaji and Dhanaji,
who violently quarrelled for the post of com-

— 329 —

mander-in-chief. Rama Raja himself sided
with Dhanaji; but the latter was finally foiled
in his endeavour and forced to retire to Maha-
rashtra. The account of Bhimsen is very
frank about the condition of affairs in the
Maratha court. Among their leaders not
much union was seen. Everyone called him-
self a sardar and went out to plunder on his
own account.*

Raja Ram also was in as great need of
money as the Mughals were; and hence he en-
treated peace on certain conditions and sent his
own illegitimate son, Karna," through the medi-
ation of Rama Singh Hada", to Zulfikar Khan,
who was requested to forward his petition to the
Mughal. Aurangzib would not listen to Raja
Ram's offer of submission and ordered Zulfikar

*" Dhunnah having disagreed with Suntah, repre-
sented to Rama that this chief had usurped dangerous
power, from his large army, and had formed plans of
treason against him. Upon this Rama dispatched Amreet
Raow, a chief of much reputation, with his own and
Dunnah's troops, to attack Suntah who defeated them.
Rama and Dhunnah retreated to Jinjee and Suntah
returned to mY own country, much displeased at their
treatment ; but he was killed in a surprise shortly after,
by the brother-in-law of Amreet Raow, who cut off his
head, and sent it to the emperor. Dhunnah now acquired
great power among the Marathas and formed a party
with Ram Chund Pandit, Rama's minister ; but Perseram
another principal Pundit, favoured the cause of Ranoo,
Suntah's son and his uncle, Herjee Hindoo Raow."

(Ferishta's History of the Dekkan by Jonathan Scott
— Vol. II (Part III — Aurungzebe's Operations in Dekkan)
—p. 96— (ed. 1794).

42

— 330 —

Khan to renew the siege operations vigor-
ously and "capture Gingee without further
delay." Zulfikar Khan sent back Karna to
his father in the middle of October and, early
in November 1697, renewed the attack of
Gingee in right earnest.

" A spy Brahmin from the camp advised
that the Nawab hath sent Ramaraja's son to
Gingee and hath sent him word that the Mug-
hal doth not approve of his proposals and hath
ordered him to take Gingee in a few days." *

Zulfikar Khan took up his post opposite
the northern gate towards the Singavaram
hilL Ram Singh Hada was posted on the
western side of the fort, opposite Shaitan Dari
(Port-du-Diable) while Daud Khan Panni was
posted before Chakkili Drug, a little to the
south. Daud Khan Panni was able to capture
Chakkili Drug in the compass of a single day
by "a reckless assault at close quarters,"
though he had insufficient siege materials.
After this victory he advanced his troops and
took up a position nearer the main fort, oppo-
site Chandrayandrug, the southern fort- The

* (Madras Diary and Consultation Book, 1697,
page 128.) The emperor ordered Zulfikar Khan to com-
mence the siege operations in right earnest. The Khan
was honoured by the title of Nasrat Jang, upon which he
gave a great feast and conferred rich presents upon his
officers and troops. This was when he was encamped
for the rains at Wandiwash.

- 331 —

siege was dragged on for two months more
and frequent reports were despatched to the
imperial camp of almost daily attacks and
repulses. In the picturesque words of Sir
J. N. Sarkar :— " If Zulfiqar had wished it, he
could have taken the entire fort the next day.
But his secret policy was to prolong the siege
in order to keep his army together, enjoy his
emoluments, and escape the hardships of
active duty on some new expedition. He let
the Marathas know that his attacks were for
show only, and that he would give Rajaram
sufficient notice to escape before he captured
the fort Daud Khan, second in com-
mand of the Mughal army, drank largely of
the best European liquors, and, when full of
the god of wine, would perpetually volunteer
the extirpation of the infidels. Zulfiqar neces-
sarily assented to these enterprises, but
always gave secret intelligence to the enemy
of the time and place of attack ; and the troops
of Daud Khan were as often repulsed with
slaughter."*

Bhimsen, the chief source of our infor-
mation regarding the siege operations and
possessing an authenticity for " many inci-
dents of the Mughal warfare in the Deccan, as
valuable as the reports of the * Eye-witness * in
the present (1914-18) European war," and

* (Sir J. N. Sarkar: * History of Aurangzib ', Vol. V,
page 106).

— 332 — '

being " the only source of detailed information
about them," tells us very definitely that Zulfi-
kar Khan was in collusion with the Marathas
and sent information to them regarding every
projected attack of the Mughals. The History
of Narayanan to which reference has been
made earlier in our narrative and which was
compiled in A. D. 1802 3, supports the view
that Zulfikar Khan pretended vigorous opera-
tions in the course of fasli 1106 (1696 97), "in
the belief that, if the Padushah (Emperor) had
no trouble in Hindustan, the Dakhan or the
Karnatak, the sepoys would have no work."
But when Aurangzib sent money and rein-
forcements under the command of Daud Khan,
Muhammad Syed Kevud, Vcnkatapathi and
others, the siege of Gingee was pushed on
vigorously and Rajaram considered that it was
no longer safe to remain in Gingee ; and this
would imply that collusion stopped about this
time. Sir J.N. Sarkar says that at last it became
necessary for the Khan to capture the fort " if
he wished to avoid disgrace and punishment
by his master." But Rajaram, we read, received
a timely warning and contrived to escape by
the west gate to Vellore along with his chief
officers, though he had to leave his family and
followers, numbering several thousands, be-
hind. " The total ruin of Maharashtra power
might have been effected with ease many years
before ; had it not been for the generals who

- 333 —

delayed on purpose and secretly assisted each
other to draw out the war to a never-ending
length for their own advantage."

Zulfikar Khan could not any longer pro-
tract the siege, if he was to avoid disgrace
and punishment at the hands of the Emperor.
The letter from Fort St. George dated March
1698 says " that four or five thousand Marathas
came to Vellore where Rama Raja had escap-
ed from Gingee, which obliged the Xawab to
pursue him."

Then Zulfikar Khan gave the order for an
assault. While Daud Khan was engaged in
scaling Chandrayan Drug from the south,
Dalpat Rao scaled the north wall of Krishna-
giri and captured the outer fort after a severe
struggle. The garrison then retreated to an
inner fort called KaHkot, into which Dalpat
Rao and his Bundelas entered pell-mell after
killing many. Many Marathas were put to
death and the survivors took refuge inRa jagiri,
the highest fort. Daud Khan had made his way
into Chandrayandrug and advanced towards
Krishnagiri. The inhabitants to the top of
Krishnagiri had to capitulate. A vast amount
of booty in horses, camels and other things fell
into the hands of the Imperialists.

Raja Ram's family was then invested in
Rajagiri, the highest and the strongest of forts

— 334 —

ofGingee. Dalpat Rao held the gate of Kalakot.
Zulfikar Khan, who had entered by opening
Shaitan Dari (the Portu-du-Diable of Or me,)
secured the entrance to Rajagiri by crossing
the chasm at its foot by means of a wooden
bridge. The Maratha royal family begged
for safety; and Zulfikar Khan gave them
assurances of protection and good treatment
through Rama Chand Hada. Palanquins were
sent to the women and children of the family
of Raja Ram, who came out of the citadel and
were saved from violence. They were also
kept in honourable captivity. One of Raja
Ram's wives avoided the disgrace of a surrend-
er by throwing herself from the summit of the
fort into the depths below. Her head was
dashed to pieces as it struck a projecting rock.
Her mangled corpse remained in an in-
accessible place without a funeral. About four
thousand women and children were found in
the fort; but there were only very few fighting
men among them. *

In this connection the version of Nara-
yanan of Raja Ram's escape and of the cap-
ture of the fort by Zulfikar Khan can be
compared with the above narrative with
advantage. " While this was the condition of
affairs in camp, there arrived from the Pad-
usha to the Nawab money and reinforcements

* Scott: History of the Dekkan, Vol. II, p. 98.

— 335 —

under the command of Nawab Daud Khan,
Muhammad Syed Kevud, Venkatapati and
others. On the arrival of these, the siege of
Gingee was pushed on vigorously. Rajaram
considered it was no more safe to remain in
Gingee. Taking with him, from among the
Melachcri Killedhars, Kande Rao and others
with all valuables and taking with him his
wives and attendants, he was getting ready
to quit the fort. The Nawab was not aware
of this. He actually thought that, as the siege
had been going on for twelve years, and as
even the Padusha's resources were getting
almost exhausted, the fortress was actually
going to fall. He therefore ordered that the
siege might be pressed and efforts made to
take it without further delay. Nawab Daud
Khan and his contingent attacked Chandra-
drug. Kevud and his contingent similarly at-
tacked Krishnagiri, while the Nawab (Amir-
ul-Umara) with all the remaining forces sat
down in front of the principal entrance to the
fortress. At this stage of the siege, Rajaram
opened the Tiruvannamalai gate and, with all
his impedimenta, got out of the fort and set
forward, marching westwards. The army of
the Nawab, however, continued the siege ; and
the fort fell in the year of Fasli, 1107, the year
Jswara, month Thai, day 2 (Saturday 31st De-
cember 1697). The fortress gate by which the

— 336 —

Nawab entered was called Fateh Darwaja
(victory gate). Hearing that the enemy had
escaped, the Nawab's army fought its way
successfully and arrived at Pennattur. At-
tacked again there, they reached Tiruvanna-
malai the next day, and breaking camp again
there, the army of Rajaram marched through
the pass of Chengama to Tiruppattur, thence
to K61ar and ultimately reached Poona. The
Nawab's army pursued them, till they passed
the ghats and returned."

Dr. S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar writes
thus of the manner in which Raja Ram made
his escape :— " The account of Narayana Pillai
here is that all the while the Nawab was
feigning an attack, and whenever it was pro-
posed to make an attack, Rajaram had previ-
ous intimation It is difficult to believe

that Rajaram had no intimation of it. Whether
Zulfikar Khan gave intimation or no, Rajaram
apparently had intimation of what was taking
place in the Nawab's camp and planned his
retreat accordingly. He seems to have taken
a somewhat sequestered way out of the fort
with all his family and entourage, and got out
of the fort in the night safely, unknown to the
besiegers. From various references in the
records of Fort St. George, he loitered about
the Karnatak and remained in Vellore till a
contingent of 3,000 Mahratta horse came from

— 337 —

Poona and took him safely from Vellore in
the month of March following."*

Zulfikar Khan then supervised the collec-
tion and safe storage of the property and
the war materials found in the fort. Many
Maratha officers were put to death. He gave
orders for the repair of the fort and made
Kakar Khan the killcdar of the fort. Gazan-

* Journal of Indian History; Vol. IX, 1930, pp. 5 — 6.

Letters front Fort 67. Georfje,1(Mti : — Letter, dated 4th
March. — * But it hath happened in this juncture 4 or
5,000 Morattas came to Vellore, whither Ramaraja had
escaped from Chingee which obliged the Nabob to carry
his Army thither. Ram raja upon that news is gone from
Vellore with the said Morattas, and the Nabob follows
them, bat probably no further than the extent of his
Country, and his returne is expected suddainly after
which itt will appear whether he do's really design to
trouble us. Att present wee can make no judgment
having yet received no answer to the Letters sent him
so that wee find reason to confirme the caution given you
i.n the enclosed, and the rather because the last letters
received from Fort St. David yesterday give an account
of their advices, that Seilim Cawn doth threaten and
prepair for another assult of Cuddallor.'

Letters from Fort St. George, 1(>9$: — Letter, dated 8th
March. — ' Spye Bramines from the camp advise that the
Nabob hath followed after Ramraja as far as Gurrum (c)
unda and that from thence the Nabob will returne to
Sautgur and from thence to Arcott to keep the Ramzan,
Amerjeahan is gone with the Camp, but there is no
Letter from him since he sett out from Wandevas, so
soon as wee heare anything from him shall communicate
itt to you.'

Letters from Fort St. Geon/e, 1098 :— Lette
March. — 'Last night our peons came
who advise that the camp was 8 days
rungunda, and that the Nabob designe
had finished some business with
Vellore.'

— 338 —

far Khan (the Cussafur Khan of the Fort St.
George Records) was appointed the fdujddr of
the district, while Daud Khan Panni was raised
tobe the fdujddr of the Carnatic," in accordance
with the orders of the imperial head-quarters
in the year of fasli 1108 (A. D. 1698)". Mu-
hammad Sayyad Khan was raised to be the
(Jinan, Lala Dakhni Ray appointed as the
(liwmi-pvxhkar, and Lala Todar Mai was made
the sheriff add r of the Carnatic. Gingee itself
was renamed Nasratgadh by Zulfikar Khan,
probably in commemoration of his new title,
Nasrat Jang.

Khafi Khan, the author of Muntakhabu-i-
Lubab, says cryptically that a sum of money
reached the enemy who then evacuated the
fort and retired. This view implies the sur-
render of the fort through bribery. A full ac-
count of the operations connected with the
siege of Gingee is given below, as taken from
the translation of the work by Sir H. M. Elliot
and Professor John Dowson.*

" It was impossible to invest all the forts,
but the lines were allotted to different com-
manders, and every exertion was made for
digging mines and erecting batteries . . . The
garrison also did their best to put the place in
order, and make a stout defence. From time

* Vol. VII, Hisiory of India as told by its own Histor-
ian*—pp. 348-9.

— 339 —

to time they fired a gun or two. The zamin-
Jans, far and near, of the country round, and
the Mahratta forces, surrounded the royal
army on all sides, and showed great audacity
in cutting off supplies. Sometimes they burst
unexpectedly into an intrenchment, doing
great damage to the works, and causing great
confusion in the besieging force. . . ."

u The siege had gone on for a long time,
and many men fell ; but although the enemy's
relieving force day by day increased, Zulfikar
Khan Nusrat Jang and the other generals
so pressed the siege that it went hard with
the garrison. The command of the army and
general management of civil and revenue
affairs in that part of the country were in the
hands of Jamdatu-1 Mulk and Nusrat Jang.
This gave great offence to Prince Muhammad
Kam Bakhsh, and Jamdatu-1 Mulk and Nus-
rat Jang had to admonish him, and speak to
him sharply about some youthful follies- The
Prince was greatly offended. The Prince
wished that the siege should be carried on in
his name ; but the generals acted on their own
authority. Day by day the dissensions in-
creased. The besieged were aware of these
differences, and contrived to open commu-
nications with the Prince, and to fan the
flames of his discontent, so that great danger
threatened the army/1

— 340 —

" Intelligence now came of the approach of
Santa; and the enemy's forces so closed round
the royal army and shut up the roads, that
for some days there were no communications
whatever between the army and His Majesty.
Messages still came to the Prince from the
garrison, exciting his apprehensions, and
holding out allurements. He was vexed with
Jamdatu-1 Mulk's opposition, and no com-
munications arrived from the Emperor ; so he
was on the point of going over to the enemy.
Jamdatu-1 Mulk and Nusrat Jang were inform-
ed of this, and they surrounded his tents, and
made the Prince prisoner."

" When these troubles and discords were at
their height, Santa came down upon the royal
army with twenty-five thousand horse, and
reduced it to such straits that the command-
ers deemed it expedient to leave their bag-
gage and some of their materiel to be plunder-
ed by Santa, and to retire into the hills for
refuge. Every one was to carry off what he
could, and the idea was that Santa would
stop to plunder what was left, and not follow
the retreating force. Accordingly, the two
generals retired fighting for some kox, till
they reached the shelter of the hills, when
they beat off Santa. A few days afterwards
they renewed the siege, and the garrison was
hard pressed. According to report, a sum of

— 341 —

money reached the enemy, and they evacuat-
ed the fortress and retired."

" When intelligence of the arrest of Prince
Muhammad Kam Bakhsh reached Aurangzeb,
he apparently acquiesced in it as a matter of
necessity. The news of the reduction of the
fortress came soon afterwards, and he ap-
plauded the services performed by the two
generals. In reality, he was offended, and
summoned the Prince with the two generals
to his presence. The Prince was brought up
under arrest. After waiting upon Aurangzeb,
he addressed a few words of admonition to
Jamdatu-1 Mulk ; but afterwards the marks of
his displeasure became more apparent. Orders
were given to set the Prince at liberty." *

The following account of Zulfikar Khan's
part in the capture of Gingee will bring to light
the cruelty which probably attended the
capture of the fort. 4k The heads of enemies
turned giddy. The pregnancy of women came
to a premature end. Round Gingee the
Mughals came with great energy, like the
eight elephants round the chief mountain, and
pitched their tents and planted their flags.

* This notice of the long-drawn siege of operations
round Gingee foreshortens the time spent between the
arrest of Kam Bakhsh and the final Mughal acquisition of
the fortress ; but it confirms the dubious manner in which
the Marathas were forced out of the fortress.

— 342 —

The crowds of fierce elephants surrounded the
place like rows of black hills. Bushes and
trees were lopped off; the forests were cut
down and horses that carried baggages were
tethered in many rows. The Mughals placed
patrols in eight directions to guard against
thieves."

" Fearing that the Tulushkas might take
them captives, the Marathas no more desiring
to rule, ran away from their homes. They
did not mind their cattle and children. Some
carried on their hips dearly loved babies.
Others, fond of their wealth, concealed them-
selves nearby. Others deserted their children
weeping. Like the birds that wander in the
sky, many took refuge in the forest. Many
others suffered from hunger. All the people in
great distress left their homes."

The Date of the Capture of Gingee

Seven years had to pass before Gingee
could be finally captured by the Mughals
under Zulfikar Khan.

Sir Jadunath Sarkar has left the ques-
tion of the date of the fall of the fortress
open. Thus he gives a note on the dates embodi-
ed in his sources of information :— " M- A. 391
explicitly says that Jinji was captured on 6th
Shaban, 41st of Aurangzib ( = 7th Feb. 1698).

— 343 —

The Madras Diary of 2nd January 1698 re-
cords : 4 A letter from Amir Jahan from the
Mughal camp received to-day advises that the
Nawab has taken the Jinji forts all but one
which also offers to capitulate.' If we read
Rajab instead of Shaban in M. A., we get 8th
January. Bhimsen (135a) says that the fort fell
on a Saiikrilnti, which would give 2nd or 31st
January. Chitnis (ii. 58), as usual is grossly
incorrect, giving Cliaitra pratipad Sudi 1618 =
23rd March 1696, as the date of the capture." *

Sir J. N. Sarkar has quoted the Maasir-i-
Alaimfirl, which says that Gingee was captured
on 6th Shahban, 41st year of Aurangzib (7th
February 1698). This date cannot be accepted
in the light of contemporary Madras records
which refer to the capture of Gingee even early
in January 1698. Scott ** has given the date
1700 A.D. ( A.H. 1112) for the capture of the fort.
According to Bhimsen, the agent of Dalpat Rao
Bundela, whose account has been an invaluable
contemporary source, being the testimony of an
eye-witness, the fort fell on a Sankranti day,
which is equated to either 2nd January 1698 or
31st January 1608, as either of the dates marks
the entry of the Sun into one of the signs of

* J. Sarkar : 'History of Aurangzib ' Vol. V, p. 108,
foot-note.

** History of the Deccan, Vol. II.

— 344 —

Zodiac, such entry being termed the sank-
ranti. Sarkar has also quoted the authority of
the Diary and Consultation Book of Fort St.
George, where there is an entry dated 2nd
January (O.S. 1698) or 12th January (N.S. 1698),
which says that information had been received
that all but one of the fortresses of Gingee had
fallen to Zulfikar Khan. It records a letter
received from Amir, Jahan from the Mughal
camp which says, " that the Nawab had taken
all the forts except one which also doth offer
to capitulate." (Diary and Consultation Book,
1697, p. 152).

The History of the Karnataka Governors,
in the Mackenzie Mss., gives the fasli year
1107, Is war a, in the month of Thai (2nd day)
equivalent to Friday, 31st December 1697.
A letter from Fort St. George of 28th Decem-
ber 1697, contained a report " that Zulfikar
Khan has set up his flag on one of the hills of
Gingee and makes a show of taking the place."
(Letters from Fort St. George, 1697. page 34).
As the three hills were strongly fortified, it
was very likely that they could not be cap-
tured all at one stroke and there were probab-
ly intervals of some days before all of them
could be captured.

The date given by Bhimsen (which has
been equated to 2nd or 31st January 1698) can
be taken to be approximately the same as that

— 345 —

of the manuscript. " The manuscript gives the
2nd day of Thai for the capture of the fort.
The first of Tliai is generally celebrated in
South India as Sankranti. Bhimsen's refer-
ence to Sankranti which was most likely
based on what he heard from the country
people as the Sankranti day, is not probably
the monthly entry of the sun into the Zodiac,
but the special Sankranti which came annually
about the end of December in English Old
Style dates, till September 3rd, 1752 when the
calendar was added to by eleven days, in
order to correspond with the computations
made by Roman Catholic countries from Octo-
ber 5th, 1582, when they adopted the New
Style of reckoning."'

* Thus English dates between September 3, 1752
and 1699 should be advanced by 11 days, and by 10 days
from 1582 to 1699, if those should be equated on
the basis of the present calendar. 30th December,
1697 (O.S.) will be equivalent to 9th January 1698, ac-
cording to the current reckoning. Thus the cyclic solar
year, An^flrasa^ which according to O.S. English reckon-
ing, commenced from the 29th March 1752, ended only on
the 9th April 1753— />., 9th April, according to New
Style — eleven days having been added to the reckoning
from September 3rd 1752, reckoned as 14th September.
(See South Indian Chnmolfjical Tobies by W. S. Krishna-
swami Naidu, edited by R. Sewell (1894)— pp. 68 and 70.)

Israra (Kali) 4799, &//,r/ 1620, began on the 29 March

1697 (O.S.) and ended on the 28th March 1698 (O.S.).
Hijra 1109 began on July 10, 1697 and ended on June 29,

1698 (O.S.).' Pope Gregory's reform of the Calendar in
1582, corrected the dates by omitting ten days and making
change in the reckoning of leap years. In the Julian
Calendar every fourth year was a leap year; but in the

44

— 346 —

In that year it was perhaps on the 30th of
December. On the 31st also, according to
popular usage, the celebration of Pongal con-
tinued and Bhimsen might have so heard it.

The Madras Diary of 2nd January 1698
stated that one of the hills had been captured
before that date- A congratulatory letter
was then decided to be sent to the Mughal
camp. " Mr. Empson was ordered to procure
the most proper rarities to the amount not
exceeding 300 pagodas to be sent to the Nawab
with a congratulatory letter." (Diary and
Consultation Book 1697, page 152). By 17th
January 1698 (Diary and Consultation Book
1698, page 4) a letter was received from Amir
Jahan which stated that the Nawab received
gladly the whole present sent to him in con-
gratulation of the conquest of Gingee." An-
other entry dated llth January 1698 (Letter*
to Fort St. George, page 6) says " that Zulfikar
Khan had taken Gingee and become absolute

Gregorian Calendar century years are not leap years,
unless their first two figures are divisible by four. Thus
1600 was a leap year and 2000 will be a leap year ; but
1700, 1800 and 1900 are not leap years.

As the Gregorian Calendar was adopted in England
in 1752 (suppressing 11 days between September 2 and 14)
10 days must be added to English dates from 1583 to 1699
inclusive and 11 days from that year to September 2,
1752.

(Vide Compuraliw. TVWf.s of Mulmmmadan and
Christian Date*— Compiled by Lt. Col. Sir Wolseley Haig
—1932- pp. 5—6).

— 347 —

master of the country and also warned the
Fort St. David authorities to be very careful
and be prepared for an attack." This letter was
written on 5th January. Hence Gingee should
have been completely captured between the
28th December 1697 and 5th January 1698.

A letter to the Agent and Council, dated
26th February 1698, stated that, in the last
month, /.e., (January), Zulfikar Khan took Gin-
gee, Raja Ram having escaped by the Nawab's
contrivance to Vellore fort where he was
then halting and appointed Gussafar Khan,
to be the killcdar of Gingee, and gave him
Cuddalore and Tegnapatam as part of his
jaghir.

This letter also refers to January 1698 as
the time of the fall of Gingee. On the basis of
the Fort St. George records, we can definitely
say that Gingee had completely fallen into the
hands of Zulfikar Khan in the first week of 1698.
According to the Minutes and Consultations
of April 1698 (page 35), Zulfikar Khan's mansab
was increased by 1,000 horse, along with a
teshariff of elephants, horses, and swords
after his conquest of Gingee, The place (Gin-
gee) was renamed Nasratgaddah (city of vic-
tory) in honour of Zulfikar Khan who had the
title Nasrat Jang. Gussafar Khan was then
the killedar of Gingee.

— 348 —

After the capture of Gingee, the place lost
to a considerable extent its importance as the
key to the control of the lower Carnatic re-
gion. It was placed in charge of a killedar, whot
as we have seen, was subject to the authority
of the faujdar at Arcot. Zulfikar Khan ap-
pointed Gazanfar (Gussafar).Khan to be the
Tdlledar of the fort and gave him as part of
his jaghir, the towns of Cuddalore and Tegna-
patam. He sent also a fannan to President
Hatsell of the Fort St. David Council, demand-
ing the delivery of these towns to Gussafar
Khan's people. Hatsell seems to have refused
his demand which resulted in the attacks of
Salim Khan, the brother of Daud Khan Panni,
who had played a great part in the capture of
Gingee.

Salim Khan, under a pretence of lodging
the King's treasure in Cuddalore for a night,
made a surprise attack on the place with fifty
men. However, a party of fifty English sol-
diers was able to force him to retreat- *4 Salim
Khan's letter to the Governor of Fort St.
David desiring that nine ox-loads of the King's
treasure might remain at Cuddalore for secur-
ity, which being brought in by horsemen, seized
the Porto Novo gate, wounding a corporal, seiz-
ed Chidambaram, robbed the bazaar and carri-
ed away three elephants- The Moors were,
however, beaten out of the town with the loss

— 349 —

of eight men killed and five taken prisoners
with a few horses."

An attempt was made by the English at
Madras to conciliate Salim Khan by a pay-
ment of money in return for & far man confirm-
ing the rights of the Company to Devanam-
patnam and Cuddalore. Salim Khan demand-
ed more than what they offered and again
threatened Cuddalore and burnt some of the
villages of Fort St. David. A letter from
Fort St. David advises a second engagement
with Salim Khan and his men, wherein they
were repelled, though they burnt several towns
within our bounds. (Minutes and Consultation
Book, 31st January 1698, page 9). From a letter
of 25th March 1698 to Vizagapatam, we learn
that Salim Khan came very near Cuddalore,
planned a third attack, but however returned
without making any attempt." (Letters from
Fort St. George, 1698, page 22).

Later, Daiid Khan, one of Zulfikar Khan's
generals before Gingee and a notorious drun-
kard, was appointed to the governorship of the
Carnatic. He frequently tried to extort money
from the Madras Agency and invested Fort
St. George, which lasted for three months.
Egmore, Purasavakkam and Triplicane were
plundered by him. He repeated this action
several times. Every time the blockade was

— 350 —

abandoned by him after he was appeased by
liquors and presents.

Gussafar Khan (the kill&dar of Gingee
from January to May 1698) left the place for
another appointment by the end of May. In
April he renewed the demand for the towns of
Tegnapatam and Cuddalore, as he had to rend-
er an account to Kakar Khan his successor.
The letter from President Higginson to Vizaga-
patam, dated 16th June 1698, says: — "Gassafar
Khan who was the Governor of Gingee fort
since its conquest, is by the King's order ap-
pointed Nawab of fc Cateck ' and he went with
200 horse and 400 foot." (Letters from Fort
St. George 169S, page 74). A letter from Gus-
safar Khan, dated 23rd April 1698, renewed
the demand of the towns of Tegnapatam and
Cuddalore as he has to render account to
Kakar Khan on his quitting Gingee/' (Letters
from Fort St. George 1698, page 48).

From June to November 1698, Kakar Khan
was the killedar of Gingee and he seems to have
died by the beginning of November 1698 for
" We had advise from the camp that Kakar
Khan is dead and that another is sent to suc-
ceed him." (Letters from Fort St. George,
7th November 1698, page 125).

CHAPTER VIII

Gingee under the Mughals
The Period of Bundela rule

(1) Raja Sarup Singh ... 1700—1714

(2) Raja Dosing ... January 1714 to

October 1714.

We have seen in the previous chapter
how the Mughals was able to capture the fort
of Gingee in the CarnaticfromRamaraja, King
of the Marathas, early in 1698 or in the last
days? of 1697, after a protracted and weak
siege of seven years. Zulfikar Khan, the son
of Asad Khan, the Grand.Vizier, was in com-
mand of the siege operations of Gingee and of
its government till he left the Carnatic after
about a year from its fall.

According to the Fort St. David corres-
pondence for 1698, it is clear that throughout
1698, Zulfikar Khan was busy in the restora-
tion of order in the neighbouring country. He
marched into the Tanjore country and en-
camped at Tiruvaiyar wrhere he secured the
submission of Ekoji Bhonsle, whose vakil sub-
mitted nazar and contributions for the expen-
ses of the troops and promised to pay a regular
tribute. Similar claims were successfully en-
forced, for the time being, over the Nayak
ruler of Trichinopoly and the Marava poligars

of Ramnad and Sivaganga. He also installed
Kumara Yachama Nayakain his father's place
and gave him a suitable mansab and jaghir
and gave Shivanath Singh, the head of a contin-
gent sent to help him, and his officers, jaghirs
in the taluks of Tiruvannamalai and Tiruvati,
comprehended in the irrigation area of the
anicut at Tiruvennainallur. Shivanath Singh
was given charge of the killcdtlri of Chengi
(Gingee), Madanmust and Desur and is said
by the Tamil chronicler to have come into pos-
session of his kilLedari charge in Fasli 1107,
cyclic year, Isvara.

According to the account of Narayanan,
which is embodied in the Mack. Mss., (trans-
lated by Dr. S. K. Aiyangar in his article on
Raja Dosing of Gingee in the Journal of Indian
History, Vol. IX, 1930), Zulfikar Khan, after tak-
ing possession of Gingee in 1698 seems to have
entrusted it to one Gussafar Khan (Kasbur
Khan of Narayan and Gassafar Khan of the
Fort St. George Records.) We find a reference,
in one of the letters, found in the Minutes and
Consultation #ooA:o/24th May 1698 (page 58),
to Gassafar Khan, who is mentioned therein as
the late governor of Gingee. Probably by May
1698, he had ceased to be its governor. Further,
Zxilfikar Khan seems to have appointed at first
as the faujdar of the Carnatic, Daud Khan,
who was his second in command in the siege

— 353 —

of Gingee and who was reported to have been
primarily responsible for the capture of its
strongest fort by a strategic assault on it. The
appointment seems to have been made by the
orders of the Mughal Emperor in Fasli 1108 or
1698 A.D.

Muhammad Sayyid Khan was made the d e-
wan, while Lala Dakhin Roy became the 'de-
wan-peshkar and Lala TSdarmall, the sherista-
dar of the Carnatic ; this last person later on
played some part in the quarrel between
Sadatullah Khan and Desing. Zulfikar Khan
had given the name Nasrat Gaddah to the fort
of Gingee,— his full title being Amir-ul-umara
Nasrat Jang, — in honour of his victory. He
effected many other changes in the personnel
of the administration, by the presentation of
Jayhirx to several of his officers. Thus Sardar
Sivanath Singh was given the killeddri of
Gingee, in addition to a mansab, in 1697-8.
The jdflhir consisted of seven taluks when
given to Sivanath Singh (held in the Tamil
Ohronicle to have been a follower of the
Rajah of Jaipur, by the Mughal Emperor.
The South Arcot District Gazetteer (Vol. I,
page 365) refers to the above fact and says
that the jayhir was probably Mclacheri or Old
Gingee which was apparently a fortified place
situated some miles to the north-west of the
fort. ThejayJrir is also referred to have been

45

— 354 —

one of the biggest in the southern districts.
We have not been able to ascertain the histori-
city of the jil-gJitr except from the Mackenzie
Chronicle. We may take that the Gingee
jaghir was in the hands of Sivanath Singh
about 1699 A.D., i.e., after Gussafar Khan had
retired. The date given in the manuscript
Chronicle for his acquisition of the jdqliir as
v!69?-98, is perhaps a little bit inaccurate, for
Gingee had not then passed into the hands of
the Mughals, as the siege ended only in Janu-
ary 1698.

Under these circumstances Aurangzib
seems to ha\7e granted a Bundela chieftain,
Sarup Singh, a imntxab of 2,500 rank and a
jaghir of 12 lakhs, along with the ItilledCm of
Gingee. Sarup Singh, according to the Tamil
Chronicle^ was an officer in immediate attend-
ance on the Raja of Bundelkhand, Sarup Singh
by name. Aurangzib got his services from the
Raja and sent him to Zulfikar Khan, with a
fannan appointing him governor of Gingee.
In the De*]Hitche*i to England of 1711—1714,
(page 71), we find a reference to Sarup Singh
who is described as a considerable prince and a
Rajput and also as being related to the Mughal
family. The latter statement might perhaps
have meant that he was related to one of the
Rajput ladies in the harem of the Emperor.

— 355 —

Under this famum, the Nawab Amir-ui-
umara gave him the killedari of Gingee and
sent him on to Gnssafar Khan, who was pro-
bably then in charge of the district. Sarup
Singh entered on the office of the killeddr of
Gingee in A.D. 1700 (cyclic year Vikrama,
F<id't 1,110).

The Fort St. George records refer to
Sarup Singh as the killeddr of Gingee on the
18th January 1700, when one Ramalinga pro-
mised to procure for the English merchants
at Fort St. David the privilege of coinage in the
Cuddalore mint1, which was within the juris-
diction of the governor of Gingee.

The Mack. Chronicle says that Sarup Singh
took charge from Gussafar Khan, who after-
wards retired and joined the court of the
Nawab. Thus the Chronicle of Narayanan
gives the account of the change of administra-
tion at Gingee: — "Under this fnrmaii^ the
Nawab, Amir-ul-Umara, gave him the Mile-
diiri of Gingee and sent him with the order
to Kisafar Khan (the Gussafar Khan of the
Company's Records) and Kakar Khan. Sarup
Singh entered office as killeddr of Gingee in
the year Fa-sli 1110, year Vikrama, (or A.D.
1700) and took possession of the fortress of
Gingee. Killeddr Kisafar Khan &udfaujdar
Kakar Khan retired and joined the army of

1 Letters to Fort St. Georyc. Iti99 — 1700: p. 10.

— 356 —

the Nawab. Payya Ramakrishna was appoint-
ed vtiknavis (recorder). Shaikh Nur was ap-
pointed head of the guard. Shikar Udaya
Ram became thejupya navix (writer of replies
to petitions). Chalchiram became tahavildar
(treasurer). Sri Ram became huzur amani
'collector of revenue) Other officials like
huzur mendi (supervisor of boundaries?)
huzur topchi (commander of artillery) and
others of the Padushayi service, numbering
5,000 remained as killa dhainath under the
orders of the Nawab. Sariip Singh kept with
him this dhainath 5,000, along with his own
three hundred horse, took possession of his
ovrnjaghlr of the eight-fold parganah in Gin-
gee, Valudavur, Tindivanam, Tiruvamattur,
Asapur, Tirukkovilur, Vettaivanam and other
places. Nawab Amir-ul-Umara Zulfikar Khan
Bahadur Nasrat Jang, in accordance with
the orders of the Padusha, made over the
faujddri of the Karnatak to Daud Khan as its
faujdtlr, Muhamad Sayyid Khan as its dewaii,
Todar Mall as its sheristadar, and reached
Aurangabad in the same year of Vikrama." 3

Sarup Singh's Administration according
to the Mack. Kiss.

One Payya Ramakrishna was appointed
the vdknavis or the secretary, while Sheikh

Journal of Indian History, 1930, Vol. IX, p. 12.

— 357 —

Nur was made the head of the guard. The
reference to the vdknavis of Sarup Singh
is given in one of the letters to Fort St.
George of May 1700/' It refers to the Deputy
Governor's letters to Sarup Singh and to his
vdknavis in relation to the renters, who
were the occasion of the later quarrels be-
tween Sarup Singh and the English. Sarup
Singh's jurisdiction seems to have included
the eight parganahs of Gingee, Valudavur,
Tindivanam, Tiruvamattur, Asuppur, Tiruk-
k6ilur, Vettaianam and places nearby, all in
the modern district of South Arcot. The ex-
tent of his government is also confirmed by
the Madras Records. The Diary of Minutes
and Consultations of 1703, while referring to the
power of Sarup Singh, gives the following in-
formation. " He commands to the value of 12
lakhs of pagodas yearly, and is an absolute
Governor of Gingee granted by the Mughal
farman which includes Cuddalore, Tiruppa-
puliyur and Manjakuppam."

Nawab Amlr-ul-Umara had been, in the
meantime, called to Aurangabad and he had
to hand over charge to David Khan. Dewan
Muhammad Sayyid Khan and sheristadar
Todar Mall continued in their offices under
him. Daud Khan had for his head-quarters

3 Letter* to Fort St. George, J699—J7CO, p. 49.

— 358 —

the town of Arcot, as Gingee was found un-
healthy. He seems to have conducted the
administration efficiently, according to the
standards of those days. He may be regarded
as the first regular Nawab of the Carnatic.*

* A note regarding the political divisions of the
country under the Mughal dominion in South India
below the Krishna : —

Carnatic- P<7//o/?r///<7f (Carnatic below the Ghats):
The region denominated as the Carnatic, comprehended,
in the 18th century, the dominions and dependencies of
the Nawab of Arcot and extended from tne Guntur Circar,
being bounded on the north by the small river Gundala-
kama which falls into the sea at Motupalli, over all the
coast country as far south as Cape Comorin. The terri-
tory south of the Coleroon was known as Southern
Carnatic and was rather a tributary to the Nawab than
his real possession. Central Carnatic extended from
the Coleroon to the- North Pennar, and Northern
Carnatic from the North Pennar, to the Guntur Circar.

Pat/mi fjhnt or TaJ</ahat is the name given to the
coast portion of the Carnatic region to the east of the
Ghats, as distinguished from KulagJujf, the country to
the west of the Ghats. [See, Maclean : Manual oj the
Madras PruM'lcncy, Vol. Ill, pp. 67 ; Hamilton : Descrip-
tion of HhidnMan and the A'/jaceut Countries, Vol. II,
Section. Carnatic; and Wilks: 'A Historical Sketch of
Southern India in an afte/n/if to trace the Hi* lory of
(2nd Edition), Vol. II, pp. 134- -136.]

The Hydcrabadi-Carnatic (part of the Carnatic con-
quered by the Golconda state and controlled from Hy-
derabad) included, according to the records, a Balayhal
portion and a Pvi/uiu/hnt portion. The Bahnjhat portion
of it comprised the five drears of Sidhout, Gandikotta,
Gooty, Gurrumkonda and Cumbum. All there, except
Gooty, afterwards went to form the petty state of the Path-
an Nawabs of Cuddapah. Gooty fell into the hands of the
Maratha house of Ghorepade, of whom Murfiri Rao dis-
tinguished himself in the Anglo-French wars of the 18th

359

century. The PayuMjhat portion of the Hyderabadi-
Carnatic CDmprised the whole coast country, extending
from Guntur on the north to the present South Arcot
district ; this was afterwards better known as the subah
of Arcot and formed the nucleus of the dominions of the
Nawabs of the Carnatic. It included Northern Carnatic
as defined above and a portion of Central Carnatic.

The Bijaimri-Curnatic (the portion conquered by the
Adil Shahis of Bijapur in the 17th century) seems to
have been all JBalayhat, though it had also a Puyanghat
portion which included Vellore, Gingee, and Tanjore, all
of which were conquered by Bijapuri commanders like
Randaula Khan and Shfihji, the father of the celebrated
Shivaji. It chiefly consisted of the settled upland dis-
tricts of Bangalore and Sera ; and it was entitled to the
forced tributes exacted from the chiefs of Harpanahalli,
(in the Bellary District), Kundapur (in the South Kanara,
District), Anegodi, Bednore, Chitaldrug, and Mysore.
The two circars of Adoni and Nandyal, situated to the
south of the Tungabadhra river, were excluded from the
Carnatic, as well as that of Savanur-Bankapur.

Thus we see that Bijapuri-Carnatic comprised most-
ly Bahighat territory ; and Golconda-Carnatic includ.-
ed both Balayliat and Puyayhat portions. In 1713, when
the Nawabs of Arcot had just established their domin-
ion, the whole of the B(i1(H/luit section of the Hyderabad!-
Carnatic with a little extension to the south, was in the
possession of the Pathan chief of Cuddapah and the
Mahratta chief of Gooty. The governorship of the Two
Carnatics of which we read in histories, consisted there-
fore of the Btiltttjfial portion of the Bijapuri-Carnatic and
the Payamjlmt portion of the Hyderabadi-Carnatic ; and
Nawab Saadatullah Khan retained the government of
the Two Carnatics for four years. When Amir Khan
was appointed to the charge of the Bijapuri-Carnatic, it
became usual to call the Nawabs of Cuddapah, Sira
and Arcot after their respective capitals. There were
the two additional Nawabs of Kurnool and Savanore.
It was between these rulers that political power was dis-
tributed in the eighteenth century in all the regions to
the south of the Krishna, with the exception of Mysore,
Travancore, Madura and Tanjore.

— 360 —

Nawab Daud Khan was appointed deputy
subhadar of the Deccan after the promotion
of Ziilfikar Khan to the dignity of Subhadar.
He was an Afghan and the son of Khizr Khan
Panni and had served for several years under
Aurangzib before he became the lieutenant of
Zulfikar Khan in the government of the Car-
natic and later in the viceroyalty of the Dec-
can. He was in charge of the nizamat of Car-
natic Payanghat in the years 1700 — 1708 and
was killed in battle by a match-lock shot when
opposing Sayyid Hussain All, by secret orders
from the Emperor Farrukh Siyar.* He (Daud
Kb an) was followed by Muhammad Sayyid
Khan as the Nawab of Arcot and Faujdar of
the Carnatic in 1710 AJX Daud Khan, in ac-
cordance with the imperial orders, appointed
Muhammad Sayyid Khan, his diwan, to carry
on the administration and left for the imperial
court.

Sadatullah Khan, originally named
Muhammad Sayyid, was left by Daud Khan to

* "As Naib of the Nawab Zulfikar Khan, he
carried on the administration of the subah of Arcot with
justice and equity. He never tolerated injustice and op-
pression of the people. His rule was one of kindness and
compassion. He bred up two dogs of wonderful stature,
and never separated himself from them. He called the
male 'Khizr Khan' after his father, and the female
4 Bassu * after his mother. When criminals were brought
before him, he set these dogs upon them." (Tuzak'i-
Wdlajahi by Burhan Ibu Hasan, — tr. by S. M. H. Nainar :
Part I p. 63).

— 361 —

be his diwan and faujdar in 1708. According
to the Sddat-ndmah, a Persian history of his
Houses he was appointed as the Nawab of
the Two Carnatics in 1713 under Nizam-ul-
Mulk, immediately after the succession of
Farrukh Siyar. He was the regular and ac-
knowledged Nawab of the Carnatic between
the years 1710 and 1732 A.D. According to the
Maasir-ul-Umara he held the Nawabship from
the time of Aurangzib till 1732. He died much
regretted by his subjects.

* " Said Natnaft, a pompously written biography of
Saadat Allah Khan, entitled also M. Said (properly M.
Ali b. Ahmad </. 1142/1732) from his birth in 1651 to
Ramadhan 1732. (Autobiography near the beginning of
the Said Namah) " (P. 778 of Persian Literature. A Bio-
Biblioyraphical Surrey by C. A. Storey, Sec. II. Fasci-
culus 3, M. History of India, 1939).

It was Daud Khan that transferred his head-quarters
from Gingee to the southern bank of the Palar at the
place which subsequently became the town of Arcot.
From Arcot he conducted the work of the faujdar 7 of the
Carnatic on the lines laid down by his predeces-
sors, particularly Nawab Ziilfiknr Khan. In the pictures-
que language of Narayanan, he collected " the nazar
and peishk-ush arranged for him from killedars, jaghir-
dars, mansabdars, the poligiirs who were established
from the time of the Rajas and others. He also sent out
amildar* for collecting the amani dues from the khals-n
lands, the revenues from the kot-i at Bhandar (Masuli-
patam) and remitted to the Huzur the 15 lakhs, the irsaf
amount according to the ijari. He built for himself a
bungalow in Mylapore and fortified that town. He con-
ducted the administration with justice and remained in
Arcot till the /us// year 1114 (A.D. 1704)."

Though a digression, the author would insert the
following note on Nawab Daud Khun and the English

46

— 362 —

at Madras, at this place, because of the light that it
throws on the character of the Nawab and his attitude
towards the European settlements on the Coast.

41 In 1699 Nawab Daud Khan, who was then the
deputy of Nawab Zulfikar Khan, visited Madras and
spent a week at San Thome. Daud Khan succeeded his
master as the Nawab of the Carnatic and Gingee count-
ries in 1700; soon after he came down to Arcot he sent
to the English at Madras for ** sundry sorts of liquors."
On that occasion presents were sent to him through
Sehnor Nicolo Manucci, a Venetian, who was then resi-
dent at Madras and was a very interesting personality of
those days,

Nawab Daud Khan regarded the presents sent to him
as inadequate and sent Manucci back with a threat that
he would appoint a separate governor for Black Town
and would develop San Thome at the expense of Madras.
Manucci says in his account that the Nawab received
him very favourably and gave him reasonable and satis-
factory answers and the Governor himself was satisfied
with his embassy, though the official resolution of the
Council was otherwise.

A few months later, in July 1701, Daud Khan arriv-
ed at San Thome with 10,000 troops, horse and foot. It
seemed as if hostilities would break out and Pitt prepar-
ed for a stout resistance. But the Nawab changed his
mind, said that he was prepared to receive the presents
that he had previously refused and even offered to dine
with the Governor. The dinner was accompanied with
the presents and the gift of a great quantity of wines
and cordials. The next day the Nawab could not go, as
he wished, in a boat to visit one of the English ships in
the roads, on account of having become very drunk over-
night. This was followed by another threatening visit
of the Nawab to San Thome and the Governor had to pre-
pare for yet another threatened outbreak of hostilities.
Soon the Nawab began a strict blockade of the city and
stopped all goods going in or out. The inhabitants of Eg-
more, Purasawakam and Triplicane fled through fear ;
and application was made by the Council to the Dutch
and the Danes for assistance. The blockade extended to
the other English settlements on the coast, but was rais-

— 363 —

An account of the Nawab and his rule
given by a hostile historian, Burhan-ibu-
Hasan,** is worth study as it also reveals quite
a favourable picture of the, besides giving his
origin and rise. " Sadatullah Khan was from

ed after some weeks, when the English agreed to pay
25,000 rupees and the Nawab returned all the plundered
goods.

On yet another occasion, the Nawab visited San
Thome ; and though no hostilities were apprehended,
Governor Pitt took care to make preparations for a de-
fence. This visit terminated with a large dinner which
was sent to the Nawab, the Governor not caring to admit
into the Fort the large number of men who escorted
him. This was in 1706. Two years later, the Nawab
came at the head of 2,500 troops arid went away grumb-
ling at the insufficiency of the presents given to him.
His final letter to Governer Pitt had reference to a
demand for strong waters, as was expected. Daud Khan
wrote a letter to the Governor from Golconda for the
supply of 1,000 bottles of liquor ; and the Council resolv-
ed to send him 250, and also two large mastiffs that had
been got from Europe.

The acquisition of Mylapore was not to be seriously
thought of; but a grant was received in September 1708,
through Daud Khan, then camping at San Thome, for
five village?, namely, Tiruvottiyur, Nungambakam,
Vyasarpadi, Kathiwakam near Ennore and Sattangadu,
west of Tiruvottiyur. There were the usual protracted
negotiations about the fixing of the rents of these places
which were henceforward known as " the five new
villages." A far man granted these villages as a free gift
with effect from the 5th of October 1708.

* Burhan-ibu Hasan was a prote<j$ of Nawab
Muhammad Ali, the son of the founder of rival Nawabi
family which superseded the Naits and wrote his
history — Tuzuk-l-VValajahi—in praise and justification
of his patrons. (This has been translated by Dr. S. M. H.
Nainar of the Madras University).

— 364 —

the people of naivayat* The word ' nawiiyat '
is the plural form of the singular 'ndit,' a tribe
of Arabs. There are different views about
their origin. According to the investigations
of the historian Tabari, they are the descend-
ents of the children of the Quraysh. The
author of the 4 History of Yemen ' says that
they come from the tribe of sailors. The
writer of Jamiul-lubab says that they are the
nobles of Kufa. However that may be, they
emigrated from their native home owing to
the tyranny of Hajjaj bin Yusuf, and reached
the coast of Hind (India) by sea. They settl-
ed in the region of Konkan in the territory of
the Mahrattas."

Two Nait brothers Muhammad Sayyid
and Gulam All who were in very poor circum-
stances in the Konkan, sought service in the
camp of the Emperor Aurangzib for entertain-
ment as troopers. The elder, Muhammad
Sayyid, was of short stature and ungainly in
appearance and was first rejected ; but by good
fortune, he got an effective amulet and there-
by got favour in the eyes of the Emperor who,
much to the astonishment of his officers, ap-
pointed him to his service.

"As days rolled on Muhammad Sa'id, from
the position of a servant, found his entry into
the group of mansabdars. With the title of

— 365 —

Sa'adatullah Khan, he accompanied Dawud
Khan, and was appointed to the post of Diwan.
Thus, he grew prosperous day by day- In the
subah of Arcot, he was for twenty years Naib
to the Nazim and for five years Nazim. The
fame of his administration was sung for
twenty-five years on the whole. He devoted
his high purpose to the welfare of the creation
and to the organisation of his army- He was
a follower of the Twelve Imams, and had faith
in the sect of Ja'far. He had in his heart the
interests of his relatives and the members of
his family. He invited them from Konkan
and bestowed on them jagirs and forts. His
younger brother, Ghulam AH who was at the
court of the Padshah, was granted the jagir
of Vellore, and given the title of ' Khan.' He
tried to comfort and console the poor, the
orphan and the needy. The people regarded
his days as the best of the past, and were of
one accord in praising the justice of his nizCi-
nwt. He had no issue, and so adopted one of
the sons of his uncle and named him * Khan
Bahadur.1 Then, the mizim of his soul (ruli)
left the nizamat (of the kingdom) of his bor-
rowed body.""4

* The Tuzuk-i-W<ilajahi Part I. tr. by Dr. S. M. H.
Nainar: pp. 68-9.

Our chronicler, Narayanan, is equally enthusiastic
in his praise of the justice and equity and also of the

— 366 —

Muhammad Sayyid Khan appointed one
Dakhin R6y as his deputy and got many fav-
ours for his own men. The Emperor sent him
a man sab of 3,000 men and also the title of
Sadatullah Khan. He proved a good admin-
istrator in the Carnatic by keeping himself
on good terms with his neighbouring rulers
and by the proper collection and remittance
of revenue to the Mughal government of th<;
Deccan.

cleverness of Sadatullah. His words are worth repeat-
ing. "Sayyad (Sadatullah) Khan carried on his admin-
istration appointing Roy Dakhiniray as his dnran. He

got for his elder brother, Ghulam Ali Khan the" killedari
of Velur by recommending to the head-quarters and

obtaining their furma-n and fast ifwtnua. Ghulam Ali
Khan thus got the kiUvduri of Velur with a manxob of
one thousand. He also wrote his reports and obtained
the necessary far man a and iasvisnrnnd in favour of the
kiUtdars of his own choice for the Karnatakghad, Kai-
lasghad, Wandiwash, Timiri, and other places in the
Karnatak. The Padusha accordingly sent to Sayyad
Khan a mansab of 3,000 and the title Sadat-ullah
Khan. Nawab Sadatullah Khan proved a good admin-
istrator of the Karnatak, keeping himself on good terms
with the jaahirdars of the Karnatak and the Rajas of
Trichinopoly, Tanjore, Madura and Venkatagiri, collect-
ing from them the due pexhkash as well as the other re-
venues from the sircar taluks according to the establish-
ed arrangements. He collected the dues with justice and
remitted the dues to the head-quarters along with the ac-
counts as the fixed time. He also managed to be on
good terms with the officials of the diu'unn office (mute-
adis) by means of gifts, tukhrlr and paridana. While
everybody concerned spoke well of him, the Padusha
was greatly pleased with him as a very efficient admin-
istrator, fully justifying the expectations of his youth as
very intelligent young man.

— 367-

After the retirement of Daud Khan,
Sarup Singh was confirmed in his office by
Sadatuljah Khan and by his diwan Dakhin Roy.
Sarup Singh seems to have affected some
measure of independence during the con-
fusion that followed the death of Aurangzib.
As the new Emperor, Bahadur Shah, was
troubled on all sides by the Marathas and the
Rajputs, and by the Sikh and the Jat risings
in the subahs of the Punjab and Agra re-
spectively, Sarup Singh was able to assume a
truculent attitude and began to evade the
payment of the usual tribute. In the reign of
Farrukh Siyar when the Sayyid brothers were
dominant, this loss of revenue was felt and
Sarup Singh was ordered to arrange for
payment of arrears. Sarup Singh could have
managed to pay up the arrears with his enor-
mous income of 12 lakhs of pagodas a year.
He seems to have evaded all payment of the
arrears and died in 1714 without settling the
question. Sarup Singh not only evaded pay-
ment of the usual peshkash or n.azar, but also
took forcible possession of the khalixa villages
of the xurkar and openly and continuously
disregarded the orders of the faujtJar with
respect to these matters. Sadatullah Khan
continued patiently for some time ; and when
nothing would come out of his repeated warn-
ings, he intimated the situation, according to

-368 —

the chronicler, in his report to the Padshah
(Emperor) and sent a separate statement that
Sarup Singh's arrears of payments due to the
faujdari amounted to 70 lakhs of rupees, with
accounts filed in proof of his statement. Fur-
ther, we read in the Chronicle that the Emperor
examined the accounts and was assured of the
continued and defiant default; he thereupon
ordered the agent of Sarup Singh at court to
be arrested and directed that he might write to
his master immediately to pay up the arre-
ars to the Nawab of the Carnatic. Having
learnt of these proceedings and of the endeav-
our made by Nawab Sadatullah to prove his
case and to persuade the imperial diwani
office to take severe measures against the
defaulter, Sarup Singh became " sorrow-stric-
ken and falling ill, died sometime later." *

In the beginning of reign of Farrukh Siyar,
Sarup Singh had been a defaulter for ten
years and the Nawab of Arcot had reported to
the Padshah that the arrears amounted to 70

* " When some nobles at the imperial court spoke in
favour of Sarup Singh, Tipudas, the agent of Sadatullah
Khan "worked through the agency of the court darfiyah
Kutbu'ddin, undertaking to pay two lakhs of rupees to
the durbar for expenditure through the Hukkansi Kasi-
das' business-house ;" he "also filed a dnrkhaxt. in these
terms at the huznr office. Having seen these the
Padushah sent a farmatt informing Sadatullah of this and
issued orders on these terms to Sarup Singh."

— 369-

lakhs- A letter from Madras written to Eng-
land on January 31, 1714, says : " We have
lately found that the country round about is
peaceable and that the Raja of Gingee, Sarup
Singh, is lately dead and a new Governor is
expected to succeed him." *

According to the popular ballad of Desing,
Sarup Singh is not mentioned as the father of
Desing, but one Terani Singh is mentioned
therein. Terani Singh ruled Gingee conjoint-
ly with his brother, Tarani Singh, whose
father is mentioned as one Sura Singh.
Though Narayana Pillai's account ou^ht to
have contained the information furnished by
the ballad, we do not find the mention of
Terani Singh and Tarani Singh as being re-
lated to Raja Desing at all- The ballad refers
to the story that Terani Singh, who was im-
prisoned at Delhi, was absolved of his arrears
of tribute by his son Desing, who by taming
a wonderful horse of the Emperor, was able
to secure his release. The Fort St. George
records do not mention anything about the
imprisonment of Desing's father and his re-
lease by the efforts of his son.

Sarup Singh from the English Records

•

The name of Sarup Singh is written vari-
ously as Surop Singh, Seroop Singh and

*~Dcspatrhe* to England, 1111— 1714, page 191.

47

— 370 —

Syr66p Singh, in the Madras records. They
contain the correspondence between the
Councils of Fort St. David and Fort St. George
and their despatches to England about the
events that took place concerning them.
These records furnish abundant information
about the relations between the English
Company and Sarup Singh. Narayana Pillai's
Chronicle does not give much information
about Sarup Singh and the events of his
administration.

It has been noted above that Sarup Singh
was granted the jfighir of Gingee worth 12
lakhs, consisting of eight parqanahs which
included within their jurisdiction, Cuddalore,
Tirupapuliyur and Manjakuppam. The juris-
diction comprehended in hi&jaghir helps the
reader to understand the struggles that took
place between him and the Council of Fort
St. David.

We have already seen that the English
Company purchased Fort St. David, then
known as the Fort of Devanampatnam, near
Cuddalore, from Rama Raja, the Maratha
ruler of Gingee, iir June 1690 after long
negotiations. Sarup Singh's jflghir included
the villages adjacent to Fort St. David also.

Sarup Singh rented his parganahs at
favourable rates to the rich inhabitants living
in his jaghir by giving them alluring promises,

— 371 —

which he, however, never kept- Hence the
relationship between the renters and Sarup
Singh in general were strained and unsatis-
factory. In accordance with the instructions
of the Fort St. George Council, William Fraser,
Chief of the Council of Fort St. David, brought
about, in 1700, an agreement between the rent-
ers and Sarup Singh, who was obliged to give
a farman of assurance and also substantial
security to the said renters and a promise not
to exact any more than what had been agreed
upon in his cowles.*

* " Thursday, 24th April.- -The Governor acquaint-
ing the Council that this morning he received advice
from Mr. Fraser at Fort St. David, that the Dutch had
been at Conimeer a viewing, surveying, and measuring
a Factory there that was formerly ours ; and that
Dawood Khan's Mauldars were with them. So it is ra-
tional to believe that the Dutch have a design to purchase
it of this Nabob. To prevent which, for that it would not
only bo a great inconveniency to our affairs at Fort
St. David's, but likewise a great discredit to see a Dutch
Flag hoisted upon our English settlement; it is resolved
that the Governor writes a letter to Governor Conans,
who is still at Sadraspatam, to acquaint him with what
he hears, and if possible to prevent his making any fur-
ther progress therein." This journey was postponed till
after the departure of Daud Khan.

" Thursday, 27th May. — We being informed that
Dawood Khan is coming to Chillambaram, near Fort St.
David's, against which place we have just reason to fear
he has ill designs; it is proposed by the President that
he himself goes thither on the "Advice " frigate, with
two of the Council of this place and the Secretary, and
carry with them thirty men of this Garrison, and stores
and necessaries for presents, which accordingly are order-
ed to be provided." (Wheeler's Madras in the Olden
Time, pp. 199-200).

The first occasion of a quarrel of Sariip
Singh with the Fort St. David Council was
not, however, occasioned by any friction over
the treatment of ihe renters. Sarup Singh
seems to have threatened the English factors
by hindering the free carriage of provisions
and firewood to Cuddalore according to the
Council's letter. (Letter to Fort St. George
dated 8th April 1700). It ends thus : " The
reasons for such an action are not knowii ;
whether it be to amuse us or allure their
friendship by a present." But for this event
that took place in 1700, Sarup Singh had been
maintaining peaceful relations with the
English.

Probably as a sequel of this, Nawab Dtlud
Khan entertained an evil design on Fort St.
David, in March-April 1701, which was believ-
ed to be a plan to seize it by force and trans-
fer it to the Dutch who were held to " have a
design to purchase it of the Nabob/5 Soon
this fear passed away. No other records are
available to prove any enmity of Sarup Singh
towards Fort St. David Coimcil before the
year 1710 when troubles began on the
question of the renters. We find in the
despatches to England, dated October 1711,
a reference made to the peace prevailing
in the country before the war. It says : " We
had enjoyed perfect peace with the people of

-373-

Gingee- They never disturbed us, nor ever
thought of doing so, till the faithless Governor
of Fort St. David sacrificed the interests of
the Company to his own filthy lucre by pro-
tecting their just debtors and engaging his
word to see them forthcoming, at the same
time not only conniving at but contributing to
their escape caused the troubles." This shows
that there was unbroken peace between Sarup
Singh and the English settlement of Fort
St.' David before 1710.

In accordance with his usual practice,
Sarup Singh had rented the territories of
Valudavur and Tegnapatam, the latter being
circumjacent to the bounds of Fort St. David,
to one Sheva Reddi Nayak and others who
were having mercantile dealings with the
Council at Fort St. David. These renters,
having evaded their liabilities to Sarup Singh
and failing to get satisfaction from one
Gabriel Roberts, the then Governor of Fort
St. David, who stood security for them, cap-
tured Lieutenant James Hugonin and Ensign
Ray, two officers of the garrison, confined
them within the fort at Gingee and treated
them with great barbarity. In the course of
an attempt at retaliation by the authorities of
Fort St- David, some fatalities occurred and
open hostilities ensued-

— 374 —

Robert Raworth was sent to Fort St.
David, as its Deputy Governor, with ships and
reinforcements under Captain Roach. A smart
action took place in August 1711 in which
Captain Coventry and Ensign Somerville
were killed. After further fighting matters
were brought to a conclusion through the
mediation of M. Hebert, the French Governor
of Pondicherry, and the prisoners were releas-
ed after a captivity of two years. Before
news of the peace concluded between England
and France in 1713 reached India, Hebert had
mediated in the Gingee quarrel with success.

A Detailed Account of the War

Fort St. David and Cuddalore had been
granted to the English Company by a cowle
of Ramaraja in 1690, in preference to the high
oidding of the Dutch who were rivals for the
acquisition of the place. After the conquest
of Gingee by Zulfikar Khan, whom the English
helped with money, arms and gunpowder, he
was pleased to confirm the grant of Ramaraja
along with other privileges which were secur-
ed by Mr. Elihu Yale through the mission of
Messrs. Trenchfield and Pitt,1

1 Madras Diary of Minutes and Consultations, Febru-
ary 1691, page 14.

For the version of Sarflp Singh's people of the
manner and growth of the English acquisitions, it will

375

be of interest for the reader to study, verbatim, the letter
of Hanumaji Pantulu to Serappa, the Company's mer-
chant at Fort St. David, dated November 1711 and
included in the Consultations of the Council of that
settlement for November 28, 1711.

" The Mogulls Dominions reach from Ramesharum
to Europe, and Serup Sing under soe great a prince
Commands to the amount of twelve Lack of Pagodas,
Early, and absolute Govr. of Chinjee, granted by the
Mogulls Phirmaund, which includes Cuddalore, Trepopu-
lore, Mangee Cupang, &c. Towns which intitleing us
to a propriety of Claim, wee therefore, according to our
Lawful I Title, are come to demand and discourse about
fc em, soe that if you can produce any writeings Authen-
tick that nominates your Title, desire you'l produce 4 em,
and wee shall act accordingly, but can't show us any
such writeings, you have settled yourselves at Tevena-
patam and secur'd yourselves all the Towns under it by
your Craft and Bribery hitherto, makeing yourselves
Masters of bounds and to the time enjoying the product,
but wee can't any longer suffer such doeings, and now
make our demands on your bounds, conformable to our
grant from the Great Mogull, wee are assur'd you have
noe Lawfull Title, and by your Subtilty have infring'd
and imposed (as an Enemy) on the Great King. Your
revenues amount to twelve thousand Chuckroms per
Annum, and doe farther declare that whosoever opposes
our takeing possession of Cuddalore and Tevenapatam
are Enemys to the Great Mogull, and for every horse
that may be lost on such occasion, must be answerable
ten thousand Pagodas, to which I call the following
Evidence, and take their Attestations to forward the
Great MogulL demonstrating the impositions you have
been guilty off. to say Caune Guoy Deskemouke Darroga
Mooshareeff Buxee Busaude, 'tis well known the Mogull
Labour'd twelve years and at an immense Charge to
Conquer Chingee Country to install Surop Sing, and
your purchase was in the time of the Morrattas trouble,
and by firing your Gunn extended your bounds as Cud-
dalore to the Southward and Whichemeer to the North-
ward, and the Town of Trepopulore you gott by Bribery,
which is worth two thousand Chuckroms per annum,
and your being there seems purposely to encroach on
the King's Countrey, which will involve all your Sea

Ports in irreparable trouble, your proper place is only
Tevenapatam, but you have for these twelve years
enjoy'd forceably ten Towns, besides thats worth twelve
thousand Chuckroms yearly, which wee shall now
demand by Virtue of the Kings Phirmaund on our heads,
when you'l know better and can only compare you to the
Fuckeers of the country, who make a Trade of begging
and are generally the greatest thieves imaginable, soe
you in the name of Merchants are destroying and turn-
ing utter enemys to the Mogul 1, but as wee eat the
Kings salt you shall find how we'll serve you now, in
the Waldore Country, you have destroy'd forty towns
and fifty thousand Chuckroms of Paddy and Yembolum
Pandar, a man unarm 'd and praying to God, with thirty
men was kill'd, and plunder'd to the amount of ten
thousand Pagodas, there people went to the Duans
Brother with the complaint and he wrote to Surop Sing
to gett 'em the money again, and you plunder'd Laula
Deepsa, .whose horses and money you are po?ses'd off,
and want to know in what manner you can acquit your-
selves of this, and because wee came to demand our due of
twelve thousand Chuckroms yearly on your bounds, you
runn into our Country and burn and plunder above one
hundred thousand, the occasion of our enlargeing see is
upon the Accot. of your inviteing us in a friendly man-
ner, and keeping us forty days, thought was oblig'd to
write, ought to have been done before, therefore send
your answer what you think proper. This is the Mogulls
Affair and allthough you may think to fee and acquire
an accommodation by other means, you may depend it
will never doe, and whoever may undertake being a
Mediator will all ways have reverence to our just pre-
tences, which are in writeing, and be only a great ex-
penCB to yon, soe that if you'l quietly resign to us or
lett us peaceably take possession of Cuddalore and Tre-
populore &ca. what you plunder'd in the Waldore
Country, Damage to Yembolarn Pandar, Shevenaigue
Reddoes Debt of Eight thousand Chuckroms and its in-
terest, and on our delivering Veraugoo Redde to Armittu
Pillu, (who is the security for six thousand Chuckroms)
you must make him pay the money and interest as alsoe
the Charges of our Camp and then wee shall be very
peaceable, otherwise shall remain here, being come on
purpose to visitt you, soe wou'd advise you to keep your
forces in usuall good order."

— 377 —

Now Sarup Singh's jaghir extended as far
as Cuddalore and Tegnapatam and he had
rented out some portions of his estates to
some inhabitants who lived within his bounds,
but who had also mercantile and money deal-
ings with the English at Fort St. David. In
the paticular case over which the quarrel
broke out, Sarup Singh had rented out the
Valudavur and Tegnapatam, (alias, Fort St.
David) countries to oneWoodga Naik who lived
in Fort St. David J and who was helping in ac-
quiring cloth for the Company's investment,
in 1708 A.D., according to information contain-
ed in the letter from one Sheva Naik, son of
Woodga Naik, embodied in the Fort St. David
Consultations for 1713. He seems to have been
in arrears, as we find in the above letter that
the Naik was complaining to the Council of
Fort St. David about the troubles persistently
caused by Sarup Singh- The Fort St. David
Council probably did not care to interfere
on that occasion. The letter further says : —
" Shortly after my father's death, my mother,
myself and brother, who could not understand
any business, took leave of the Governor and

1 (on- pa(/c 1*9). This Wodde Nague Reddi, as his
name is spelt in the early records of the settlement, was
a resident of the place even in 1697 when he reported to
the chief d abash that some thieves were poaching about
the neighbourhood, having come from Gingee with a de-
sign to steal horses out of the Company's bounds (vide
Consultation of the 18th October, 1697).

— 378 —

resided outside the bounds." This shows that
the renters evading their liabilities were
allowed to escape by the Governor of Fort
St. David who was then one Roberts. Sarup
Singh was enraged at this and had several
times in his letters demanded that Roberts
should send up all the renters to him to en-
able him to adjust their accounts and to realise
the arrears. The renters had however been
allowed to escape. Since Sarup Singh held
that the English were responsible for the
renters who had run away with his moneys,
"by way of expediting a settlement," he
carried away two European officers of the
garrison of Fort St. David and confined them
in his fortress, treating them with great bar-
barity. The responsibility of Roberts is not
sufficiently plain from the records- But the
despatch to England of 5th October 1711
says : — " The injury being done on our side,
legal satisfaction being demanded was not
given at once where it ought." The letter
moreover accused the Governor of complicity
in their escape which led to the capture of the
military officers by Sarup Singh and the resul-
tant troubles. "The Raja however did not
seize our people before he had several times
demanded justice in a public manner both at
Fort St. George and at Fort St. David and
finding no means of notice taken of his de-

- 379 —

mands, proceeded to seize our men." Accord-
ing to another record of August 1710 (Madras
Diary Minutes and Consultations 1710, page
81) we find that one Dubash Venkata Krishna,
received 300 pagodas to permit Sheva Naigu
Reddi and others to go out of their bounds.
The dubush was asked to be secured by the
Council later on. Probably this person had
acted in concert with Governor Roberts in the
escape of the renters. We find, later on, how
Roberts was taken to task and ordered to
compensate for the losses incurred during the
war on account of his liability for the renters'
escape. However, the renters' property had
been confiscated, as a later letter of Sheva
Naik demanded the restoration of his property
and permission to live in Tegnapatam.

Soon after the escape of the renters, a
British ship which ran ashore between Fort
St. David and Porto Novo was seized by
Sarup Singh's men, while the Governor of Fort
St. David had to recover the goods by force.
Even in 1709, Sarup Singh had claimed the
right of seizing wrecked boats and their car-
goes within his bounds, though the Council
held that such a claim was " contrary to
several coicles and panuanax granted to the
Right Honourable Company by the former
and successive kings of the country and of
late years from Zulfikar Khan." A consult-

— 380 —

ation of the Fort St. David Council of 27th
October 1709, says that they ordered Mr. Far-
mer, Second in Council, to send out 12 soldiers
and 20 peons and the owner of the wrecked
boat which belonged to a sampan bound from
Cuddalore to Madras and had been driven
ashore a little to the north of the English
bounds and to inform the captain of the
garrison to send men so as to bring back the
boat, avoiding hostilities.

On the llth of June 1710, when Lieuten-
ant Hugonin and Ensign Ray, two military
officers of the Fort St. David garrison, went a
hunting into the country beyond the bounds
of the settlement, they were captured forcibly
by a party of men and carried to the Valu-
davur fort, distant about 20 miles from
the place. We know already that Valu-
daviir belonged to the Gingee jaghir. The Des-
patches to England of the years 170J-J70J to
(1710-1711, page 140), refers in detail to the
above incident. "Mr. Haughton, one of
covenanted servants of the Company, made
his escape to Cuddalore and reported the
event. Thereupon Montague, the then Deputy
Governor, sent a party of men under Captain
Vivers in vain." The poor captives had been
taken to Gingee by that time. A Fort
St. George letter of 28th June 1710, refers to

— 381-

the removal of the captives to Gingee. " Mat-
ters are far from mending, that they are
grown from evil to worse, relating to the
captives whom you say are sent from Waldore
(Valudavtir) to Gingee." The capture of these
prisoners and the treatment accorded to them
led to retaliations on the part of the Govern-
ment at Fort St. David, which made the war
continual and at the same time tedious and
expensive for both sides, as can be seen from
the records. The cause of the war is also re-
vealed in a letter of Harrison, Governor of
Fort St. George, whose rule was marked by
military activity and the troubles with Sarup
Singh. "Upon my arrival troubles had arisen
with the government of Gingee, who seized
some of the English and carried them pri-
soners to Gingee on the occasion of some
disgust of some former Governor, Gabriel
Roberts/' ! The latter part of his letter re-
veals the mercantile interests of the Company.
"We are but a handful of people and our
business is trade and therefore all quarrels
with the Gingee government are extremely
prejudicial to us and destroy the end for
which we have settled in those parts." 2

1 Madras Diaiy of Minute* and Consultations 1711.
page 134.

3 Ibitl.

— 382 —
The treatment of the captives in Gingee

The captives were barbarously treated at
Gingee and the treatment that they received
caused great resentment in the minds of the
Fort St. David Councillors. The unfortunate
officers, according to a letter of June 1711,
" were detained at Gingee and loaded with
heavy irons which continued so long that
their feet began to swell extremely. The
heart of that stupid inhuman creature, Sarup
Singh is still so hardened that, notwithstand-
ing the ruin of his country and people, it pre-
vails on his obdurate temper, which will not
be mollified except his avaricious humour be
satisfied by money, which would be a very ill
precedent and a great encouragement for
others to follow." ] In* another letter written
to Captain Roach, the captain of the English
forces in the Valudavur country,2 we get a
reference to the position of the unfortunate
captives. " It evidently appears that they do
not intend to release the captives who are in
misery and in irons and make continual com-
plaints of hardship and barbarous usage they

1 Letters to Fort St. George 1711, pages 51-52.

2 The killa of Valudavur was under the charge of
Mahabat Khan who actively assisted Sarup Singh in the
measures taken against Fort St. David and who later be-
came the faithful ally of Raja Desing in the latter's re-
bellion against Nawab Sadatullah Khan.

— 383 —

receive at Gingee under the Chaubauck and
being forced to stand in the sun till they are
almost faint and dead and not allowed a little
water to refresh them." ]

Futile attempts made to secure the release
of the prisoners

Several attempts were made by. the Coun-
cil of Fort St. David to secure the release of
the prisoners, A letter of August 1710 (Diary
of Minutes and Consultations, page 110) refers
to the fact that the governor of Gingee desir-
ed a present of about 200 pagodas to be sent to
him as a ransom for the release of the pri-
soners. In November of the same year
(Madron Diary of Minutes and Consultations,
page 114) a present was sanctioned to be sent
to Sarup Singh. The same letter explains
the fact that " the present sent to the Gover-
nor of Gingee to accommodate all differences
relating to the captives at Gingee did not take
effect as it was not accompanied by a letter
from the Governor." 2 This reveals to us how
arrogant Sarup Singh was. We shall see
later on from the Madras records how much
of a fright he was to the Council of Fort
vSt. David on account of his wealth and power.

1 Letter* from Fort St. George 1711, page 124.

2 Page 121. '

— 384 —

At the same time, the Madras Council desired
that a present of the value of about 150 pago-
das be sent to the Diwan (of the Nawabi,
perhaps Sadatullah Khan himself who was
for long the Diwan), which was to be con-
veyed by a vakil or an egib. It was also
desired by the Madras Council that the
Deputy Governor should write a letter to
Sarup Singh, to go with the present which
they sent from Madras (Consultation of the
Fort St. David Council, dated December 9,
1710).

In August 1710, a letter was written
from Madras to the Deputy Governor of Fort
St. David, empowering him to use all ways and
means to give Sarup Singh's people all vexa-
tions, if the unfortunate captives were not
released. In February 1711, an agent also
was sent to Gingee to demand the restoration
of the captives. Neither the present that was
sent nor the presence of the agent had any
effect on Sarup Singh. The despatches to
England of 1701-1711, refer to the above fact
and further remark, that " the hungry officers
about him who wanted to get something out of
the bargain and who exercised some influence
over him prevented his design." l The letter
to Fort St. George of February 1711 refers

1 Despatches to Enylund, 170 J — 17 J i, page 141.

— 385 —

to the futile endeavours of the English.
"Though all fair means had been tried by
sending a present and also an agent to dis-
course with him about his demands and hav-
ing waited two months for an answer there
was no prospect of release. It is quite evident
that he unjustly demands money and he will
not clear our captives by fair means which
has been sufficiently experimental. Therefore
we hope that your honour will think of some
proper methods to force him into a compli-
ance." l

Measures of retaliation by the English

Towards the end of February 1711, an
attempt was made by the Deputy Governor of
Fort St. David to seize some chief men of the
Gingee government who happened to be in the
neighbourhood of Fort St. David, at the villa-
ges of Pandasolanallur, Ramapuram and
Allanganattam. " Some of the chief men of
the Gingee government were at Pandasolanal-
lur, near the bounds of Fort St. David and in
their endeavour to seize some of them in com-
pensation for the long detained captives at
Gingee, three men were killed." 2 This event
made the English apprehend trouble. The
same letter contains a demand for provisions,

1 Letters to Fort St. George, nil, pages 11-12.
0 Ibid.

49

— 386 —

stores and ammunitions with a request for
their quick despatch. 100 soldiers and 50 peons
under the command of Gunner Hugonin were
sent out for the purpose. The captain was
ordered that if he could not seize those per-
sons, he could seize such as he thought proper
in the Valudavur country, but avoid bloodshed
with Mahabat Khan unless it should be that
44 if any come to oppose you, then to repell
force by force/' A wokhasiidar of Sarup Singh
died in an affray with the English troops ; and
one, Mohan Singh, was captured and ordered
to be kept a prisoner. Hugonin himself had
to wrestle hard with a Moor who was killed
by a gunshot by his companions ; he hastened
to file a petition to record the incident lest it
would be " a handle to revengeful people to
stain my reputation by laying it to my
charge ; " and so great was the fear of the Coun-
cil that all the bastions and outposts of Fort
St. David were duly secured with troops who
were stationed in the block-houses and re-
doubts at Cuddalore, Tirupapuliyur and Bandi-
palayam.1 The letter of February 25, 1711,
relates to the unfortunate accident of the
English soldiers killing three of Sarup Singh's
people. It says: — "Since writing the letter,
Mahabat Khan of Valudavur was making

1 For the report of Hugonin and the disposition of
the troops to protect the fort, see the Fort St. David Con-
sultations of February 24th, 1711.

— 387 —

great preparations to come against the Eng-
lish ; " and it ends with a request for recruits.1
Mahabat Khan had already demanded of the
English that they should not make any at-
tempt into the Gingee country.2 News was also
received that the envoys who went to Gingee
with letters and presents to Sarup Singh, had
returned, having been frightened by threats
that their lives would be endangered.

Chola Naik, the new friend of the English

In February 1711, one Chola Naik, a great
poligar near Gingee, being an enemy of Sarup
Singh, sought the protection of the English,
for some of his people at Tirupapuliyur, (the
western portion of the modern Cuddalore
N.T.). The Council seem to have granted his
request by a promise to send forces to do
damage to the Gingee country.3 The English
at Fort St. George, though they permitted
the poligar to come to terms with the Fort
St. David Council, warned the latter to have
a watch over him lest he should join Sarup
Singh.4 In March 1711, a letter was written
to Captain Roach, leading the English

1 Madras Diary and Consultation Book, 17 It, page
143.

3 Ibid.

s Letters to Fort St. Georyc, 1711, page 16.

4 Ibid page 120.

— 388 —

forces in the Valudavur country. It referred
to the detention of the captives at Gingee
despite the various just means taken to effect
their release and concluded with the following
words : — " Nothing but force will obtain their
enlargement and reinstate the English to the
good opinions of the natives and for which
reason you are ordered to march into the
Valudavur country, and to use all manner of
hostility." l By 24th March 1711, Captain Roach
and Captain Courtney had been despatched to
the Valudavur country to undertake all acts
of hostility. The losses of the enemy in horse
and foot were considerable. Several villages
and a quantity of paddy were also reported to
have been burnt. The destruction took place
in the face of the enemy. The country was
damaged again so that all means were tried
to make Sarup Singh listen to reason and
release the captives.2 The poligar Chula
Naik, who had become the friend of the
English previously, also joined in the
plunder of the country.3 In spite of these
skirmishes and the losses that Sarup Singh
incurred, the captives were not released. The
letter of April 17, 1711, shows that Sarup
Singh, or at least the officers under him, were

1 Letters to Fort St. George, nil, page 124.

2 Ibid, page 121.

3 Ibid, page 122.

— 389 —

so unbending that the captives would be
released only on the payment of the very
heavy sum of 30,000 chuckrams. On May 16,
1711, a party of soldiers was sent to prevent
the plunder of the Valudavur country, as it
was then the season of ploughing and sowing
the obstruction of which would mean a con-
siderable loss of revenue. Even this harsh
measure on the part of the Fort St. David
Government did not soften the heart of Sarup
Singh. The letter of Fort St. George of Maj^
18, 1711 says : — " Your troubles have given us a
great anxiety of thoughts and had not the
good effect we designed, to bring that savage
inhuman shape to a compliance in spite of
your successful skirmishes." l Hence the
Council of Fort St. George had to give
discretionary powers to that of Fort St. David,
to send out another party of men into the
Valudavur country, to impede the people
ploughing and sowing, for himself to reason
or to run the hazard of the ruin of his coun-
try." L' The luckless peasants of the entire
country were wholly ruined by the English
forces, and yet Sarup Singh could not be
moved. :< In July 1711, the action of the
Fort St. David Council was debated by the

1 Letters to Fort St. George, 171!, page 122.

3 Ibid.

* IWd, pp. 122-124.

-390-

Council of Fort St. George, who felt that the
former had acted in several respects most
injudiciously and that great disorder prevailed
among the garrison. An attempt was at the
same time made to get the services of
M. Hebert, the French Governor of Pondi-
cherry, in an endeavour to patch up a re-
conciliation with Sarup Singh; and Checca
Serappa, the Company's Chief Merchant at
Madras, promised to use his good offices also
and to render assistance to the Fort St. David
Governor in ending the present troubles;
and as he was known to be a crafty and
cunning fellow and consequently of use to the
Company, he was allowed to accompany the
Governor. It was decided to send Ralph
Raworth, a member of the Madras Council,
with five English ships, to put a speedy end to
the war- Raworth landed at Fort St. David
on the 10th August, 1711 and immediately
took charge as its Deputy Governor.

Progress of the war under Raworth .
July 1711 to May 1712

On arriving at Fort St. David, Mr. Raworth
found that his immediate predecessor, Mr.
Farmer, had ordered the destruction of a large
quantity of grain and a large number of villa-
ges of th'e Gingee government and this need-
less act of destruction had only intensified the

— 391 —

exasperation and raised the demands of Sarup
Singh. The Indian merchants complained of
the scarcity of paddy and of the dearness of
cotton and it became necessary to send a
yatch northward to procure grain, while the
renters had run away and could not be persu-
aded by any inducements to return.

On August 16, 1711, a desperate fight took
place between the troops of Fort St. David
and the forces of Gingee near the bounds of
the English settlement. There was a brisk
firing from the enemy whose forces consisted
of 400 horse and 1,000 foot under Mahabat
Khan, while the English troops were under
the command of Lieutenant Coventry and
Ensign Somerville.* The latter proved a

* Somerville's conduct was so base that it is inter-
esting to read the following account of it from the
general letter of the Council to Fort St. George : " This
treacherous and rascally example of an officer so de-
spirited the men that they immediately followed it, break-
ing their ranks he met his fate at last, being taken

by four horse-keepers, which first tied him to a tree and
with a crooked knife cut off his head — that cowardly
wretch making such submissions for the preservation of
his life that will ever be a scandal to our Englishmen,
for he not only used submissive expressions, but likewise
fell down upon his face, eating the grass that the mean
fellows trod on, which is amongst these country people
as much as to say I am your slave and will be for the
future as submissive as your dog, or any other beast that
belongs to you." Mr. Garstin puts down this encounter
as having occurred on the llth August. The fight occur-
red on the night of the 16th, when the enemy entered the
bounds and took possession of the walls of Whichimeer
and Roach had to advance, sending a body of men under
Coventry and Somerville to meet the enemy.

— 392 —

coward by running for his life, while the for-
mer showed extraordinary courage on the
occasion, though in the end he had to succumb,
his body being twice lanced and once shot
through. Captain Roach was attacked on all
sides and was left only with 40 men, many
peons and even officers having fled. The loss
of the enemy was computed to be 140 or 150
men killed and wounded, besides horses. The
Council lamented the unhappy fate of Captain
Coventry and the shameful behaviour of
Ensign Somerville. Mahabat Khan of Valu-
davur was the captain of the Gingee forces ; he
was skilful in pulling away his horsemen as
they fell and thought it best to withdraw
from pursuit when Roach reached the walls
of the fort. The letter of August 18, 1711,
attributes the misfortunes to Somerville who
fled and was deservedly killed.

Raworth was sent to make peace; and
before he left for Fort St. David he was told
that no money should be spent at all in effect-
ing a settlement. But letters now reached
Fort St. George requesting money and presents
of various kinds to Sarup Singh's envoys who
had come down for a peace.1 The terms off-
ered for peace were put at 6,000 chuckrams

1 Minutes and Consultations of Fort St. George 1711 ,
page 141.

— 393 —

per annum and a decision was urged by
Raworth for if the ambassadors were allowed
to return to Gingee and come again, it would
cost double the money.

A letter of 4th September 1711, relates to
the old age of Sarup Singh, to his administrat-
ive and other difficulties and to the attempts
made to secure peace without payment. " We
have sent him a letter, being willing to try all
means possible rather than think of giving
money." The English also hoped to take ad-
vantage of his old age and other troubles in
persuading him to end the war. " It is most
certainly true that the extraordinary charges
he had incurred to carry on the war, besides
the damage done to the country, had so im-
poverished him that he could not pay his
troops and men were forced to plunder for sub-
sistence which they daily do with the utmost
severity .... We hope this would bring our
forces against him and the war would end." l
A letter of the 8th September 1711, sent from
Fort St. George, asked Raworth to make peace
as soon as possible so that "investment might
go on briskly." It said : — " We approve the
project of carrying the treaty to Gingee if you
cannot get it to Fort St. David which would be
much for your honour and interest. We hope
you will find means to put an end to the war

1 Letters to Fort St. GYo/v/f. 1711. page 85.

50

— 394 —

speedily so that investment may go on
briskly." i

Governor Harrison of Madras thought it
politic to lay the whole matter before Nawab
Zulfikar Khan himself in the hope that his
interference might mollify Sarup Singh. His
letter, dated llth October 1711, was addressed
to His Excellency Zulfikar Khan Bahadur
Nasrat Jang, Bakshi of the Mughal Empire
and begged that the English might be excused
and might be allowed to live in tranquillity
and peace in their small factories.'*2

1 Letters from Fort St. George, 1711, page 11.

2 " While your Excellency lay with your army at
Ginjee, I understand you were pleased to issue out your
Purwanna for securing to us our privileges at Tevena-
patam (Fort St. David). Upon my arrival here I found
that place (Fort St. David) in trouble ; Serope Singh hav-
ing seized some of the English there and carried them
prisoners to Ginjee, on occasion of some disgust given
him by a former Governor. We are but a small handful
of people, and our business is trade ; and, therefore, all
quarrels with the Government is extremely prejudicial
to us, and destroys the end for which we settle in these
parts. Since my coming I have laboured all I could to
compose this difference, but to my great trouble, it hath
hitherto proved ineffectual. If this war comes to be re-
presented at Court, no doubt but Serope Singh's agents
will do it as much to our disadvantage as they can. I,
therefore, humbly beg of your Excellency, that if any
complaint be made against us on this subject that you
will be pleased to excuse the matter, and that we desire
nothing more than to live in tranquillity and peace in
our small Factories. And if your Excellency would be
pleased to procure us His Majesty's Hosbulhocum to
Serope Singh, to let us live in quiet and mind our trade, it
will be a singular service to your petitioner, and which
he shall always retain a greatful sense of."

— 395 —

The prospects of peace seemed to be in
sight by llth September 1711, as we find from
a letter of the same date. " We have a better
prospect of peace than ever and only wait for
a letter from Gingee to know what the terms
are." } A letter of 27th September 1711, speaks
of the prisoners having been freed from irons
in their prison at Gingee. Moreover, there
had been no further skirmishes after that in
which Captain Coventry fell. " Our prisoners
are out of irons which looks as if the enemy
were inclined to peace- We have had no fur-
ther skirmishes ever since the action of
Coventry and Somerville." 2

When terms of peace were offered by
Sarup Singh and forwarded to Fort St. David,
the Council at that settlement submitted to
Governor Harrison and the Fort St. George
Council these conditions, with their own re-
mark that they were so much in excess of the
renters' dues. Governor Harrison made very
justifiable remarks in comment on the whole
course of affairs, passing severe strictures
upon the conduct of the subordinate council.

"It is most certainly true that Sarup
Singh could not before in justice demand
more of us than the Renters' debt, and not

1 Letters to Fort St. Ge<>r<n>. 1771, page 89.

2 Ibid, page 98.

— 396 —

that neither because Mr. Roberts was their
security when they run away, not the Com-
pany; but the destruction of fifty or sixty
thousand pagodas worth of grain, about fifty-
two villages and towns, among which was his
favourite town Yembollum, and killing the
Pandarrum; these are things which really
make his demands carry too much justice
with them; and we heartily wish the differen-
ces may be composed, and so happily settled
as before the commencement of this war.
Without your permission though to disburse
something considerable out of the Company's
cash, we shall not ask it till we find an abso-
lute necessity."

" We (the Governor and Council of Fort
St. George) cannot but observe with a great
deal of concern the unaccountable folly and
ill management of these gentlemen through
the whole course of this affair; but most
particularly in this article. For after they
had sent out all their forces, without any
orders from hence, to burn and destroy all the
country and grain round about them, em-
powered by a single order signed by Mr- Far-
mer only, — they now as good as tell us in
some many words, that the unlawful depreda-
tions they have committed really make Sarup
Singh's demands carry too much justice with
them; and shamefully confess that they are

— 397 —

afraid they shall be necessitated to ask us to
disburse something considerable out of the
Company's cash. Mr. Farmer and his then
council would have done very well to have
considered this inconvenience before they pro-
ceeded so rashly on their own heads." 1

These observations of Governor Harrison
show that Sarup Singh was, on the whole, on
the right side, while real injury had been done
by the Council of Fort St. David. In the
despatch to England of 5th October 1711, we
find the same accusation charged on the
authorities of Fort St. David- " It is a very
different case; the injury being committed on
our side, legal satisfaction was not given
where it ought."

A letter of November 1711 (Madras
Minute* and Consultations 1711, pp. 149-150)
refers to the money demand of Sarup Singh.
He demanded 30,000 chuckrams in return for
Padirikuppam, Tiruvendipuram and C6rona-
tham, all near the bounds of Cuddalore and
renounced all other claims. " That the enemy
cannot be brought to more moderate demands
than 30,000 chuckrams or 16,600 pagodas. In
consideration of which they will give three
towns (above mentioned). . .that lay within and
without our bounds. They likewise agree to

Garstin's South Arcot Manual, pp. 40-41.

— 398 —

renounce all claim to our bounds and all pre-
tensions whatsoever with the usual presents
of horses and vests." Then the letter refers
to the expensive nature of the war costing
about 4,000 pagodas a month, besides a quan-
tity of stores and provisions. The inhabitants
deserted the bounds and the merchants were
not entering into contracts with the company
due to the war.

The Council at Fort St. George considered
the terms of peace embodied in the letter of
November 1711 and found that the amount de-
manded was totally unreasonable and exces-
sive and began to discuss about the worth-
whileness of the purchase of the villages and
about the probable revenue which they might
yield. They also considered the question of
the security of the grant, as they feared that
the next governor of Gingee might dispute their
title to the places, as Sarup Singh himself had
done now.1 The state of the war in the Fort
St. David area was fully debated at the Fort
St. George Council and held to have cost them
4,000 pagodas a month, besides various other
bad effects. No rent had been received from
the villages since the beginning of the war
which became an intolerable charge- They
further found that if the war continued many

1 Madras Diary of Minnies and Consultations 1711,
page 150.

— 399 —

people would be shut up within the English
bounds and grain and provisions would have
to be supplied to them and many of the older
inhabitants out of fear would also desert them.
As a result of these things their trade would
suffer. After thinking over the matter, the
Fort St. George Council despatched a letter to
Baworth, the Deputy Governor, consenting
to pay off the renters' debts to the enemy,
provided he did not molest them in the posses-
sion of the grants he offered. "An entire
renounciation of claim of all things within
our bounds is a tender point to be handled;
for his pretending to claim, after Ziilfikar
Khan Bahadur's grant, is an undeniable
reason why we should buy no grants of him ;
since by the same rule the next Governor of
Gingee may dispute our title to all we pos-
sess, and by the same forcible means may
compel us to pay what sum he pleases so that
our title will always be precarious." l

This anxiety for peace on the part of the
Fort St. George authorities is best revealed
in the letter that they despatched to Kaworth.
" We are still of the same opinion for a speedy
and honourable peace. We agree that Sarup
Singh ought to be made satisfaction for the
renters' debt and we should readily agree to

1 Garstin's Manual, page 43.

— 400 —

make Mr. Roberts pay for it, if it were in his
power." The letter further relates that the
Company should bear the charges that ought
to be borne by its Governor, but they would
attach the money belonging to Roberts and
debit him for the remainder.

. Minor troubles broke out before any peace
could be concluded. The letters from Fort
St. David relate to several of those troubles.
A letter dated February 14, 1712, refers to the
fact that all the forces of Gingee had arrived
near Cuddalore and proceeded to the Tiruven-
dipuram Vishnu pagoda, where they labour-
ed, by means of offerings and oracles, to secure
the blessings of the deity in their ventures
against the Fort St. David forces. Having
got no encouragement they returned dissatis-
fied.1 Some other minor engagements were
also reported to have taken place. A force
marched from Bandipalayam near Tiruppa-
puliyur, when the commanding officers of the
English garrison met them. They retreated^
with the loss of four men, to a small village
which they had built for their shelter. An-
other scuffle took place between Bandipala-
yam and Tiruppapuliyur where a sergeant and
twenty men advanced against them and killed
six and wounded several. They retired with

1 Letters to Fort St. George, 11 U, page 28.

— 401 —

great precipitation and never gave trouble
any more.

Peace made in May 1712

On the 10th of March 1712, the Fort
St. David Council received a letter from
Mon. Hebert, Governor of Pondicherry, who
very civilly offered his services as a mediator
to bring this ruinous war to a close. A cessa-
tion of hostilities was agreed upon and Mr.
Benyon was sent to Pondicherry to act con-
jointly with Raworth during the negotiations
and give him proper instructions.1

A letter of May 8, 1712, refers to a small
break-down in the peace negotiations. The
letter was from Hebert, who stated that his
hope of the conclusion of peace was on the
point of being shattered when he promised
to give something more, that what Mr. Benyon
said he was empowered to do. The treaty
was signed on May 5, 1712, at a cost of 12,000
pagodas to the Company, though it only
meant 1,000 pagodas more than what Benyon
was prepared to give. The enemy promised
to keep quiet and stop all hostilities, and to
send back the prisoners.2

1 Madras Diary of Minutes and Consultations, 171.2,
pp. 42-43.

2 Letters to Fort St. Georye, 17 U, page 78.

51

— 402 —

Articles of the treaty that was signed by the
Eort St. David Government and Sarup Singh

The following articles of the treaty are
from from the Fort St. David Consultations
of May, 1712.

A rticle L The Raja of Gingee shall grant
to the English Company for ever, Tiruvendi-
puram and its neighbouring area, which in-
cluded Padirikuppam and Corunatham, to-
gether with other lands granted to them by
Ramaraja and since confirmed by Zulfikar
Khan.

Article 2* The Raja of Gingee shall make
over the renters' debt to the English Com-
pany.

Article 3. The English prisoners must
be immediately released and delivered into
the hands of the mediator, while the Eng-
lish shall deliver theirs into their custody
when the treaty is signed.

Article 4. The Raja of Gingee shall make
a present to the English Company and a
teshariff to the value of 1,000 pagodas to be
deducted from 11,000 pagodas.

Article 5. There should be freedom of
trade and merchandise in the Gingee country.

— 403 —

Article 6. The peace should be lasting
and durable and all past troubles ought to be
forgotten.

Article 7. Anyone who violated the treaty
obligations should suffer the consequences.

Thus the long-desired peace was at last
secured by the mediation of Hebert, the
French Governor of Pondicherry.

After the treaty

A letter of May 5, 1712 T refers to the
daily expectation of the return of the released
prisoners from Gingee under Raworth, who
hoped that the conclusion of peace would
enable the country to enjoy tranquillity and
peace and there would be no more interrup-
tion of cultivation and trade by such troubles.
Another letter of May 26 2 refers to the fact
that Mr. Benyon had written that the prison-
ers were delivered at Pondicherry and that
the articles had come down from Gingee
signed by Sarup Singh according to agreement.

A letter of 30th April 1715 3 says that
Benyon paid the expenses at Pondicherry
during Hebert's mediation with Sarup Singh's
people who were a numerous body. Hebert

1 Letters to Fort St. George, 171.2, page 81.

2 Ibid, p. 92.

8 Despatches to England 1714-1718, page 81.

-404 —

got nothing from it, but a horse and vestments
as a reward for his exertions.

Causes that hastened the treaty.

The operations against Sarup Singh had
been tedious and expensive* From the Direc-
tors' despatch from England which signified
the approval of the terms of the peace arrived
at, we get an idea of the losses caused by the
war. " We have considered the war relating
to Gingee, and the terms of peace along with
the reasons for making it. Though the peace
had cost us 12,000 pagodas, we are glad it is
well over at last, for besides that money, it
hath been a prodigious charge for us, as well
in the continued expenses which has increas-
ed to 5,000 pagodas a month and in the entire
loss of the revenues of the villages, the
hindrance of investment, besides the dubious
events of the war. We believe you did your
best in the whole affair including the negotia-
tions." l

The war had been very injurious to the
investment and trade of the Company. We
have already seen that, in the discussions that
took place at Fort St. George on the proposals
for peace, the authorities were convinced
of the impossibility of protracting the war for

1 Despatches from England 1713-14, pp. 16-17.

— 405 —

various reasons. " They found that several
stores and provisions had been wasted and
no rent had been received from the villages.
Moreover, the villagers had to be supplied
grain and other necessaries, being shut up in
the bounds during the war- Mariy inhabitants
threatened to desert them and merchants
who had made a contract could never trade."

Moreover the depraved conduct of the
soldiers and the disorders within their ranks
had urged the necessity for a treaty. The
despatch to England reveals the following
information : — " Not fear of ourselves but the
preservation of the settlement was the only
inducement to pay so much money for the
fomented peace." In another portion of the
above despatch are noted "the good conse-
quences of peace and the consequent flour-
ishing of the place." The English were thus
very much concerned in maintaining the
peace of the land in their own interest.1

1 " We expect good will ensue from the war so that
the natives here and elsewhere shall have a due impres-
sion on their minds of the English courage to maintain
against so potent a prince, as the Raja of Gingee.1'
A letter from Fort St. David, dated July 1716, refers to
the hardships of the renters during the war. 'The
bound renter had petitioned to the English Government
at Fort St. David with his list of grievances. He had
purchased a cowle from Roberts, the then Deputy Gover-
nor, who had to pay the prince for the war for which he
was responsible. The cowle was granted for four years at
5,000 chuckrams per annum which he paid regularly for

— 406 —
The losses for Sarup Singh.

Sarup Singh also suffered severe losses
during the war, owing to the plunder of
several of his villages by the troops of Captain
Roach in the Valudavur and Gingee districts.
He had suffered losses equally and perhaps
more, due to these damages. A letter to Fort
St. George dated 4th September 1711 1 refers
to the extra-ordinary charges he had been at
to carry on the war. "Besides the damage
done to his country had so impoverished him
that he could not pay his troops. He was forc-
ed to give them leave to plunder for subsist-
ence, which they daily do with the utmost
severity."

The power of Sarup Singh.

Sarup Singh was spoken of in the English
records as a potent prince. A letter says: —
u We expect that goodwill may prevail among
the natives, that they had shown great cour-
age against so potent a prince as the Raja of
Gingee." Another describes him as " a con-
siderable prince and a Rajaput too. This

the first two and a half years, after which the wars with
Sarup Singh caused him great losses and hence (he) could
not pay and the debts to the Company rose to 600 pago-
das."

1 Letters to Fort St. George, 77/7, page 85,

— 407 —

Mughal's mother was of that family/5 * The
Directors, while regretting the vast expenses
of the war, wrote as follows: — "You have
been misinformed about the Raja of Gingee's
power and strength and we cannot imagine
why he should not have dared to seize our
people in Pitt's time. We are opinion that
Mr. Eraser's wrong notion of the power of
Sarup Singh, encouraged him to let things go
so far as they did. The present Raja is a
tributary to the Mughal and has a consider-
able revenue with which he maintains a
strong force."2

Sarup Singh's death 1714 A.D.

After the peace was signed on May 5,
1712, tranquillity prevailed in the land and no
more troubles arose between the English and
the Gingee ruler. A letter of January 1714
sent to England refers to the death of Sarup
Singh. " We have only to add that the country
round about is peaceable and quiet. Sarup
Singh, the Raja of Gingee, being lately dead
and a new Governor is expected to succeed
him."'

A later letter of July 1714 says that the
Gingee government was embroiled by the

1 Despatches to England 1711-1714, para 87, page 7.

8 Ibid, pp. 58-59.

3 Despatches to England, 17 14-17 IS, page 5, para 29.

— 408 —

death of Raja Sarup Singh and that the rest
of the country was also full of troubles." l

Sarup Singh probably died by the end
of 1713 or in the beginning of January 1714.
He was advanced in age when he died, for we
read in a letter as early as 5th September 1711,
wherein he is described " as having grown in-
firm and that it is with great difficulty and very
slowly he despatches any business." There
prevailed a rumour that even in 1711 he was
retired and that his son was to succeed
him, "which will make the matter worse,
he being a person of youth and activity."
Another letter of the same year referred to
the prevailing dissatisfaction with the admin-
istration of Sarup Singh and the consequent
rumour that a new governor was on his
way to Gingee. Want of money forced him
into permitting his troops to plunder the
neighbouring districts, including those under
Abdul Nabi Khan and Sadatuljah Khan
himself. Porto Novo which had been given
to the former was taken forcible possession of
by the troopers of Sarup Singh who was anxi-
ous to get the peace concluded with the Eng-
lish before he expected to be superseded.2 The

1 Idid, para 29.

2 Letter of Raworth to the Madras Council, dated llth
September 1911 : — " The Army continue plundering the
Diwan's country and lately burnt one of his towns

— 409 —

matter of his accumulating arrears to the
Padshah who ordered rigorous measures for
their recovery reached his ears ; and there-
upon he became " sorrow-stricken and falling
ill, died sometime after." Hence it is possible
that Sarup Singh died at an advanced age
towards the end of 1713.

called Parsimungalam after having extorted two
thousand pagodas from the inhabitants besides which
they have taken possession of Porto Novo which is lately
given to Abdul Nabi. These actions will undoubtedly
exasperate both those Nawabs against them, if Sarup
regin is continued, but last night we were informed as a
certain truth that he was out and a new king on his
way to Chingee, and that he has written to Mobet Khfin
to get a small matter, if he cannot assume, of conse-
quence from us, rather than leave the accommodation to
his successor, but we fear this is too good news too be true.
It is most undoubtedly fact that three hundred foot and
sixty horse have left the service for want of pay, and
that the rest is very much dissatisfied for the same reason
so that all reports put together, we think we have a
better prospect of peace than ever, and only wait for
a letter from Chingee to know on what terms they are.''

CHAPTER IX
The Period of Bundela Rule (2)

RAJA DESING OF GINGEE
(His Ten Months of Rule).

(January 1714— 3rd October 1714).

We have to depend largely upon what we
can gather from an examination of the Tamil
ballad and the Mack. Mss.1 for a clear account
of the short rule of Raja Desing. The Madras
records that give so much information for the
rule of Sarup Singh, his father, do not repeal
much about his son, Raja Desing. Probably
the very short period of his rule is the cause
of the lack of reliable material about him.

1 The following is the account of Narayana Pillai,
as translated by the learned Diwan Bahadur Dr. S. K.
Aiyangar, in the Journal of Indian History, Vol. IX
pp. 35-21. The account'seems to be on the whole mark-
ed by clarity and by a certain amount of proper sequ-
ence. Of course, Narayana Pillai was a native of
Gingee and knew, more correctly perhaps than any
other writer, of the affairs of this part of the Carnatic.
As mentioned above in the course of this book, the Tamil
of Narayana Pillai was a sort of brogue, " a sort of
hybrid between bazaar Tamil and the official Hindustani
written Tamil." Narayana Pillai does not show him-
self a partisan of Desing, but on the other hand was
more inclined to justify the attitude and conduct of
Nawab Sadatullah Khan. "The narrative presented
of Desing probably conveys all the correct history
known of the hero and his short ten months' rule of
Gingee." Beiew is given the account taken from the
translation :

" News of the illness of Sarup Singh reached the
house of Sarup Singh in Bundelkhand. Desing (Tej

- 411 -

Singh), the son of Sarup Singh, immediatly started with
his wife and fifty horse and attendants, and arrived
at Bidanur (Bednur) in the Karnatak. At that time the
Raja of Bidanur was much troubled by the Mahratta
sardars between whom and himself frequent skirmishes
were taking place. Having heard of Raja Desing's
arrival, the Raja of Bidanur urged the friendship of
Desing's father, Samp Singh, the killedar of Gingee,
and persuaded Desing to render him assistance, by show-
ing him letters received from Sarup Singh. After due
consideration of the proposal, and on the representation
of the chief officials of Bidanur who carried the letter,
Raja Desing agreed to assist the Raja of Bidanur and
attacked his enemies with his own forces. His contin-
gent distinguished itself and succeeded in turning back
the assailants. The Raja of Bidanur in return paid one
lakh of rupees and made him a present, with great
pleasure, of an extraordinarily good horse in his stables,
which nobody had been able to ride before. The animal
actually cost him twelve thouand rupees. Having
heard the description of the horse, Desing proceeded to
the stables and found the animal tame at his approach.
Desing was able to ride the animal without any trouble
and thus secured the present for himself in addition to
money, dress and jewels. With all these, he arrived at
Gingee. Sarup Singh had died in the meanwhile, while
Desing was still on the way from Bundelkhand to
Bidanur. Reaching Gingee, Desing performed the
funeral ceremonies of his father and assumed authority
as the killfidnr. The killcdari officials of Sarup Singh
paid Huzar and acknowledged him as his successor ;
while the Padshahi officials, such as the dhainath,
the cukuacis and others did not pay the usual nozar.
Knowing that Desing was a man of quick temper, nobody
dared to intimate to him that he should not assume
office without the orders of the Sarknr. Payya Rama-
krishna, the caknaris, however, found a suitable
opportunity some time afterwards to point out that he
should assume office only with the knowledge of the
Sarkar and with the orders of the Padshah where neces-
sary. Failing this, he urged that he ought to obtain
orders from Nawab Sadatullah Khan.

" Desing replied that his father Sarup Singh got
the mi rax of Gingee from his Padshah, Alamgir, and

412 —

therefore he was not bound to apply to anybody else, and
nobody's orders were therefore required. Payya Rama-
krishna kept quiet and six months passed.

" Sadatullah Khan had information of the death of
Sarup Singh. But he did not send anybody to take
possession of the government of Gingee. He wrote to
Raja Desing, however, a letter of condolence on the
death of his father. Desing was exercising his authority
over all the taluks of Sarup Singh's jofjhir. In the
meanwhile, there arrived from the Padshah two harkars
to Arcot (the head-quarters of the Carnatic subah since
the days of Daud Khan) carrying afarman to Sadatullah
Khan, and orders to Sarup Singh (the orders that
Farrukh Siyar issued in regard to the seventy lakhs of
revenue due). Having read the farnuin from the
Padshah, Nawab Sadatullah Khan called the slifrista-
chir of the Padshahi, Lai a Todar Mall (Tamil Tondar
Mall), and told him that Raja Desing was an irritable
young man and therefore (he was) to proceed personally
to Gingee and show him the takid fa-mum and the letter
from himself and take possession of the fortress quietly
and peacefully, as well as ihejaylrir lands attached thereto,
and to send down Raja Desing. Todar Mall left Arcot at
the head of fifty horse and the necessary equipage and,
reaching Gingee, encamped himself near the temple of
Venkatarama Swami constructed by Mutiyal Nayakan.
The Padshahi officials of the fort, Payya Ramakrishna
and others, came and visited him in camp. Todar Mall
intimated to them that he was the bearer of the
imperial far man to Nawab Sadatullah Khan and also the
takid farman to killedar Sarup Singh. They examined
the inayatnama and copies of the farnmn and conveyed
the information to Raja Desing. Raja Desing gave them
the reply that the fort and also the jaglrir attached
thereto were given to his father by Alamgir Padshah,
and that he was not prepared to give up the fort. Payya
Ramakrishna in reply said that the farman from the
Padshah and the inayatnama of the Faujdar were both of
them brought to him by the mutsaddi who was encamped
in Gingee. Whatever Raja Desing might have to say in
this matter, he ought to speak to him. He pointed out
that Todar Mall was a good man, as also was the Faujdar*
Sadatullah Khan. They assured him that they would not
take away the entire mfras from him, but that, if he saw

413

Todar Mall and the Faujdar afterwards, they would con-
firm him in the killedari. Payya Ramakrishaa there-
fore impressed it upon him that he ought to go and see
Todar Mall. Agreeing to this, Raja Desing at the head
of his horse and all the necessary equipage of his
father, went out riding towards the cremation ground of
the Rajas near Melacheri. Turning round from there to
the temple of Ghakraperumal on the bank of the river
and turning towards the fort from there, the Raja came
to the tent of Todar Mall. Todar Mall, seeing that the
killedar was coming, went forward to meet him. Des-
ing made his salutation, but without getting down from
his horse. Todar Mall felt chagrined and returned to his
tent. Desing proceeded on his way to the fort. The next
morning, Todar Mall in his turn came on horseback and
reached the court of Desing. Being a mild man, Todar
Mall felt that he should not make much of the 'char-
acteristic stupidity of the Bundela.' He approached
Desing in due form and presented him the imperial
farman and the Faujdar's inayatnama. When Desing got
them read out to him, his eyes turned red and, becoming
angry, he said that he would not allow his jacjhir to be
taken possession of by Todar Mall. But if he persisted,
it would result in the rolling of many heads. So saying,
he threw down the farman of the Padshah and the fnayat-
nama of the Faujdar towards Todar Mall. Todar Mall
took up the documents and returned to his camp. The
faujdari officials followed him to the camp and wanted
orders as to how they should conduct themselves. Todar
Mall instructed them to go on 'as ever before in the
discharge of their various duties and sent them back.

Todar Mall reported to Nawab Sadat-ullah Khan, the
Faujdar of the Carnatic, that, if an attempt be made to
take forcible possession of the fort, there \vas likely to be a
fight for its possession, and pointed out that Raja Desing's
confidence in the line of conduct that he had adopted was
due to his possession of 350 horse of his own and 500
soldiers belonging to his killa. On receipt of this letter
the Faujdar set his army in motion and a review took
place in the plains of Timiri. In the course of a month,
the faujdari forces rose to 5,000 horse and ten thousand
foot, besides contingents from Bangaru Yachamanayaka
of Venkatagiri, from the Nayak of Kalahasti, from the
Poligars, Bommaraja and other killedars^ the whole

— 414 —

army totalling thirty thousand. The Faujdar, having
collected all the necessary material for carrying the
campaign to the uttermost, arrived at Ami. He was
met there by the killed ar of Arni, Venkat Rao.
Presenting the usual nazar and paying the pcxhkasli,
he joined the Nawab with his contingent. After fifteen
days' stay, the Nawab broke up his camp and reached
Chetput, the kiUa of Salabat Khan who met him and
made the payments due. He was in camp there for
about ten days when Todar Mall joined him. In Gingee,
however, Payya Kamakrishna, the raknmifi, and the other
officials ofihefaujdari, pointed out to Raja Desing that
the Faujdur was in full march, with his own army
and auxiliary contingents, upon Gingee, that the Fciujdar
was authorised to exercise control over all the killedurs,
jaghirdars and Rajas of all the Carnatic and was
authorized to receive tribute from them. ' Your father
was given a iakid far man for possession of Gingee. It
would not do for you to disregard all these, and to
persist in the course of hostility adopted by you. Even now.
if you would visit the Faujdur and pay your respects
to him, he would recommend to the head-quarters and
obtain the killedari for you. The Fattjdar is actually
seen at the head of a large force. It is for you to judge
on the basis of these facts and adopt a line of action con-
ducive to your interests.' Raja Desing gave no answer
to this remonstrance. The Nawab's forces encamped at
Kadalimalai and entered the territory dependent on
Gingee and set about plundering. The army gradually
entered Gingee. The forces of the kiUcdari did not
oppose the faujdar's forces. Seeing this. Raja Desing
wrote to .his friend, the killedar of Valudavur, which
belonged to the estate of his father, and obtained from
him the assistance of his son Mohabat Khan and two of
his friends at the head of fifty horse. On the arrival of
these, Desing got ready and mounted his horse. Those
that were well inclined towards him, pointed out to him
that the omens were bad and that it was not proper that
he should advance against the Faujdur's forces. Declin-
ing the advice given, Desing went to his wife and told
her that, in case he should not return, she ought to
find means to protect her honour. He sent word to all
concerned that the army of the Muhammadans was ap-
proaching, and, advising those dependent upon him not to

— 415 —

follow if they did not care, he set forward at the head
of his guard on the road to Arcot. He was followed by
200 horse and by Mohabat Khan. Without taking notice
any of the Nawab's forces that met them, he reached
the banks of Varahanadi, which was in full flood, as it
was the month of Arppist. After waiting there for just
a short while, he spurred his horse into the flood, follow-
ed by Mohabat Khan and about a hundred horse, and
reached the further bank of the river. The remainder
of the force stood on the nearer bank alone. The
river was not deep, and, even when it was in floods,
it would be possible for them to cross it by waiting a few
hours. But Desing had no consideration for these and
marched foward at the head of his hundred horse against
the Nawab's forces. Information of this having reached
the Faujdur, he sent forward Daulat Khan at the head
of a contingent with instruction to fight him and capture
him alive, and himself got ready and mounted his
elephant. Daulat Khan, seeing Desing's approach at
the head of a slender force of about a hundred horse,
ordered his forces to spread out and surround the small
body coming against him, himself advancing with
a view to capture Desing. Desing and Mohabat Khan
attacked Daulat Khan's forces, and fought for some time
vigorously till their troops lost fifty men each. Of the
followers of Desing a few fled. Mohabat Khan and his
two friends stuck close to Desing and remained with him.
They fought hard killing a number of the enemy, till
they themselves were killed in their turn. Desing, now left
alone, was in terrible anger and wished to kill Daulat
Khan who was on his elephant. Daulat Khan cried
out to his troops not to kill Desing, but to capture him
alive as that was the order of the Faujdar. So saying,
he urged forward his elephant and made an effort to
capture Raja Desing. Finding an opportunity in the
course of manoeuvring, Desing spurred his horse, which
got on to the side of Daulat Khan's elephant and rearing
on its hind-legs, set its fore-legs on the flank of the
animal. Desing simultaneously pierced Daulat Khan
with his lance and turning round,quickly galloped towards
Gingee. Even after the death of Daulat Khan, the
Nawab- Faujdar still urged the soldiers to secure Desing
alive and not to kill him, and moved forward on his own
elephant. One of the men on the side of the elephant

— 416 —

cutoff the fore-legs of Desing's charging horse. The horse
fell and Desing became a footman. Even after this the
Nawab would not well permit his men to kill him and
wanted that he should be captured alive. He urged
his elephant forward and brought it near Desing. He
was followed closely by Bangaru Yachamanayaka on his
own elephant similarly urging his men to capture Des-
ing. One of the jam adars of this Nayak, 'holding his
shield in front as a protection, approached Desing with a
view to capture him. Desing transfixed him with his
spear, when Yachamanayaka ordered that he be struck
down. One of the sepoys that was ready with his gun load-
ed and the burning wick lighted the fuse; and he was
dead. The Nawab entered the fort carrying the dead
body of Desing with him in the year Jaya, month Arpisi,
date 2, corresponding to Fasli 1123, about an hour after
sunrise (Sunday, 3rd October, 1714 O-S.).

The Nawab entered Gingee and proceeded to the
fort of Nazaratghad in Padshahbagh, and, having seated
himself in the Kalyanamahalofihe late Sarup Singh, saw
that the treasury and other places were secured and put
under seal. All the officials of the Padshahi, the officers
of the army that followed him, other amirs and rajas
and the officials of the Nawab saluted the Faujdar and
presented him nazar. In the fort itself, the Nawab
secured the Baratkhana, the Ciiowkipara and other places,
and sent word to the wife of Raja Desing and others
in the palace, of his assumption of the government of the
fort. Desing's wife sent back word that the Nawab was
her father, and that she had no wish to continue to live
after the death of her husband, and requested permission
to become sati by ascending his funeral pyre. Finding
her immovable in her resolution, the Nawab ordered
everything to be provided for carrying out her wishes,
and gave her the permission she sought. The cremation
of the body of Desing and the immolation of his wife
took place the next morning on the bank of the tank
dug by Ram Shetty in the days of Rajaram. The funeral
ceremonies were performed by the son of Alup Singh, a
nephew of Raja Desing, at the expense of the Nawab's
treasury. The followers of Desing, the Nawab ordered,
were to continue to hold their places and remain as before.
They, however, obtained the permission of the Nawab to
raise a new town at the spot near Kadalimalai, where

— 417 —

Few readers have not heard of the gal-
lantry of the young Rajput ruler of Gingee,
who took up an attitude of remarkable and
reckless defiance towards Sadatullah Khan,
the Nawab of Arcot.

The Ballad of Raja Desing l is a folk-song
of South India. It deals with the life and
exploits of Raja Desing in a miraculous vein.
Writing in his "Folk Songs of Southern
India," Charles E. Gover says : — * The sepoys
of the British Army are fond of singing the
exploits of a certain Raja of Gingee/

The ballad refers to one Terani Singh,
who is regarded as the father of Desing, and
to Tarani Singh, his younger brother. More-

Dosing fell, and, were given a cowle therefor, and they
built at the spot a temple to Desing. They also built tombs
for Mohabat Khan and the other Muhammadans who fell,
as well as one to the horse of Desing. They recovered
the corpses of Mohabat Khan and his two friends, and
after burying them in the outskirts of Gingee, built
tombs over them on the bank of the Shetty's tank. They
raised a flower-garden where Desing was burnt and plant-
ed in the place a pipal and a nuirgosa. The Bundelas
that were in the service of Desing obtained permission
and returned to Bundelkhand.

1 Desing is spelt variously as Jeyasingh in the Mack.
Collection, Desing by Taylor in his Catalogue liaison m~>e,
Tej Singh in Sewell's List of Antiquities, and Tajab
Singh in Burhanuddin's History of the Carnactfc and
KarnooL Desing is probably the Tamil corruption of
Tej Singh. The popular spelling is only Desing. The
Despatches to England of the year 1714 (page 45) give
the spelling, Taygy Singh.

53

— 418 —

over, it has given a reference to Sura Singh as
the father of Tarani Singh. According to the
records of Fort St. George, Desing should have
succeeded to the governorship of Gingee on
the death of Sarup Singh. In a despatch to
England of January 1714, a reference is made
to the death of Sarup Singh and to the person
who was expected to succeed him. l Another
despatch to England refers to the death of
Sarup Singh and says that the administration
remained under the care of his son, Taygy
Singh, till the beginning of October last." A
letter to Fort St. George of 4th September
1711 already quoted, referred to the infirmity
of Sarup Singh and to a report that he was
removed presently from rule and that his son,
who was as a man of vigour and activity was
to succeed him.' Probably, even by September
1711, Desing had marked himself out for bold-
ness and courage which he later on displayed
so recklessly against Sadatullah Khan. An-
other letter of llth September 1711 also re-
fers to an unconfirmed report of the succes-
sor of Sarup Singh.

An interesting reference to the probable
existence of more sons than one to Sarup Singh
is given in one of the Madras despatches

to England, 1711-1714, page 191.

2 do. 1714-1718, pp. 45-46.

3 Letters 1o Fort St. Georye, 1111, page 85.

— 419-

to England which says :— " The Mughal having
been displeased with the attitude of Hassan
Ali seizing Gingee, ordered one of Sarup
Singh's sons to be restored to his father's
government."1 No other record has been
available to tell us of the probability of there
having been more sons than one to Sarup
Singh.

We have already seen that the power
of Sarup Singh was so great that he had
shown remarkable strength and independence
in his quarrels with the Fort St. David Council
and that he had evaded the payment of tribute
due to the Emperor, the arrears amounting
to nearly 70 lakhs according to the Tamil
Chronicle (Mack. Mass.).

According to the ballad, Desing was born
at Gingee while his father was the governor
of the place. It gives a vivid description of
the Gingee country and the prosperity of its
inhabitants under the rule of Sarup Singh and
dwells on the joy that the people displayed at
the birth of Desing at Gingee. It narrates
that his father, Terani Singh, had left for
Hindustan on being summoned by the Em-
peror, who had invited all his tributaries
to try their strength in taming a wonderful

L Despatches to England, 1714-18, page 80.

— 420 —

horse that he had accidentally acquired.
The father left for Delhi, leaving behind him
at Gingee his pregnant wife, who shortly
afterwards gave birth to the child, Desing,
during his absence. The ballad then gives a
highly embellished description of the wonder-
ful horse which Desing got from the Emperor
of Delhi as the reward for taming it and
consequently saved his father from imprison-
ment and the penalty of a fine. Desing is
spoken of as a raw youth when he achieved
this wonderful feat.

In the Madras records of 4th September
1711, ! the prince is referred to as a man of
youth and activity. Desing is said to have
been only 8 years old when his father died in
Gingee. He then came under the tutelage of
his uncle, Tarani Singh, who is said to have
ruled Gingee for some years till the coming of
age of Desing.

According to the account of the chronicler,
Narayana Pillai, who might have had first-
hand information about Sarup Singh and
Desing from persons that might have actually
lived at Gingee in their days — the chronicler,
it may be remarked, was a native of Gingee
itself —Desing happened to be in Bundelkhand

1 Letters to Fort St. George, 1711, page 85.

— 421 —

at the time of the death of his father; and
his going over to Gingee, on his father's
demise, with an escort and his taking posses-
sion of the killedari formed the beginning of
his quarrel with Nawab Sadatullah.

We read that as soon as the news of Sarup
Singh's death reached his ancestral home in
Bundelkhand, Desing at once started with his
newly married wife and fifty horse and atten-
dants and arrived at Bedniir, * in the west of
the Mysore plateau. The Raja of Bednur was
then at war with the Marathas. He had
solicited the help of Desing through Sarup
Singh, his father. The Raja of Bednur suc-
ceeded in pushing back a Maratha raid with
the help of Desing, who was given as a present
a high-mettled horse, besides other valuable
gifts. Probably this horse was the one that
showed such wonderful valour during the
battle with Sadatullah Khan, the Nawab of
Arcot. With this present Desing arrived
at Gingee.

1 The chiefs of Bednur then controlled Mangalore,
Kalyanpur and Basrur ; and in 1713-14, they were fighting
with the Portuguese and the Arabs who harried ther-
ports and plundered the ships sailing from the
Coast. By this time the Dutch had succeeded in
ing a factory at Basrur; and shortly after
Somasekhara Nayak advanced to Nilesvar <
A similar episode of Chanda Sahib, on
from his Maratha prison, tarrying at Bednflfr tp^tyejp fa
ruler in 1748-49, can be noted.

— 422 —

From Narayanan's Chronicle we learn
that Desing started for Gingee from Bundel-
khand only on hearing of the death of his
father. If that were so, he would have gone
directly to Gingee to perform the obsequies.
He would not have deviated from his course
and halted at Bednur to render help to the
Raja. Probably the news of his father's death
was conveyed from Bundelkhand to Bednur
where Desing was then rendering aid to
its ruler.

On arriving at Gingee, Desing performed
the funeral obsequies of his father before
assuming the government of Gingee. Afarman
had been granted to his father by Aurang-
zib and Desing took formal possession of
his father's jaghir on ground of hereditary
right. We do not know whether the
far man gave any claims to the grantee in
perpetuity or a hereditary right to the gran-
tee's heirs. The Nawab of Arcot who
attempted to dispossess Desing, pleaded that
the farman was not valid without the sanc-
tion of the reigning Emperor.

Desing did not receive a warm welcome
from the Mughal officers in the country.
Payya Ramakrishna who was the vaknavis
(or the secretary), had informed him, how-
ever, of the legal necessity of getting the

— 423 —

farman renewed by the new Emperor, before
assuming the jaghir. Desing replied that he
had got the fa?" man of Aurangzib and that he
need not apply to anybody else. J

Sadatullah Khan, who had been the
Nawab of Arcot for some years even in
the life-time of Sarup Singh and who had
reported to the Emperor about the arrears of
tribute due from him, sent, in his capacity as
the Nawab, a conventional letter of condolence
to Desing on the death of his father.

Causes of the struggle between Sadatullah
Khan and Desing

Sarup Singh when he affected indifference
to the Nawab's demands for arrears, had fail-
ed to pay any tribute at all, taking advantage
of the frequent changes in the nizamat of
Arcot and of the general weakness of the
Mughal administration in the whole province.
Under Farrukh Siyar, the demand for the pay-
ment of arrears was vigorously pressed ; but
Sarup Singh contrived to evade payment and
died with the arrears accumulating. Hence
the demand was again renewed on this occa-

1 Despatches to England 1714-1718, pp. 45-46. "The
king had granted to his father, the Gingee government
and that by his father's death is devolved upon him and
that he would not deliver it up."

— 424 —

sion and thus arose the quarrels that ended
with the death of the young Rajput.

The Chronicle of Narayanan affirms that
two officers from the Emperor came to Arcot,,
the headquarters of the faujdari of the Car-
natic, with the demand for 70 lakhs of arrears
from the killed-dri of Gingee. The Nawab of
Arcot summoned Todarmal, the sherixtadar,
and asked him to proceed to Gingee and en-
force the imperial farman and his order for the
confiscation of Gingee with all fhejaghir lands
attached to it. Todarmal left Arcot with a grand
equipage, but with a troubled mind, as he had
heard of the valour and prowess of Desing. He
encamped in Gingee near the Venkataramana-
swami temple at the foot of the Rajagiri Hill.
The Mughal officials of the district visited him
in his camp. Todarmal intimated to them that
he had come under the orders of the Nawab
to demand the arrears and to take possession
of Gingee. They examined the farman and
conveyed the substance of it to Raja Desing.
Desing was not prepared to give up the fort
and maintained his title to it and to the kille-
ddri on the basis of the imperial farman grant-
ed to his father. The ballad says that he was
worshipping his tutelary diety, Ranganatha,
when the news of the approach of Todarmal
was conveyed to him and that he continued in
his worship undismayed by the news. Raja

— 425 —

Desing was advised to meet Todarmal and get
from him the confirmation of the killedari by
making due submission.

Raja Desing then proceeded with a num-
ber of horsemen to meet Todarmal at Mela-
cheri (or old Gingee) and saluted him without
getting down from his horse. Todarmal felt
that he was insulted by such behaviour and
immediately returned to his tent. Later, he
got over the feeling of humiliation, returned to
the fort and handed over the farm an to Desing
who became highly irritated and threw down
the paper on the ground. This action con-
stituted an act of lese majeste and was held to
be a* measure of positive disloyalty.

On hearing of the report of Todarmal of
his treatment by Desing, the Nawab of Arcot
resolved to march on Gingee, at the head of a
great force to meet the Rajput-1 Kumara
Yachama Nayak of Venkatagiri, who had
been installed after the death of his father by
Zulfikar Khan, helped the Nawab of Arcot
with a contingent of troops* Several other
chiefs and some kiUi'dars helped the Nawab
whose army was thereby augmented to 30,000
men. The troops encamped at Arni after

1 Minutes ami Consultations, 1714, page 120. A letter
of 18th September 1714, from Fort St. David relates to the
Nawab' s march to Gingee.

54

— 426 —

their first stage of march and its fdlledar
joined with another contingent of troops. Then
the army was further augmented at Chetpet
by another killedar\ and along with Todar-
mal the Nawab reached Gingee. One, Khan
Sahib of Kallakurichi, also joined the army
of the Nawab.1 The ballad says that the army
halted at Devanur village in the neighbour-
hood and plundered the place. Desing was in-
formed of the fact ; and being undaunted he ap-
plied for help to the killedar of Valudavur, who
had already proved a good ally to Sarup Singh
in the quarrel with the English. It says that
Mohabat Khan was so good a friend of Desing
that he started immediately to his help, while
in the very act of celebrating his own marriage.
Mohabat Khan is referred to in the ballad as
a son of the of killedar of Valudavur. It is pro-
bable that he might be different from the one
of the same name who had fought on the side
of Sarup Singh in the latter 's quarrels with the
Fort St. David Government. Anyhow, Moha-
bat Khan and two other friends stood loyally
by Desing and fought like the Three Hundred
of Leonidas in the fight. The forces of the
Nawab were considerable, while those of
Desing were very slender. Desing's army
consisted of 350 horse and 500 troopers while

South Arcot Gazetteer, Vol. I, page 329.

— 42? —

the Nawab's army had 80,00 horse-men and
10,000 sepoys.

The Chronicle of Narayanan says that
Todarmal tried to conciliate the Rajput
chief and to avoid a war. Nawab Sadatullah
Khan is referred to in the ballad as one who
was peace-loving and who wished as for as
possible to avoid hostilities- But Desing, being
a hot-blooded youth, refused to be conciliated
and wished to fight out the case. He was
only 22 years old at the time; and he very
manfully took leave of his young wife before
going forth.

Payya Ramakrishna and other officials
of the faujdari, pointed out to Desing the
strength of the Nawab's forces. They also
explained to him the folly of resisting the
Nawab. They tried hard to bring about a re-
conciliation between him and the Nawab ; but
Desing would not agree to any sort of com-
promise. Unmindful of the slender forces at
his command and aided by his trusted friend
Mohabat Khan, he resolved to oppose Sadatul-
lah Khan.

The ballad also refers to the bad omens
that were seen when he started out for the
fight. In spite of the refusal of permission by
his tutelary deity, Ranganatha of Singavaram,
who is miraculously said to have turned his

— 428 —

face away from the devotee when he invoked
his blessings, he got the reluctant consent of
his young wife and received pdnsupdri from
her through the curtain. Then he set out
bravely for the fight.

The Fight

Desing started bravely and reached the
bank of the Varahanadhi (Sankaraparani of
the ballad) which was then in full flood. He
crossed the river in flood. The Nawab had in-
structed his troopers that Desing was to be cap-
tured alive and brought to him. In the course
of the battle many of Desing's followers fled,
while Mohabat Khan and a few friends fought
by his side to the last. In an attempt to cap-
ture Desing alive ; Daulat Khan, a captain of
the Nawab's forces, was killed. The Nawab
persisted in ordering that Desing should not
be killed, but captured alive; and in that order
he was supported by Bangaru Yachama
Nayaka.* When Desing attempted to pierce
with his lance an officer of Yachama Nayak,
the latter ordered that Desing should be shot
dead. He was shot down at Kadalimalai, a
village four miles from Gingee. The Nawab
then entered the fort with the dead body of

* This was Sarvagna Kumara Yfichama, son of Ban-
garu Yachama, killed by Zulfikar Khan, who came into
the chiefship in 1695 A.D., and was the 23rd of his line.

— 429 —

Desing borne respectfully (Jaya, Arpisi, date,
2; Fasli 1123; about an hour after sunrise is
the date mentioned in the Chronicle, i.e., 3rd
October 1714).

A representation of the battle sculptured
on a stone slab has been preserved in the
Madras Museum. A Persian inscription of
Hijra 1125 (57 of 1905) refers to the capture of
the fort by Sadatullah Khan in 1712-1713 A.D.
The translation of the contents of the inscrip-
tion is as follows : — " The exalted Khan Sada-
tullah Khan, upon whom be multiplied the
blessing of Haidar, captured the fort of Jinji
by the favours of the incomparable Al-
mighty. Ghulam All devised the date for it.
" Islam expelled infidelity" 1125 Hijra (1712-
1713 A.D.)-1 The dating of the inscription
does not accord with the actual date of the
battle, i.e., 3rd October 1714, as 1125 A.H. only
extended from January 17, 1713 to January 6,
1714. That year could not have been the date
of the battle, for Sarup Singh was then the
ruler of Gingee according to the Madras
Records.

A letter, from the Fort St. David Council,
of October 9, 1714, refers to the battle of Gin-
gee. "The Nawab had drawn all his forces

S. J. EpitjraphisCs Report for 1904 — J. Part I, p. 3.

— 430 —

round Gingee and summoned Sarup Singh's
son to surrender, on pretence of an order from
court to take possession of the place which he
refused to do and made a desperate sally with
about 300 Rajputs and was very near killing
the Nawab, having cut the harness of his ele-
phant with his own hands, but timely succours
coming to the Nawab's rescue, Teja Sing,
Sarup Singh's son, with Mohabat Khan and
several other prominent men of Gingee, were
overpowered and cut off so that it is believed
that Gingee will surrender in a few days." ]
On the 15th of November news came that Gin-
gee was captured by Sadatullah Khan." The
same is referred to in a despatch to England
thus :-" After the great skirmish the great fort,
that formerly held out against Asacl Khan
and the whole army, being left without a head,
immediately surrendered to the Nawab, who
had made it his head-quarters and his fortify-
ing and strengthening it as if he intended to
become its master, though everybody believed
that he undertook the expedition on a pre-
tence without an order from the court" s A
letter from Delhi, from Sir John Surman, dated
August 4, 1715, refers to the capture of the fort
by force and the " victory being on the king's

1 Minutes and Consultations, 1714, page 126.

3 Ibid. p. 142.

3 Despatches to England, 1714 — 7#, pp. 45-46.

— 431 —

behalf has very much pleased this court/' The
same letter says that " concerning Sadatullah
Khan's victory we have examined and found
that as the news arrived in court that Raja
Sarup Singh is dead, orders were sent from
hence to deliver up that fort to Sadatullah
Khan."1 A letter of July 17, 1715 sent from
Madras to Bengal says that the Nawab had
taken the strong fort of Gingee;2

According to the Madras Records8, the
French at Pondicherry had sent to the Nawab
a congratulatory present on his capture of
Gingee of about 1,200 pagodas, along with
other articles on account of the several vill-
ages they possessed under the government of
Gingee. The English sent only a congratula-
tory letter to the Nawab instead of a money
present according to the custom of the land ;
a letter of January 1715 has stated "that no
money should be parted as an acknowledge-
ment of the government of Gingee for our title
to the bounds of Fort St. David, which would
be made use of as an established custom and
every succeeding Governor would ask upon
the same account." * But from a later letter
(of October 1715) we learn that the present in-

1 Minnie* and Consultations, 77/5, page 135.

2 Ibid, 122.

•s Despatches to England, J7 14—18, pp. 45-46.
4 Minnies and Consultations, 1716, page 35.

— 432-

tended last year upon the Nawab's taking
Gingee which was postponed, was forwarded
with some addition on account of the villages
in Fort St. David undisturbed.1 By the 15th
November 1714, a small present by way of con-
gratulation upon his success at Gingee to the
Nawab was decided to be sent so that things
might be easy at Cuddalore and to avoid any
dispute with him which would disturb the
trade iij cloth.3 Even before this, a letter
from Fort St. David had shown that the
Nawab of Arcot was inclined to give trouble
to Cuddaiore and the adjacent territory belong-
ing to the Gingee jaghir.'

According to the Chronicle, the Nawab
Sadatullah Khan then entered Gingee and
proceeded to the fort of Nasrat Gaddah (Gin-
gee) in the Padusha Bagh, seated himself in
the Kalyana Mahal of the late Sarup Singh,
secured the safety of the treasury and sealed
them. All the officials of the Mughal adminis-
tration paid their homage to him. In the fort
itself the Nawab secured the Baratkhana,
the Choivkipara, and other places and sent
word to the wife of Raja Desing about the cap-
ture of the fort. The Rajput queen in accord-
ance with her custom wished to commit sati

1 Ibid, 122.

3 Ibid, 1714, 142.

3 do. do. 131.

— 433-

as a true wife ; and the Nawab ordered that
her wishes should be respectfully carried out.

The cremation of the body of Desing and
that of his wife is said to have taken place on
the bank of the tank dug by one Rama Chetti,
in the days of Raja Ram, and hence known as
Chettikulam. Even now the villagers of Gin-
gee point out the spot between Chakrakulam
and Chettikulam, where Desing is said to have
been burnt. The funeral ceremonies were
performed by one Alup Singh, a nephew of
Sarup Singh.

The followers of Desing were continued in
their offices; and they also secured permis-
sion to raise a new town at the spot, near
Kadalaimalai, where Desing fell and also a
temple in his honour. The Nawab, out of res-
pect for the memory of Desing's wife, built a
town near Arcot and called it Rani-P~ettai.
Tombs were also allowed to be built for
Mohabat Khan and other leaders who fell in
the battle. A flower-garden was also reared
at the place, where Desing was burnt. Now
we find no such garden, nor even any vestige
of it. The town built where Desing fell, was
given the name of Fateh-pet We now see in
Gingee reminiscences of the heroic Rajput
lady, in the Rani's bathing-stone and other
objects that are found near the fort, though
in a ruined condition.

55

— 434 —

According to Narayanan, the Nawab is
said to have taken charge, from Desing's offi-
cers, Hanumaji Pandit, Tiruvenkatam Pillai
and others, of their offices and accounts, and
sent them out as amils of dependent parg-
anas. He settled the rents and taxes after
measurements and granted cowlenama to
the inhabitants of the petta. He appointed
Sadat Tiyar Khan, his wife's sister's husband,
as the killedar, along with a suitable mansab
and a jaghir for his support.

A jumma masjid was built within the
fort, which can be seen even now, along with
an idga in front of the Chettikulam tank.
It is deemed in the Mss. to have been such a
splendid structure, the like of which is not
likely to be seen anywhere.

Diwan Lala Dakhin R6y built a single-
storied mansion for himself with a beautiful
garden around it. The date of the capture of
Gingee was cut out on a stone and built on
the porch of the gate of victory in Rajagiri.

In this manner Sadatullah Khan carried
on the administration of the Carnatic for four
years, with Gingee as his chief residence. We
have seen already that, according to a des-
patch to England of 1714, Sadatullah Khan
made Gingee his head-quarters, fortifying
and strengthening it as if he would stay

- 435 —

permanently there.1 At the end of four years,
i.e., in 1718, he handed over the fort to his
deputy and returned to Arcot.

An Estimate of Raja Desing.

Quite a striking trait in Desing's character was
his sense of true comradeship with Mohabat Khan,
who had been his companion from childhood.
Contempt of death was a maxim of life with the
hero which he was never tired of repeating (Ballad
of Desing). It was in the blood of Desing to court
all dangers and fight against the worst possible
odds. The gallantry displayed by Desing at the
young age of 22, against the powerful Nawab
Sadatullaft Khan of Arcot, in a struggle that was
hopeless from the outset, should make us remember
him for ever. Whatever might be said of the moral-
ity or the correctness of the war for which he
fought, his undaunted courage and independence,
displayed in his fight with Sadatullah Khan, was
remarkable. According to the Madras Records
already quoted, we found that the Nawab used, as a
pretext, the Emperor's order to seize Gingee from
Desing. The Tamil Ballad and the Mackenzie
Chronicle both refer to the Emperor's order which
was held as the basis for Sadatullah Khan's march
against Gingee. Anyhow, the Rajput was so inde-
pendent-minded that he did not like to give up his
father's jaghir obtained on the basis of Aurangzib's

1 Despatches to England 1714—1718, pp. 45-46, and
Madras Diary of Minutes and Consolations 1914, page
141 : for the Nawab's designs to reside at Gingee see
letter from Fort St. David.

— 436 —

farman. He fought to the last, bravely aided by
his trusted friend. The young wife who committed
sati on the death of her husband, deserves our sym-
pathy and admiration for her fortitude that was
characteristic of her race.

Thus the Rajput episode in the fortunes of
Gingee ended with the display of remarkable, but
futile, gallantry by a hot-blooded young Rajput
and his virtuous and Stoic-minded wife.

CHAPTER X

Gingee under the Nawabs of Arcot and the
European Powers

I. The Rule of the Nawabs
A

The fortress of Gingee lost its pre-em-
inent position within a few years of the ex-
tinction of the Rajput rule. The increasing
unhealthiness of the locality necessitated the
removal of the headquarters of the Mughal
subah to Arcot, situated on the south bank of
the Palar River. Though Gingee was reduced
in status to a killeddri and lost much of its
political importance, it continued to attract
the attention of adventurers.

According to the Tamil Chronicle, Nawab
Sadatullah appointed his brother-in-law (the
husband of his sister-in-law) Sadat Tiyar
Khan to be the naib-killedar of Gingee and
gave him the dignity of a mansab and a
jaghir. He bestowed the faujddri on one
Padanda Rayar and named the town founded
on the spot where Desing was killed as Fateh-
pet (i.e., the Town of Victory). According to
mdmul, he retained in his service Payya
Ramakrishna and the other chief officers of
the Padshdhi and also appointed other ser-

— 438 —

vants, killedars, muftis and sardars for the
three forts of Gingee, namely, Rajagiri, Krish-
nagiri and Chandrayandrug. He appointed
Gautama Venkatapathi to be in civil charge of
Krishnagiri and gave him, according to con-
vention, the jaghir of Pennatur. He entrust-
ed the charge of the lower fortress at the foot
of Rajagiri to another Mussalman officer and
enjoined upon all the duty of obedience to the
orders of Sadat Tiyar Khan, Abdul Karim
Hayat Khan and their associates; and they
were charged with the guarding of the killc-
ddri. Over all the officials, Sadat Tiyar Khan
made himself supreme. Muhammad Ali, son-
in-law of Shaikh Abdul Khadir, the kazi of
the Padshahi, was appointed to be the kazi
of the killa* Ajumma musjid was built in-
side the lower fort and an idgah was raised
facing the bund of the tank of Chettikulam.
An inscription was engraved over the porch
of the great entrance-gate of the fortress
indicating the day and year of the capture of
Gingee by the Nawab.

The Nawab found in course of time that
the water of Gingee was not healthy and
would not agree with his constitution; and
he 1 therefore retired to Arcot after making
over charge of the killa to his wmb.

1 Nawab Sadatullah Khan, originally named
Muhammad Sayyid, was left by Baud Khan to be his-

— 439 -

diwan and faujdar in 1708. According to the Sa'adat
Nama, a Persian history of his house, he received the
appointment as the Nawab of the two Carnatics in 1713
from Nizamu'1-Mulk, immediately after the accession
of Farrukh Siyar.

Sadatullah Khan was the regular and acknowledged
Nawab of the Carnatic (1710 to 1732 A.D.). According
to the Mdsirul-Umdra. he held the Nawabship from the
time of Aurangzib to 1732. He died much regretted by
his subjects. Sa'adatullah succeeded Daud Khan and
was confirmed by the Nizam in 1723.

The rule of Nawab Sadatullah Khan is thus
praised in the Tusak-i-Walajatri, Part /, P. 68. (Translated
by Dr. S. M. H. Nainar, 1934) :•— " Now it is in the power
of God to raise an ant to the rank of Sulayman and defeat
human wisdom. The raising of a beggar to the position
of a sultan, which seems not to stand to reason, is
worked out in the unseen darbar of the Almighty. As
days rolled, on Muhammad Sa'id, from the position of a
servant, found his entry into the group of wansabdars.
With the title of Sa'adatullah Khan, he accompanied
Dawud Khan, and was appointed to the post of Diwan.
Thus, he grew prosperous day by day. In the subah of
Arcot, he was for twenty years Naib to the Nazim and
for five years Nuzint. The fame of his administration
was sung for twenty-five years on the whole. He de-
voted his high purpose to the welfare of the creation and
to the organisation of his army. He was a follower of
the Twelve Tmams, and 'had faith in the sect of Ja'far.
He had in his heart the interests of his relatives and the
members of his family. He invited them from Konkan
and bestowed on them jagirs and forts. His younger
brother Ghulam Ali who was at the court of the Pad-
shah, was granted the jagir of Vellore and given the
title of Khun. He tried to comfort and console the poor,
the orphan and the needy. The people regarded his
days as the best of the past, and were of one accord
in praising the justice of his nizdmat. He had no issue
and so adopted one of the sons of his uncle and named
him ' Khan Bahadur.' Then, the ndzim of his soul (ruh)
left the nizdmut (of the kingdom) of his borrowed body.
All his nobles divided themselves into two groups; one
chose the side of Khan Bahadur, the other that of Baqir
Ali Khan, the Qil'adar of Vellore, the son of Ghulam

— 440 —

Sadatullah Khan's rule was not all quiet
at Gingee. In 1724 there was a bloody strife
for the possession of Gingee between Sadat
Tiyar Khan and Abdul NabI Khan. The
latter was wounded mortally and the former
killed. Sadatullah marched to the place, but
met with strong opposition, as the followers of
Abdul Nabi Khan were determined to main-
tain their right to the fort.*

In 1725 the great Nizam'l Mulk Asaf Jah
who had established his virtual independence
in the Deccan in the previous year, directed
Iwaz Khan to proceed towards the Carnatic
and clear the country of Maratha agents and
raiders who had penetrated into it. Iwaz Khan
drove out the Maratha tax-collectors from
several places and replaced them by his own
men. He marched against Trichinopoly and
Raja Sarfoji of Tanjore. The rule of Vijaya-
ranga Chockanatha, the Nayak of Madura
and Trichinopoly (1706-1732), was one un-
broken record of the decline of the kingdom
towards disruption and ruin. Raja Sarfoji
appealed to Maharaja Shahu of Satara who
sent a large army under Fateh Singh Bhonsle

AH Khan, the brother of the deceased Nawab. After
great discussions and many arguments Baqir AH Khan,
was appointed as the successor to the throne of the
nizdmat of Arcot."

* Madras Minutes and Consultations for J725 (pp.
85 & 92.)

— 441 —

to whom he had given a special interest in the
chauth of the Carnatic. Along with Fateh
Singh Bhonsle, went Baji Rao, the Peshwa,
and Sripat Rao, the Pratinidhi ; the Marathas
exacted tribute in their usual manner from
the chiefs of Gadag, Bednore and Sriranga-
patnam in the western plateau. There was
not much harmony among the commanders
of the Maratha army ; Fateh Singh was indif-
ferent to his soldiers, and the Pratinidhi
was spiteful against the Peshwa ; and on the
whole, the Maratha losses in this campaign
were heavy. The Nizam craftily won the good-
will of the Pratinidhi and offered him a jdghir
in Berar and Maharaja Shahu approved this
arrangement. As the next step in his attempt
to thwart the Marathas, the Nizam affected
ignorance of the respective claims of Shahu
and his cousin to the Maratha throne itself
and withheld, pending their final settlement,
the chauth anAsardeshniukhi due from the six
Mughal Deccan provinces under him ; and he
even got over to his side the rival prince,
Sambhaji. But in spite of all these he could
not resist Shahu's power and had finally to
submit to the treaty of Mungi Shevgaon in
March 1728.

As told above, the first expedition of the
Marathas into South India under Fateh Singh
Bhonsle proved a failure. A second expedi-

56

— 442 —

tion was undertaken soon after, under Fateh
Singh, which was helped by Raja Tukoji
which also likewise ended in nothing. l

1 In order to understand the interference of the
Marathas in this epoch in the affairs of the Carnatic.
it is necessary for us to know that besides the kingdom
of Tanjore which the younger branch of the Bhonsle line
had acquired, the Ghorepades were established at Gooty
and other Maratha chiefs held outposts on the fringes
of the Carnatic, at Belgaum, Koppal, Sandur, Bellary,
Sira, Bangalore and Kolar. Maharaja Shahu had given
Fateh Singh Bhonsle the jaghir of Akalkot so that he
might keep an eye on the affairs of the Carnatic. The
Chhatrapati, Maharaja Shahu, was animated by a desire
to annex the Carnatic to his Swaraj yo, according to the
conditions of the treaty of 1718 as ratified by the
Emperor. Muhammadan sway had been only recently
established in the heart of the Carnatic. And there was
the Rajah of Tanjore, Tukoji, who could be easily
brought over to help him in the project. It was in con-
sequence of this desire that the two expeditions of Fateh
Singh Bhonsle noted above were undertaken between
1725 and 1727. The first was known as the Chitaldurg
expedition and the second as the Seringapatam one.
Neither could penetrate into heart of the Carnatic proper.
Fateh Singh was asked by Shahu as to why he did
not stay long enough in the Carnatic to make an effec-
tive conquest of it.

The Nizam transferred his capital from Aurangabad
to Hyderabad in 1726 in order that he might be nearer
the Carnatic and Mysore countries and might check
more effectively the predatory incursions of the Marathas
into these regions. He could also contrive to keep his
movements from Hyderabad concealed from the court of
Satara more effectively. It was now that he tried to
placate the Pratinidhi and accentuated the division be-
tween the latter and the Peishwa and fanned the grow-
ing flame of jealousy entertained by Prince Sambhaji
against Shahu, through the instrumentality of Chandra
Sen Jadhav, who was a sworn enemy of Shahu and the
Peshwa. "The Nizam promised his help to Sambhaji
and instigated him to claim half of the Swarajya from

~ 443 —

In the end of 1726 the Nizam began open
warfare against Shahu. Then came the cam-
paign which ended in the victory of Palkhed
and the treaty of Mungi Shevgaon. The sig-
nificance of this treaty was great. It averted
civil war in Maharashtra, strengthened the
position of Shahu against his rival and made
Baji Rao supreme in the councils of Shahu*
It was in the course of these years that the
Nizam is said to have marched to the subah
of Nawab Sadatullah Khan.

The account given by Narayanan, in his
Chronicle, of the coming of the Nizam is
as follows : — Nizamul Mulk, Nizam u'Daula,
Asaf Jah, Fateh Singh Bahadur, Vazir of the
Deccan, in the reign of Muhammad Shah
Bahadur, left Delhi and stopped at Hyderabad
and started from there to recover the tribute
of the Carnatic. He descended with his
troops to the north of the Palar near the town
founded by Dakkana Roy, the Diwan, and
addressed a farmdn to the Nawab Sadat
Ullah Khan, to the kings and killedars of the
Carnatic asking them to come and see him

Shahu. While he was openly championing the cause of
Sambhaji, he gave out with a show of reason that until
the claims of the two princes were definitely settled, it
would be unfair on his part to pay the chcmth and
sardfehmukhi to Shahu and his officers. After this the
Nizam showed himself in true colours, and it came as a
shock to Shahu." (Sinha : Kite of the Peislncas, Part I,
p. 84).

— 444 —

with the accounts of receipts and charges and
those of the expenses of the officers.

As soon as he read this farman, Sadat
Ullah Khan sent for the gumasta (head
accountant) Nandi Krishnaji Pandit and
ordered him to prepare all the accounts,
especially those of the jaghirs and killas, and
to carry them next morning to the camp of
the Nawab. He intimated the same order to
the Diwan, Rupa Chand, brother of the late
Dakkana Roy. Krishnaji Pandit replied to
him that he kept ready all the accounts.

The next morning the Nawab Sadat Ullah
Khan proceeded to the camp of the Nawab,
with all his suit and accompanied by the
diwan, the sheristadar, the kanakku gumasta
(accountant) and the muftis. It was only the
day after their arrival that the Nawab Sadat
Ullah and the muftis could see Nawab Asaf
Jah and submit nazars to him.

Full of regard and kindness for Sadat
Ullah Khan, the Faujdar of the Carnatic,
Nawab Asaf Jah told him to take a seat
near his own. Sadat Ullah Khan salaamed to
him and sat down. Asaf Jah made enquiries
about the health of Sadat Ullah Khan and
complained about the unsatisfactory state of
the accounts of the jaghirs of the Carnatic.
The diwan did not know what to reply.

— 445 —

But Krishna ji Pandit submitted papers
and read therefrom the accounts of the
jaghirs of the killedari, the balances to be
recovered and the expenses incurred by the
subordinate officials of the government ; in
short, all the details of the accounts were
enumerated and queries were answered in a
satisfactory manner- Greatly satisfied with
the conduct of the Faujdar of the Carnatic,
and his officials, the Nawab Asaf Jah gave
him valuable concessions. For his part,
the Nawab Sadat Ullah Khan gave him five
lakhs of rupees by way of present and of
peshkash and Rs. 100,000 for the expenses of
the darbar to the subordinate employees who
accompanied him. Nawab Asaf Jah Bahadur
stayed with the Faujdar for 10 days. * Then
after having taken leave of the Faujdar, he
returned up valley.

1 It is a difficult matter for us to be sure of the
exact date of Nizamu'l Mulk's first visit to the Carnatic
in the life-time of Nawab Sadatullah Khan. 1721 was the
only year, besides 1742, in which the Nizam marched
into the Carnatic. We have a Maratha newsletter
(No. 8 in the Selections from the Peshwa Daftar No. 10 :
Early Strife between Bajirao and the Nizam} which has
been attempted to be dated February 1721, and in which
we are told that the Nizam had marched into the
Karnatak and was then at Savanur in the neighbour-
hood of Darwar and Bednore. Perhaps, soon after this,
in the summer of 1721, the Nizam paid a visit to the
court of Sadatullah and settled the affairs of the Car-
natic and its jaghirs.

— 446 —

It is here that we read from our Chronic-
ler that Asaf Jah conferred upon the Nawab a
killat of honour, sarpech and other insignia of
rank as an expression of his regard and kind-
ness ; he returned by way of the passes into
the Mysore plateau through Sira from whose
subahdar the peshkash due from the poligars
of the neighbourhood was duly collected.

We now hear of an episode, the escape of
a prince of the Mughal imperial family from
the fortress of Agra with a large quantity of
precious stones which he sold at Calcutta to a
Seth in return for a hundi for 50 lakhs of
rupees on Tirupati. He proceeded to Tirupati
and from thence came to Rajagarh (Rajagiri)
and took shelter here. From this place he
issued a circular letter to all faujdars and
Nawabs from the great Asaf Jah downwards,
ordering them to proceed to his camp on a
certain date. Sadatullah Khan cleverly wrote
to the Emperor Muhammad Shah and receiv-
ed a reply from him that he should watch
over the person of the prince ; he brought him
to Arcot where he got him married to the
daughter of a nobleman. He wrote of all
these happenings to the Emperor Muhammad
Shah and according to the latter's instructions,
transferred him and his newly-wedded wife to
Gingee and allowed him to occupy the palace
of Kalyanamahal in the lower fort, that was

— 447 —

built by the late Sarup Singh. Sadat Tiyar
Khan, the naib killedar of Gingee, was asked
to pay his respects to the prince every day
and to keep him in good spirits. Every alter-
nate year for the remainder of his rule,
Nawab Sadatullah Khan stayed for some days
at Gingee in the house of the killedar and
paid his respects to the Prince. There were
then 54 killas under the subah of the Carnatic.
To many of these Nawab Sadatullah appoint-
ed his own men and all his actions were
ratified by Nawab Asaf Jah and confirmed by
the imperial court.

As he was a fervent Musalman, Sadatul-
lah Khan appointed only men of his own faith
to the charge of the killas and treated them
with great regard. Under his faujdari many
jaghirs were granted in the region of Gingee
and some of these were made free of all pay-
ments. Our Chronicler Narayanan says that
it was under his rule that the English con-
structed a fort at Madras and that when he
was informed of this fact, Nawab Asaf Jah
sent to the Faujdar an order to stop the con-
struction of this fort. But as the Faujdar was
favourable (good to the English) he did not
stop the construction. *

1 Madras experienced several troubles from Nawab
Sadatullah Khan. In the time of Governor Harrison
(1711-17) troubles arose over the possession of the Five

— 448

New Villages which had been granted by Nawab Daud
Khan to the English in 1708. These were Tiruvottiyur,
Nungambakam, Vyasarpadi, Kathiwakain and Sattan-
gadu. A permanent grant of these villages was included
as one of the provisions of the far man issued by Emperor
Farrukh Siyar to the English in 1717 on the represent-
ation of the embassy of John Surman. Even at the time
of their grant, Sadatullah Khan who was then the
Diwan of the Subah of Arcot, had objected to the con-
firmation. He subsequently claimed the restoration of
the five villages on the ground of the legal insufficiency
of the grant ; and also pressed for the rendition of the
three old villages already granted ; viz., Egmore, Pura-
sawakam and Tondiarpet; and he actually resumed
possession of the five villages in 1711. The demand for
the three old villages was not pressed by him as the
matter was amicably arranged through the good offices
of Sunka Rama, the Company's chief merchant, who
conducted prolonged negotiations. In 1717 Surman
obtained from Delhi three separate farmans confirming
the English privileges in the three presidencies and the
Madras farrnan included the return of the five villages
which had been resumed by the Muhammadans.

A second great achievement of Harrison was an
extensive reconstruction of buildings in the fort. The
bastions and curtains of the Inner Citadel were de-
molished and a new building known as the Fort Square
was erected in their place.

In the time of Governor Collet, the local Mughal
officials contrived to put off the return of the Five New
Villages; and though they were first occupied by the
English, Sadatullah Khan sent his troops to expel them
and there was an open fight between the latter and the
English at Tiruvottiyur. Nawab Sadatullah was not
discouraged by the rebuff that his troops received in
this fight and put forward a haughty demand in 1721-22
for the restoration of these villages on the ground that
they formed part of the jaghir of his overlord the
Nizam. Governor Elwick held that he had the farman
of the Mughal Emperor himself for these villages
and pointed out that the Nawab himself had acknow-
ledged the English right to them in the past. An
embassy was sent to the Nawab who had come down to

— 449 -

Nawab Sadatullah organised all the killas
of the Payenghat region of the Carnatic and
of the khalsa lands.1 He had no issue and
adopted a son of his uncle and named him
Khan Bahadur. He died in the year, Ananda,
1144 Fasli. He had secured from the Emperor
the dignity and rank of a panch hazari mansab

San Thome ; and Rayasam Papaiya and Sunka Rama,
the English envoys, who went over to the Nawab's camp,
were forcibly detained. But when Elwick roundly
charged the Nawab with an abuse of his power, the
latter gave in ; and no further difficulty was raised about
the villages.

In the time of Governor Macrae (1725-30) the
fortifications and buildings of White Town were streng-
thened, and the ramparts of the Old Black Town were
repaired, the Egmore Redoubt was strengthened and a
new powder factory was erected in the island. It is
these fortifications that should have been objected to by
the Nizam and that were passively permitted by the
Nawab Sadatullah. (C. S. Srinivasachari : History of
the City of Madras, pp. 122 and 131 et seq.)

1 Among these were the seven killas of Gingee,
Kalavay Gadh, Giddangal, Perumukkal, Valudavur,
Vriddhachalam, Palayamkottai, Ranjangudi, Kiinjagadi»
Polur, Mustafagadh or Sankarapuram, Vepur Durgam,
Ravuttanallur, Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai, Elava-
nasur, Karnatakgadh, Pennattur, Timmappayan Durgara,
Mallikarjungadh, Arni, Chetpet, Chingleput, Karunguzhi,
Poonamallee, Mylapore (San Thome), Tirupassur, Tama-
rapakkam, Timiri, Arcot, Vellore Durgam and Kottai,
Vandavasi, Kailasgadh, PadaivIdu,Vannandurgam, Chak-
kilidurgam, Vajendragadh, Ambur Gadh, Satgadh,
Chittoor, Maye Mandalam, Avalkondai, Chandragiri,
Udayagiri, Rampur, Satyavedu, Chekku, Devagadh,
Sulupagadh, Krishnagiri and other forts which consti-
tuted the traditional eighty-four killas of the Carnatic.

57

— 450 —

and the lmahl maratib and other honours
and likewise secured for his nephews (children
of his sister-in-law) 77? ansab ranks. There were
two such nephews, one Safdar Ali Khan, the
killedar of Karunguzhi, and the other, Muham-
mad Sayyid Khan, Khan Bahadur. After his
death all his nobles divided themselves into
two hostile factions ; one of them took the side
of Khan Bahadur and the other that of Baqir
Ali Khan, the killcdar of Vellore and the son
of Ghulam Ali Khan, the brother of the late
Nawab. After much negotiation, Baqir Ali
was raised to the nizamat of Arcot over the
heads of Safdar Ali and Khan Bahadur, as
they were judged unworthy to succeed- Baqir
Ali, soon after he ascended the mziimat, gave
up his position to his younger brother, Ali Dost
Khan, and retired to the fort of Vellore. Ali
D6st thus became the Nawab in succession to
Nawab Sadatullah. Ali Dost Khan's rule was
good; but it was weak and encouraged turbul-
ence and insubordination on the part of the
nobles and the killedars.

1 Mafil Manliib. (The dignity of the fish)— The
privilege of having carried before a man of rank, the
representation of a fish or part of it, of metal gilt, borne
upon a pole, with two circular gilt balls similarly
elevated, conferred as a mark of distinction by the
Emperor of Delhi on personages of the highest rank.
One of the latest, or perhaps the last, conferment of
this rank was to Lord Lake by the Emperor Shah Alam
in 1803.

— 451 —

During the administration of Ali Dost
Khan, Sayyid Muhammad Khan of Tadpatri
was put in charge of the fortress of Gingee.
He ruled with the help of a body of 300 horse
and manyfollowers and relations of his. There
arose a fierce dispute between the Hindus and
the Mussalmans over the murder of a Hindu
sanyaii by some faquirs. The Mussalmans, out
of sympathy for the faquirs, got the support of
Sayyid Muhammad Khan and resisted the ex-
ecution of justice on the culprits, as ordered
by the killedar, Sadat Tiyar Khan. The whole
matter was converted into a political question;
all the civil officials from the diwan of the
faujdari downwards declared themselves on
the side of the Hindus to whom justice was due,
and even the faujddr had to send a letter
ordering the delivery to the Hindus of the
guilty faquirs. But Sayyid Muhammad Khan
and his party refused to obey the order and
made themselves ready for a civil struggle,
which was imminent for a time, between the
Mussalmans ranged on one side and the Hind-
us including the officials and the Rajputs, on
the other. The sequel however, as plaintively
described by our Chronicler, was against the
Hindus. He thus writes pathetically : " But
the government belonged to the Mussalmans.
The cause of the Hindus failed. The killedar
made many promises. Fatalists by nature and
considering that the dead do not return, the

— 452 —

Hindus interred the body of Dakkanatha (the
murdered sanyasi) at the spot where he had
performed tapas and erected a building there-
on where they assembled some monks to whom
they gave 15 kanis of rent-free land. During
the time of the Mussalmans many iniquities
were thus committed with impunity."

Nawab Dost All acquired a reputation
for moderation and justice. As Burhanu'd-din
remarks : " His kindness was such that his own
community could with impunity become his
secret opponents, while professing loyalty.1'
He had one son, named Safdar Ali Khan, and
five sons-in-law ; of the latter the third was
the famous adventurer, Chanda Sahib; and the
first was Ghulam Murtaza Ali Khan, son of
Baqir Ali Khan; and yet another, Taqi Ali
Khan, was the killedar of Wandiwash. In 1734
Safdar Ali and Chanda Sahib who was an
ambitious and scheming adventurer, were sent
on a roving commission to the south ; and dur-
ing this campaign they captured Tanjore by
storm and placed it for the time in the hands
of Bade Sahib, the brother of Chanda Sahib.1

1 This expedition is not detailed fully by Grant- Duff
or Wilks, but has been ascertained from the contempor-
ary news-letters of the Madura Mission. In the Tanjore
kingdom, the years 1734-39 constituted a dark era of
domestic anarchy, internal dissensions and rebellions of
pretenders. The government was dominated by a prom-
inent and infamous Muhammadan adventurer, Saiyad

453 —

Khan. Closely connected with this domestic revolution
in Tanjore was the rise of Chanda Sahib into great
prominence. The Tamil History of the Karnataka
Governors, attributes this expedition of Safdar Ali and
Chanda Sahib to the positive connivance of Rani
Minakshi of Madura, who is said to have actually written
to Chanda Sahib for assistance. Then followed Chanda
Sahib's acquisition of Trichinopoly by treachery; the
kingdom of Madura was torn by intense rivalry between
Rani Minakshi, the surviving widow of Vijayaranga
Chokkanatha Nayak, and Bangaru Tirumala, the father
of the boy who had been adopted by the Rani as her son
and the successor to the post of Karta (Nayak).

The indigenous chronicles, both Tamil and Telugu,
are not agreed as to the sequence of events that led to
the acquisition of Trichinopoly by Chanda Sahib and the
death of Rani Minakshi. Vijayaranga Chokkanatha
Nayak (1706-1732) was too pious and religious to keep up
his authority undiminished ; and on his death in 1732, his
wife Minakshi assumed the reins of government and
adopted a son from a collateral branch. Bangaru Tiru-
mala, the father of her adopted son, and Dalavay Ven-
katacharya, formed an alliance to bring about her deposi-
tion. When Safdar Ali and Chanda Sahib came to
Trichinopoly (1734) Bangaru Tirumala or his ally, made
overtures to Safdar Ali, promising to pay him 30 lakhs,
if he would take steps to oust the Rani from power.
The Rani became alarmed at this prospect, made over-
tures to Chanda Sahib who had been left behind by Safdar
Ali and promised to pay him one crore of rupees, if she
should be guaranteed undisturbed possession of the
kingdom, stipulating that Chanda Sahib should take an
oath on the Quran to fulfill his promise. Chanda Sahib
was thereupon admitted into the fort of Trichinopoly ;
and Bangaru Tirumala and his son were quickly sent
away to Madura. Chanda Sahib returned to Arcot after
these events. The faction opposed to the Rani continued
its activities and in 1736 Chanda Sahib had to go a
second time to Trichinopoly ; and he now proceeded to
make himself master of the whole kingdom. He captured
Dindigul and Madura ; and Bangaru Tirumala fled for
protection to the woods of Sivaganga. The disappointed
Rani who found herself a prisoner in the hands of the
Muslim adventurer, took poison and died. Bangaru

The version of the Tamil Chronicle is
much more clear, and possibly more reliable
as to the course of the intervention of the
Muhammadans. It says that when Safdar AH
came down to Trichinopoly in 1734, he was
merely anxious to settle the dispute between
Bangaru and the Rani and returned after en-
trusting the implementing of the award to
Chanda Sahib. Chanda Sahib's plan was, first,
to overthrow Bangaru Tirumala in the name
of Rani Minakshi, so that there should be no
rival to the Rani whom he could easily contrive
to set aside subsequently ; next, to depose her
from rule and to proclaim himself as the
governor of Trichinopoly in the name of the
Nawab ; and finally perhaps to make himself
completely independent even of Arcot. Thus
Rani Mmakshi should be utilized for the

Tirumala called in the aid of the Marathas who had an
interview with him before they occupied Trichinopoly in
1740. Raghuji Bhonsle, the leader of the expedition, is
even said to have directed Murari Rao, one of his lieuten-
ants in the south and governor of Trichinopoly which
had been captured, to place Bangaru upon the throne ;
but no result came out of this. When the Nizam came
down to Trichinopoly in 1743, Bangaru bestirred himself
and visited him in the hope of obtaining his favour and
assistance. Anwaru'd-din is said to have been asked by
his master to take kindly care of the Nayak ; and the
Pandyan Chronicle says that the Nayak was poisoned by
Anwaru'd-din, when he was residing at Arcot as his
pensioner and under his protection. But this looks
improbable. The son of Bangaru returned to Sivaganga ;
and nothing more is heard of him.

- 455 —

destruction of Bangaru Tirumala ; then the
Nawab's authority should be utilized for the
destruction of the Rani ; and finally, his in-
dependence of Arcot should be built up on the
basis of his own prowess. Therefore he return-
ed to Arcot in 1735 in order to get reinforce-
ments and to explain away his plans to the
Nawab. He seems to have acquiesced, for the
time being, in the plans of the partition of the
Nayak kingdom as suggested by Rani Mmakshi,
as a measure of safety. This plan should show
that Mmakshi was clever enough to perceive
that the boy-prince shouldbe properly entrusted
to the care of Bangaru Tirumala who shouldbe
the final defender of the kingdom. Chanda
Sahib thought it diplomatic to acquiesce, for
the time being, in this arrangement of the
Rani.

Raghuji Bhonsle and Fat eh Singh now ad-
vanced into the Carnatic. As Shahu's objective,
viz., an attack on Janjira, was nearly finished,
the Maharaja could turn the attention of his
lieutenants towards the south (1736). The
Peshwa and his brother Chimnaji Appa, had
been slowly developing the policy of pushing
on Maratha conquests in the south ; and Babuji
Nayak who had claims on the Karnatak based
on the grant of a mamla to him, supported the
expedition. Shahu himself undertook a cam-
paign in the southern direction ; but he did not

.— 456 —

go beyond Miraj and returned to Satara, after
despatching Fateh Singh and Raghuji Bhonsle
towards Arcot and Tanjore. It was during
this expedition that Dost Ali Khan was killed
in battle at the foot of the mountains in the
pass of Damalcheruvu. Dost Ali had sent
word to his son Safdar Ali to hasten from
Tanjore where he was then encamped ; but the
latter made only a slow march and Dost Ali
had been defeated in the meantime. The
Marathas then plundered Arcot and looted its
treasures. Soon they advanced against Safdar
Ali who, however, contrived to arrive at an
understanding with them and persuaded them
to turn against Chanda Sahib, of whom he was
very jealous* The Maratha army besieged
Chanda Sahib in his stronghold of Trichino-
poly. The latter sought the help of his younger
brother, Bade Sahib, who had been entrusted
with authority over Dindigul and Madura.
Bade Sahib gathered together his forces care-
fully, avoided the enemy whose advance
troops marched south to resist him, but was
defeated and killed at the battle of Koduttalam
at a distance of four kuroh from Trichinopoly,
Thereupon Chanda Sahib " let slip the bridle
of firmness from his hand " ; the Marathas got
possession of Trichinopoly and entrusted it to
their ally, Murari Rao of Gooty, and sent
Chanda as a prisoner to Maharashtra. Raghuji
Bhonsle, the leader of the expedition, heard in

— 457 —

the midst of this southern campaign news of
the successive deaths of Baji Rao Peshwa and
of his brave brother, Chimnaji Appa, who were
the only persons that could restrain him and of
whom therefore he stood in some awe. Being
relieved of this fear, Raghuji made himself
complete master of the situation, set at naught
the authority of both the new Peshwa and
his colleague, Fateh Singh Bhonsle, and even
encouraged Safdar Ali not to recognise the
Peshwa's claims of chauth and sardeshmukhi.
Nawab Safdar Ali, having got rid, for the time
being at least, of his rival and brother-in-law^
installed himself on the musnud at Arcot,
received the customary presents from his
nobles and feudatories and obtained the sanad
of his appointment as faujdar from Nawab
Asaf Jah Bahadur, who was "gratified by
humble petitions and presents " and who en-
trusted the killedaris of Chetpat and Valuda-
vur to Mir Asadullah Khan. It was because
of this favour shown to Mir Asad by Nawab
Asaf Jah, that Safdar Ali appointed him to be
his diwan. Nawab Asaf Jah had heard of the
courage and intelligence of Safdar Ali and is
said to have even arranged for an artist to
paint his portrait. The Tamil Chronicler says
that "when he had seen it, i.e., the portrait
attentively, he was convinced of his bravery/*
and adds, somewhat cynically, that he " kept
his conviction to himself." Safdar Ali how-

58

— 458 —

ever was generally looked upon as a man of
easy disposition and mediocre talents. He had
got the confirmation of his office from the
Nizam by arranging to pay the latter a sum of
70 lakhs of rupees and had actually paid a
considerable portion of this amount before he
was assassinated.

Another jealous brother-in-law of his,
Murtaza Ali Khan of Vellore, took advantage
of the inefficiency and favouritism of Safdar
Ali and schemed to set him aside and to usurp
the nizamat himself. He also expected that
as the Nizam was reported to be secretly
hostile to Safdar Ali, there would not be much
trouble from that quarter. On the occasion
of a visit of Safdar Ali to Vellore, Murtaza
Ali contrived, with the help of his own wife,
the sister of the Nawab, to poison his food and
subsequently, when the poison did not have
any effect, to stab him to death. Murtaza Ali
actually occupied the nmxnud at Arcot for a
few days, but finding that there was a formid-
able conspiracy brewing against him, returned
for the sake of safety to his fortress at
Vellore.1 Some notables of the Subah, including

1 According to English Records we get the following
version. (P.O., vol. Ixxii., 27th December 1742, and Suc-
cession of the Nabobs in the Carnatic Province since the
Year 1710, Orme MSB., (O.V. 25-3) and page 284 of H. D.
Love's Vestiges of Old Madras, Vol. II).

— 459 —

Hirasat Khan of Satgadh, took charge of
the two youthful sons of Safdar All Khan,
sent a faithful account of the events that had
taken pla :e at Vel ore and at Arcot, to Nawab
Asaf Jah and deplored the forlorn condition of
the faujdari of the Ca/natic. Ihey also sent
a collective request soliciting the musnud
for the elder of the two sons of Safiar Ali
Khan, a boy of ten, by name Sahibzada
Muhammad Sayyid Khan. On receiving this

" It appeared that Mir Asad, the Dewan, had
demanded of the Killedar the portion of the Maratha
indemnity in which he was assessed, and the Nawab
intimated that his cousin, in default of payment, must
resign the fort and jaghire. Murtaza Ali then deter-
mined to kill the Nawab, and secure the succession.
During the feast of Shab-i-Barat, when leave had been
granted to the guards, he executed his villainous purpose,
causing Safdar Ali to be murdered in his bed-room, but
sparing Mir Asad. Ten days later, he proclaimed him-
self Nawab at Arcot. The army, however, proved dis-
satisfied ; Morari Rau and the Marathas sided with the
family of the murdered man, and Murtaza Ali fled to
Vellore disguised in female attire. The army immedi-
ately proclaimed Sahib Jadda Nawab under the name of
Muhammad Sa'id. Word was sent to Madras, where the
boy's elevation was announced with due ceremony at
the Garden House, a great procession attending him
thither, and back to his residence in Black Town.

"The young Nawab recompensed the Governor and
Council for the hospitality shown him by granting them
as a gift the five villages of * Ernavore, Saudian Copang,
Vapery, Perambore and Poodupauk, and by the grant of
Liberty of Coining Arcot Rupees and Pagodas according
to the Usuage and Practice of the Country Mints' in a
mint to be set up in Chintadripetta. Some minor privi-
leges relating to Chintadripetta were accorded by three
other grants of the same date.'*

— 460 —

petition, Nawab Asaf Jah proceeded to the
Carnatic with a big army. He was advised by
Imam Sahib, who was a good friend of Nawab
Dost Ali and had settled at Hyderabad on the
latter's death and become one of the Nizam's
favourite courtiers, to proceed to the Carnatic. .
He marched at the head of 80,000 horse and
2,00,000 foot, to strengthen his authority over
the Carnatic and to remove the abuses that
had crept into its administration. Not merely
was the Carnatic in complete disorder, but
Himmat Khan, the refractory Pathan Nawab
of Kurnool had killed Himmat Tiyar Khan,
son of Alaf Khan Panni, Subahdar of Bijapur
and had been persistently witholding his
tribute. After settling the affairs of Kurnool,
Nawab Asaf Jah proceeded towards Arcot
where he received the oath of allegiance from
the boy-prince, Muhammad Sayyid. He did
not, however, allow the boy to return to
Wandiwash to the care of his relations, but
entrusted him to the charge of some of his
own officers (March 1743) and then proceeded
with his army to besiege Trichinopoly and
recover it from Maratha hands.

After six months of desultory operations,
Nawab Asaf Jah compelled its Maratha
governor, Murari Rao Ghorepade, to evacuate
the fortress and leave the Carnatic (29th
August 1743). He left Khaja Abdulla Khan,

— 461 —

who had already been put in charge of the
Subah of Arcot to establish Mughal authority
in the neighbourhood of Trichinopoly and him-
self returned to Arcot. Nizam'IMulk stayed on
in the Carnatic till the end of March 1744 ; and
both the English at Madras and the French at
Pondicherry vied with each other to solicit
his favour by presents and embassies. The im-
mediate object of the English was to get a con-
firmation of the right of coining money and of
the grants of land made by the boy Nawab at
the time of his father's death, when he and his.
mother were living at Madras under English
protection. The Nizam tried to restore peace
and order throughout the Carnatic by sending
touring officers to reorganise the administra-
tion. Through the instrumentality of Khaja
Niyamatullah Khan, who was entrusted with
the affairs of Arcot by Khaja Abdullah Khan,
and Diwan Puran Chand, the revenues of the
Carnatic were raised from 35 to 45 lakhs.
When Nawab Asaf Jah left Arcot for Hydera-
bad in April 1744, he formally appointed
Khaja Abdullah Khan as the nazim of the Car-
natic Payen?hat ; but the Khan, after taking
leave from his master, died in his bed the very
same night. This event was, according to the
Hadiqatu'l-Alum a case of death from ex-
cessive joy at the elevation ; but rumours pre-
vailed, attributing it to the machinations of

— 462 —

Nawab Anwaru'd-dm and of the wily Murtaza
All Khan.1

Anwaru'd-din Khan had distinguished
himself in the Nizam's service as well as in
that of his father. He was appointed fa ujdar
of Ellore and Rajahmundry af ier the defeat
and death of Mubariz Khan in 1724 He had
become conversant with the politics of the
Deccan and the Carnatic, having spent abDut
16 years in that country. According to the
Tamil Chronicle, Nawab Asaf Jah, who had
taken a liking to the boy-prince, Muhammad
Sayyid, and had promised him the office of
faujdar when he should come of age, now
summoned Anwaru'd-dm Khan and spoke to
him thus : " The faujdari of the Carnatic is
without an incumbent. The son of Safdar Ali
Khan is a minor. The country should be
governed by you. It is your duty to occupy
this office and send by mutual consent with

1 " In the gathering of the darkness of the night,
Khwaja Abdullah Khan, adorned in the robes of his office,
took leave of Nawwab Asaf Jah, met his friends in the
happy army, and then reached his tent. There he
attended to his affairs, and rested for the night. He rose
at dawn, attended to the calls of nature, and sat as usual
on the chawki (a raised seat) to get ready for the early
morning prayer, and performed his ablutions. While he
was doing these in the prescribed order, and reached to
the washing of his left foot, the feet of his life slipped
from the chair of firmness all on a sudden, and he fell
on his face in eternal prostration." (Tuzak-i-Wal8juhi9
English Translation, by Dr. S. M. H. Nainar, Part I,
p. 51-52).

- 463 —

this boy, the tribute and land-tax to the
treasury of the Nawab." Anwaru'd-dm Khan
was immediately granted the sanad and far-
man for the nizdmat, but was instructed to
send Hyderabad, as a hostage for his good con-
duct, his second son, Muhammad All Khan
(the future Nawab Walajah^. Anwaru'd-dm
proceeded to Arcot (April 1744) sat on the
musnud of the nizamat, received the custom-
ary presents and confirmed all the killedars
and other chiefs in their possessions. He
showed himself affectionate towards the boy-
prince and treated him with every consider-
ation; but his rule was resented by the nu-
merous partisans of the family of Nawab
Sadatullah, though Nawab Asaf Jah had made
it publicly known that he intended to confer
the Nawabship of Arcot on the boy Muham-
mad Sayyid Khan, as soon as he should atta'n
the age of manhood and had particulaily
directed Anwaru'd-dm to educate him and take
care of him as his guardian.1

1 On thp occasion of the Nizam's first entry into
Arcot, the mother of Safdar All Khan presented herself
before the Nawab taking by the hand her grandson
Muhammad Sayyid Khan aged 10 years and threw him
at the feet of the Nawab. He (the Nawab) took him
between his hands and made him sit by his side and con-
soled the grand-mother, telling her : " Your power is not
extinguished; it resides in your grandson. We shall
institute as provisional administrator of the Faujdari
some one of your friends. When he shall have deve-
loped his understanding, this boy will hold the office of
Faujdar."

— 464 —

In June, the young boy-prince was killed
by an Afghan mercenary under the influence
of enemies in a marriage pandal. His death
aroused the sympathy of the people who
generally believed that it was due to the per-
fidy of Murtaza Ali Khan and his intrigue
with the murderers. Anwaru'd-dm Khan was
also suspected of having had a hand in the
affair. To clear himself of all suspicions on
the part of his master Asaf Jah and to wreak
his own vengeance on the murderers,
Anwar u'd-dm dismissed all the Afghan mer-
cenaries from the service of the nizamat and
drove away the Pathans from Arcot towards
the west to the passes over the Ghais into the
interior. He wrote an account of all the
happenings to Nawab Asaf Jah and tried to
exculpate himself from the charge of having
in any way connived at the murder. " Had
not his age and service pleaded strongly in his
favour, he would certainly have lost his post."
But there was no other suitable man for the
nizamat at the time ; and after long reflection,
Asaf Jah issued an order confirming the Khan
in the Nawabship.

The killedar of Gingee, Sadat Tiyar
Khan, died in Fasli 1157 and he was followed
in the office by Ghaziuddm Khan who ruled
for five years when he went mad; and Mir
Ghulam Hussain was then appointed to be

— 465 —

the killedar of the fort and given the jaghir
of Pennatur for his maintenance. He died
in a short time, but was not followed in
his office by his son, who was given only a
stipend. It was also now that the Mughal
imperial prince who had been secured in
Gingee by Nawab Sadatullah died and was
interred at Sirukadambur. There arose great
trouble from Periya Aiya, the Bandari (poligarj
of Vettavanam, who, after indulging in a
number of skirmishes, was captured and
placed in strict confinement in the rock-fort of
Gingee under a strong guard. After a few
months, with the help of some horsemen who
were hiding in the jungle to the west of Raja-
giri and by giving narcotics to his warders, he
broke from his prison and, escaping from the
fort, joined his men. These events occurred
in the year 1156, Fasli. Nawab Anwaru'd-din
gave over the palayam of Vettavanam to the
brother of the rebel Bandari and returned to
Arcot. He had yet more trouble in the neigh-
bourhood of Gingee in the matter of a quarrel
between Muthumalla Reddi, a powerful land-
holder of Tindivanam and Ananda Ranga
Pillai, the well-known Diarist and the influen-
tial courtier of Dupleix at Pondicherry. This
was after La Bourdonnais had captured
Madras which greatly worried the Nawab who
had definitely ordered both the parties not to
indulge in hostilities in the Carnatic. Muham-

59

— 466 —

mad Mahfuz Khan, the eldest son of the
Nawab, was in charge of Conjeevaram ; he
now allied himself with the French and made
war with the English- But he was obliged to
fall back. The second son Muhammad Ali
favoured the English at Fort St. David and
showed himself to be an enemy of the French.
Nawab Anwaru'd-din tried to treat both part-
ies on an equal footing.

Muthumalla Reddi of Tindivanam was full
of hatred against Ranga Pillai and wrote to
the Nawab, inviting him to attack Pondicherry
and offering him to pay 1,000 pagodas every
day for expenses. The Nawab consequently
came with some of his troops to Tindivanam
where he stayed for a month. Pondicherry
was then being attacked by the English ; and
the Nawab after receiving some money from
the French, made his peace with them ; he
then advanced south towards Tanjore and
Trichinopoly, in order to realize the peshkaxh
amounts due from the vassals in that part of
the country.

B

Nawab Asaf Jah died in 1158 Fasli. The
news of the death of the aged Nizam reached
Arcot 16 days after it happened, which was,
according to the Diarist Ranga Pillai, June 2,
1748, (i.e. 22nd May O.S.). This news caused
great grief both to Anwaru'd-din Khan and to

— 467 —

Ms son Mahfuz Khan- Nasir Jang who was
with his father at the time of his death, set
out for Northern India with a great army of
horsemen, infantry and gunners and proceeded
as far as the Narmada, at the invitation of his
brother, Ghaziu'd-dm Khan of Delhi.

Mutawassil Khan *, a son-in-law of Asaf
Jah, now claimed that the old Nizam had
given to his wife the Carnatic and the Subah
of Hyderabad. He transferred these rights to
his son, Hidayat Mohiu'd-din Khan, Muzaffar
Jang, telling him as follows : — 4t Your grand-
father has given me the subah of Hyderabad.
Profit by this moment to go to take possession
of the Carnatic. The man who knows well
the situation of the country is Hussain Dost
Khan, also called Chanda Sahib. He is now
at Poona, a prisoner of the Mahrattas. I am
writing to him and sending for him." Muta-
wassil Khan received Chanda Sahib after his
release from Maratha hands, gave him robes
of honour and sent him with his son into the
Carnatic, strongly recommending to the latter
that Chanda Sahib should be appointed fauj-
ddr of Arcot, if the country should be con-
quered by them. Hidayat Mohiud-dm Khan

1 Mutawassil Khan was the governor of Molhair ;
in 1741 he helped his father-in-law, Nawab Asaf Jah, to
put down the rebellion of Nasir Jang who had a narrow
escape from death at his hands.

— 468 —

joined Chanda Sahib, took counsel with him,
assembled 20,000 horse-men and 50,000 foot and
descended into the plain of Kolar in 1159 FaslL
Getting news of this new danger, the old
Nawab Anwaru'd-din assembled some troops
and munitions of war, asked his son, Muham-
mad Ali Khan, to come to his help and himself
returned from the south country, through
Gingee, on his way to Arcot. There he recruit-
ed more soldiers to his army and then went
to prevent the entry of the enemy into the
valley of Arcot from the west ; he was accom-
panied by Najib Khan and Hussain Khan
Tahir. Raza Ali, son of Chanda Sahib, who
was then in Pondicherry and in close friend-
ship with Dupleix, had joined his father with
a body of French soldiers and a park of artil-
lery and arrived in the rear of Anwaru'd-din
Khan,

After the death of Anwaru'd-din Khan in
battle with the enemy at Ambur, Mahfuz Khan
who had stayed at Arcot, departed for Hyder-
abad for safety. Muhammad Ali Khan who
had hastened to the plain of Polur, retreated
to the neighbourhood of Fort St. David and
tried through Raja Ananta Das, who was in
that fort, to get artillery, ammunition and a
body of English soldiers. He then retired to
Trichinopoly, where he entrusted Captain Cope
with the charge of the chauklii of the fort.

— 469 —

Meanwhile Hidayat Mohiu'd-dm and Chanda
Sahib reached Arcot in triumph and, after
staying there for some time arranging affairs
to their satisfaction, marched by way of Gingee
to Pondicherry where they stopped for over
.a month spending their time in festivities and
schemes of further victories. It was on this
occasion that Muzaffar Jang conferred on
Ananda Ranga Pillai the dignity of an Amir
of the Carnatic, with the supplementary
honours of a palanquin and ornaments and
the title of Wazarat Vijaya Ananda Ranga
Rao, as well as the charge of the killedari
of Chingleput,

Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib were
hard pressed for money which was their pri-
mary need and which Dupleix could not supply.
Muzaffar himself was not to be greatly relied
upon. He and Chanda Sahib now marched on
an expedition to Tanjore, after having failed
to get any money from the country round Fort
St. David and got only very little from Udayar-
palayam. Nasir Jang who had been apprised
of these happenings and had begun his march
southwards, wrote to Dupleix urging him to
separate from his allies, as otherwise he
would order all the French factories on the
Coromandel coast to be pulled down. He
asked Sayyad Lashkar Khan to seize Adoni,
Rayachoti and other places belonging to Muz-

— 470 —

affar Jang in the country south of the Krishna.
News arrived that early in March 1750 Nasir
Jang had reached the Chengama pass;
thereupon Chanda Sahib and Muzaffar Jang
raised their seige operations at .Tanjore and
began to retreat across the Coleroon in the
direction of Tiruvati. About the middle of
March, Nasir Jang's troops occupied Gingee,
but the killed ar that was appointed to be in
its charge allowed the French who were
stationed by the enemy at that place to depart
with their money and material. Mir Asadullah
Khan, the kiUcdar of Chetpat, paid his res-
pects to Nasir Jang when he was encamped
in the pass of Chengama and was confirmed
in the charge of the districts of Polur, Villu-
puram and Wandiwash. At the beginning of
April, Nasir Jang pitched his camp between
Villupuram and Koliyanur in the direction of
Poudicherry. Muhammad Ali joined him with
about 6,000 horse and the entire camp extend-
ed for about five miles from north to south and
three miles from east to west. There was
great unrest in the enemy side ; and Muzaffar
Jang in a fit of depression gave himself up
into the hands of his uncle, though he had no
preconceived plan of making his own terms
with him. Muzaffar Jang's captivity in the
camp of Nasir Jang did not seem to have
been harsh. In the beginning of May 1750,
Nasir Jang was still in the neighbourhood of

— .471 -

Pondicherry and his nobles advised him to
forgive Muzaffar Jang. Chanda Sahib was
promised Trichinopoly with a mansabr jaghir ;
but he wanted Arcot as well. 1 Nasir Jang
proceeded from his camp to Arcot where
he intended to stay for the rainy season.
The sharp division of Nasir Jang's court
into two parties, respectively supporting his
cause and that of his nephew, is seen more

1 A brief surrey of the politics ami 'movements of
Nasir Jang's army in the summer of 1750.

Nasir Jang ordered all his troops to rendezvous under
the forts of Gingee. About the middle of March 1750 he
himself arrived there with the main body. His whole
army consisted of 300,000 fighting men, a part of which
was composed of cavalry. There were also 1,300
elephants and 800 pieces of cannon. The huge army of
the Nizam convinced the English that he was the real
subalidur of the Deccan ; and they ordered their detach-
ment at Trichinopoly to proceed with Muhammad Ali
who had joined with 6,000 horse, the army of Nasir Jang
at Valudfivur, situated about fifteen miles from Pondi-
cherry. Some days later, Major Lawrence arrived there
with his own body of 600 Europeans.

There were then factions among the officers of the
French army who were helping Muzaffar Jang and who
were clamouring vigorously for their emoluments.
Dupleix had attempted to bring them back to duty by
severity, but failed ; and treason increased among the
soldiers who became insolent and regardless of their
duty.

Soon a cannonade ensued between the two
armies. D'Auteuil who was in command of the French
army, was desirous of making peace, as he found that he
could not rely on his troops with confidence for his
success. Moreover, the officers of the army disheartened
their men by exaggerating the superior forces of the
enemy. However, the cannonade lasted till evening.

— 472

Some thirteen officers of D'Auteuil deserted him, and
such a scandalous desertion was probably the result of
the panic of the troops. D'Auteuil had therefore to
withdraw from the field to avoid defeat ; and he ordered
his men to march towards Pondicherry. Muzaffar Jang
and Chanda Sahib were astonished at the unexpected
and hasty retreat of the French commander.

Nasir Jang's men then made overtures of peace to
Muzaffar Jang and promised him protection on his sign-
ing a treaty. Muzaffar Jang had so fully relied on the
French troops that he would not lay down his arms
easily. But when Chanda Sahib followed the French
to Pondicherry, Muzaffar Jang offered himself to
surrender to Nasir Jang, relying on the latter's
assurances of protection. Nasir Jang swore by the
Quran not to make him a prisoner, nor deprive him of his
government Muzaffar Jang was obviously deceived
and he was arrested and kept as a prisoner.

The Marathas under Murari Rao pursued the French
battalion when they were making the disgraceful retreat
to Pondicherry and harrassed them.

Dupleix who was ever undaunted by adversity, soon
took advantage of the discontent prevailing among the
Pathan Nawabs of Kurnool, Savanore and Cuddapah, as
they felt themselves greatly disappointed as to their re-
wards for services rendered recently to Nasir Jang, and
sent a detachment to attack Tiruvati on the Gadilam
which fell into his hands easily. Muhammad AH then
marched from Arcot with a huge army of 20,000 men,
one half of which were composed of Nasir Jang's troops.
He was later joined near Gingee by the English troops.
In the battle that ensued between the French and the
English forces, the latter suffered a defeat and Muham-
mad Ali was routed near a place about 8 miles east
of Tiruvati.

Even this success of the French arms did not rouse
Nasir Jang from his indolence ; and Dupleix availing
himself of the inactivity -and of the general consternation
which the rout of Muhammad Ali had .created in the
neighbouring parts, ordered D'Auteuil and Bussy to
capture Gingee — " a place exceedingly strong and not ill
fortified", which has been regarded as the strongest of
all the forts in the Carnatic.

— 473 •—

and more clearly in the pages of the Diary
of Ananda Raftga Filial. In July Muzaffar
Jang is said to have attempted to escape
from the custody of his uncle, while Cap-
tain Cope with a body of English troops
joined, near Tiruvati, Muhammad Ali who had
marched down from Arcot. Then took place
a battle between him and the French in
which Muhammad Ali was defeated and from
which he made good his escape with some
difficulty ; he was afraid to halt at Gingee
which he was ordered to secure and where
Nasir Jang had promised to send him re-
inforcements.

II. — Gingee under tbe Europeans

Events leading to the French capture of Gingee
(September 1750).

Nasir Jang had, as already told, marched
from his first camp at Arcot to Tiruvati, whence
he sent a vakil to Governor Floyer demanding
assistance. The French had then encamped
20 miles south-west of Pondicherry, with a body
of 1000 Europeans, 2000 sepoys and cqffres and
15,000 horse belonging to Muzaffar Jang and
Chanda Sahib. Captain Cope was then ordered

60

— 474 —

to join Muzaffar Jang from Trichinopoly,
Stringer Lawrence soon afterwards marched
from Fort St. David with the troops that
could be spared from its garrison ; and after
the latter's arrival at Nasir Jang's camp, the
whole army advanced, whereupon, after a dist-
ant and ineffective cannonade for a day, the
enemy retreated so precipitately as to leave
behind 10 guns and 2 cohorns. The Marathas
pursued the French as soon as their flight
came to be known ; but the latter escaped
safely to Pondicherry.

After this reverse, the weak-minded Muz-
affar Jang became very much depressed,
separated his troops from Chanda Sahib and
submitted promptly the very next day to
Nasir Jang, who put him in confinement, but
not of a strict kind. After this, Nasir Jang
advanced to Valudavur 7 miles to the west of
Pondicherry. But he would not proceed fur-
ther, because Lawrence now informed him
that " the English could not act against the
French in their Bounds, where they would be
principals-'' Nasir Jang remained at Valuda-
vur for about a month and then moved to
Arcot. Really the English did not accompany
him, as he did not consent to their demand
for first receiving grants for the Poonamallee
country ; and the English troops returned to
Fort St. David. (April 22, O.S.)

— 475 —

Soon after this the French and Chanda
Sahib marched out and began ravaging and
levying contributions on the country. They
captured Tiruvati and sent a party to Chidam-
baram where they plundered the suburbs and
negotiated for a large contribution in return
for their non-molestation of the temple at the
place. At this juncture, Muhammad Ali wrote
to Governor Floyer, saying that the French
were fortifying themselves at Tiruvati and
that Nasir Jang had drawn out a far-man
granting Poonamallee to the English, which
he lodged with a substantial merchant of
Arcot to be delivered over when Muhammad
Ali should be formally appointed Nawab of
the Carnatic in September, and also sending
some amount in lieu of the Poonamallee
revenues for the time being. Thereupon
Captain Cope was sent out with 600 men and
a field-train on June 30, (O.S.) and joined the
Nawab who had reached the neighbourhood
of ,Tiruvati on the west. The French with-
drew from Chidambaram without having got
any contribution, left a garrison in Tiruvati
and retired into their bounds. The English
continued in their camp till the middle of
August. Two battles were fought at Tiruvati
with a month's interval, one on the 19th of
July (O.S.) and the other on the 20th of August
(O.S.). In the first encounter the English and

— 476 —

Muhammad All were repulsed, while in the
second Muhammad Ali whom the English had
left to himself, was thoroughly crushed, his
army was scattered and his camp burnt. He
fled to Gingee, but not venturing to stand a
sfej'ijge there, retreated further.

During this action the English were qui-
escent at Cuddalore, Dupleix was resolved
to take advantage of this inactivity of the
English and within a couple of days after the
second battle, ordered D'Auteuil to despatch
Bussy with a body of soldiers, coffres and
sepoys to march against Arcot by way of
Villupuram and Gingee. Martineau tells us
that this expedition was merely to force the
hand of Nasir Jang to set free his nephew,
Muzaffar Jang. Bussy was at Villupuram on
the 25th August (O.S.) (5th September N.S.) ;
Dupleix then did not intend that Gingee should
be captured as he considered there was
nothing in that place- First Bussy, and later
D'Auteuil and Latouche, persuaded Dupleix
to change his mind and allow the attempt on
Gingee.1 Dupleix was convinced that the

1 " Writing to D'Auteuil and Latouche on the 2nd
September, Dupleix said : ' I would never have thought
that such an expedition might have been envied by any-
body ; but since you are of opinion that it would be worth
the trouble, you may join Bussy and carry out your idea
just as you please.' Two days previously, Dupleix had
told D'Auteuil and Latouche that he had agreed to that

— 477 —

town could easily be taken. He had main-
tained at Gingee, previous to the descent of
Nasir Jang into the Carnatic, a sergeant
named St. Marc* and 10 soldiers, 20 East
Indians and 50 sepoys and had gathered
information from them that " there were
several demolished places (probably in the
ramparts) and that entrance through one of
those breaches would be quite easy." He
thought that the place would not cost a regular
^jge as Tanjore did and that if an unexpected
attack should be made on it, even the sepoys
alone could break through it.

Bussy was in sight of the town on the
morning of the 31st August (O.S.) (or llth of
September N.S.) ; and almost simultaneously
Muhammad Ali reached the place from the
west ; he had contrived to rally portions of his
army and to assemble a large body of about
8,000 cavalry, 2,000 infantry, 1,000 English
sepoys and 8 guns served by English gunners
or European deserters. Bussy determined

expedition only ' to please ' Bussy (Versailles Records
No. 3746)." (Bussy in the Dcccan : tr. by Dr. Miss A.
Cammiade, p. 8).

1 When Nasir Jang reached the Carnatic the
" Quelidar " of Gingee handed over the town to him
without the least difficulty, but Saint Marc was very
courteously requested to go back to Pondicherry which
he and his troops reached on the 18th March. (Bussy in
the Deccan, p. 9, note 2).

— 478 —

on an immediate attack on the great fort-
ress without waiting for the reinforcements
which D'Auteuil was bringing along. We
learn from Martineau that the Nawab's army
defended itself much better than it did in the
previous encounter. It did not fall back at
the first cannonade, but approached the
French troops within the range of their
pistols. The battle developed at first to the
advantage of the Nawab, when the sound of
the firing was heard by D'Auteuil and he
hastened to join Bussy with his men. Soon
the united forces of Bussy and D'Auteuil
vigorously drove the Nawab's troops back to
the wall of the town, and by degrees, through
it within the town itself, into which they
followed them. By this time it was night-fall
and the cannon which had been operating from
the heights of the three hills ceased to fire
effectively. But French artillery continued
to ply during the first part of the night which
was moonlit.

D'Auteuil and Bussy waited for the moon
to disappear and complete darkness to set in,
before starting to assault the three hills
simultaneously. It was easy enough to
proceed up the mild gradients of Krishnagiri
and Chandrayandrug. But Rajagiri was more
formidable. The entrance-gate at its foot
luckily yielded to a few cracker shots ; the

— 479 —

military outposts were captured ; and no
further resistance was met along the winding
pathway encircling that citadel. Yet the
French had no spies or ' Fifth Columnists '
in the place ; nor was there any treachery to
help them. Martineau attributes the easy
success of the French in capturing the entire
area of the fortress, to the moral dismay of the
previous defeat and to the lack of any special
affection of the troops for Muhammad Ali.1

1 " Dupleix writing to Brenier, the officer command-
ing at Gingee, on the 16th September, said : As to the
spot from which the rock was scaled, undoubtedly we
were dealing with men willing to allow things to occur,
because the number of those who entered was insufficient
to cause the governor to Jose his head. (Versailles
Records No. 3751).

" Even to the officers who had taken part in the
attack, the matter seemed quite simple. On reading the
official report jointly signed, on the day after their
achievement, by d'Auteuil, Bussy, Law and Latouche, it
does not seem that they realized that they had crowned
themselves with fame. We give below this too abrevi-
ated account.

"I (d'Auteuil) divided the troops and placed the
Sepoys on the outskirts. I put in position the artillery
and the two mortars which were very gallantly attended
to by M. Galland. While Messrs, de Saint George, Very
and Lenormand were ordered to scale one of the forts
(Rajagiri) as soon as the moon had set, which they most
valiantly carried out. The Dragoons under Puymorin-
were meant to give support to those who had to blow up
the doors of the main fort, which I was to force
through with Latouche and Bussy. In the meantime the
enemy was firing heavily muskets and guns and throw
ing in a large quantity of rockets. Six of our men had

— 480

already been killed and some wounded when I sent M. de
Rouvray to reconnoitre the doorway. This brave officer
was shot through the body while returning and died the
next day.

*4Mr. Law having reported the execution of the
orders we remained in our positions till the moon set,
which had been fixed upon as the signal for action on all
sides. In the meantime, Mr. Gal land belaboured the
enemy with grenades. About 4 A.M. I heard shouts of
"Long live the King" from one of the hill tops, they
came from Messrs. St, George. Very and Lenormane
who had performed that part of the attack which had
been entrusted to them.

"I had then the doors of the chief fort blown up.
Behind these doors was a fairly large town. After some
musket firing the enemy took fright and fled. In less
than an hour we were masters of all the place. The
fugitives took shelter in their fortresses on two hills
(the Krishnagiri and the Chandra Dourgam) which were
at the back of us and they held out for awhile. But Mr.
Law and his Dragoons soon forced the remainder of the
enemy to flee and we were left the unmolested owners
of Gingy and all its fortresses."

"The French had only eleven men wounded and 10
killed ; as for the losses of the enemy they were not
known. In a letter dated 15th Sep. Dupleix said that
the enemy had two thousand men killed ; but this figure
seems greatly exaggerated.

" On the next day Bussy whose initiative had won
such a success, received the most hearty congratulations
of Dupleix who wrote; "You deserve the highest
rewards and I shall do all I can to have them bestowed
on you." (1) Notwithstanding this the Governor was
not fully convinced of the worth of Gingy. In a letter
to Engineer Sornay, Dupleix declared officially that he
did not intend staying at Gingy, but would remain
there only such time as would be necessary to force the
Suba to conclude peace as he was convinced that the
smartness and rapidity of that brilliant action would
make a deep impression on the Suba. (Bussy in the
Deccan : 1r. by Dr. Miss A .Cammiade, pp. 11-13).

— 481 —

M— From the Fall of Gingee into French Hands

down to the Assassination of Nasir Jang

(December 1750)

The French capture of Gingee awakened
Nasir Jang to the true peril of his situation1.
He now ordered Muhammad Ali to lay s!s%e
to that fortress and to recapture it and also
to prevent absolutely any help reaching the
Gingee garrison from Pondicherry* Muham-
mad Ali sent his bakshi, Muhammad Abrar
Khan, with an army to Gingee. Meanwhile,
the disloyal courtiers of Nasir Jang persuaded
him to order the forces of Muhammad Ali to
proceed to Conjeevaram which, they said, was
in danger of an attack by the French troops
from Chingleput ; and thus Abrar Khan was
recalled from his march to Gingee and sent
with augmented forces to Conjeevaram. Thus,
in the quaint words of Burhanu'd-din, ' the
maidan of impudence became extensive for
the French and for those corrupted by
mischief.'

1 Gingee was deemed quite impregnable ; and even
Sivaji with his huge force was able to capture it only
after coming to an understanding with the BiiapucL
mander of the place. Later, it had defied 1"
(1691-1698) the best efforts of the most rer
of Aurangzeb. Such a fort was now orde j
ed by Dupleix.

Bussy's forces which consisted of J
1,200 sepoys, advanced to surprise '

— 482 —

On the other hand, Dupleix boasted that
he had definitely heard from one of the Mara-
tha mansabdars in Nasir Jang's camp that, if
the French had marched on Arcot immediate-
ly after they took Gingee, Nasir Jang himself
could have been easily seized.

main army under D'Auteuil followed him. Bussy
encamped at a place three miles from Gingee and found
there about five thousand fugitives from Tiruvati who
had taken refuge in the p!ace with some European
artillery. Bussy threw them into confusion when the
army under D'Auteuil came up. A general panic
ensued and Bussy pushed and drove the fugitives under
the walls of Gingee.

Bussy's troops then petarded the principal gate of
the fort and got hold of it, with the loss of only three or
four men. Then they entered the town where they
immediately fortified themselves. However, they found
their position exposed to a continuous fire from the sum-
mits of the three mountains. The Muhammadans tried
to set fire to the combustible stores that belonged to the
French. Bussy replied by bombarding the forts with
mortars and firing upon them with artillery until the
moon set, which was the signal to storm the fortifica-
tions.

Orme, in paying a tribute to the French on their
capture of the fort, has observed thus: *' None but the
Europeans were destined to this hardy enterprize, who
attacked all the three mountains at the same time and
found on each redoubts above redoubts which they car-
ried successively sword in hand until they came to the
summits where the fortifications were stronger than
those they had surmounted. They nevertheless pushed on
and petarded the gates, and by day — break were in pos-
session of them all, having lost only twenty men in the
different attacks. On contemplating the difficulties they
had overcome, they were astonishad at the rapidity of
their success and the pusillanimity of the defenders ; and
indeed, had the attack been made in day light it could not

483 —

have succeeded, for the Moors, as well as Indians, often
defend themselves behind strong walls. No advantages
either of number or situation can countervail the terror
with which they are struck when attacked in the night."

Kincaid and Parasnis in their " A History of the
Maratha People," Vol. II, have observed thus :'" As the
sun rose, the great captain looked with awe at the
stupendous towers that frowned below him and asked
himself by what miracle he had achieved the impossible.
As he wondered there arose above his head, to flutter
triumphant in the breeze, the lily-decked banner of the
most brilliant of nation/'

After the fall of Gingee the French took care to
secure the fort by a strong garrison, supporting them
well with artillery and ammunition.

The remarks of Malleson on the capture of Gingee
are worth quoting here.

4t It was indeed a wonderful achievement, great in
itself and calculated by its effect upon the people of
Southern India fo be much greater. They were no second
rate warriors who could within twenty-four hours defeat
an army superior in numbers and storm a fortress reput-
ed impregnable and which for several years had defied
the best army and the renowned generals of Aurangzeb.
Not lightly would such a great feat be esteemed in the
cities of the South. The fame of it would extend even
to Imperial Delhi on the one side and to the palaces of
Poona on the other." History of tlw French in India,
pp. 261-265).

According to our Tamil Chronicler, Narayanan.
Muhammad Ali Khan encamped at Tiruvati and
strengthened his base by raising round his camp a wall
of protection. Hasanu'd-din Khan, the French sepoy-
captain, by instruction of La Touche, now made an
advance upon Muhammad Ali's camp : while the latter
attacked the enemy with a charge of cavalry, but was
forced to retreat. He abandoned his camp at Tiruvati
and fled by way of Tirukoyilur and took up his stand to
the north of Gingee fortress and in front of the tank
of Sirukadambur. La Touche advanced to Tumbur to
the north of Villupuram ; Hasanu'd-din led a body of

— 484 —

Ever since the marvellous capture of
Gingee on the llth September 1750, it was
highly valued by the French. Its capture
enhanced the prestige of the French in the
eyes of the natives and it served to consoli-
date the French power in the Carnatic.

The capture of Gingee raised the fame
of the French power so much that Nasir
Jang, roused fromliis lethargy by the loss of

10,000 men against the fort and reached a place a few
miles south of Gingee. Theroupon Muhammad AH
made an attack on Hasanu'd-din's troops and fired his
artillery pieces. La Touche now came to the help of
Hasanu'd-din and Muhammad All's men fell back and
retreated towards the fortress of Gingee, hoping to
maintain a defence therefrom. The killedar of the
place, Mirza Hasan Beg, and the garrison of Nasir
Jang would not, strangely enough, allow Muham-
mad AH to enter the fort. Muhammad All could not
thus get the protection of the fort and was forced to
retreat by way of Tiruvannamalai to Arcot. La Touche
and Hasanu'd-din pursued the retreating troops of
Muhammad Ali and when they were to the east of the
fort, they were fired upon with the cannon from Rajagiri.
One of the shots struck the followers of La Touche who
thereupon became angry and ordered an assault on the
fort. The main body of the garrison, including the
killeddr, fled through the Velur darwaza and joined
Muhammad Ali's troops ; but the others that remained
continued to fight. The French brought their artillery to
ply upon the Fateh darwaza, broke into the pcttali and
plundered the house of the inhabitants. The Tamil
Chronicler says that all the houses were plundered of
their valuables and the town lost its entire prosperity
from that time; and this took place in the month of
Purotasi, Pramoduta. La Touche was put in charge of
the killeddri and the remaining French troops proceeded
north and encamped at Chetpat, but after a time
returned to the plain a few miles to the north of Gingee.

— 485 -

the important fortress, resolved to retake it
at any cost. He felt that! the French should
either be crushed or conciliated. He preferred
the latter course and sent two of his officers
to treat with Dupleix who insisted on the rest-
oration of Muzaffar Jang to his former power
and the appointment of Chanda Sahib as the
Nawab of Arcot. Dupleix further desired
that the French troops should keep possession
of Gingee till Nasir Jang should return to his
head-quarters. Naturally Nasir Jang could
not agree to the proposed terms of Dupleix ;
and he then resolved to try the fortunes of
war.

Nasir Jang ordered his troops to march
towards Gingee in the latter part of Septem-
ber 1750. His army w^as now much less
numerous than when he entered the Carnatic,
after the battle of Ambur. His forces
amounted to 60,000 foot and 45,000 horse, 700
elephants and 360 pieces of cannon.

He actually moved out from Arcot only in
the month of Karthigai (November-December
1750) with the aim of attacking Pondicherry
and encamped in the plain of Elangadu.
Ghulam Takya Khan, the killedar of Wandi-
wash, who had sent his son as his vakil at the
Nizam's camp, now prepared for some resis-
tance ; but he found that his fort had been
surrounded by the troops of the Nizam ; and

486

on the advice of his son, Ali Naqi, he sent a
letter of obedience along with the customary
nazar and invited Nasir Jang and all his
nobles, including Muhammad Ali, to be his
guests. Takya Khan welcomed them warmly
and seated them in his durbar hall each ac-
cording to his respective rank, feasted them
and sent them away with appropriate gifts
of dress and money. He then visited the
Nizam in his camp, spent some time with
him in conversation and returned to his
killa, with an order of confirmation of his
jagir given by the Nawab (Nasir Jang), while
his son continued to be in the camp. From
Wandiwash, the Nawab proceeded some dis-
tance towards Vellimedupet to the north-
east of Gingee, The French forces were then
encamped in the immediate neighbourhood of
Gingee. When some French troops under
Muzaffar Khan Garde were marching by way
of Villupuram, a party of the Nizam's sar-
dars came upon and fought an engagement
with them and contrived to secure the person
of Muzaffar Khan, keeping him a prisoner in
Nasir Jang's camp. One of the 22 amirs that
were in the Nawab's camp, Himmat Baha-
dur Khan of Kurnool who cherished trea-
chery, now wrote a letter to La Touche,
inviting him to make a concerted attack on
the Nizam's camp on a particular day. The

.— 487 .—

immense army of the Nawab was not in one
united camp formation ; but it was distributed
in various places while the rains were very
heavy and caused much damage and loss of
life.1 Events hastened in quick succession,
culminating in the assassination of Nasir Jang
in the middle bis camp, with his treacherous
nobles in league with the French who were
actually invited to attack his position.

1 Now as to the actual circumstances which culmi-
nated in the assassination of Nawab Nazir Jang, in his
camp, by Himmat Bahadur Khan, Nawab of Kurnool,
who had already incited the French captain La Touche
to make an attack on the army, first, we have the ac-
count of Narayana Pillai, the Chronicler. The gist of it is
as follows : Himmat Bahadur informed La Touche that
he would communicate to him a favourable opportunity
when he might make a night attack on the Nawab's
forces and his cannonading should be so effective as not
to be replied to* ** Then I shall strike down the Nawab
and even usurp his position ; and I shall give you pos-
session of the Carnatic." La Touche did not believe in
the words of Himmat Bahadur Khan and required that
he should take an oath on the Qnran with reference to
his promise of help on the occasion of the attack. There-
upon Himmat Bahadur Khan secretly sent to the French
•captain, through a messenger, a copy of the Quran,
which he said, was a pledge of the sincerity of his pro-
mise. This was believed in by La Touche who replied
that his troops would advance at the appointed moment.
One day, Himmat Bahadur Khan sent word that the
occasion had come; and thereupon La Touche ap-
proached Neganur, which is about six miles
distant to the north-east of Gingee in the direction
of Vellimedu. Just then Himmat Bahadur Khan
sent contrary information that the moment was
not favourable; and La Touche had to return to
his former camp. Four days later, Himmat Bahadur
sent word that La Touche might now advance towards

488

the ahadi of Nasir Jang's camp. Upon this La Touche
advanced by way of the Desur road, reached the ahadi
of the Nawab's camp, while it was four nazhiyais to
dawn and fired. When the Nawab was informed of thist
he gave orders to the darogha of his iopkhami to fire with
his cannon. The firing was done with empty powder
at first. In the meantime the French troops had pene-
trated to some distance into the Nawab's camp. The
Nawab ordered his elephant to be made ready and
mounted the howdah. The jamadar of the Knrch choirki
was ordered to proceed with 2000 horse to the topkliana.
The jamadar thereupon replied : ' The French troops are
not numerous; some fitur (rebel) has invited them to
come. There is danger impending. I request you to stay
on in this place for the space of an hour after which the
sun would rise, when the Maratha troops and those of
the (Carnatic) Faujdar, Mahammad Ali, would be ready
and we can beat the small number of the French. I
would entreat you to do so." The Nawab became angry
and exclaimed:— " I shall go to the side of my brother,
Himmat Bahadur Khan. You had better advance to the
ahadi topklwma." Even then the jumadar continued to
remonstrate against the Nawab's order. The Nawab
became irritated at this and exclaimed, "you are haram
to me." The jamadar felt very sorry and had to obey the
order and go to the topkhana with his men. The French
troops had now come into the middle of the Nawab's camp.
The Nawab then ordered his elephant to be driven to the
side of Himmat Bahadur. The mahoul said : "Sir, the
elephant refuses to proceed ; you should not go to Him-
mat Bahadur. You can go either to the camp of the
Marathas or to the side of Faujdar Muhammad Ali."
The Nawab became angry with the mahont and said
that Himmat Bahadur was as a brother to him and
would not plan treachery and asked him to take him
quickly to his side. Unable to do anything, the mahout
drove his elephant in the direction indicated, and the
Nawab's brothers, Salabat Jang, Basalat Jang, and Nizam
Ali Khan and others had to accompany him. Then all
the chiefs in the camp became aware of the critical situa-
tion and began to set their forces in order for action.
The Nawab approached the elephant of Himmat Bahadur
Khan and addressed thus : " There are so many trea-
cherous amirs in the camp and not one would go to

— 489 —

After the Nawab was assassinated the
French troops pushed their way to the per-
sonal encampment of Nasir Jang where they
found in his tent an immense treasure amount-
ing to two millions sterling, in money and
jewels, by which they made their fortunes. To
perpetuate the memory of this great and un-
expected triumph, Dupleix caused a town to
be built nearby which was named Fath-abad
(town of victory). The exact site of this scene
has formed the subject of keen controversy. l

attack the French troops who have advanced into our
midst/' On these words, Himmat Bahadur without any
reply or hesitation, raised his pistol and shot the Nawab
who thereupon sank down in the Itowdah. Himmat
Bahadur then brought his own hoii'daJt close to that of
the Nawab, jumped into the latter, cut off his head,
fixed it on his spear and raised it aloft. Just then dawn
broke. Muhammad All Khan Bahadur now came fully
armed, along with his bakshi, Ghazanfar AH Khan, to
the scene and also some amirs and the Marathas. But
finding that the head of Nasir Jang was raised on a
spear, all of them resolved to depart ; and Ghazanfar All,
accompanying Muhammad AH Khan, galloped along
the road toTrichinopoly by the south of Desur and north
of Pennatur and within two jamcuns, reached the jungle
of Manalurpet.

1 The sita of this so-called battle of Gingee: (VeUi-
nicdupct) and of Dupleix Fath-abad.

Mon. A. Lehuraux of Chandernagore contends that
the place which was called Fath-abad was at Vellimedu-
pet, to the north-east of Gingee, Writing to the author
from Calcutta, under date 6-5-1939, about the place of
Nasir Jang's 'martyrdom' he thus says : —

"From a manuscript which I read in the Biblliothc-
qnc Nationctle, Paris, viz., the Diary of Bussy's march

62

— 490 ~

from Pondicherry to Aurangabad, with the new Nawab'
Muzaffar Jang, the site of the murder of Nawab Nasir
Jang may be identified. The detachment under Bussy set
out on January 15, 1751 from Perimby near Vilnur
(Villiyanallur) and marched 7 kos *= 19.30 miles, the
official kos being 2.76 miles. They halted 2 days at an
unnamed place and then, on the following day, proceeded
on a second stage of 8 kos (-22 miles) and passed near
the fort of Wandiwash. It will, I think, be easy for any-
one familiar with the topography of the country to locate
Nasir Jang's camp from these particulars ; Mailam proxi-
mately represents the limit of the first day's march,
20 miles north of Perimby. Starting again from Mailam,
the detachment advanced 22 miles. Now Mailam is 28
miles south of Wandiwash. Therefore when the detach*
ment had reached a spot some five miles south of Wandi-
wash, it had passed over the scene of the death of Nasir
Jang. I told you (in a previous conversation) I surmised
there must be 4 identifying marks viz: —

1. a large ruined mnitapttm (notic3d by Clive)

2. Traces of a burnt-out village (Dupleix-Fath-abad)

3. Grave-stones indicating a vast battle-field.

4. Local tradition of a great fight and the death of

the Nizam."

He further writes on this topic:

*'With regard to the site of Nasir Jang's murder,
Colonel Lawrence's 'Narrative of the war on the coast
of Coromandel' states that Clive burnt the town (Dupleix
Fath-abad) and destroyed the monument on which the
(commemorative) pillar was to have been erected.0 He
did not plough the land. There is also no evidence that
he destroyed the chaudri (choultry or mantaputn) that had
been erected, not to the glorification of the French, but
to the memory of the murdered Nawab. Further, as the
locality had been the scene of hard fighting, the neigh-
bourhood should be found to contain Muhammadan
grave-stones. Thus the locality is a spot "lo or 17 miles
(eastward) from Gingee" (Orme) or 40 miles (20 kos)
from Pulcheri (Sunce Azad). Within these limits, I
must find —

(1) a fairly large cliun.dri (<-hou,ltry) probably in ruins,

- 491 -

(2) Evidence of a burnt-out village (though this will

be difficult to identify),

(3) Grave-stones, here and there,

(4) a local tradition of a great fight and the Nawab's

assassination."

44 The following localities are suggested as being the
probable site : —

(a) Dupleix mentioned Sarasangupettai (on the route

between Wandiwash and Villupuram) vide
Anandaranga Filial' s conversation with Dupleix
(d. 7th October 1752 in Vol. VIII of the Diary,
pp. 239-241).

(b) Tanyal near Nemali, on the plain, east of Desur

(the French attack was delivered at Desur),

(c) Velimedoupet,

(d) Katteri,

(e) Senal,

(f) Sarodrium (Strotriem?) Katteri."

Further, M. Lehuraux had discussed the question
with Prof. Dubreuil andM. Fauchaux, "two distinguished
explorers'1 of Pondicherry ; and they were of the opinion
that Nasir Jang's camp could never have extended so
far as Balachetti Chatram, near Conjeevaram. A map
of 1770 shows this choultry as well as another in the
neighbourhood of Desur.

An old route-map of the period in the Pondicherry
Archives expressly states that Nasir Jang's camp
extended from Fattehpet and Balachetti Chatram " on
the route to Chetpet." Further the French troops under
La Touche burned the Nawab's camp and attacked him
from the rear (Desur). This movement could never have
been accomplished successfully if the camp had extended
so far as Balachetti Chatram near Conjeevaram. The
French force would, in that case, have merely cut into
the Nawab's army — a very perilous position exposing
them to be caught between two forces. Prof. Dubreuil
thinks that Nasir Jang was killed at Banal, between
Nerkunam and Tellar. Mons. Fauchaux believes that

492

the site is Tanyal- Dupleix himself seems to indicate
the scene of the murder to be Sarasangupettai, between
Wandiwash and Villupuram. (The note of the edition
of the Diary of Anandaranga Pillai says of this : — "Not
known, perhaps a corruption of Nasir-jangai konra-pettai
— the village where Nasir Jang was killed.)"

(C. S. Srinivasachari: Ananda Ranga Pillai, the 'Pepyn' of
French India, pp. 190-192, foot-notes.)

Some pages in Tamil which were discovered by Mon.
Lehuraux at the Montbrun Mansion in Fondicherry
and found on examination by Prof. K. A. Nilakanta
Sastriar, to be unpublished pages of the Diary of Ananda
Ranga Pillai referring to various dates, many of which
fall between November 11, 1751 and January 2, 1752, —
there being a hiatus in the published portions of the
Diary — contain, among other matter, entry under date
12th November 1751, the following: —

"This morning, M. Dupleix having decided to place
an inscription at Dupleix-Fathabad, where Nasir Jang
was killed by Him mat Bahadur wrote: —

"The 35th year of the Louis XV, the 3rd year of the
reign of Ahmad Shah the French General Provoste de
Latouche, acting in the name of Governor Dupleix,
killed Nasir Jang on this spot/1

"This inscription was to be written in 6 languages,
riz: French, Tamil, Telugu, Persian, Gujarati and Mah-
ratti. Dupleix gave the French text to the engineer
M. Abeille who was to engrave it as well as the other
texts.'*

"It brings to light for the first time, the text of the
inscription for the famous commemorative pillar which
Dupleix selected for the projected site of the city of
of Dupleix-Fateh-abad, and which was six months later,
destroyed by Clive. (I. H. R, Commission, Proceedings
of the Meetings, Vol. XVII, Baroda, pp. 10-11 of Ap-
pendix C.)

Mon. Lehuraux is convinced that the site between
the half -ruined mantapam and the adjacent tank, locally
known as the Komarappa Kulam situated in the Putha-
nandal village, north of Vellimedupet, in the taluk of

- 493 —

C— The exact site and date of Nazir Jang's
Death,

Colonel Malleson and other European
historians hold that it was 16 miles from
Gingee where Nasir Jang's army, advancing
from Arcot, was routed by the French who
were assisting the troops of Chanda Sahib;
and Nasir Jang was treacherously slain by
some of his Pathan allies in the course of the
battle, which took place on the 15th December
1750. Macaulay, repeating these historians,
says that Dupleix founded at this battle— site
a town of the name of Dupleix Fathabad and
in memory of his own victory, erected in it a
tower ; but later Olive destroyed this tower
and town in such a way that not one vestige
of them remains.

Another view is that Nasir Jang's army,
starting from Arcot and marching four miles
every day, reached the north bank of the
River Chiryar in the beginning of October,

Tindivanam in the South Arcot District, near mile-stone
No. 35 on the Tindivanam- Wandiwash road, is very like-
ly the site of the city of Dupleix Fathabad, in the centre
of which the French Governor Dupleix intended to raise
a tjopuram, commemorating his victory, and beneath
which he buried commemorative medals, photos of which,
obtained from the Cabinet des Medailles of the Bibliothe-
que Nationale, Paris, are in the mover's possession. If
the original medals are unearthed it will prove the identi-
ty of an interesting historical site.

- 494 —

and thence marched towards Gingee and
camped at Desur. Here the army remained
inactive on account of rains, flooding of rivers,
and difficulties of communication ; and at this
place the Nawab's treacherous chiefs slew
him. Desur lies the south of Arcot .at a
distance of 20 miles and to the east of Chetpat,
the west of Wandiwash and north of Gingee.

Another point of doubt is as to the particular date
and day on which the assassination of Nasir Jang took
place. Professor Jouveau-Dubreuil and Mon. Lehuraux
are of the opinion that the murder happened on the night
of the 17th Mohurrum (1164 A.H.)=^ December 1750
A.D. The night of the 16th of Mohurram was the time
of the murder according to Mir Najaf All Khan, a courtier
of Nasir Jang, who was in his camp and was an eye-
witness of the events and wrote the Rahat Af.za in 1171
A.H., in which he minutely described the Arcot expedi-
tion of Nasir Jang and the battle of Gingee, the details
being such uag have not been possible to find in any
other work." The JtdJtat Af~u also says that Nasir Jang's
army was on the Chakravati river, so near the Gingee
fort that shots from his camp could reach the fort ; in
fact the distance between Nasir Jang's forces and the
fort was about that of a gun-shot. Hakim Sayyid Shams-
ullah Qadri, who has written a Critical Note on the
Murder-Site of Nairn It AY/.s/r Jamj for the Nctwub Jwad-
nl-Mulk Memorial Volume, says that the spot where the
assassination took place was near the Gingee fort on the
other side of the Chakravati river, i.e., on its north bank
— from Phulchery towards Gingee 20 kos (40 miles) and
from Gingee towards Bailpur 1 kos (2 miles).

Besides the Rtihctt Af:,a, we have three contem-
porary accounts of the expedition and the death of
Nasir Jang.

(1) Tarikh-i-FuthiyaJi — Its author is Yusuf Muhammad
Khan Tash-kandi who a was courtier ofNawab Asaf Jah
Bahadur as also a courtier of his successor Nawab Nasir
Jang. This courtier writes of those events of the Arcot

— 495 ~i

Mr. Quadri concludes from a clear exami-
nation of the Rahat Afza that Nasir Jang's
army was encamped at a distance of 9 kos, i*e.>
18 miles from Bailpur (Villupuram) ; that in
front of Nawab's army and by the side, of
the Gingee fort was the river Chakravati ;
that the Nawab's hararal was on the bank of
Chakravati river near the water ; that the
Nawab's artillery bombarded the Gingee fort
and the French returned the fire on the
Nawab's camp ; that De la Touche who was
in the fort was incited by the traitors in Nasir
Jang's camp to attack the Nawab's army:
that on the 13th Mohurram Mir Najaf Ali

expedition of which he himself was an eye-witness ; but
unfortunately we cannot get any answer from him as to
the time and the site of the Nawab's death. He simply
says in one place that Nawab Nasir Jang's army was
encamped between two rivers.

(2) Sunr-c-Azad — Its author, Mir Ghulam Ali Azad
Bilgrami, wa* tutor to Nawab Nasir Jang and was with
him during his marches and campaigns. Two hours before
his death, Nawab Nasir Jang had called him to his pre-
sence. This author wrote his history in 1166 A.H.,
and in it he recorded that near Gingee, and fifty miles
from Phulchery (Pondicherry) the Nawab was slain.

(3) Nawab Samsatn-ud-Dawlah Shah Nawaz Khan's
Mathir-ul-Um<mi--Thia Nawab Samsam-ud-Dawlah was
a nobleman of Nawab Nasir Jang's court and was with
him in the Arcot expedition, and his son Mir Abdulhai
Khan Samsam-ul-Mulk later completed this MutJrir-ul-
Umara in 1191 A.H. In it the murder of Nawab Nasir
Jang as well as other events of his life are mentioned in
two places, which are copied word by word from
Maulana Azad's Stirwc-Asad and the KIiasana-i-Amira.

— 496 —

Khan who had marched from Tiruvannamalai
and approached the base of the Gingee fort
from the south, proposed to scale the walls of
Gingee which were very low from the side of
the west ; that this was on the night of the 13th
Mohurram, but the attack did not take place ;
and three nights thus passed off without any
activity ; and that on the fourth night the cry
of the enemy's approach rose, but the army
ridiculed the news and slept soundly.

We can now quote the words of Mr. Quadri
detailing the murder of Nawab Nasir Jang.
"At about one in the morning the Nawab was
preparing for Namaz-e-Tahajjud, when the
sound of gun fire was heard from the camps of
Janoji and the Afghan chiefs ; thus there arose
confusion in the camp. The French broke
the front line and attacked the centre of the
army. The Nawab's own gunners began to
fire on his tents.

" During this confusion, the Nawab
ordered his elephant to be brought out and
mounting it started from his camp with three
thousand horsemen ; and repelling the French,
and passing in their midst, he reached the
Afghan troopers who were quite silent in the
front lines. Himat Bahadur Khan— the
governor of Kurnool, Abdul Nabi Khan— the

— 497 —

governor of Cuddappah, Abdul Hakim Khan —
the governor of Savnoor, all mounted on ele-
phants ,were also standing by with their men-

" When the Nawab's elephant approached
that of Himat Bahadur Khan, the Nawab
first saluted him and advised him to advance
and drive away the rebels- But Himat Baha-
dur Khan without saluting and without a
word, shot Nasir Jang in the chest with the
'shirbacha' and the Nawab died the same
instant. This event occurred on the 16th of
Muharram, Wednesday, before sunrise, at
dawn."

Mir Najaf Ali Khan had taken three
forts to the west and east of Gingee ;
(1) Silatgadh (2) Narwarangam and (3) Kawat-
nallur, which was 10 miles from Narwa-
rangam. He then turned his attention to
Palawatvanam (old Vettavalam) and to
Kalol-gadh (Kallakurichl ?). Palawatvanam
was behind Gingee ; Kalolgadh was in the
possession of Muzaft'ar Khan Gardee and
near it, at a distance of 10 miles, was the fort
of Vardavar, where the French had an out-
post to prevent supplies reaching the Nawab ;
to the right of Kalolgadh, at a distance of
about 8 miles was Talkanoor and on the left
at a distance of 10 miles was Kawatnallur.
On the 11 of November 1750, there was an

63

— 498 —

action near Villupuram between Muzaffar
Khan Gardee who was daily bringing in sup-
plies from Pondicherry and Najaf Ali Khan.
Muzaffar Khan was defeated ; he retreated
and crossed the Chakravati to the other side.
Here the Gingee forces were patrolling and
took him captive, so that Najaf Ali Khan was
not merely master of all the country to the
west and south of Gingee but also of all the
plain to the east fiom Chakravati to Villu-
puram.

The forces under the Afghan Nawabs
were on the left of the liar aval of N ask-
ing's camp, i.e., a little to the east of Gingee
close to the Chakravati and the Nawab was
killed in the midst of these forces. Mr. Quadri
has given the plan of Nawab Nasir Jang's
camp arrangement in order to make his posi-
tion very clear. This is as given below : —

(1) (2) (3)

Right Manqala Left

Janoji four thousand Raja Ramchander Forces of Himat Baha-

horse and five thou- five thousand horse dur Khan and Abdul

sand foot and five thousand Nabi Khan the gover-

foot. nors of Cuddappah

and Karnool and the

Chief of Savnoor.

(4)
C hand aval

Ghulam Murtaza Qilladar
of Vellore and other
Qilladars of the Karnatak.

- 499 -

Two difficulties have got to be explained;
(1) If the Chakravati was in floods and also
the surrounding country was water-logged,
€ould the French have crossed the Chakra-
vati from the Gingee side on to the other
bank into the Nawab's camp ? (2) How to take
the French version that made the French
army move out of their camp in order to go
into the Nawab's camp.

Mon. Lehuraux who has made a very
critical and intensive study of the whole
question is convinced that the Nawab was

(5)
Right

Vir Nayak and other
zamindars five thou-
sand horse and five
thousand foot.

(8)
Right

(6)
Hiraval Qalb

Shah Nawaz Khan
five thousand horse.

(9)
Qalb

Anwar-ud-din Khan Nawab Nasir Jang

ten thousand horse
and ten thousand
foot with guns,
jazail & rahekala.

with Muhammad
Khan Bakhshi and
Shahbeg Khan Khan-
saman and Muham-
mad Sa'aid Risaladar
with ten thousand
horse.

(II)
Saranjam

Khan Alam and Qazi Daim
with two thousand horse
and two thousand foot.

Safshikan Khan & Yaqoob
Khan and Mooqtada Khan
with five thousand horse.

(7)
Left

Laehman Rao and
Murar Rao five thou-
sand horse and five
thousand foot.

(10)
Left

Rahmatulla Khan and
Amanullah Khan and
Chief of Srirangapa-
tam ten thousand
horse and ten thou-
sand foot with guns,
jazail and Rahekala.

• — • oUU —• *

assassinated at some distance from Gingee
near Velimedupet. He says that Sarasangu-
pettai, mentioned in the Diary of Ananda
Ranga Pillai, cannot be derived from an
imaginary term ' Nasir-jangai-konra pettai*
and that Professor Jouveau-Dubreuil has
correctly traced it to Dupleix Fateh-abad
under the name * Zafctr Jainj pettai ' (the city
of Zafar Jang or Dupleix).

Let us now turn to the references in the
English records and the inferences that may be
drawn from them. Olive wrote from his camp
on his way from Arcot to the neighbourhood
of Fort St. David, on March 8, 1752, that " he
was encamped on the ground where Nasir
Jang was cut off, in commemoration whereof
a very fine Choultry was erected and a village,
which monument of villainy he designs des-
troying and expected to be here the llth."
Orme converts the village into " a rising town
projected by the vanity of Mr. Dupleix to com-
memorate that detestable action, and called
Dupleix-Fateabad or the town of Dupleix's
victory," and adds "it is said that he was pre-
paring a column with a pompous inscription
in the French, Malabar, Persic and Indostan
languages, which he intended to erect in the
middle of fhe town, where he had already
caused coins struck with symbols of the
victory to be buried/' Macaulay omits the

— 501 —

important words of Orme (it is said), in his
essay on Olive ; " the column becomes a stately
pillar; coins struck with the symbols of victory
become medals stamped with the emblems of
his successes; they were buried within the
foundations of the stately pillar and round it
arose a town."

Sir George Forrest in his 'Life of Lord
Olive,' 4 Vol. I, (1918)' thus tries to comment on
this affair: " From the records of the time we
now learn that in order to commemorate a
4 detestable action' won by foul treachery,
Dupleix had erected a splendid rest house
for travellers on the battle-field. Both in
erecting a memorial and in the nature of the
memorial he was following an eastern custom,
•and he did it to impress the oriental mind as
to the power of the French ; and Olive levelled
the splendid choultry and village to the ground,
thereby altering the native impression as to
the respective powers of the French and Eng-
lish. The work of destruction could not have
been very onerous, for three days after the
receipt of his last letter, Olive encamped
within the bounds of Fort St. David."

From the Madras records themselves we
have a clear chronological notice of the move-
ments of Olive in that momentous week.

— 502 —

Monday the 9th-— Sunday— Letters from
Captain Clive to the President are produced
to the Board and read and the most material
part of them as follows -—The first is dated
the 2nd instant at Arcot, gives a more
particular account of the late action, and
that he had left a party to watch the Prison-
ers at Covrepauk, that having intelligence,
some money, elephants and all young Chunda's
Baggage was left at Vellour Pettah, he had
sent to demand them of Moortaz Ally Caun
and intended proceeding thither the next
morning to look after them, and after re-
freshing his people a little should set out
for this place. The second dated the 7th
instant that he is on his march hither, and on
his approaching Chetteput, young Chunda
retired to Gingee and from thence to Pondi-
cherry, that he was encamped to the eastward
of Gingee, and hoped to be within ten or twelve
miles of Pondicherry to-day. The last dated
yesterday, that he should immediately des-
patch a letter to Lieutenant Grenville at Arcot
to send the cannon, etc., to Fort St. George,
but was apprehensive, the difficulty he found
himself in transporting them thither from
Covrepauk would prevent his getting Cooleys
to draw them ; that judging it unnecessary on
account of the enemy's defeat he has not des-
patched any men to Madras and was then

- 503 -

encamped on the ground where Nasir Jung
was cut off, in commemoration whereof a
very fine Choultry was erected, and a village,
which Monument of Villainy he designs des-
troying and expected to be the llth."

Thomas Saunders,
Charles Boddam,
Henry Powney,
Alexander Wynch.

llth.— At about 5 this afternoon arrived
Captain Clive with the Forces under his
command at Trivendupuram where they
encamped and orders were immediately issued
out for bringing in all such necessaries as
were in want of repair and to get the same
done as soon as possible, also that the neces-
sary supplies of ammunition, etc., for the use
of the camp be got ready with the greatest
expedition.

We may presume that the work of des-
truction should have been done by Clive be-
tween the 8th March when he worte to Madras
that he was encamped on the ground where
Nasir Jung was cut off and the 10th when he
should have started at the latest in order to
have been on the evening of the llth at Tiru-
vendipuram, 4 miles west of Fort St. David.
Perhaps the place was destroyed on the 9th

— 504 —

of March, 20th N.S. At least two days may
have to be allowed for Olive's march from
near that place to the neighbourhood of Fort
St. David.

It is not a village that was thus des-
troyed, but only a choultry or a monument.
Moreover, a village would comprehend scatter-
ed dwellings, most of them of mud and thatch
and not worth positive destruction. It is
likely that it was the choultry that is qualified
by the words " which monument of villainy."

According to the Tiizak-i-Walajalri,
Nawab Muhammad Ali advised Nasir Jang
who had encamped on the maidan of Gingee
that the encampment would serve as a means
for treachery and that " it would be better to
encamp on the maidan adjoining the qaxbu of
Belpur (Villupuram), for it was very extensive,
its level high, and the whole army could
be gathered at one place." Nawab Nasir
Jang took the suggestion, but postponed the
day of his march owing to insidious counsels.
The Tuzak further says that though Nasir
Jang was warned by Mir Dayim Ali Khan, the
sardar of the advance guard of the army, as to
the treachery of the Pathan Nawabs and
their negotiations with the French through
Mir Sayfullah and the impending attack
proposed, for that very night, Nasir Jang did
not regard the danger as serious- On the

— 505 —

same night at about 3 o'clock, the French
came out of Gingee and marched into the
camp, cannonading without any opposition or
molestation. Nasir Jang then saw the serious-
ness of the situation and realized his danger-
Immediately he sent for Hidayat Muhiyyu'd-
din Khan for the purpose of killing him. The
latter was reading the Quran in pretence,
while Raja Ram Das bribed the executioners
and delayed their purpose. By that time the
French had come near. Nasir Jang had per-
formed his ablutions twice over and got up on
his elephant without wearing any armour and
coat of mail and without other arms- Part of
the army was not aware of the French
attack; others were negligent or pretended
ignorance ; and there were no people near the
Nawab, except some bamlarx and torch-bear-
ers. In the meanwhile, the day began to dawn
and Nasir Jang caught sight of the Nawabs
of Cuddapah and Kurnool riding on their
elephants. Contrary to practice, he directed
his own elephant towards them and offered
salutations to them first. But they pretended
not to see him. Nasir Jang saluted them a
second time and exclaimed : " It is incumbent
on you and me? brothers of the same faith,
to fight the stranger." " In the course of this
observation Himmat Bahadur Khan aimed
at the Wazir with the musket, and the bullet
pierced his innocent heart."

64

— 506 —

Nawab Muhammad All in great secrecy
and fear came out of the camp with Ghazanfar
AH Khan and with a guide, pretending that
he would return soon. He rode towards the
taluk of Tiruvannamalai and ultimately
reached Trichinopoly after encountering a
serious crisis at Ranjangudi whose killedar
was very near capturing him.

The Tamil Chronicler Narayanan defi-
nitely gives us information that (1) Nawab
Nasir Jang encamped at the maidan of Veli-
medupet to the north-east of Gingee and that
the French troops had formed a camp near
Gingee. Muzaft'ar Khan was captured by the
Nawab's troops in the course of an encounter
during his march from Villupuram to Gingee
carrying supplies. (2) Himmat Bahadur Khan
of Kurnool, one of the 22 Amirs with the
Nizam, opened a correspondence with La
Touche in Gingee, advising him to cannonade
the Nawab's camp at night-time and telling
him that he would co-operate with the French
troops that might advance against the camp.
La Touche would not, at first, believe the
promises of Himmat Bahadur and insisted on
the latter taking an oath on the Quran- (3)
One day when he received information from
Himmat Bahadur as to the favourable moment
of attack, La Touche marched to Niganur at
a distance of a few miles from his camp. But

— 507 —

being told that the time was not fully oppor-
tune, he marched back to his original camp.
(4) Four days later, Himmat Bahadur asked
the French to come towards the akadi of
Nasir Jang's camp; thereupon La Touche
marched towards Desur and reached the
ahadi of the Nawab's camp, while yet there
were a few hours still remaining in the night,
i.e. in the early hours of the morning. (5) The
French cannonade was answered by an
attempt at firing by the top-khan a of Nasir
Jang's army. By that time the French had
penetrated into the camp. The Nawab asked
his men to get ready, but was informed by the
jamadar of the Karch Chaukhi of the fituri,
i(>- the rebellion, that had invited the French.
The Nawab was advised to wait till morning
when he would have the help of the Marathas
and of Muhammad AH- (6) Nasir Jang would
not listen to his advice though it was repeated,
but directed his mahout to go to the side of
Himmat Bahadur and the jamadar to go to
the top-khana in the ahadi. The mahout of
the Nawab tried to persuade him to go to the
camp of the Marathas or to that of Muham-
mad Ali and not towards Himmat Bahadur.
The Nawab maintained that Himmat Bahadur
was a loyal brother of his and insisted upon
proceeding to his side; and he was accom-
panied by his brothers Salabat Jang, Basalat

— 508 —

Jang and Mir Nizam Ali Khan. (7) The Nawab
accosted Himmat Bahadur, saying that there
were a number of disloyal amirs and not one
of them would come forward to attack the
enemy ; and thereupon, without answering a
word, Himmat Bahadur shot the Nawab
through his heart. He then jumped into the
howdah of the Nawab, severed his head and
raised it on a spear. Just then it was begin-
ning to dawn. (8) Muhammad Ali who now
rode into the scene fully armed, approached
the Nawab's elephant, accompanied by Bakshi
Ghazanfar Ali Khan. He saw the situation
and the hoisting of the Nawab's head on the
spear-head and the beating of the drums ; he
quietly resolved to flee to his stronghold of
Trichinopoly, and marched away, with Ghaz-
anfar Ali Khan, first to the south of Desur and
thence north to Pennatur ; and in the course
of two j (imams, he had reached the jungles
in the neighbourhood of Manalurpet. (9) The
whole camp was thrown into confusion and
the different captains and amirs had to shift
to places where they would be secure from
the general looting and fighting that was
indulged in- La Touche and the amirs who
remained with him mounted Muzaffar Jang
on a howdah and proclaimed him the
Wazir of the Deccan and beat the drum of
elevation.

— 509 -

Professor Dubreuil has made a careful
study, in his latest work 'Dupleix' Bicenten-
aire, (March 1941), of the successive campings
of ' Nawab Nasir Jang, of course on the basis
mainly of French sources. At first, when
Nasir Jang descended into the plains of
Gingee in the summer of 1750, his encamp-
ment extended more than six leagues in cir-
cumference, from Tiruvakkarai on the west as
far as Villianurmangalam on the east- There
was a street well laid out for markets along
its entire length. In that camp, the tents of
Nasir Jang were at Valudavur near the mosque
to the north of the river of Gingee ; a little
further away was the tent where Muzaffar
Jang was kept a prisoner and sideways were
the camps of Shah Nawaz Khan and his
Peshkar Ramdas. All round this central
portion " the army was encamped in the
fashion which the Marathas called 'in fort-
ress'; that is to say, the tent of the Nawab
should be at the centre of the camp and that
the troops of the different generals should be
posted in such a way that the camp formed a
large circle. In order to prevent the quarrels
inseparable from the differences in religion,
the Marathas camped at one of the extreme
ends of the camp and left a great space
empty between them and the Moorish troops.
( Terraneau, p. 140).

— 510 —

The advance guard was under Kazi
Dayem; Moro Pandit was the captain of the
forward troops of the Marathas ; a jamadar of
Chanda Sahib who had been captured by these
two, early in March 1750, was the intermedi-
ary between the traitors inNasir Jang's camp
and Chanda Sahib in the front. Murari Rao,
Janoji and Raja Ram Chander had all been
bought over. Murari Rao was promised the
territory of Tadpatri. Janoji was lured with
gold and Raja Ram Chander was a friend of
Janoji Nimbalakar. Moro Pant and Kazi
Dayem were in the advance guard, close by
Murari Rao. Janoji and Ramachandra Sen
were encamped at the front centre ; on the
left wing were the Pathans and on the right
wing, Muhammad AH and the English. Of the
three Pathan Nawabs, that of Savanur-Banka-
pur was a young man, eclipsed by the other
two. Abdul Nabi Khan of Cuddapah was
elderly and addicted to opium. He was a friend
of the French, because of the fief of Chidam-
baram which was an enclave and belonged to
him ; and the governor of Chidambaram was
in close communication with Dupleix. Abdul
Nabi's younger brother had written in Nov-
ember 1749, five months before, to Chanda
Sahib thus : " My elder brother, the Nawab of
Cuddapah, is come, with the Nawab of Kanda-
nur to oppose the devastations (of the army of

- 511 —

Nasir Jang) near Cumbum. He is your
friend."

The Nawab of Kurnool, Himayat Khan,
had recently paid Nasir Jang eleven lakhs of
rupees as nazar. He had complained that the
expenses of maintaining an army, which he
was asked to contribute to fight for Nasir Jang
were excessive ; and he had defeated a force
sent against him by Nasir Jang, but had
become reconciled to his suzerain, joined him
on his southern march and got on well with
him for some time. But the envoy of Himmat
Khan who had expected to get the jaghir of
Banganapalle from Nasir Jang in return for
his services in effecting this reconciliation,
grew angry with the Nizam and was said to
have converted the Pathan Nawabs to the
side of treason. This discontented envoy was
probably Mir Sayfullah and is elsewhere
called Sayfuddin. Himayat Khan was a
young man of 27 or 28 years of age, " full of
fire and courage. It was he who, so to speak
led the gang." On the right wing, that is to
say, the other end of the camp, were Muham-
mad AH and his lieutenants (Mahfuz Khan, his
elder brother, Khair-uddin and Abdul Jalil his
brothers-in-law, and Sampat Rao the former
diwan of his father) ; lastly, to the extreme
right (that is to say, to the south, in such a

— — 0 J-i-w """""""•

way as to be easily in touch with Fort St.
David), were tfre English troops of Cope.

Only Muhammad Ali was a sincere
supporter of Nasir Jang. While this was the
camp occupied by Nasir Jang in his first stay
in the neighbourhood of Gingee, we do not
know what exactly was the situation in the
later camp of Nasir Jang, whether it was
nearer Velimedupet or nearer Gingee. French
evidence seems to be that the French troops
attacked Nasir Jang's camp atDesu'r(A7t(mda
Ranga Pilhtis Diary, Vol. IX, p. 165). But
Nasir Jang was at Velimedu, as is expressed
by Narayana Kone. An English account of
the event contained in a letter from Fort St.
David, dated 30th December O.S. 1750, i.e..
24 days after the event, speaks thus: "On the
6th December 1750 N.S. at about 2 o'clock in
the morning the French having roused (awak-
ened) the rear guard of Nasir Jang, the
Nawabs of Kadapa and Kurnool under the
pretext of coming to ask for their orders,
approached the tent of Nasir Jang, and at the
moment he mounted on his elephant, killed
him with a gunshot, and severed his head
which they showed at the end of a pike to all
the ?trmy. It is said that his Premier Shah
Nawaz was the soul of the conspiracy."

Dubreuil says that this account accords
well with the French official version. " The

— 513 —

Viceroy immediately mounted on his elephant ;
he ordered all his subordinate Nawabs to join

him and to draw up their troops This was

where the Nawab of Kurnool waited for him.
He drew near as if to obey him ; but while
the prince could not have the faintest suspi-
cion of his design, he discharged a pistol on
his head."*

~* The probability is that the Nawab's army ex-
tended over a large area, in the plain to the north-east of
Gingee, beyond the river Chakravati, very likely in the
direction of Vellitnedu to the north-east and Sittamur
and Villukam in the east. What is considered in the
English version above quoted, as the rear guard of Nasir
Jang has been evidently treated as the advance guard by
the author of the Rah at Afza. On this supposition many
of the difficulties and inconsistencies presented by a
comparative study of the details given by the Rdliat
Afza and by the Tuzak-i-Walajah-i and those given by
Narayana Pillai and the French accounts can be
reconciled.

If the generally accepted date for the martyrdom of
Nasir Jang, riz, the night of the 17th Muharram 1164 A.H.
is accurate, this corresponds to the 350th day of 1750
(16th December). This 16th December was a Wednesday.
The calculation of the Muslims historian would be like
this—4* If a certain event happened on the night of
Safar 3, 1069 (October 31, 1658), it may have happened
between sunset and midnight on October 30, or between
midnight and dawn on October 31 " (page 5 of Compar-
ative Tables of Muliannnadan and Christian Dates by Sir
T. W. Haig— Luzac & Co., 1932).

Hence, if the martyrdom of Nasir Jang took place
on the night (before dawn) of Moharrum 17, 1164 A.H.
it was on Wednesday December 16 (N.S.) (December 5,
O.S.), 1750.

65

514 —

We have, from the generosity of Mon. A. Lehuraux
a letter of M. Kerjean, nephew of Dupleix, who led the
left wing of the French troops, writing a few hours after
the tragedy, as follows .— .

Camp of Nas'r Jang,
16, Dec. 1750, at 10 in the morning.

"* Dear Uncle,

We left Fathpet yesterday at 5 hours of evening ; and
at 3 hours before daylight, we were before the camp of
the Moors, who were sleeping profoundly. We gave
them a cruel awakening by breaking into their camp in
battle array ; all fled and we pursued them right and left,
front and rear, without ceasing, till 7 o'clock when we
perceived your standard as well as several French flags
appearing on the rocks, but we dared not give complete
credence to these signs of friendship, when the head
munshi (f/rcnid ecrtrun) of Muzaffar Jang came to
announce the death of Nasir Jang whose head had been

cut off Mm. Very and Bussy are slightly wounded,

we had only 6 or 7 soldiers wounded."

This would fix the time of the tragedy in the early
morning of the 16th December.

M. Lehnraux further gives valuable information as
to the site of the tragedy. He bases his conclusion that
the place was near Velimedu, first on the mention in
Narayanan's Chronicle that the Nawab (Nasir Jang) had
fixed his camp on the plain of Velimedu, at 10 mlhyui
distance to the north-east of Gingee, while the French
army had encamped near Gingee. (10 ndliyai distance =
13-8 miles). (2) La Touche, writing to Dupleix that the
2 armies were 4 leagues from each other, separated by
an unfordable river. (4 French leagues being nearly
14 miles). The French camp at Fathpet (site of Nawab
Sadatullah Khan's victory over Raja Desing) was one
league in advance of their base at Gingee. Bussy, in
accompanying Muzaffar Jang to the Deccan, in the course
of the second day's march from Mailam (8 kos), traversed
" the camp where Nasir Jang had his head cut off," on
the road to Wandiwash. We have also noted above
(p. 503) Olive's traversing the spot on his march from
Arcot to Fort St. David. On these data, Mon. Lehuraux

D.— The Fort under French occupation (1750-61)

Gingee became again the centre of
interest during dive's memorable seige of
Arcot, We learn from a despatch of Gov-
ernor Saunders, dated September 30, 1751
(O.S.), that Chanda Sahib's son with a body of
2,000 horse, some French and sepoys, marched
from Gingee where he had taken shelter after
raising the siege of Arcot, for the recapture of
that place from Olive. The diversion on
Arcot had given the English and the Nawab
an easy possession of the place and even
success in several skirmishes with the enemy ;
l)u t the English lacked adequate forces for
taking up an aggressive attitude, particularly
cavalry; and though Muhammad AH appointed
his own collectors of revenue, it was felt that
nothing could be done till he should send at
least two or three thousand horse to Arcot.

In July 1752, when Muhammad Ali was
besieged in Trichinopoly by the French, he
conceived the idea that the English troops

has fixed the site at Puttanandal village, north of Velli-
medu, the junction of Muhammad All's march in flight
to Villupuram, Bussy's march from Perimbe to Wandi-
wash and Olive's from Timiri to Pedrapolur. This is
supported by inference from Orme's location of the
army of Nasir Jang at 16 miles from Gingee.

It is pertinent to point out that Dupleix erected, on
the spot of Nasir Jang a very fine choultry to his
4 memory/ Olive called it a " monument of. infamy."

— 516 —

could reduce Gingee and hence courted their
assistance in his attempt to capture it. The
English at Madras tried to help him in storm-
ing the fortress, notwithstanding the fact that
Col. Lawrence advised against making the at-
tempt, on the score of the improbability of suc-
cess. Col- Lawrence knew that the place was
very strong and well supplied with all manner
of stores and garrisoned by 150 Europeans, be-
side sepoys and it would require a strong and
numerous force to attack it. Moreover, no
supply of cannon could then be expected from
Fort St. David. These and other reasons
determined Col. Lawrence to dissuade the
Madras Governor from the attempt. His
advice was tendered too late, as Major Kinneer,
a man newly arrived from Europe, had already
been despatched to Gingee on 23rd July 1752,
with an army of 200 Europeans, 1,500 sepoys
and 600 of the Nawab's cavalry. The next
day Kinneer ' marched on Villupuram fort,
twelve miles north of Tiruvati near Panruti ;
and the place immediately surrendered.

Dupleix, on hearing of its fall, deter-
mined to strike a blow for the recovery of the
prestige of the French arms and directed his
commandant at Gingee to defend his fort to
the last extremity. Further, he sent 300

9S

Orine : History of Indostan, Vol. I, p. 162-

— 517 —

Europeans and 500 sepoys with seven field-
pieces, who took possession of Vikravandi —
which was situated midway between Pondi-
cherry and Gingee and which commanded the
road traversed by the English on their route
to Gingee. Dupleix probably thought that the
natural inaccessibility of the forts of Gingee
was sufficient to enable a well-commanded
garrison to beat off a force five times that of
Kinneer, who was new to the country and the
people.

Soon Major Kinneer arrived before
Gingee and realised that his force was too
small to reduce such a strong fortress enclos-
ing a chain of mountains. However, on arrival
at Gingee, he summoned the garrison to sur-
render. The French officer commanding the
place answered with civility that he kept it
for the King of France, that he would not
surrender it and that he was determined to
defend it. Kinneer was appalled at its
strength and hesitated to invest the place with
his small force. Moreover, the two pieces of
battering cannon which he expected from
Fort St. David did not arrive in time.

His forces were, however, reinforced at
Tiruvati with a body of 300 Europeans, 500
sepoys and others.

— 518 —

The French were placed in a strong sit*
nation at Vikravandi which was surrounded
by a river and hence they were able to cut off
all communications. Kinneer boldly attacked
the enemy, but at last fell down wounded.
The English sepoys grew disheartened and
began to retreat. Poor Kinneer was so much
affected by his ill luck, that although he
soon recovered from his wounds, his vexation
and disappointment brought on an illness
which cost him his life-

Thus ended the expedition of Kinneer to
Gingeeinl752.]

1 Orme (History of Indostan, Vol. I, pp. 253-254) thus
describes this battle: — "The English marched directly to
the enemy who appeared at first drawn up on the
outward bank of the rivulet and recrossed it with precipi-
tation. The English, elated with the imagination of
their panic, advanced to the bank, and leaving their field-
pieces behind, began the attack with the fire of their
musketry only. The enemy answering it, both from
musketry and field-pieces, and under shelter, suffered
little loss, and did much execution. The company of
English Coffres were first flung into disorder by carry-
ing off their wounded as they dropped, and soon after
took flight ; they were followed by the sepoys ; and
Major Kinneer in this instant receiving a wound which
disabled him, the Europeans began to waver likewise.
The enemy perceiving the confusion, detached 100 of
their best men, amongst which were 50 volunteers, who,
crossing the rivulet briskly, advanced to the bank. The
vivacity of this unexpected motion increased the panic,
and only 14 grenadiers, with two ensigns, stood by the
colours ; these indeed defended them bravely, until they
were rejoined by some of the fugitives, with whom they
retreated in order ; and the French, satisfied with their
success, returned to the village, having, with very little

— 519 —

The English troops retreated to Tiruvati ;
and the enemy, after quitting Vikravandi, re-
captured the fort of Villupuram which they
demolished. Dupleix was greatly elated by
this success and strengthened the French
army in the field with further reinforcements.
The French forces ericamped to the north of
Fort St. David close to the bound-hedge.
Thereupon the English and the Nawab's
troops quitted Tiruvati and took their post
at Semmandalam, a redoubt within the bound-
hedge, three miles to the west of Fort St.
David ; and the French were even bold
enough to capture some English troops that
were coming by ma&ula boat* from Madras.
This was the situation before the battle of
Bahur; and Dupleix felt for the moment
great satisfaction at having restored French
prestige to some extent.

loss to themselves, killed and wounded 40 of the English
battalion, which suffered in this action more disgrace
than in any other that had happened during the war:
Major Kinneer was so affected by it, that although he
recovered of his wound, his vexation brought on an
illness, of which he some time after died/'

u The greatest part of the town was encircled by a
rivulet, which serving as a ditch, was defended by a
parapet, formed of the ruins of old houses, and interrupt-
ed at proper intervals to give play to the cannon. The
outward bank was in many parts as high as the parapet,
and that part of the village which the rivulet did not
bound, might be easily entered ; but the English, neglect-
ing to reconnoitre before they began the attack, lost the
advantages which they might have taken of these cir-
cumstances."

— 520 —

To return to the fortunes of Gingee : —

Gingee remained firmly in French posses-
sion until after the fall of Pondicherry to Sir
Eyre Coote in January 1761- It was in this
epoch that the French added their own forti-
fications to the place. Even now there can be
seen the remains of the quarters which they
built and the almost intact Royal Battery on
the rocky knoll in the line between Chandra-
yandurg and Krishnagiri. " The aggressively
modern gate-posts outside the Pondicherry
and Arcot gates, the curious little brick and
chunam sentry-boxes (shaped like pepper-
castors) and the brick embrasures which may
be seen all about the fortifications would seem
to have also been their work."1 Gingee
served the French as a base of resistance
during the operations of Count de Lally in the
Carnatic between the battle of Wandiwash and
the fall of Pondicherry. From Wandiwash the
French army fled through Chetpat to Gingee
and from that place shortly retreated into
Pondicherry. Coote took Chetpat on the 29th
January 1760, Arcot on the 10th February

1 It was from the Venkataramanaswami Temple that
the French took away the tall monolithic pillars which
were planted round Dupleix's statue at Pondicherry.
Perhaps the French were responsible for the roadway
which leads straight from the Pondicherry Gate to the
Sadatullah Khan's Mosque.

— 521 —

and Perumukkal * on the 3rd March, while
Tiruvannamalai capitulated to a detachment
under Captain Stephen Smith. The fort of
Alamparva surrendered to Coote on the 12th
March and the port of Karikkal was surrend-
ered to an expedition sent by sea under the
command of Major Monson, On the previous
day, i.e., the 4th of April, Villupuram was
taken by a detachment of sepoys under Captain
Wood; on the 19th Chidambaram fell (with its
garrison of 6 officers and 46 men) into the
hands of Monson ; on the same day a detach-
ment of sepoys occupied Cuddalore without
serious opposition, while three days previously
Valudavur had surrendered to Coote who had
resumed command after a short period of ill-
ness. Vriddhachalam likewise capitulated on
the 27th April. Lally now solicited the aid of
Haidar Ali, who ordered Makhdum Ali, then
engaged in the conquest of the Baramahal, to
proceed to Pondicherry ; and that chief march-
ed from Baramahal to Tyagadurg. This place
and Gingee alone were now in French posses-
sion in the xubah of Arcot. Makhdum Ali's
victory over Major Moore near Tiruvati was
counter-balanced by Coote's capture of the
fort of Villiyanur, just as Lally was marching

* Lally attempted to reinforce O'Kemiedy, its cap-
tain, but could not do so. So the pettah (outside the
fort) was taken on the 3rd and the rock fort on the 6th
of March.

66

out from Pondicherry to relieve it. Coote set-
tled down before Pondicherry during August
between Perimbe and Villiyanur and invested
the place at its bound-hedge limits which
extended in a curve of 15 miles round the
town and had been strengthened by four large
redoubts, namely, the Madras, Vellore, Villi-
yanur and Ariancopang Redoubts. Coote
abandoned an attack on the Ariancopang fort,
which he had projected, owing to the protest
of Major Monson. But he repulsed a surprise
attack made on the British camp by Lally on
the 4th September. Four days later, the
of Valudavur and Villiyanur Redoubts were
taken, the latter by Major Joseph Smith.

Within a week, the French withdrew from
the Ariancopang Redoubt after partially
blowing it up. Coote who had now rejoined
the camp, took the Madras Redoubt on the 1st
of October, with the help of Joseph Smith. It
was retaken by the French the same night ;
but " Subadhar Coven Naig " formed up the
sepoys who had been driven out, and retook
it with great gallantry soon afterwards. In
October, Coote allowed women and children
to be evacuated from Pondicherry ; and in the
next month Lally turned out all the native
inhabitants. Throughout December cannon-
ading went on, with the fleet co-operating. On
the 5th January 1761, the St. Thomas Redoubt

— 523 —

erected by Lally opposite that of Ariyanco-
pang, was captured, but lost the next
day. Lally's attempts to secure Maratha help
failed; and Pigot, the Governor of Madras,
now arrived on the scene. On the 10th Jan-
uary fresh batteries were opened ; trenches
were commenced on the 13th ; on the 16th
Lally surrendered and the garrison laid down
their arms ; and Coote's Grenadiers took
possession of the Villiyanur Gate. The
British flag was hoisted on Fort St. Louis on
the following day, under a salute of 1,000 guns-
A huge quantity of arms and ammunition
were taken, besides 500 pieces of cannon and
100 kk mortars and howits." The entire forti-
fications of Pondicherry were completely
demolished ; and orders were given for the
immediate reduction of the other French
settlements in India. Tyagadrug capitulated
to Major Preston on the 4th of February, 1761 ;
five clays later Mahe fell into the hands of
Major Hector Munro. The surrender of
Gingee to Captain Stephen Smith on the
6th April following, left " not a single ensign
of the French nation allowed by the authority
of its government in any part of India/' *
The major part of the English army in the
Carnatic was cantoned in Cuddalore, Pondi-
cherry and Madras, by February 1761. One

• H. F. Mill-land : Bail lie ki PaUan (1930)— p. 14.

— 524 -

detachment under Captain Smith was sent to
blockade Gingee, and another under Major
Preston was detailed to invest Tyagadrug.
Everywhere else, the province was tranquil ;
and in the last week of the month the British
squadron left Pondicherry for Bombay.

Captain Stephen Smith at Gingee and its Fall
into English hands.

After the fall of Pondicherry in January
to Sir Eyre Coote's forces, Gingee and Tiagar
(Tyagadrug in the present Kallakurichi taluk
of the South Arcot District) alone remained
in the hands of the French- Hence Coote
decided to capture them also. He sent a^
convoy of military stores to Major Preston,
who was blockading Tiagar. He also detached
eight companies of sepoys under the command
of Captain Stephen Smith to invest Gingee.

Captain Smith, as soon as he encamped
before Gingee, summoned Macgregor, its
commanding officer, to surrender. Macgregor
retaliated by saying that, even if he had
brought 100,000 men, the forts could not be
reduced in three years. The forts of Gingee
were then surrounded by a strong wall, but-
tressed with stone-towers connected with one
another, which measured 12,000 yards or

— 525 —

nearly 6% miles in length.* The French, who
regarded the forts on the mountains to be im-
pregnable, had for defence only 150 Europeans.
To passes and Coffres, 600 sepoys and 1,000
Colleries, /.(?., natives of the adjoining hills
whom they called by that name.

Smith was encamped in the eastern
portion of the area. The French had con-
structed, during their occupation, the Royal

:* The petiuh outside the wall had a protecting mud
wall. The inward town was in the centre of the triangular
walled enclosure connecting the three hills and stood on
higher ground. There was the connecting stone wall
referred to above, which continued up the mountains and
surrounded the three hills. " Besides this exterior en-
closure, the interior and higher defences run double
round the two forts to the east ; and the great mountain
to the west (Raj^giri), which is the principal fortification,
has four enclosures, one below another, towards the

town in the valley The wall on the east side of the

valley extends 1,200 yards from the Mountain of St.
George on the right to the English Mountain on the left,
and nearly in the middle passeth along the side of a heap
of rocks on which the French had raised a work which
they called the Royal Battery, under which, on the right,
towards the mountain of St. George stood a gateway
opposite to the outward petttih in the plain ; but the
pettah extended only from this mountain to the rocks of
the battery." (Orme. Vol. II (4th ed.) pp. 728-9)— see also
Plan of Gingee on p. 151 of Vol. I showing :

(1) E< (outer pettah)

(2) //, //, //, (French garrisions)

(3) a, gate of the 2nd wall leading to the inner

fort.

(4) c Pondicherry Gate in the outer stone- wall
and the walls connecting and enclosing the three
mountains and also the defence walls and gates of the
Rajagiri citadel.

— 526 —

Battery between the St. George's Mountain
and the English Mountain. Captain Stephen
Smith was informed by several persons about
the real state of the garrison and the defences
of Gingee. On the night of 2nd February 1761,
he marched from his camp, with 600 sepoys in
two divisions, of which the former carried a
sufficient number of scaling ladders, while the
latter were kept for support when called for.
They crept unpercieved through the petta/i
which was to the east of the Royal Battery
and gained the road leading from the Pondi-
cherry Gate to Sadatullah Khan's Mosque.
The guards at the Pondicherry Gate raised
an alarm ; but Smith drove them from their
posts at the point of the bayonet and opened
the gate to let in another body of 400 men
which brought his total strength to 600.
With these forces he captured the Royal
Battery, taking possession of both the gate-
ways of the outer wall.

Then he waited for day-break to drive the
enemy troops out of the town. Some had
already fled to St. George's Mountain and
others ran to the English Mountain. The
majority of them went into the inner lower
fort at the foot of Rajagiri from where they
began to fire on the English troops below.
At night-fall they retired from the inner fort
to the higher defences.

On the intelligence of this success, 1,000
more sepoys were sent to Stephen Smith. A
jamadar-deserter offered to lead a party, by
a path he knew, to surprise the fort on St.
George's Mountain. He was trusted ; and at
the next night-fall, 200 sepoys marched under
his guidance and scaled the defences unper-
ceived. They ^zed eight Europeans, while
the others escaped to the enclosure below.
In the morning an officer came down to capitu-
late, but demanded very liberal terms.

Captain Smith refused to accept the sur-
render.* A large stock of provisions was
found in the fort of this mountain, from which
it was concluded that the remaining forts
were also well provided. There was no hope
that " either of these fortresses could be taken
by surprise and still less by open attack."
They trusted to time for success, "which
was not be expected either from force or
fortune."

On the every day when the Mountain of
St. George surrendered to Captain Smith, i.e.,
4th February 1761, the important fortress
of Tiagar (or Tyagadrug) capitulated to
Major Preston after a severe blockade and

* He knew that he could capture them by sending
more men up the rock, demanded their surrender at
discretion and got 42 Europeans and 70 sepoys.

— 528 —

bombardment of 65 days. Mahe had sur-
rendered to Major Munro on February 13,
1761 ; and the news of the surrender had
reached Madras on the 3rd of March. Gingee
seems to have presented greater obstacles
than either of these two places to the English
attacking forces.

However, on the 5th April 1761, Smith
received a proposal from Macgregor, the
French commander at Gingee, stating that he
would capitulate, if his garrison were allowed
all the honours of war. The rank and file of
the Europeans had to be sent to Europe as
prisoners liable to exchange. The officers
were to be permitted to retire to any of the
neutral European settlements on the coast,
where they were to live at the expense of the
English Company who were also to defray
their passage to Europe.

300 English sepoys had already died in
the town and in the St. George's Mountain,
44 from the peculiar inclemency of the air
which has always been deemed the most
unhealthy in the Carnatic in so much that
the French who never until lately kept more
than 100 Europeans here, had lost 1,200 men
in the 10 years during which it had been in
their possession." Captain Stephen Smith
therefore readily accepted the terms and in

~ 529 —

the afternoon, the garrison marched out of the
two mountains.* There were 12 officers, 100
rank and file, Europeans and Topasses, 40
lascars of artillery, 30 cannon and some
mortars.

The fall of Gingee on 5th April 1761 ter-
minated the long contested hostilities between
the two rival European powers in the
Carnatic. The French lost their last posses-
sion in the Carnatic. In order to retard
as much as possible their re-establishment
in power at the conclusion of peace, the
demolition of the fortifications of Pondi-
cherry and other places was ordered immedi-
ately, at the suggestion of George Pigot, the
Governor of Madras.

J1S

Gingee regained for a time its st^tegic and
military importance, alas ! for the last time
in its fateful history, in 1780 A.D. during Haidar
All's invasion of the Carnatic by the Changa-
mah pass, with a force of 90,000 men and
helped by some able French officers like
Puymorin cind Lally the Younger (July 1780).
Soon Ensign Macaulay was sent with a
company of English forces to assist the
Nawab's garrison at the fort. Haidar's men
appeared before the place and easily carried

* Orme : History of Lidostan : Volume II, pp. 728
to 733.

67

— 530 —

the lower fort by assault, while a European
in the Nawab's service left his post without
firing a shot. Macaulay had to retire to the
top of Rajagiri, while the rest of the garrison
mutinied, demanded that he should sur-
render and even threatened to assassinate
him. Macaulay was compelled to capitulate ;
and he did so on the condition (which was
never kept by Haidar) that he should be
sent to Madras. But he was soon despatch-
ed a prisoner to Seringapatam. According
to a contemporary diary (the Journal of
one Sergeant Smith) " they (Haidar's men) did
not leave him a shirt." f That was how
Macaulay failed in his attempt to resist
Haidar's attack on Gingee (November 1780). t

r Wilks: History of South India and Myxore,, Vol.1,
Page 449; The South Arcot Gazetteer, Vol. I," pp. 355-356.

J Major Innes Munro (in his work — A Carrot-ire of
the Military Operations on the Coromandal Coast: London
1789) says that soon after Haidar's decent by the
Changauiah pass, "the forts of Trinomaly, Ohitaputt,
Arne, Gingee, Chillumbrum, Cavare-punk and Carran-
gooly, etc., were all given up according to agreement ?(.)
so that in less than fourteen days he possessed a chain
of our frontier garrisons that completely secured the
safety of all his convoys from the Mysore country." —
(p. 134).

Wilks remarks that " not one native officer entrusted
by Mohammad All with the defence of a fortress, would
be faithful to the general cause, and it became an urgent
consideration to commit them to English officers." To
four important forts were European officers sent, Ensign
Allan to Udayarpalayam, Ensign Macaulay to Gingee,
Liteuenant Parr to Carnaticgadh, and another officer tp

— 531 —

From the close of the Second Mysore
War, Gingee has been free from the ravages
and anarchy of war, but subject to desolation
and decay.

Wandiwash. Allan had to defend the place against its
own poligar ; and Parr had to escape after considerable
hardship and the humiliation of seeing the fort sold by
its killedar to the enemy.

CONCLUSION

Ever since Gingee came under the British
control, it lost its historical importance.
During the height of the Napoleonic scare in
Europe, Mr. Garrow, the Collector of South
Arcoti recommended to the Board of Revenue,
in 1803, the demolition of the Gingee forts, in
view of their proximity to Pondicherry- His
recommendation was not fortunately carried
out.

Even though Gingee is now a small
village and presents a desolate aspect, with its
ruined redoubts, temples and granaries, it
attracts a large number of visitors who
wonder at the ponderous nature of its forti-
fications. The place is well worth a visit even
to-day, as it has got a fascinating interest
for the student of history. We may fittingly
conclude by quoting again the following dis-
heartening reflection on the present state of
Gingee. "It is a melancholy reflection for
the historian, that what was once a scene of
bustling animation and dazzling military
pomp, can boast at present of only a few
humble habitations with a handful of peace-
ful agriculturists. Where once chargers
pranced in martial array, the bullocks drag
the plough-share, goaded by a half -naked

farmer and the spider weaves its web where
rulers once sat in state and administered
the affairs of the realm. But the memory
of one of the brave chieftains of the line is
preserved even to this day in every town and
village of South India. The wandering
minstrel sings to groups of villagers, under
the banyan tree of the heroism of Raja Desing,
of how he loved and fought and fell." #

* C. 8. Srinivd^achari : History of Gintfec (Madras
1912) p. 2!.

INDEX

INDEX
References are to Pages and Foot Notes.

Abdulhai Khan, Mir. Samsam-ul-Mulk, his account

of Nasir Jang's death 494N.
Abdul Hakim Khan, 497.

Abdul Jalil, brother-in-law of Muhammad All, 512,
Abdul Karim Hayat Khan, an officer of Gingee 438.
Abdulla Khan, his Mysore expedition 157.
Abdulla Khan, Khaja, the subhedar of Arcot 460, 461, the

Nazim of the Carnatic 461, his death 461, 462.
Abdulla Khan, the Bijapuri governor of Gingee and his

surrender to Shivaji 221.

Abdul Nabi Khan, his territory plundered 408 & N, his

strife with Sadat Tiyar Khan of Gingee 440.
Abdul Nabi Khan, Nawab of Cuddapah 496, his forces

498N, 510. his brother 511,
Abul Hasan, Sultan of Golkonda, his help to Shivaji

234, and the latter's betrayal 234&N.
Abeille, a French engineer, 489NL
Achyutappa Nayak of Tanjore, 77, 201N, 203.
Achyutaraya of Vijayanagar, his consecration of Govinda-

raju shrine for a second time 79N, 87, his

generals 87, 123N, 126.
Adaipalam 126N.
Adil Shah, Sultan of Madura 57.
Adil Shah of Bijapur 174, 191N, his government 211.

capture of 212.

Aditya Chola I, mentioned 27.
Adondai Chakravarti, the Chola 37, overthrew the Kurum-

bas 39, 64.

68

— 538 —

Adoni 358N, 469.

Afghan chiefs, 496, Nawabs 498.

Africa, TON,

Afzal Khan, the Bijapur general, 168, 183.

Agaram tank 85N. Agaram village 100 identified with

Krishnapuram 100, 203.
Agastiyaf The Sage, 58, 59.
Agra, the Mughal court at 179, Shivaji's visit to 256,

367, escape of the Mughal Prince from 446.

Ahmad Shah, Emperor, 489N1.

Ajit Naire, 298.

Akalkot, Jaghir of 442N.

Akilandeswari shrine at Jambai, 89.

Akkanna, his presents to Shivaji, 213, 234N.

Alaf Kuan Panni, his son killed, 460.

Alamgir, the Padshah 410N.

Alamparva fort, surrender of 521.

Alampundi grant of Viriipaksha 51 to 53, its importance

54, 55, 71, 72, 82.

Alau'd-din Sjkandar Shah of Madura, 57.
Allan, Ensign 530N.
Ali Dost Khan, Nawab. 450, 451, his justice 452, his death

456, 460.

Ali Mardan Khan, the faujdar of Conjeevaram 294,
attacked and captured 298, 299, his release
299, 305, 306, 310, 325N2.

Ali Naqi, son of the killedar of Wandiwash, 486.

Ali Qadir, brother-in-law of Ali Mardan Khan, 299.

Allahabad, 78.

Allanganattam. 385.

Alup Singh, Desing's nephew, his son performed the

obsequies of Desing 410N, 433.
Amanulla Khan, his forces 498N.

— 539 —

Ambika Bai, wife of Harji Raja, 252.

and Shivaji's daughter 238, 263, & 264.
Ainboji Pant, his grant to the English, 243.
Ambur, 449N. battle of 468, 485.
Amir Jahan, 337N, 343, his letter, 344, 346.
Amir Khan, appointed to the Bijapuri Carnatic, 358N.
Amir-ul-Umara, Nawab, 335.
Ammakulam, tanks in Gingee and Vriddhachalam, built

by Mangammal of Gingee, 88N.
Amrit Rao (Ameert Rao) 329NL
Anaikulam Tank 8.

Anandagiri, original name of Rajagiri 2, 85N", new name
of Kamalagiri 31.

Ananda Kon, chief of Gingee 28&N, his relations with
Gingee 31, his victories 31, 33N1, his race
68, called a Dhangar 83N.

Ananda Ranga Pillai, Wasarat Vijaya. Dupleix's dubash
465, 466, honours conferred by Muzaffar
Jang 469, his Diary 473, referred to 489N1,
500.

Ananta, legendary serpent 12.

Ananta Das, Raja, at Fort St. David, 468.

Anantarya, author of Prapannamrtan^ 61.

Anegundi, 41, Krishna Raya of 83N, 358N.

Anglo-French wars 358N.

Anka Bhupaia, Kalahasti chief, 93, 131N.

Anka Damarla, author of Ushaparinai/am 94.

Annaji Pant, Shivaji's minister, 227, 230N, 234N.

Annamalai Chettiar, Raja Sir. his renovation of the

Govindaraja Shrine 123N,
Antwerp, 12 Years' Truce of, 119.

Anwaru-d-dm Khan, his conducts toward the Madura
Prince 454N, his machinations 462, appointed

— 540 —

faujdar of the Carnatic 462, 463, suspected

464, his return to Arcot 465, and troubles

465, his treatment of the foreigners 466, his
march towards the south 466, his return
to oppose Muzaffar Jang 468, his deatli
in the battle of Ambur 468.

Anwaru-d-din Khan Muhammad Ali, his forces, 498N.

Appa Naik of Gingee, 83, 91, 151.

Appayya Dikshita, his patron, 103, 126>J.

Appayya Nayak, 150.

Aquaviva, Rev. Fr. Claudius, referred to 95N.

Arabs, The, attacked the English 242, fight with 421N.

Arasama Nayak, Velayudha, his claim of territory from

the English 325N2.
Arasama Nayak, identified with Yachama Nayak 319,

320.
Aravidu family, 123N, growth of religious controversy

126N, 138.

Arcot, as head-quarters of the Curnatic in 1716, 21, its
Commissioner 28N, 30, taluk 51, district
83N, defence of 328, 337N, 348, 358&N.
arrival of harkars from the Padshah 410N,
Mughal headquarters at 437, 438&N,Mughal
prince at 446, subah of 447N, 449N, 450,
Chanda Sahib's return to 452N, 456, plunder
of 456, Arcot Gate of Gingee 520.

Arcot, Nawabs of 812, conquest of 250, 360, subah of
360N, 365, 368, 417, 421, Nawab's desire
to dispossess Desing 422, 423, 424, his attack
on Gingee 425, his army 427, his desire of
conquest 432, 433, 435,439, Chanda Sahib's
plan to become the Nawab of 454, 455,
Safdar Ali as the Nawab 457, 458&N, 459,
460, 461, 463&N, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469,
471, 473, 474, 475, ordered to be captured by
Dupleix 476, 482. Nawab of 485, 493,

— 541 —

494&N, 500, 502, 503, 513N, siege of 515,
516, English capure of 521, 522.

Ariancopang, blown up 522, 523.
Armagaon, 109N, 147N.

Armenian merchants, 299, sent to the Mughal court
325N2.

Annittu Filial 374N.

Arni, 58, Raja's army fled to 179, Maratha defeat at 328,
Sadatullah Khan's arrival at 410N, 425,
449N, 530N.

Arulala Perumal Temple of Kanchi, 128.

Arungor of Du Jarric 100.

Aryavarta, The, 78.

Asadulla Khan, Mir. killedar of Chetpat, 457,

Asad Khan in the south 247, 248, father of Zulfikar
Khan 286, 292, sent to Gingee 292, 293&N2,
met Prince Kam Bhaksh 293N2, 295, 301,
302, 304, 307, 309, his peace terms to Raja
Ram 309, 310, 311, fined by the Emperor
311, restored to Emperor's favour 312, 317,
320N, 325N2, his son 351, 430.

Asaf Jah, Nizamu'1-Mulk, his'independance 440, his part
in winning the Mahratta leaders 441, his
with-holding of chnnth 441, his winning over
of Sambhaji and treaty of Shevgaon 441, his
plans 442N, his enmity to Shahu 442N,
and hostility 443, his march to the south 443,
444, granted concessions to the Carnatic
Nawab 445, his return 445, his settlement
of the Carnatic revenues 445N, conferred
honour upon Sadatullah Khan 446, his rati-
fication of Sadatullah Khan's appointment
447, his order on the English construction
of a fort at Madras 447, 457, 459. inarch into
the Carnatic and settlement of the affairs

— 542 —

at 460, 461, left Arcot 461, 462&N, his con-
firmation of the faujdari of the Carnatic on
Anwaru-d-din 462-3, 464, his death 466.

Asia, 67N.

Askar Ali Khan, the Golkonda governor 288.

Askar Khan, Nawab of the Carnatic 325N2.

Asuppur fortress 34, Asappur 356, 357.

Asuras, The. 7, 59.

Attock, 254N.

Aurangabad 356, 357, Nizam's capital changed from 442N.
489N1.

Aurangzib Viceroy of Deccan, his help sought by Sri-
ranga III, 175, 176, 191N, Shivaji's fear of
225, siege of Golkonda 246, 247, 248, his
hatred of Sambhaji 251, attacked him 255,
appointed Zulfikar Khan to conquer the
South 272N1, 286, 288, his son 292, 293, his
rumoured death 301, 302, 303N2, 309, 311,
312, 313N, 317, 320&N, 329, his order of
the siege of Gingee 330N, his reinforce-
ments 332, 334, 341, his appointments 353,
grant of Gingee to Sarup Singh 354, 360,
361, 364, appointment of Sadatullah Khan
365&N, 366, his death 367, his farman to
Desing's father 422, 423, 435, his times
referred to 438N, 481N1.

Avalkondai, killa of 449N.
Avesta, The. its discovery of 70N.
Avur, 51.

Aya, The Great : of Gingee his influence 114, 115, his
assurance to the Dutch 115, blamed by the
Dutch 116, Dutch negotiations with him 117.
Tiere Wangaleya, governor of Tondai-
mandalam, 117 to 119.

Ayyankulam, tank 129.

— 543 —

' •

Ayyappa, Damarla. his rule, 94.

Azam, Prince : 2nd son of Aurangzib, posted to Cuddapah
311-

Aziz Khan, 314.

B

Babaji, the Bhonsle free-hooter 266.

Babuji Nayak, 455.

Bade Sahib, brother of Chanda Sahib, 452. 456.

Badshfibad, Bijapuri name for Gingee, 23.

Bahadur Shah, troubled on all sides 367.

Bahlol Khan, Rustam-i-Zaman, the Bijapur general 180,
his friendship with Shivaji 211, his capture
of the Adil Shah 212, 215N, 218N 233.

Bahmani Sultans 181N.
Bahur, battle of 520.
Bailpur, see Villupuram, 494N1.

Biiji Rao Peshwa, in the South, 441, 443, his death 457.
Balachetti chatram 489N1.

Balaghat, Bijapur Karnatak 169.

Baliah Sri. a member of the Madras Provincial Service 7.

Ballala III (See Vallalaraya) 44, his death 44, his defeat
at Kannanur 45, his death 46, founded
Virupakshapattana and planted a pillar of
victory 46, his door-keeper Kampana 57.

Ballala IV «//a* Vira Virupaksha Ballala 42, or
Hampaya Wodayar 42, 45, sister married
to Vallappar 45&N, his fight 45, 47.

Ballal Chitnis, Khando, son of Shivaji's private secretary

253, 254.
Bandipalayam, 386, scuffle between the English and

Sarup Singh's men at 400.

— 544 —

Bangalore, Mussalman capture of 156, chief of 168, 169,
246, 247, taken by the Mughals 247, Raja
Ram arrived at 257, fugitives at 258N1, fall
of 261, 358N, Maratha outpost 442N.

Banganapalle, 511.

Banjaras, the caravans of : 313.

Bankapur, 358N See also Savanur.

Bantam. 177N,

Baqir Ali Khan, killedar of Vellore and son of Ghulam
Ali Khan, chosen as the Nawab of Arcot
438N, 450, 452.

Baramahal, The, under Mysore, 155, 171, conquest of
522.

Barbosa, referred to, 194, 196, 200N.

Baroda, 191 N.

Baron, Monsienr, 218N.

Barradas, Manuel referred to, 133, 137, Provincial of
Malabar 138, 141, his account of the murder
of Ranga 141N, 142 to 145.

Harwell, Mr. Charles, 270, 279.

Basalat Jang, 487N1, accompanied Nasir Jang 508.

Basatin-i-Sal<Uin9 referred to, 183, 184, 191 & N.

Basavapattanam, 155, 168.

Bassu, mother of Daud Khan, 360N.

Bassur, The Dutch Factory at, 421N.

Batavia, 178.

Bavanashi. The, 213.

Bavdekar, Ramachandra Nilakanta (Pant Amatya) 253.

Bednore (Bednoor) 257, 258N2. Rani of 258N2, 358N,
Desing's arrival at 410N, Raja troubled by
the Marathas 410N, 421, an account of
421N, 422, tributes exacted by the Marathas
441, 445N.

Belgaum, Maratha outpost 442N.

— 545 —

Bellary district 41, 358N, Mahratta outpost, in 442N.

Bengal, The Royal Asiatic Society of. 67N, TON, Bay of

108, 325N2, 431.
Bentinck, Lord William. Governor of Madras, 15, 28N,

31, 68,

Benyon Mr. 401, 403.

Berar, jaghir offered to the Marathas 441.
Bernier, TON.

Bhairava Nayaka, brother of Surappa Nayaka, 90.
Bhawani, Goddess 254&N.
Bhalleraj or spear-rule, 266.

Bhimsen, 18th cent, anaalist referred to 3, his account
Of the siege of Gingee 305, 310, 311, 321,
229, 331, his date for the fall of Gingee 343,
344, 346.

Bhonsla line in Tanjore, 442N.

Bhuloka Devendran, a Chola chief 27.

Bhupatiraya Udayar of Wandiwash, 41.

Bhuvanagiri, capture of, 146.

Bider Bakht. Prince, 328.

Bidnoor (Bednore) 230N.

Bijapur, governors of Gingee 16N, 23, Nayaks' associa-
tion with 82N, 153N, invasion of 155, Sultan
of and his peace with the Mughals 155, first
Mysore invasion and treaty 156, subsequent
Mysore invasions 15T, 159, alliance sought
by Golkonda 164, attack on Sriranga 164,
Bijapur troops take Gingee 165, war with
Golkonda 165, 166, 16T, forces 169, 1TO,
alliance with Shaji 170, army's success 171,
1T2, alliance sought by Madura 173, con-
quest of Gingee 173-4, Sriranga's peace with
175, help to Mir Jumla recalled 176, Raya's
attempt at alliance with 179, its help to the

69

— 546 —

Raya in overthrowing Golkonda 180, final
occupation of Gingee 180, its success in
Gingee 180, attack on Tanjore 180, its
victorious return 181, its possessions in the
Carnatic 181N, its siege of Gingee 183, its
plunder of Gingee 184, rulers of 185, army's
plunder of the south and return to capital
186, date of the conquest of Gingee 186, its
hold on Gingee 188, 190, revenues due from
the south 191, 208, fortifications made at
206, factions in the court 210. Shivaji's
plunder of 211, Shivaji's offer to 213, 215N,
217, 218N, 225, 226, Shivaji's expedition to
227, 229, 230, court factions 232, 234N, fall
of 245, 251, fall of 260, Raja Ram's attempt
to retake it 264, 320N, conquest of 325N2,
Adil Shahis of 358N, subhadar of 460, com-
mander of 481N1.

Bishun Gingee (Vishnu Gingee) 13, 14, identified with
Singavaram 14.

Bitter, Jacob de, 112, 113, 117.

Black Town, The Old 361N, repairs done to 447N, 458N.

Boddam, Charles, 503-

Bombay Presidency, 130 222, 230N, 242, 325N2, 524.

Bomma Raja, 63, 410N.

Bomma Reddi of Kalahasti 73.

Bordeaux 70N.

Bourgonjie, Pieter Gerritsz, at Tegnapatam 113 to 115,
116, 117, his contract with the Aya 117.

Brahmans in the court of Gingee 99.

Branfill, Col. referred to, 5, 15.

Brazil, 70N.

Brenier, French commander at Gingee 479N.

Brown, C.P., his Collection 67N.

— 547 —

Brown, Dr. Samuel, his journey to Gingee to get a farman
325N2.

Bukkaraja I, 48, 51, 52, 55, 71.

Bundelas The. their part in the siege of Gingee 336&N,
308, followers 316, 333, 410N.

Bundelkhand, Raja of 354, 410N. 420, 421, 422.

Burhan ibn Hasan or Burhanu'd-din, his account of
Daud Khan 363&N, referred to 452, 481.

Bussy, Dupleix's order to 471N, 476&N, his attack on
Gingee 477, 479N, his success in capturing
Gingee 479N, his advance on Gingee, 481N1
his march referred to 483N1, accompanied
Muzaffar Jang to the Deccan 513N, his
march 513N.

Caesar, his success in Spain recalled 222.

Calcutta, 67N, 447, 489N1.

Calicut 70N, Zamorin of 108.

Canara coast of 421N".

Canarins, The. (and the Korumbins) 38.

Carnatic, the (Karnataka) Sivaji's expedition into the 16N,
Carnatic wars 20N, 32, Krishnaraya's ex-
pedition into 73, revenues from 74&N,
sources for its history 75N, 81, date of
Krishnaraya's expedition 81, 82, emperor of
106N, events of 147N, country 166, 171
ruler of 174, Mir Jumla's conquests in 177,
180, Golkonda supremacy over 181N", 185,
Sivaji's expedition into 188, its revenue
190, inscriptions 196, Haidar's expedition
into 202, its faujdar 206, 207, coast of 210,
expedition 211, Sivaji's expedition into
214, 215N, 217, 218, captations in 222,
Sivaji's possessions in 223, his short

— 548 —

stay in 224, its originator 226, plan for a
Hindu Raj in 228, 229, 230, 232, affairs in
233, 234&N, 237, 238N, Sambhaji sent his
garrisons to 245, 247, 248, 254, 257, Maratha
array in 261, The Mughals in 286, 287,
292, 315, Hyderabadi-Carnatic 320N, Nawab
of 325N2, 332, 336, faujdar of 338, 348, 351,
352, 353, faujdar of 356, first Nawab of 358,
divisions of 358N, Payenghat ; its boundaries
358N, Hyderabadi-Carnatic its extent 358N,
Bijapur Carnatic 358N, 360&N, Karnatak-
ghad 365N, 366, Nawab of 368, account of
410N, faujdar of 424, administration of 434,
Nawab of 438N, 440 chauth from 441,
Maratha affairs in 442N, Muhammadan
sway established in 442N, tribute from
443, faujdar of 444, 445N, killas of 447,
Payenghat region of the Carnatic 449&N,
Maratha advance upon 455, Nabobs of 458N,
459, 460, revenues of 461, 462, 465, 467,
Amir of 469, 471N, 475, 477, 484, 485, 487N1,
521, 524, 529, 530&N1.

Carrangooly (Karunguzhi) 530N.

Castenheda, referred to 194.

Cateck, appointment of the Nawab of, 350.

Catuir of Nuniz, identified with Chittoor 74N.

Cauvery, The, 232.

Ceylon, 163.

Chakkilidrug called Chamar Tikri, 3, 12, 14, fortification
of 88N, 330, 449N.

Chakrakulam tank, 8, 10, 11, 290, 433.

Chakraperumal temple 88N, 410N.

Chakrapuri, Sivaji's camp at, 215.

Chakravati, The, 215, 494N, 495, 498, 499, 513N.

Chalchiram, treasurer 356.

Chalukyas, The. 39.

— 549 —

Champaraya 50, see also Sambuvaraya.
Chamaraja Udayar, grandson of Raja Udayar. his con-
quest of Chennapatna 155.

-Chamber, Mr. 178.

Chanda Sahib, his release from the Maratha prison
421N", son-in-law of Dost AH 452, his expedi-
tion 452, his rise to prominence 452N, his
plans 454, 455, 456, a Maratha prisoner 456,
also called Hussain Dost Khan 467. his son
468, his victory along with Muzaffar Jang
468-9, his march upon Tanjore 469, his
retreat 470, promised Trichinopoly 471&N,
his troops 473, 474, his ravages 475, 485,
French help to 493, (Chanda Sahib) 502, 510,
511.

Chandragiri 48, 87N, Mission house at 90N, 123N, change
of capital 153N, 166, 175, 449N.

Chandranagore, 320N, 489N1.

Chandra Sen Jadhav, Shahu's enemy 442N.

Chandry or Chindy, Maratha name of Gingee 23.

Chandrayandrug, the southern fortification of Gingee 3,
12, 14, 15, Senda Rayan fort 85N, temple
built by Muthialu Nayakkan 88N, 296, 330,
333, attacked 335, 438, 478, 479N. 520.

Chennayya, deprived of his fief 155, appointed commis-
sioner by Bijapur 156.

Charles II, King of England, his grant to the East
India Co. 281N1.

Chauth 265, 457.
Chekku, Mia of 449N.
Chenam Nayak of Gingee, 83&N.

Chengama Pass, 336, Nasir Jang's arrival at 470, 530&N.
Chengam Fort, 323.

Chenna, cousin of Yachama Nayak 106N, 141, general
of the loyalists 142.

— 550 —

Chennapattana 153N", 155, taken by Kantirava Narasa
157, viceroyalty of 167, 258N2.

Chennappattanara, see Madras.

Chennasagaram, tank built by the Kalahasti chief 94,
107.

Chera, The. 62N, 73.

Chetput (Settupattu), edifices built by Ramachandra
Nayak of Gingee 88N, plunder of 262,
Maratha camp at 262, Sadatullah Khan's
arrival at 410N, 425, 449N, 457, killedar of
470, 481N1, 489N1, 494, 502, capture of 521,
Chitapet 530N.

Chettikulam 8, 11, 25N, see also Rama Setti 433, 434,
438.

Chidambaram 79&N, Pimenta's arrival at 96, 100, 103N,
120, temple dispute 120, 121, under Vijaya-
nagar rule 122, 123&N, 126&N, Venkata's
gifts to Saiva mendicants at 126N, 146, 204,
207, near 316, seizure of 348, Daud Khan at
371N, 449N, French ravages near 475, 511,
capture of 521, 530N.

Chikkadevaraja 130.

Chikkaraya alias Sriranga, chosen as successor by
Venkata I 98N.

Child, Sir John 230N, General of India 325N2.
Chimnaji Appa, the Peishwa's brother 455, his death 457.
China, 70N.

Chingleput 34N, Raja of 63, district 129, 134N, 149,
conquest of 178, 181N, under the Mughals
261, 449N, 469, 481.

Chinna Bomma Nayaka of Vellore 103, 126N, 131N.
Chinnana, See Mallaiya.

Chinnia Chetti, builder of Fort St. David 269, 275.
Chinna Oba Raya, younger brother of Jaggaraya 141.

— 551 —

Chintadripet, grant of privileges to tfce English for

minting rupees 458N.
Chiryar, The. 493.
Chitaldrug 166, 358N, first Maratha expedition called

after 442N.
Chitnis, Khande Ballal 258N1&2, his date for the fall of

Gingce 343.

Chittoor, chief of 73, 74N, 172, District 313N, 449N".
Chokkanatha Nayak of Madura 187, 188.
Chokkanatha. Vijayaranga of Madura 440, his widow

452N.
Cholas, The. of the Vijayalaya line and disruption of

the empire 27, 39, conquest of 52, 62N, 72,

73, Tanjore victory over 76. 77, chief

referred to 122, 123, state interference in

social matters 198.
Cholamandalam, chiefs of 73.
Chola Naik, a poligar and a friend of the English 387,

his plunder 388.

Olive, Lord, referred to 489N1, his burning of Dupleix
Fathabad 489N1, 493, his destruction of the
French monument 500, ,501, his movements
502 to 504, his march 513N, 515.

Coart. Sen Joan, Dutch chief 281N1.
Cochin. 70N, 138N.
Coimbatore 40. district 51.
Coimbra 70N.

Coleroon, The. 65, 74, 76, 81, chief of 100, 102, 103N,
358N, 470.

Collett, Governor of Madras 447N.
Cologne, 70N.

Commons. The House of 67N.
Comorin. Cape 67, 358N.
Conans, Governor 371N.

— 552 —

Conjeevaram 25N, 37, Little Conjeevaram 51, conquest
of 178, Ruler of 248, 249, 250, 252, 261,
Maratha success at 262, and retirement
from 262, 289, 293N2, attack of 298, 299,
300, 305, 306 to 308, 310, 311, 320N, 466, 481,
489N1.

Coorg. 39.

Coote, Sir Eyre, his capture of Pondicherry 31N2, 520.
his success 521 to 524.

Cope, Captain 468, his help to Muhammad Ali 473,
ordered to join Muzaffar Jang 473, joined
Muhammad Ali 475, 512.

Coromandel Coast 112, arrival of the Dutch fleet on 117,
236, 325N2, 361N, 469, 489N.

Coronatham 397, granted to the English 402.

Courtney Capt, 388.

Coutinho, Fr. Melchior, of Vellore 98N, referred to 105,
quoted 106, 107, 130.

Coven Naig, Subhedar, 522.

Coventry Capt. 374, 391&N, his death 392, 395.

Cuddalore 27, 34N, 108, Old Town 165, 192, 237, 240,
factory granted to the English 241, 242, 243,
- 249, 250, 251, 271, called Estambed 272N,
278, 281N1, 294, 314, 315, 325N2, assault on
337N, 347, 348 to 350, mint 355, 357, 370,
372, 374&N5 379, 380, 386, 387, 397, 400, 432t
the English at 476, English occupation of
521, English army 524.

Cuddapah District 183, ruler of Cuddapah and Kurnool
submitted to Shivaji 213, 248, 289, 291,
293N2, faujdar of 294, 300, 302, 310, 311,
320N, Sambhaji's march to 328, formation of
the Nawabship of 358N, Nawab of and his
dicontent, 471N, 497, 498N, Nawab of 505,
510, 511, 512.
Cumbum 358N, 511.

553 —

Dakhin Roy also Dakkana Roy, Dewan of Sadatullah
Khan 365N, 366, 367, 443.

Dalavai Agraharam Plates, referred to 129.

Dalpat Rao. 293N2, general of Zulfikar Khan 301, in
charge of Kam Baksh's camp 302, 305, his
bravery 306&N, 308, 309, his victory 316,
322, 323, 333, 334, agent 343.

Dakkanatha, a sanyasi— and his murder 451-2.

Damalcheruvu Pass, 214, 456.

Damarla Aiyappa, 167, 172.

Damarla, Chenna of Kalahasti and the dalavai of
Venkata I, sent to Vellore 131N, his victory
over Lingama Nayaka 131N.

Damarla Vengala Bhupala, author of Bahulfisvacharitam,
referred to 134N.

Damarla Venkatadri or Venkatappa of the Dutch
Records and chief of Pulicat 157, his help to
Venkatapati 157-8, his grant of Madras to
the English 158, his opposition to Venkata-
pati IPs successor 158, his imprisonment
by Sriranga III 158, 161, superseded by
Mallayya 162, 164, 172.

Danaji Jadhav, his appointment as senapati 325N1, 328,

329, his quarrel with Sambhaji 329&N.
Danes, The. 361N.

Dera Gunta (tent-pit) 319.
Dharwar. 445N.

Daud Khan Panni, Nawab : his plan to change the
headquarters from Gingee to Arcot 21, 323,

330, 331, 332, 333, 335, appointed faujdar of
the Carnatic 338, his brother 348, appointed
to the Carnatic 349, his exhortation 349, 352,

356, 357, his capital 358, appointed Deputy
Subhedar of the Deccan 360, his life 360&N,

70

— 554 —

death 360&N, 361, his capital 361N, his
attitude towards the English 361N, visited
Madras 361N, his grants to the English
361N, 365, his retirement 367, his amaldars
371N, his attitude towards the English 372,
mentioned 410N, referred to 438N, his grant
to the English 447N.

Daulat Khan, sent against Desing 410N, his death 428.

D'Auteuil, French commander 471N, his hasty retreat
471N, Dupleix's order to 476&N, his help to
Bussy 478, at Gingee 478, his account of
the capture of Gingee 479N, 481N1.

Devagadh, killa of 449N".

Devula Papa, defeat of 106N.

Deucan, Mughal advance in 175, 176. 181, Mughal victory
211, western 257, Mughal operations in 331,
332, deputy Subhedar of 360, Mughal
government 366, 440, chattth with held from
441, 443, politics of 462, subhedar of 471N,
509, 513N.

Delhi, Emperor of 15, 251, 301, 369, 420, a letter referred
to 430, 443, 447N, his conferment of distinc-
tion referred to 450N, 467, 481N1.

Desing, Raja of Gingee 8, 9, his bathing platform 9, his
tutelary God 12, his fight with Sadatullah
Khan referred to 12, 351 to 353, his ballad
and his father 369, his achievement at Delhi
369, 382N, son of Sarup Singh : his rule
410&N, his arrival at Bednore 410N, pro-
mised to help the Raja 410N, attacked the
Marathas and got a lakh of rupees and a
horse 410N, his arrival at Gingee 410Nt
assumption of power, and attacked by the
Nawab's forces 410N, his fight and death
410N. .his wife committed sati 410N, his
gallantry 417, also Jaya Singh or Tej
Singh or Tajab Singh or Taggy Singh 417N1

— 555 —

418, ballad's account of him 419, 420, his
help to Bednur recalled 421, at Gingee 422,
causes for the struggle with Sadatullah
Khan 423, 424, 425, his indignation towards
the Nawab's officials 425, joined by the
killedar of Valudavur 426, his army 426
his determination to fight 427, the fight 428,
shot at 428, date of the battle 429, 430, his
wife committed sati 423, his cremation at
Gingee 433, Nawab's regard for him 433; an
estimate of his rule 435.

Desur 306, fort 307, battle of 308, Maratha victory at
320N, 352, 437N1, 489N1, 494, 507, 508, 512.

Devagiri, The Yadavas of 199.

Devanampatnam, see also Te^napatam :-Raja Ram to sell

it 267, 268, 272N1, 279, 280, 281N1, 285, 349,

370.

Devanur, 27, 31, 207, 426.

Devaraja II, 54.

Devas, The 7.

Dhabade, Khande Rao, the conqueror of Gujarat 253, 254.

Dhanaji Jadhav, 253, 254, his success at Phaltan 255,
257, his help to Raja Ram 297, 298, his
success 300, 301, 308, 315, in the south 324,
325.

Dharmaraja temple at Gingee 88N.

Dindigul 452N, 456.

Divakara Nayaka, brother of Surappa Nayaka 90.

Divi Varu, Brahman householders 318.

Divukottah (or Devikotta) at the mouth of the Coleroon
76, the ruler of 102.

Doddacharya, or Mahacharya of Sholinghur 79N, 123N,
126N, reconsecrated the Govindaraja shrine
at Chidambaram 126N.

— 556 —

Dorasamudra 43.

Dowson, John and H. M. Elliot, quoted 338.
Draupadi Amman temple at Gingee 88N.
Duarte, Adrian, his account 234N.
Dubino, Fr. Antony 98N.

Dubreuil, Prof. Jouveau, referred to 489N1, 494N, 500,
509, 513.

Dupleix, his statue 7, and 520N, on the treatment of
prisoners of war 20N, his d abash 465, 468.
469, his plans 471N", his orders to Bussy 476,
his scheme for the capture of Gingee
476&N, 477, 499N, his appreciation of Bussy's
capture of Gingee 469N, his terms to Nasir
Jang 485, 439, Dupleix Fathabad 489N1.

Dutch, The. Their relation \vith Krishnappa Nayaka
of Gingee 107, arrival in India 108, alliance
with the Zamorin 108, their penetration
into the Bay of Bengal 108, permission to
build a fort on the Coromandel Coast 108,
construction of the fort at Tegnapatam
109&N, 110, Venkata opposed to them 110,
asked to deliver the fort to the Portuguese
111, disappointment 112, secured a cowle
from the Nayak of Gingee for their factory
at Tegnapatam and allowed to lodge in the
castle of Tiruppapuliyur 114, allowed to
trade with neighbouring towns, 115, friendly
attitude towards the king of Kandy 116,
help sought by Tanjore and Jaffnapatam
117, their request to Tanjore for founding a
factory 117, conclusion of the trade contract
with Aya 118, got permission of the Raya to
trade with Pulicat 119, 147N, their trade and
internal relations 162-3, joined Sriranga III
163, 164, Sriranga's request for help 179,
peace with Golkonda 180, their arrival at

— 557 —

Gingoe 192, at Pulicat 207, fear of 208.
attempt to capture Pondicherry 275, 276,
their hold on Manjakkuppam 279, their
attitude towards the English 280, 281&N1,
attempt to retake Manjakuppara 285, their
help to the Mughals 290, capture of Pondi-
cherry 320N, 361N, 371N.

£

East India Company, The English, 270, 272N1, 281N1, &

528.
East India Company, The French 210, 218N7,

Edwardes, Mr. S. M., referred to 83, his chronology of the
Gingee Nayaks from a ms. 83, description
of the ms. and discrepancies therein 83N.

Egmore, grant of 325N2, 349, scare at 361N, 447N.

Elangadu forest 88N, 485.

Elavanasur 449N.

Elliot, Sir H. M. quoted 338.

Ellore, the faujdar of 462.

Elwick, Governor of Madras 447N.

Empson, Mr. sent with presents to the Nawab 346.

England, 67N, 209, despatches from 244, Gregorian
Calendar accepted in 346¥, despatches to
354, letter to 369, 370, 372, 380, 384, 397,
despatches to 404, 405, 407, 417N1, 418, 419,
423N, 430N3, 431N3, 434, 435N.

Krishnagiri is known as the English-Mountain 3,
11, capture of Gingee from the French
referred to 20, treatment of prisoners of
war 20N, got Madras 158, 161, renewed
their grant for it from Mir Jumla 164,
settlement at Fort St. George 207, attempt
to found a factory in Gingee 207 -9, and the
Marathas 220-1, 230N, 240, their negotiations

— 558 —

240-1, their failure 241, their appeal to Surat
242, got privileges from Sambhaji 242, forti-
fication of their factories 248, 251, their
factory at Porto Novo closed 263, an account
of their purchase of Fort St. David 267-9,
270, 271, their help to the Mughals 272N1,
negotiations for acquiring settlements in
Gingee 274-85, attempt to found a factory at
Cuddalore 276-7, 279, its limits— Gundu-
gramam 279, 280, took possession of
Manjakkuppam 285, help sought by the
Maratb as 287, and by the Mughals 289, 290,
their presents to Kam Baksh 293, attempt to
concilate the Mughals 349, their demand for
Cuddalore and Tegnapatam 349-50, right to
coinage 355, Daud Khan's attitude towards
them 361N, their presents to Daud Khan
361N, relations with Sarup Singh 368-374,
378 9, purchase of Fort St. David referred
to 370, their help to Zulfikar Khan 374, their
fighting at Fort St. David 374, growth of
their acquisitions 374N, 377, causes for their
war with Sarup Singh 381, bad treatment
of the English captives at Gingee 382, 383,
attempt to secure the release of their
prisoners by paying ransom 383, attempt to
secure peace 392, their letter of complaint
against Sarup Singh to Zulfikar Khan
394&N, consideration of Sarup Singh's peace
terms 397-8, agreement to pay ransom 400,
outbreak of troubles 400, peace 401,
terms of peace 402, release of English pri-
soners 402, causes for their treaty 404,
305&N, 407, quarrel with Sarup Singh
referred to 426, their letter of congratulation
to the Nawab 431, and subsequent present
of money 432, their embassy to the Nawab
447N, records 458N, their attempts to secure

— 559 —

privileges from the Nizam 461, their troops

joined Muhammad Ali 473, their capture

of Gingee 520 and 524-9.
Ekoji (Vyankaji)Bhonsle at Tanjore 226, 227, his help to

Raja Ram 287, his submission to Zulfikar

Khan 351.

Ennayiram, Inscription at 200.
Ennore, 361N.
Ensign Ray, capture of 373.
Ernavore, granted to the English 458N".

Europe 67N, European nations prohibited from trading
with the natives 118, their settlements on
the coast 207, European factories 288,
European soldiers tempted by the Mughals
289, settlements on the coast 361N, 374N.

Evora, 70N.

Eyil, 50.

F

Fakruddin Mubarak Shah, Sultan of Madura 57.

Farmer, Mr. 380, 390, 396, 397.

Farrukh Slyar, Emperor 360, his succession 361, 367,
368, his order for the recovery of dues 410N,
invited Terani Singh to tame his horse
419, 423, his grant to the English 447JST.

Fasli year, an account of 33N1.

Fateh Darwaja, gate of Gingee 336.

Fatehpet, place where Desing fell 433, 437,513N.

Fateh Singh Bhonsle, sent to the south by Shahu, 440,
441, his second expedition into the s£5fch
also a failure 442, granted the jaghir of
Akalkot 442N, 455, 456, 457.

Fauchaux, M. referred to 489N1.

Ferroli, D. referred to 70N.

— 560 —

Figueroa, Suarez De, mentioned 109N.
Floyer, Governor, Nasir Jang's request for help to 473r
475.

Fontaine, Abraham 118.
Forrest Sir G. 489N1.

Fort, St. David 108, 167, bought by the English 270,
named after the Welsh Saint 272, starting of
mint at 272, 279, 385, fortification 386&N,
387, 389, taken possession of 390, fight with
Gingee 391, 392, 393, 394N1, projects of
peace 395, peace terms submitted to the
Council of Fort St. George 395, 397, 398, 400,
quarrel with Sarup Singh 419.

Fort, St. George, grant of 158, Governors of 179, founda-
tion of 207, 208, 209, records of 217, 218, the
English and Shivaji 220, 221, 222, 238, 243,
genesis of the first settlement of 325N2,
Letters of 333, 336, 337, 338, 344, 347, 349, 350,
352, 355, 357, 369, 370, 372, 378, 380, Council
considered unreasonable the demand of
Sarup Singh 398, 399, 404, 406.

Fraser, Mr. William, Chief of Fort, St. David 371, his
agreement Louis (Pondicherry) 371&N, 407.
523.

Freeman, Robert, the English envoy at Gingee 241, 242,
his proposal to settle an English factory 277.

Freire, Fr. Andre, referred to 16, 186, 223, 225.

French, The, their occupation of the Gingee fort and
the erection of batteries 6, their removal of
•the monolithic columns from Gingee and
their erection of Dupleix's statue at Pondi-
cherry 7, fortification of Gingee 18, 520fflN,
their batteries 18, their Royal Battery 19,
attempts to found a factory on the coast
210, help of Sher Khan 233, got privileges
from Harji Raja 251, agent received at

— 561 —

Gingee 262, Zulfikar Khan's order to 294,
their friendly attitude towards the Marathas
294, at Pondicherry 431, their attempts to
secure privileges from the Nizam 461, their
war with the English 466, their victory over
Muhammad Ali 473, factions among the
officers of 471N, and Chanda Sahib ; their
withdawal from Chidambaram 475, their
expedition against Nasir Jang 476, capture
of Gingee 478-9, and account of their capture
479N, 481&N1, 482, attack on Nasir Jang's
camp 405, et seq. their alliance with Haidar
530, 531.

Gadag, battle of 213, tribute exacted irom 441.

Gadilam, The, 34N, 104, 115N, 471N.

Galgala, Imperial court at 311.

Gailand M., 479N.

Gandaraguli Maraiya Nayak 49.

Gandikota, seige of 106N,

Gangadevi, wife of Kamparaya 48, 58.

Gangamma Nayak 83&N.

Ganges, The, 193

Gar row Mr. : 531.

Garstin Mr., referred to 9, 15, 24, 391N.

Gary, Henry 222, 242,, his mission to Sambhaji 242.

Gazanfar Khan 337, appointed killedar of Gingee 347,

348. "

Ghazanfar Ali Khan 487N1, 506, 508.
Geldria, fort at Pulicat 119, proposed
Germain, Mon. St, 251.
Ghatge, Sarji Rao, chief of Panhal

Mughals : sought ser
Ghaziu'd-din Khan, killedar of Ginge

— 562 —

Ghaziu'd-din Khan, brother of Nasir Jang, 467.
Ghorepade, Baji, father of Maloji 212.
Ghorepade. Maloji Raji, 212.

Ghorepade, Murari Rao 058N, power established in
Gooty 442N, turned out of the south 460.

Ghorepade, Santaji, sent to the south 245, 246, 253, 254,
his attack on Aurangzib 255, 257, general
of Raja Ram 265, 266, his help to Raja Ram
297, his attack on Kanchi 298, 300, 301, his
arrival at Gingee 305, 306, 307, attacked
Kasim Khan 310, 320N, in the south 324,
325, his quarrel with Danaji 325N1, his
defeat 328, his retirement to Maharashtra
329&N, 340.

Ghulam Ali, (Gulam Ali) brother of Sadatullah Khanr
364, made jaghirdar of Vellore 365&N, 429,
made mansabdar of a thousand horse 438N,
his son as the Nawab 438N, 450.

Ghulam Hussain, Mir, killedar of Gingee 464.

Giddangal 449N.

Gingee, a description of the fort 1 to 16, its citadels 2,
animal sacrifice at 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, its topo-
graphy 14, 15, called the Troy of the East 15,
its fortifications 15, 15, 16&N, its conserva-
tion 18 to 21, its insanitation 20, 21, change of
the Carnatic headquarters from 21, proposed
depot for salt storage 21, origin of the name
21 to 23, its old name Krishnapura 23, also
called Badshabad, Chandry and Nasrat
Gaddah 23, spelt Gingee by the English
and Jinji by the French, and as Chingee
or Chengy in the early Madras records 23,
identified with Singavaram by Garstin 24,
derivation of the word 24N1&2, its begin-
nings 27, 28, fortified circa 1200 A.D. 31, its
relations with Ananda Kon 31, the Kon

— 563 —

dynasty 33N, under the Kurumbas 34&N,
under Vijayanagar 35, 41 under Vallappa or
Vallabharaya 44, under the Hoysalas 42 to
47, passed on to Vijayanagar Nayaks 65, 66,
sources for their history 66, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73
to 76, their emigration to Vijayanagara 78,
and then to Gingee 71, their relationship
with Surappa Nayaka 78, foundation of the
Nayakship of 78, Kurumba chiefs of, defeat-
ed by Vijayanagar 79, date of the commence-
ment of the Nayak rule 80, Tubaki Krish-
nappa was the founder of this line 81, 82,
Date of the beginning of Gingee Nayaks
1464 A.D. 82, Nayaks according to Mackenzie
Mss. 82, according to Edwardes 83&N, its
capture 83N, fort, granaries and fortifica-
tions built by Tubaki Krishnappa 85, 87&N,
the Right and Left Hand Caste inhabitants
of 88N, 89, 90 to 95&N, heydey of its glory
96, description of the city by Pimerita 96-
101, Pimenta's new city identified with
Krishnapatam 100, 101, Nayaks of 101 to
103, Venkata's proposed war upon 104,
abandonment of the invasion 105, Venkata's
envoy to 110, 111, 113; Gingee coast, Dutch
beginnings in 112, 113, 114, levy of tolls 115,
116, 118, 119, Nayak of 123, the Nayak and
the great civil war 131&N, 134N, the Gingee
Nayak, and his disloyalty 142, 143, 145
to 147, Yacha's victory over 149,later Nayaks
150, Muhammadans at 150, 151&N, 152,
the Nayak going to Tirumala 159, his
rebellion against Sriranga III 162, attack on
165, Bijapur occupation of 165, Mussalman
penetration into [166, campaign against it
referred to 169, the Nayak and Shah ji 169 to
172, campaign against 173, surrendered in
1649 A.D. 174, 175, its final sack 180&N, an

— 564 —

account of its seige 183, its surrender (1648
A.D.) 184, 185, attempts at the restoration
of the Nayak dynasty 187, 188, Shahji's part
in its capture 187, under Bijapur 188, its
tribute 190, Nayak of 191, an account of its
court 192-6, its buildings 105-7, its monu-
ments 201, Muhammadan invasion against
205, under Bijapur and Maratha rule 206-
86, its first killedar 206, known as Badsha-
bad 207, Bijapuri organization of 207,
Shivaji's advance towards 214, and capture
of 215, 217, an account of its capture 215N,
Shivaji's march upon 220, 222, 223, Shivaji's
conquest of 223, his fortifications 223-4, its
importance to Shivaji 225 to 228, Maratha
viceroy of 229; 230N, 232, its governor de-
feated by Sher Khan of Valikandapuram
233, organisation of 236, 237, under Sam-
bhaji 238, Harji Raja's rule 239, English
attempts to found a factory on the coast 240-1,
242 to 247, Kasim Khan's march upon 247,
Harji Raja's establishment of authority
over 248, 249 to 253, 25S, Raja Ram at 257,
259&N2, Mughal forces despatched to 259,
260, Harji and Kesha Trimbak at 262,
Anarchy around 263, 264, subhedar of 266,
Marathas at 267, 272N1, English attempts
to acquire land on the coast 274-85, 281N4,
Mughal capture of 286-308, Zulfikar Khan
at 286, Maratha retreat 287, pillaged 288,
Mughal siege of 295-6, account of the siege
296-30, 313N, Mughal siege for many years
and fall of 335, 337&N, named Narsat Gadh
338, account of its surrender 338-42, date of
its fall 342-50, loss of its importance 348,
under the Mughals 351, granted to Sarup
Singh 354, 356 to 358N, 361N, 369, 370, 373,
374&N, 380 to 385, 387, 390, condition of the

— 565 —

people 391, 393, 394N, 395, 398, 399, forces
of 400, 402, stipulations of the treaty 402-
405N, Desing's arrival at 410N, Nawab's
entry into 410N, 418, account of the
country in the ballad 419, 421 to 423N,
killedari of 424, [attack On 425, Nawab's
capture of 429, battle of 429 to 432, reminis-
cenes of Desing's rule 433 to 43S&4, end of
Rajput rule 436, loss of importance 437,
was abandoned by the Nawab 438, strife
in 440, Mughal prince at 446, 847, killas
of 449F, 454, killedar of 464, 465, 468,
469, Nazir Jang's occupation of 470, 571N,
473, Dupleix's ordar to capture 471N",
Muhammad Ali's flight to 476, French
capture of 476&N, 477&N, French occupied
Gingee 478-9, 479N, English capture of
520, et seq.

Goa 70N, arrival of the Dutch fleet 112, viceroy of 142,
218N, siege of 253.

Gobburi chiefs, 135N.

Golkonda, Gingee Nayak's association with 82N, 153N",
its attitude 154, invasion beaten off by
Sriranga III 159, defeat of the forces of
161, attack on Pulicat 162, 163, forces routed
by Sriranga, 163, 164, attack on Sriranga
164, 167, 169, in the siege of Vellore 171,
172, Sultan of 174, his suspicion of Mir
Jumla 176, arrest of Mir Jumla's son 176,
his support to Sriranga 177, forces attacked
by Krishnappa 179, 180, army's attempt to
escape from the south 111, its supremacy
over the Carnatic 181N, 183, 185, forces 206,
Sultan 209, help to Shivaji 211 to 213, 215N,
217, 220, 227 to 229, 230&N, 232, help sought
by Nasir Khan 233, 234&N, its deputy
240, governors of 244, siege of 245, 246,

— 566 —

capture of 247, 248, territories of 249, fall
of 259, 261 to 263, Raja Ram's attempt to
take it 264, conquest of 325N2, 361N.

Gooty (Gutti) fort capture of 106N, 358N, the Ghore-
pades of 442N, 456.

Gopal Dadaji, Pandit, Subhedar of Porto Novo and his
help to the English 241, 243.

Gopala Pillai, temple of 85N.

Gopalaswami, temple of 32.

Gopalakrishna Pillai of Gingee 83N.

Gopanarya, Brahman general of Kampana 25, 47, 48, 50,
59, 61, his reconsecration of the GodofSri-
rangam 61, 62&N, 71, 79.

Gopinatha, feudatory of the Hoysalas 44.

Goradkar, Vithal Pildev, appointed subhedar of Gingee
216.

Gover, Charles E., referred to 417.

Govinda Dikshita, the Tanjore minister 75N, his son
77, 143.

Govinda Kon, 31N, 32, 33N1.

Govindaraja shrine at Chidambaram 79, its restoration
79, its destruction under a Chola 79N, the
idol at Tirupati and removed later to
Chidambaram 79N, repairs done 96, 120, 121,
123&N, founded by a Pallava ruler 123N,
destruction of and date of its re-consecra-
tion 123N, 126&N.

Govindarasar. a general of Kampana 50.

Grand Anicut the 135N.

Grant Duff, J. 191N, 214N, 226, 452N.

Gregory. Pope, his reform of the Calendar 345N.

Greenhill, Mr., English Agent 162, 178.

Guerreiro, 70N.

Gujarat, 253.

— 567 —

Oundalakama river, The, 358N,

Oundu Gramara 279.

Ountur, 181N, circar 358N.

Gurramkonda, fight near 288N, 289, Mughal pursuit as

far as 337N, 358N.
Ouzaffar Khan 350, 352, 354, 355,
Guzman 70N.
Gyfford, William, Governor of Madras 238, 246, Chief of

Vizagapatam 278.

H

Haidar Ali. his vandalism 202.
Hajjaj bin Yusuf, his tyranny in Arabia 364.
Hakim Ismail alias Manoel de Olevera, the agent of
Gingee 208.

Hambir Rao Mohite, Shivaji's commander 213, his ad-
vance and fight 213, 236.

Hampaya Wodeyar, alias Ballala IV 42.
Hampi, ruins of 16N.
Hanumaji Pantulu 374N, 434.

Hanumantev Rag^^^ his agreement with

^__~ "" Gingee 226, and the originator of the
Karnatak expedition 226, an account of him
226, his treaty with Golkonda 227, 234N,
236, dismissed by Sambhaji 237 an account
of his imprisonment 238&N.

Hanumante, Janardan, Raja Ram's minister 265.
Harihara, the founder of Vijayanagar dynsty 44.
Harihara II, 52 to 56, his date 56N, his titles 62N, 71, 72,

called Kumara Virupanna Udyar 71.
Harji, Hindoo Rao, 329N.

Harji, Mahadik, Sambhaji's brother-in-law, appointed to
Gingee and the Maratha viceroy of the
south 229, an account of him 238&N, 239,

— ' 568 —

241, his exactions from the English 241, 243,
orders to depose him 245, 246, his authority
in Gingee 247, 248, established his power
in Gingee 248, his quarrels with Keshava
Pant 249, attempt to reconquer the terri-
tories of Golkonda 249, his behaviour 250,
grant of privileges to the French 251, 252,
made himself independent in the south and
later death 252, his lieutenant 257, sent an
army to help Raja Ram 258, his son as
viceroy 258N2, date of his death 258N2, at
Gingee 260, his interference in the affairs
of Trichinopoly as against Mysore 260,
261, 262, his army to invest Golkonda 262r
received a French agent 262, 263, his im-
prisonment of Trimbak 263, his idea of
submitting to the Mughals 263, his death
263, 278.

Harpanahalli, Nayak of 171, 358N.

Harrison, Edward, Governor of Madras 325N2, 381, his
attempt to secure peace 394, 395, his stric-
tures on the English conduct 396, 397 447N,

Harze, de 119.

Hastings, Marquis of, purchased the Mackenzie Col-
lection 67N.

Hassan Ali, his seizure of Gingee 419.

Hatsell. Mr., Governor of Fort St. David 271, 279, 280,
324, 348.

Haughton, Mr., his escape 380.

Haye, Baron de La, 218N, 227, 232, 234N.

Haynes, Mr., 281N1, 315.

Hebert, Mon., French Governor, his mediation 374, his
support sought by the English 390, his
mediation 401, 403, his reward 404.

Hemaji Pandit, his Mysore expedition 157.

— 569 —

Heras, Fr. H., referred to 98N, 107, 109N, 142, 196.
Higginson, Nathaniel, President of Fort St. George 299r

325N2, 350.

Himmat Khan, Nawab of Kurnool 460.
Himmat, Tiyar Khan, killed 460.
Hindustan 332, 419.
Hirasat Khan, of Satgadh, 459.
Houtman, Cornelius, commander of the first Dutch fleet

108.
Hoysalas, The, 27, 34N, 42, their records 43N, their

kingdom 44, their decline 45. 47&N3, 77.
Hugonin, James, capture of 373, 380, 386&N.

Hussain Khan, Mayana, a Bijapur captain : his defeat

213.
Husain Khan, Tahir, accompanied Anwaru-d-din to

Arcot 468.
Hyacinthe, Abraham, original name of Anquetil du

Perron 92N.
Hyderabad 212, Shivaji's arrival at 212, Nizam's capital

442N, Nizam's stay at 443, 460, 461, 463t

467, 468.

Ibn Battuta, the Moorish traveller 46.

Ikkeri, the Nayaks of 126N, their conversion of Jainas
to Saivism 126N, inimical attitude towards
Mysore 155, Nayak captured by Mussal-
mans 156, 157, 160, attacked 167, his
restoration 168, 171, help to Sriranga 172,
175.

Ilaivaniyans, The, 198.

Imam Sahib, a friend of Dost Ali Khan 460.

Indian sepoys, East, 477.

Islamic influence on architecture 11.

72

— 570 —

Ismail Khan, Makha, 258N2.
Iswaran Koil, conservation of 20.
Itikad Khan, the Mughal general 285.
Iwaz Khan, sent to the Carnatic by Asaf Jah 440, his
exploits in the Carnatic 440.

Jadhes, ( Jedhes) The, Deshmukhs of Kari 223.
Jaffnapatam, king, sought the help of the Dutch 117,
Vellalas of 137.

Jaggadeva Rayal, governor of Chennapatana, 155, 156.

Jaggadeva of Kaveripatam, 169, fight against 171.

Jaggaraya, the Gobburi chief and brother-in-law of
Venkata 1 106N, his part in the civil war of
Vijayanagar 131, his success 133, his murder
of Sri Ranga Raya 134&N, his flight to the
South 135&N, his attempt in favour of his
sister 135N, 138, 139, his capture of power
138-39, 140, his younger brother Obaraja
141, his defeat 141 to 144&N1, his death 145,
146, his brother 147 to 149.

Jainas, The. 7, their persecution in Gingee 80, their
temple 88N, their conversion to Saivism
126N, 203.

Jaipur, Raja of 353.

Jambai, Inscription 89.

Jamdatu'l Mulk, Zulfikar Khan in charge of the siege of
Gingee, his opposition to Kam Bhaksh 340,
341.

James, King of England, his grant to the English East
India Company 281N1.

Jammanna Udayar, son of Kampana 49.

Janoji Nimbalakar, 510.

Janjira, attack on 455.

— 571 —

Jannambika, sister of Harihara II 53 to 55.
Jannambikabdhi alias Alampundi or Jannambikasamud-
ram 53.

Jarric, Pierre du 69, his life 70N, his work and transla-
tion TON, 122N.

Jats The. troubles from 367.

Javadi Hills 32N3.

Jayankondan 27, 31, 88N.

Jayankondacholamandalam, 27.

Jedhe Sakhdvali, the 222, an account of 223N.

Jesuits, The. 96, their influence in the Vijayanagar court
98N, Jusuit Missions 75, 95N, 130.

Jesus, Society of 70N, 95N, 98N, 109N.

Johnstone, Sir Alexander, founder of the Royal Asiatic
Society 67N, son-in-law of Lord Napier 67N.
Julian Calendar, The. 345N.
Juppalli Varu, 318.

K

Kaeppelin 215N, 257.

Kadalimalai, Nawab's arrival at 410N, Desing shot at

428.

Kadavarayas, The. 34N, 43.
Kaikkolas, The. 198, 199.

Kailas-ghad, 365N, 449N.
Kairiyat Khan, 183.

Kakar Khan, 296, 297, made killedar of Gingee 337, 350,

his death 350, 355.
Kakatiyas, The. 27, 34N.

Kalahasti, chief of 73, 93, 131N, 134N, 157, 220, Nayak
of and his help to the Carnatic Nawab 410N.
Kalahastiswara shrine at Adaippalam. 126N.
Kalakavi, Chengalva author 75N.

— 572 —

Kalakor, 333, 334.

Kalasha, Sambhaji's favourite 245.

Kalavai, 51, Kalavaighad 449N.

Kallakkurichi, 426. Kalolgadh (?) 497.

Kalyanakoti Vimana of the Varadaraja temple, erected by
Tatacharya 128, 129.

Kalyanamahal, description of 10, 18, 85, called the
Queen's residence 85N, 201, 410N, Nawab's
durbar at 432, 446.

Kalyanpur, 421N.

Kamakshi, mother of Bukka, 52, queen of Sangama 54.

Kamalagiri, another name for Rajagiri, 2, 3, Goddess of
23, fortress buttt] by Ananda Kon and re-
named Anandagiri 31.

Kamalakkanni Amman, Virgin goddess of Gingee 5, her
temple 5, identified with Senjiamman 5, also
called sister of Senjiamman, and her temple
22, 85N.

Kam Baksh, son of Aurangzib sent to the Carnatic 292,
293&N2, 294, his correspondence with Raja
Ram 300, his proposed alliance with the
Marathas 301, under watch 301-2, his
foolishness 302, 303, as prisoner 303, 304,
312, 313, arrest of 320N, 325N2, 341, and
release 341&N.

Kammajas, The. 197, 199.

Kampana Udayar, also called Kampana II, 48, his south-
ern conquests 48 to 50, gift to Sri ran gam
temple 51, his inscription 51.

Kanara, South 358.

Kanchi, 42, 49, 58, Vaishnava temples at 128, Kanchi-
puram 197, 198.

Kande Rao, killedar 335.

Eandy, King of 116.

— 573 —

Kangayaro, 51.

Kannanur, 43, 45, 47, identified with Kabban of Ibu-

Battuta 46, 47, also Kandur 55.
Kanthirava Narasa of Mysore 157, captured Chenna-

patna 157, hostility with Madura 157, gave

asylum to Sriranga III 160, his submission

to Shahji 168, his death 180.
Kavikal, surrender of 52.
Kama, illegitimate son of Raja Ram. sent to the Nawab

329, 330.

Karnataka country, The. Lower 42, 62N.

Karnatakcti Rdjdkkal Savisthara Charitam: an account of
its compilation and contents as studied by
W. Taylor 28N, French translation of part
of the work by M. Gnanou Diagou, 28N, its
bearing on Gingee history 68.

Karnatakghad, 449N.

Karvetinagar chief of 138.

Karunguzhi, 449N, 450.

Kasbur Khan, see Guzaffar Khan.

Kasidas Bukkansi, business house of 368N.

Kasim Khan, faujdar 247, his march upon Gingee 247,
248,

„ governor of Sira and his defeat 325N1,

Nawab designate of the Carnatic 325N2.
Kasturi Rargappa, Yachama's father 148.
Kathiwakam, 361N, granted to the English 447N.
Kattumannargudi, 316.

Kaveri, The, 74, 135N, 143, cutting open the dam of
143, 144, erection of a pillar of victory
145, the countries to the north of it taken
by the Bijapurians 156.

Kaveripakkam, plunder of 262, Kaveripak 310, 502, 503,
530.

— 574 —

Kaveripatam, Nayak of 168 to 170, 175.

Katteri, 489, 491.

Keigwin, got grants from Sambhaji 242.

Kempe Gowda of Bangalore, his submission 168.

Kenge Hanuma, his defeat by the Ikkeri Nayak and his;

seeking the aid of Bijapur 155, reinstated

156, 168.

Kesava Pingle, sent by Sambhaji to the south 245, 246,
alias Kesava Pant 246, his obedience to
Harji and attack on Mysore 247, recalled
248, his return to Gingee 249 to 251, his
imprisonment and release 252, sent to the
Carnatic 260, arrived at Gingee 261, 262,
his plunder 262, imprisoned and released
263. became governor of Gingee 264.

Kesava Raman, appointed subhedar of Kanchi 299.
Khafi Khan, his tour 338.

Khan Bahadur, adopted son of Sadatullah Khan 365,
. 438N, 449.

Khan Sahib of Kallakkurichi ; joined the Nawab against
Desing 426.

Khan-i-Khanan, Khawas Khan, his expedition 170,
183, 214N, his son 215N, leader of the
Deccani nobles at Bijapur 215N, arrested
215"N, his death mentioned 218N, his
assassination by Bahlol Khan 233.

Khizr Khan, Panni, father of Daud Khan, 360.

Kinneer, Major 517, 518.

Kincaid, Mr. referred to 247.

Kishore Singh Hada, Raja, officer of Zulfikar Khan

and his death 328.
Koduttalam, battle of 456.

Kobilingan, the chief of the Kurumba tribe 31N, 34, 37,
41, defeat of 79.

— 575 —

Kolar, district 43, 166, 169, 336, Maratha outpost at 442N,
Muzaffar Jang's march to 468.

Koliyanur, 470.

Kollapalayam, 88N.

Kon dynasty, The. Ananda Kon the founder 31&N, an
account of it 31N, 34N, 42, 83N, 85!N , 88N.

Koneri Chetti, the generalissimo of Sriranga III 177,
his betroyal 177, 178, imprisoned by the
Muhammadans 178.

Koneri Kon, (Goneri Kon) of the Kon dynasty 31N, 32.

Kongu, chiefs, The 39, Kongu country 44, Kantirava's
march upon 157.

Konkan, the, 364, 365, 438N.

Koppal, Maratha outpost 442N.

Kopperunjinga Kadavaraya, his connection with Kobi-
lingan and an account of his reign 34N, his
titles 34N, the problem of two Kopperun-
jingas 34N, 35.

Krishna, The. 67, 213, 358N, 469.

Krishnadevaraya, his reduction of the Marutham fort 37,
his times 48, 63, 72, his Carnatic expedition
73, 74, his division of the empire 74&N, and
the Karnataka 80, date of hisi expedition, circa
1509 A.D. 81, 82, 83N, 87, 123N, 126, 129,
his revenue 190.

Krishnadrug, 171.

Krishnagiri, 11, 14, 15, repairs done 18, 19, 32, 85N, 88N,
296, 333, attacked 335, 438, 449N, 478, 479N",
520.

Krishna Kon (Crishna Con), 31N, 32, 33N1.

Krishna Lord, sculpture of 9, tutelary god of the

shepherds rulers of Gingce 23.
Krishnappa Nayaka, Bala, 80, (Vala) 150N.
Krishnappa Nayaka of Gingee 23, 66, 69, 73 to 75, men-

tioned in the Tanjore Literature 76, his im-

- 576 -

prisonment 76, under Venkatapathi I 90, 91,
identified with Varadappa Nayaka 91, pos-
sible identification with Venkatappa Nayaka
91, 92, his accession and imprisonment at
Gingee 92, and escape 93, rebelled against
Venkata 93, his release and marital alliance
with Tanjore 93, his confinement 94, a wise
and able ruler 95&N, 96, his hospitality
towards the Jesuits 96, his stay at Chidam-
baram 96, his putting out the eyes of his
uncle as mentioned by Fr. Pimenta 98, a
description of him 92, his ally and feudatory
100, granting of permission to build a church
101 to 104, his early rebellion against
Venkata I 104, his refusal to pay tribute to
Vijayanagar 105, his feigned insanity 105,
his embassy to Venkata 105, his defeat 105,
fell a prisoner 106, his submission to Venkata
107, retired to Singavaram 107 and subsequ-
ent return to his capital 107, his relations
with the Portuguese and the Dutch 107,
permitted the latter to build a fort in his
territory 108, grant of farman to them 108,
his hostility towapls the Portuguese 108,
Venkata's order to drive away the Dutch
and his reluctance to carry out the order
110, ordered the Dutch to deliver the fort of
Tegnapatam to the Portuguese 111, Dutch
request for a second time 112, and refusal,
called a friend of the Portuguese 112, restor-
ation of Tegnapatam to the Dutch 113, his
favourable attitude towards the Dutch 115,
118, a staunch Vaishnava and a patron of
Vaishnavism 120, 121, his determination to
to restore the Vaishnava shrine at Chidam-
baram 121, his relation with the temple
Brahmans of the place 121, his order to shoot
the recalcitrant Saivites 122, 123, his relig-

— 577 —

ious attitude 126N, 203, his other services
203, his part in the civil war 131&N, his
early defeat and imprisonment referred to
131N, his feudatories 131N, his refusal to
pay tribute, etc. 131N, war with Venkata
131N, a prisoner for a second time 131N, 143,
his flight from the battle 145, second defeat
146, his early rebellion referred to 149, his
marital alliance with Tanjore referred to
149, 150, his successors 150, recalled by
Sriranga III 162, his victory over the Moors
162, his court 191, his hospitality towards the
Jesuits 192, arrival of the Dutch 192, 193,
practice of tilting in Gingee 194, royal pomp
195, 197, 200, 201, his building the Kalyana
Mahal and other buildings 201-2.

Krishnappa Nayaka Tubakala (or Tubaki) 25, also called
Kistnappa Nayaka 25N, accompanied
Krishnadeva Raya, 81, second in command
81, founder of the Nayak line of Gingee 81,
entry in the Caruatic 82.

Krishnappa Nayaka, Tubaki of the 17th century, 25N,
82N, 86, Mir Jumla's lieutenant and Koneri
Chetty overtures to 178, also Topa Krish-
nappa, 178, 179, attacked by the Golkonda
forces 179, his peace with the English 179,
beseiged Poonamalleo 180, his defeat and
fall 180.

Krishnappa Nayaka, Dubala, identified with Venkatapati
Nayaka 81, and with Tubaki Krishuappa
Nayaka 81-2, 83&N, 85, builder of temples
and granaries 85&N, also forts 86, his
successor 87, 88N, his Rajaguru 88N, per-
formed sacrifice 88N, his gifts 88N.

Krishnappa Nayaka Trimbakmal 83&N.

Krishnapatam, town built by Krishnappa Nayaka of
Gingee 100, identified with Agaram village,

73

— 578 —

west of Porto Novo 100, situated in Arungor
according to Du Jarric 100, construction of
100-1, 131N, 203 ; see also Porto Novo.

Krishnapuram, another name of Gingee 23.
Krishna Sastri H. referred to 138&N2.
Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Dr. S. referred to 57, 62N, his
account of Raja Ram's escape 336, 352, his
account of Desing 410N.
Krishnaswami temple at Gingee 85N.
Kudal or Cuddalore 34N.
Kufa, nobles of 364.
Kulasekhara Alwar 123N.
Kulattur 49.

Kulbarga, Treaty of 234N.

Kuli Beg : Golkonda commander, his \rictory over
Tubaki Krishnappa and further conquests 180.
Kulottunga Chola I, 123N.

Kulottunga Chola II, 122N, 123N, called Anapaya and
Tirumrru Chola 123N.

Kulottunga Krimikanta, his removal of the image of
Govindaraja 79N, identified with Kulot-
tunga II 122&N3, 123N3.

Kulottungan, Senni 123N.
Kaloltum/a Cholan Via 123.

Kumara Kampana, 25, Kamparaya 47, his conquests 48,
called Kampana Udayar 48, son of Bukka I
55, date of his invasion 57, as BalJala's
door-keeper 57, his conquest of Madura
and Srirangam 58, and restoration of
their temples 58 to 60, 62&N, 71, 79.

Kumara Nayana, son of Yachama Nayak 318.

Kumara Yachasamudram, 313N.

Kumbakonam, 126N, 135N, 143.

Kundapur, 358N.

— 579 —

Kunjagadi, killa of 449N.

Kunimedu, Dutch ships at 112, 236, 240, 242, English
settlement at ; in 1682 : 243, 246 to 248, 251,
266, the English chief at 267, the Maratha
subhedar of 268, 270, 271, 277, 278, transfer
of factories to 278, 288, the Dutch at 371N.

Kuniyur, Plates, The. 153.

Kuppam 34.

Kurangu Durgam 85N.

Kurnool, District 34N, conquest of 106N, 358N, Nawab
of 460, his discontent 471N, 486, 496, 408N,
505, 506, 511, 512, 513.

Kurumba tribe, The. (Curumba or Vaduga Idaiyar), 31N,
32N3, an account of 36, their land called
Kurumbabhumi 37, the Corumbins 38,
overthrown by Adondai 39, origin of the
name 39, called Kurunilamannar 39, con-
nected with the Kalians 40, 41, came from
Vijayanagar 41, their original home 41,
subjugation of 63, 64.

Kutbu'd-din, court darogah 368N.

Kutb Shahi, the 212.

Kuttarisi, Durgam 85N.

Kuvalayananda.1 a work of Appayya Dikshita 126N.

La Bourdonnais, his capture of Madras 465.

Lachman Rao 498N.

Laerzio, Fr. A. 70N.

Lake, Lord 450N. >

Lakkana, nephew of Ballala IV 45N.

Lakkireddipalli 313N.

Lala Dakhni Roy. diwan peishkar 338, 353, 434.

— 580 —

Lala Todar Mai, sheristadar of the Nawab 338, 353, 356t
357.

LaTouche, French commander 476&N, 479N, 486, 487Nlt
495, 507, 509, 513N.

Lally, Count de 521, 522, 523.

Lally Count de, the younger. 530.

Law, his report of the capture of Gingee 479N.

Lawrence, Major, his treatment of prisoners of war 20N.
his joining the Nizam 471N, 474.

Lehuraux, M. A. 489N1, 494N, 499, 513N.
Left Hand castes in Gingee 88N.
Lenormand M. 479N.
Leonidas, referred to 426.
Lespinay 218N.

Levanto, Fr. Nicholas, Rector of the Jesuit College at
San Thome 109N, 110, 111.

Levi, Fr. Alexander at Krishnapatam 101.
Leyden, J. his collection 67N.

Lingama Nayaka, a feudatory of Krishnappa 102, 103,
son of Chinna Bomma 103, his insubordi-
nation and attempt at independence 103-4,
106N, his rebellion 107, and defeat by
Venkata of Kalahasti 107, 126N, 131N, his
rebellion in 1603, 131N, and defeat at Minnal
131N, 187, his treachery to Madura in join-
ing Shahji 186, his flight 188.

Lingappa, Podili, deputy of the Golkonda government
240, his exactions and threatening the
English at Madras 240, 245, 276.

Lingayat pilgirims, 258.

Linschoten, Huyghen van, quoted 38, referred to 107.

Lisbon 96, 138N.

Louis XV 119N1.

— 581 —
M

Ma'alhir-i-Alamgiri 303N2.

Macaulay, Ensign 493, 500, 530N.

MacGregor, at Gingee 524, 525, 628.

Mahfuz Khan 512.

Mackenzie, Col. Colin, his Collection of Mss. 23, 67, an

account of his work 67&N, his work and

death 67N, 201, 203, 206.
Maclagan E. referred to 70N,
Macleod, Col. William, Commissioner of Arcot 28N, 30,

68.

Macrae, Governor of Madras 447N".
Madagascar 218N.
Madanagiri (Krishnagiri) 88N.
Madanmast 352.

Madanna Pant : the Golkonda minister 211, his presents
to Shivaji 213, 228, his plan of a Hindu Raj
228, his help to Shivaji 228, 232.

Madappollam 272N1.

Madras, 7, 37, grant of 59, surveyor-general of 67N,
University of 67N, Presidency of 82N, 94,
country 157, the English at 161, Council 162,
records of 164, its neighbourhood 177, factors
177N, 178, 179, subjugation of 180, 207, 209,
214, records 220, 224, 228, 229, 230N, the
English at 240, records 241, fortifications of
244, Governor of 320N, 321, the English at
324, 325&N2, Museum : Representation of
Desing's fight 429, records 431, 435&N, con-
struction of the fort of 447&N, Fort Square
erected 447N, 458N, 461, capture of 465.

Madura 35, Sultans of 45, 46, 47N3. Nayaks of 48, Sultans
of 57, conquests of 58, restoration of its
temples 58, defeat of the Sultans of 58, 59,

reconsecration of its temple 62, Kayak of 64t
65, District 66, 67N, 74&N, Mission, founder
of TON, Nayaks : Tanjore victory over 76,
77, Nayaks' disloyalty 142 to 145, his sub-
mission 146, his alliance with Tanjore 146,
147, country devastated 148. 150, 152, 153,
disservice to the empire 166, 167, Nayak's
treachery again 176, 183, Muslim advance
upon 186 to 189, attack on 320N, 358N,
mission 45 2N, 456.

Madurantakam 149.

Maertssen Arend, the Dutch factor 117, captured the

Portuguese ships 117, his negotiation 117,

got a letter from the Gingee Nayak to the

Stadth holder of Holland 118.
Mahadevamangalam 313N.
Maharashtra 329, the power of 332, averting of civil war

in 443, 456.
Mahe 523, 588.
Mailam, the original home of the Kurumbas 41, 489 Nl,

513N.

Makaraju (Macaraju) 138, 139, 148.
Makha, Ismail Khan 288&N1, his allegiance to the

Mughals 296, 297, defeated Jadhav 298, 299,

his camp 300, imprisonment 306.

Makhdum Ali, 521 ; his victory 522.

Malabar 40, letters from 69, 70N, condition of 108.

Malayanur 207.

Malik Kafur, Alau'd-din's general 14, 55, sack of Sri-

rangam 60, 181N.

Malik Nemi, founder of the Madura Sultanate 57.
Malik Raihan, Mughal commander at Gingee 183.
Malladevi, wife of Harihara II 52, 54, also called Mal-

lambika and belonged to the Yadava family

54.

— 583 —

Mallappa Nayaka, Adappam 89.

Mallayya, alias Chinana Cbetty 162, put down the
Damarla brothers 162, an account of him
162-3, his peace with the Moors and his
inimical attitude towards the Dutch 163.
164, his loss of territory 164, 172.

Malleson, G. B., referred to, 481 Nl, 483.
Mallikarjungadh 449N.
Malliki Maidan, a piece of cannon 6.
Mallur 313N, North 317, 319.
Mambattu 88N.

Mamood Allee, English assistance to 272N1.
Manalurpet, 487N1, 509.

Mangammal, wife of Venkatappa Nayak of Gingee 88N.
built tanks 88N.

Mangalore 421N.

Manikkavasagar, the great Saiva Saint 123N.

Maninagapura or Manikhpur, the home of the Gingee

Nayaks 78.
Manjakuppam, under the Dutch 279, 280. spelt Mange

Copang 281N1, affairs at 281N1, 285, 357,

370, 374N.
Mannur 313N.

Manoel, d'Oliveira, alias Egyb Hakim Ismail 274.
Manucci, Nicolo, the Venetian traveller 217, 321, 361N.
Maraiya Mayaka, son of Somappa, the general of

Kamapana 50.

Marakatanagara 50, see also Vrinchipuram.
Marakkanam 21.

Marathas, The. (Mahrattas), their occupation of Gingee
8, their fortifications 16&N, 18, attack on
Gingee 210-11, their ravages 249, 251, 252,
disruption of 253, their army 257, 258&N1,
Mughal army sent against them 261, threat

— 584 —

of 262, divided into two divisions 266, 280,
their retreat to Gingee 287, attacked Zulfi-
khar Khan 288N, retreat 289, did havoc to the
Mughal army in Gingee 291, their raid 294,
help to Raja Ram at Gingee 297, their
success in the south 299-309, 307, 308, their
supremacy in the south 320N, 323, army in
the south 324, victory over the Mughals
325N1, dissensions among 329, their suffer-
ings 333, help to Raja Ram 336, 337N, forces
339, their panic in Gingee 341-2, their land
364, troubles 367, their march to Bednore
410N, war with Bednore 421, driven out of
the Carnatic 440, first expedition into the
south and exaction of tribute 441, disunion
among them 441, second expedition 442, their
aid to Bangaru 452N, expedition to the south
455-6, plunder of Arcot 456, their prisoner
467, their attack on the French 471N,
pursuit of the French 474.

Mansablars, 482; troops 507, 508, 510, help sought by

Lai ly 523.

Marco Polo, the Venetian traveller, mentioned 200N.
Margry M. P. 218N.
Martello Towers 17.

Martin, Francois, got Pondicherry for the French 210,
215N, his Memoires 218&N, his account
of Shivaji's Karnatak expedition 218N,
Memoires 224, 228, 231 to 234&N, 293N2,
294, 225&N1, 320&N.

Martineau M. A., referred to 476, his account of the
capture of Gingee 478-9, Editor of Martin's
Memoires £20N.

Martinez, translator of Du Jarric's work 70N.
Marava country, The. 148, 152N, poligars submission
to Zulfikhar Khan 351.

— 585 —

Marutam 37, fort built by the Kurumbas 63.
Mary, Queen of England 281N1.
Musaravakkam 313N.

Masulipatam, arrival of Dutch ships at 112, 171, 243,
247, 272, Koti Bandar 360N.

Maulana Azad, his account 494N.
Maurica Prince 118.

Melacheri or the old Gingee village 15, 31, 96, killedars
of 335, 353, 41 ON, 425.

Metcalfe, capt. 280, 281&N1.

Minakshi, Rani of Madura 452N, her quarrel 452, 454,

455.

Minnal, battle of 107, (Munnali) 131N.
Miraj 456.

Mir Asad, the dewan 458N, see Mir Asadullah.
Mir Asadullah Khan, killedar of Chetput 470.
Mir Dayem Ali Khan, 505.

Mir Jumla, the Golkonda minister 164, his alliance with
Bijapur 164, his renewal of the grant made
to the English 164, his march upon Gingee
165, alliance with Bijapur 165, his subse-
quent war with Bijapur 165, 169, his advance

172, his campaign against Gingee in 1648

173, his secret alliance with the Raya 173,
175, defeat of 175, his peace with Sriranga
175, entered service under Aurangzib and
got the jaghir of the Carnatic 176, opposition
to 177, his lieutenant, Tubaki Krishnappa
Nayaka 178, at Agra 179, an account of his
operations 183, secured the assistance of the
Bijapur army 183, raised the siege of
Gingee 183.

Mir Sayfullah 505, 511.

Mirza Hasan Beg, killedar of Gingee 481N1.

74

— 586 —

Mohabat Khan, also Mahabat Khan, killedar of Valuda-
vur 382, 386, his preparation against the
English 386-7, his fight with the English
391, his withdrawal 392, also spelt as Mobet
Khan 408N, his help to Desing and death
410N, 426, 427, his fight 428, 430, his tomb
433, 435.

Mohan Singh, capture of 386.

Molhair, governor of 467N.

Moluccas 70N.

Monson, Major, 521, 522.

Montbruo, M. 489N1.

Moore, Major, 522.

Montague Mr. 315, captain 380.

Motupalli 358N.

Mubariz Khan, his death referred to 462.

Mughals, The. their empire 70N, their attacks 170, the
Emperor and his supremacy in the South
177, their court at Agra 179, their distur-
bances in the South 246-8, their conquests
in the South 250, 251, 252, Emperor 259,
their southern occupations 261, their
southern advance and victory 262, their
siege of Gingee 286 350, help sent to
Gingee 292, plan of the siege 295-6, failure
297, change in the plan of attack 297, failure
and internal troubles 300, their hardships
301, 308-9, their retreat to Wandiwash 310,
further attack on Gingee 311, dissensions in
their camp 323, army's flight 324, the help-
lessness of the army 324-5, their capture of
Gingee referred to 351, their dominion 374N,
407, their administration and its weakness
423.

— 587 —

Muhammai Abrar Khan 4807.

Muhammad All, the Nawab and his treatment of the
French prisioners 20N, Nawab of Arcot
363N, son of Anwaru'd-din sent as hostage
to the Nizam 463, his friendship with the
English 466, summoned to oppose Muzaffar
Jang 468, his joining Nasir Jang 470, 471N,
completely routed by the French 471N,
formal by English troops 473, his pass with
the men defeat and flight 473, his letter to
the English 475, his defeat at the hands of
the French at Tiruvati 476, his flight to
Gingee 476, at Gingee 477, his fight with
the French 478, and defeat at Gingee 478-9.
his attack on Ginges and retreat 486,
487N1, advice to the Nizam, 504, 506 his
help, 588—16.

Muhammad Ali, the Qazi of Gingee 438.

Muhammalans of the South 50, 51, 57, 58, repulsion of
93, their cruelties 186, 447N.

Muhammad Mahfuz Khan, eldest son of Anwaru'd-din
466, his war with the English 466, left for
Hyderabad 468.

Muhammad Khan 274.
Muhammad Khan Tashkandi, 494N".
Muhammad Said, Risaladar, 498N.
Muhammad Sadik in the East Coast 252.
Muhammad Shah, the Moghul Emperor 443, 446.

Muhammad Sayyid Kevud, sent to th3 south 332, 335,
made dewan of Gingee 338, also called
Muhammad Sayyid Khan, made dewan of
Gingee 353, 356, 357, succeeded Daud Khan
360, 364, got the title of Sadatullah Khan
365&N, 366, 438N, (see Sadatullah Khan).

— 588 --

Muhammad Sayyid Khan, Sahib Zada ; son of Safdar AH
458&N, 459, his submission to Asaf Jah 460
462, 463&N.

Muhammad Sayyid Khan, nephew of Sadatullah 450.

Mulbagal country 48, 57.

Munro Major 523, 528.

Mungi Shevgaon, the Nizam's treaty at 441, 443.

Murari Rao, Maratha igeneral 452N, 456, 458N, 471N,
498N, 510.

Murtaza -All Khan, Ghulam 452, 458, his murdar of
Safdar Ali 458&N, and accassion as Nawab
458&N, his machinations 462, his murdar of
the Boy-Princ3 464, 502.

Mustafa Xhan, Nawab, of Bijapur, Khan Baba his
march to Seringapatam 157, 170, his cam-
paign 171, 173, his misunderstanding with
Shahji 174, 175, 183.

Mutawassil Khan, son-in-law of the Nizam and his
claims 467, his order to Chanda Sahib 467&N.

Muthialu Nayakkan of Gingee and builder of Venkata-
ramanaswami Temple 7, 83&N, 87, his other
building activities 88N, Mutyalu N&yakan
41 ON.

Muthumalla Reddi of Tindivanam, his troubles 465, 466.

Muthuvlrappa Nayaka of Madura and the civil war 131,
143, 152&N.

Muzaffar Jang, Hidayat Mohiu'ddin Khan, grandson of
the Nizam 467, joined Chanda Sahib 467N,
his expedition 468, his triumphal entry into
Pondicherry and conferment of honours on
Ananda Ranga Pillai 469, his march towards
Tanjore 469, his retreat to Tiruvati 470, his
captivity in Nasir Jang's camp 470, French
help to 471N, his surrender 471N, his attempt
to escape 473, his troops 473, his submission
to Nasir Jang and imprisonment 474, French

~ 589 —

help for his release 476, 489N1, proclaimed
Nizam 509. 513N.

Muzaffar Khan, 486, 497, 498, 506.

Muzaffaru'd-din, see Khan-i-Khanan.

Mylapore, fortification and Daud Khan's bungalow at
360N, 449N.

Mysore, the Kurumbas of 39, 40, 41, ruler of 57, country
61, 74N, invasions of Bijapur 156, siege of
156, ruler 157, help to Srirangalll 161, alli-
ance sought 164, Raja's war with Bijapur
165, its help to the Empire 166, recognition
of its early independence 167, subdued
168, chiefs of 170, 175, death of its ruler 180,
her help to Sriranga referred to 181, Sri-
ranga's stay there as a refugee 181, Keshav
Pant's attack on 247, 248, ruler of 260, his
army's defeat 260, Balaghat country 325N,
Central Mysore 328, 358N, Nizam's march
through 446, Second Mysore war, 531.

N

Nagamangala, chief of 155, 157.

Najaf Ali Khan, 494N495, 498.

Najib Khan, accompanied Anwaru'd-din to Arcot 468.

Nandagopala Pillai of Gingee 83N.

Nandi Kri^hnaji Pandit, gumasta of Sadatullah Khan

444, 445.
Nandyal 358N.
Napier, Lord 67N.
Napoleon, 531.
Narapa Razu 139.

Narasa Nayaka, founder of the III Vijayanagar dynasty

72, his conquests 72.
Narasimha II, the Hoysala 42, his victories 42, 43.

— 590 —

Narasimha III, the Hoysala 43.

Narasinga Raya, Saluva of Vijayanagar 35, 48, 59, his
dominance over Gingee 80.

Narayana Kon, alias Narayanan, author of Karnataka
RajakkaJ Savisthara Charitam referred to
23, 28&N, 31, 68, 72, 73, 74N, 85, 332, 334,
336, 352, 355, 360N, his account of Sarup
Singh 365N, 369, 370, his account of Desing
410N, an estimate of his work 410N, account
of Desing 420, 422, 424, 427, 434, his account
443,1447, 481N1, 487N1, 506, 512, 513N.

Nar varan gam 497.

Narayanan, English agent 325N2.

Narayana Vilasa of Virupaksha, a Sanskrit drama 72.

Narmada, The 467.

Nasir Khan, Muhammad, the Bijapur governor of Gingee
207, 208, 214. his parentage 215NT 226,
agreeing to Maratha terms 228, war with

232, his defeat 233, sought Golkonda help

233, 234&N.

Nasir Jang, second son of Asaf Jah, his advance towards
the North 466-7, his rebellion 467N, his
order to Dupieix 469, his opposition to
Muzaffar Jang 469, his arrival at the Chan-
gama Pass 470, his occupation of Gingee
470, his camp 470, joined by Muhammad
Ali 470, his terms to Chanda Sahib 471&N,
his movements and fight with the French
471N, his offer of help to Muhammad Ali
473, his march to Tiruvati 473, arrival of
English help 474, Muzaffar Jang's submis-
sion to 474, his farman to the English 475,
his descent on the Carnatic referred to
477&N, his camp 482-85, place of his mar-
tyrdom 489N1 ; its date 494N ; account, etc.,
494N1,— 504, 505, 509—11—513.

— 591 —

Nasrat Gaddah, Moghul name of Gingee 23, 338, 347,

353, Nawab's entry into 410N, 432.
Nayaks, The. under Vijayanagar : their fortification of

Rajagiri 17, 65, origin of the term 77, as

governors 83N.
Nazir Muhammad Khan 274.

Nedungunram temple, built by Gingee Nayak 88N.
Neganur 487N1, 507. Nemali 489N1.
Negapatam 117, 207.
Neill, General, hero of the Indian Mutiny, erection of

his statue in (1858) 8.
Nellore 74, 81, 172, 181N, 313N.
Nerkunam 489N1.
Netherlands, The 118.
Nickel Fr. 189, 191.
Nieuhoff John quoted 65, 189.
Nikitin A., a traveller 191.
Nilakanta Pingle (The Peishwa) 257, 258.
Nilakanta Sastri K. A., Prof, referred to 489N1.
Nileswar 421N.

Nilgiris. The Kurumbas of 38 to 40.
Nilo Moreshwar Pingle, Raja Ram's Peishwa at Gingee

265, 288.

Nilo Pant 258N2.

Niraji Prahlad, the Maratha envoy 211, 212.
Niraji Ranji 265.
Niyamatullah Khan Khaja 461.
Nivritti Sangam 213.
Nizamu'1-Mulk, 'Asaf Jah 360, his appointment of

Sadatullah Khan to the Carnatic 438N, his
march to the south 443. ^

Nizam AH Khan, 487N1, 508.

Nungambakkam, grant to the English 361, 447V.

Nuniz, 74N, 189, 194.

592

Oba Raya, father-in-law of Venkata I, 98N.

O'Kennedy, 521N1.

Olivia, Paul 186, 188.

Ongole 172.

Oppert, Dr. G., referred to 38.

Orme, Robert, referred to 3, 4N, his plans 6, referred to
11, 15, 21, 31N2, 186, 188, his account of the
capture of Gingee 228-9, 241, 245, 250, 334,
referred to 458N, referred to 481N1, 489N1,
500, 501, 513N518N, &525N.

Ottakuttan, a Tamil poet 123N.

Padaividu 32&N3, identified with Rajagambhira fort 49,

58, 197, 449N.

Padanda Rayar, faujdaj- of Gingee 437.
Padirikuppam 397, 402.
Padshah Bagh 410N.
Paes, referred to 189, 194 to 196.
Palamaneri village 144.
Palar, The. 27, 48, 65, 247, 248 to 251, 262, 361N, 437, 443.

Palayamkottai, battle between Yatiraja and Yachama
106N, 134N, battle of 146, 149, 207, fort 316.
449N1.

Palkhad, victory of 443.

Pallavas, The. their relation with the Kadavarayas 34N,
with the Kurumbas 38, 39, their capital 42.

Balvat vanam 497.

Pandarum Pander Yembollum, damage done to 374N, 396.
Pandasolanallur, English capture of the people of 385.
Pandharpur temple 130.

— 593 —

Pandyas, The. 27, 34N, territory of 43, conquest of 5*>
their kingdom 58, rulers 58, 59, 62N, 72, 73;
Tanjore victory over them 76, 77.

Panhala fort, 225, 251, 255, captured by the Mughals
256, 257, 258N2, 267.

Papiah, Rayasam 447N.
Panruti 131N, 317, 517.
Parakala Nambi 51.
Parali, Ramdas's shrine at 254.
Parasnis, Mr. 247, 481N1.

Paris 92N, Archives of 218&N, Bibliotltequc Nafionalc
489N1.

Parsimungalem 408N.

Pasupati Avaru, Brahman householders called 318.

Pattabhi Ramaswami temple 7, 88N.

Payne, Mr. C. H. 70N.

Pedda Nayudu, his defeat 149.

Peddapalayam (Periyapalayam), its siezure 177.

Pedrapolur 513N.

Pegu 70N.

Pelakuppur fortress 34.

Pennar, The South 34N, 102, 181N, North 248, 358N.

Pennattur 336, jaghir granted to Venkatapati 438, 449N.
465, 487N1, 513N, 522.

Penukonda 41, siege of, referred to 93, 13 IN, 149, 153N,
154, capture of 165, loss of 175, fall of 261. 328.

Periya Aiya, poligar 465, his confinement 465, and
escape 465.

Perimby, 489N1, 513N; 522.

Periyapettai 88N.

Peria Tirumozhi of Tirumangai Alwar 123N.

Perambur, granted to the English 458N.

75

— 594 —

Perumukkal 31, called Permacoil by Orme ; and its forti-
fications 31N2, iconquest of 314, 449N, Eng-
lish capture of, 521, 531.

Perron, Anquetil du, a French traveller 66, 69, 70N, his
discovery of the Avesta TON, translator of
the Upanishads 75, 92&N, his life 92N,
called Abraham Hyacinthe 92N, 93, 104, 107.

Perseram Pandit 329N.

Perumbarrapuliyur, another name for Chidambaram
123N.

Phaltan 255.

Philip III of Portugal 109N, his letter to Venkata I
109N, 111.

Phonda (near Goa) 218N.

Pichavaram, poligar of 103N.

Pigot Mr., Governor of Madras 20, 523, 529.

Piliailokam Jiyar, author of Divyasuri Charltam 123N.

Pimenta, Fr. Nicholas, referred to 9, 10, 15, 66, 69, his
visit to Gingee 69, 70N, his life 70N, and
death 70N, 92, 95&N, 96, his meeting
Krishnappa Nayaka 96, his description of
Gingee 96, 97-101, 98&N. 99, 100, 102, 103,
120, 121, 191, 192 to 195, 200, 203-

Pina Virabhadra, Pillalamarri, author ofJaiinini Bhara-
tam 59.

Pindaris, The. 174, employed in the siege of Gingee 185.

Pingalamuni, the Tamil lexicographer 39.

Pitt, Thomas 325N2, Governor of Madras 361N, 374, 407.

Place de la Repul)liqu6 at Pondicherry where Dupleix's
statue was erected.

Polu, a servant woman 318.

Polur 32, 449N, 468, 470.

Pondicherry, gate, on the east of the Gingee fort, named
as such 4, 6, 520, 525N1, 526, Pondicherry 7,
advance of Coote against 31N2, fall of

— 595 —

referred to 92N, 165, looted 174, 185, 208,
210, its foundations 210, (Pullacherry)
captured by Shivaji 210, 218&N, 231, 232.
236, 251, the French allowed to colonise at
262, raid near 263, 274, 275, 288, the French
at 288, 289, 294, Pondicherry gate of Gingee
295, bombardment of 296, 314, governor of
320&N, Dutch capture of 320&N, French
governor of 374, 390, 401, 403, the French
at 431, 461, 465, attack on 466, 468, 469,
470, French retreat to 471N, French camp
near 473, French retreat to 474, 477N, 498,
502, 503, siege of 522, 523, fall of 524, des-
truction of fortifications 529.

Poona 257, 336, 337, Chanda Sahib a prisoner at 467.

Poonamalle 94, 157, (Pundamallee) 177N, subjugation of
178, fight near 179, 180, ruler of 248, 250,
Mughal capture of 252, 261, 449N, grant of
474, 475.

Porto Novo 100, 112, 118, 131N, 165, looted 174, 185, 192,
203, 208, abandoned by the Dutch 236,
Dutch re-obtained it in 1680; 237, 238, the
English to found a factory at 240, 241,
import duties 242, 244, 248, English factory
closed down 251, 263, 270, called Muhammad
Bandar 272N1, 275 to 277, English factory
opened at 278, gate 348, English ships
captured near 379, taken possession of by
Sarup Singh 408&N.

Portugal 96, King of 109N.

Portuguese, The. their relations with Gingee 107, their
expulsion from the west coast of India 108,
rivals of the Dutch 110 111, their fortunes
112, relations with Gingee 112, turn in their
affairs 113, 115, concession at Tegnapatam
116, driven away from the coast 116, 117,
their intrigues 119, called Parasikas : their

•— 596 —

part in the civil war 142, 147N, fight with

421N.

'Pota Bhupala, father of Surappa Nayaka 90-
Poysaleswara temple 43.
Powney, Henry, 503.
Prahlad Niraji, Maratha chief justice 253, 254, 257, 258,

appointed regent 264, had no power under

Rajaram 265, 268.

Prapannamrtam, referred to 122, 123, 126K
Pratapa Rudra, defeat of 60.
Pratapgarh (Pratapgad) 254, fort of 259N2.
Preston, Major, 523, 524, 528.
Prisoners1 Well 9.

Proenza, Fr. 152, 181, 186, 188, 189, 191.
Pudupauk» granted to the English 458N.
Pulalkottam 37.

Puliakon (PalliyaKon) of the Kon dynasty 31N, 32,
Puliyan 33N1.

Pulicat, (Pa)iacate)109N, 119, 147N, the Dutch Governor
of 162, Golkonda attack on 162, 163, Sri-
ranga's siege of 177&N, conquest of 178,
the Dutch at 180, 207, 237, 299.

Punjab , the 367.

Puflyakotiswara temple 51.

Punayakoti Vimana set up by Krishnadeva Raya 129

Puran Chand, diwan 461.

Purasawakam, grant of 325N2, 449, scare at 361N, 447N.

Pushpagiri 32N3.

Puttanandal 489N1, 513N.

Pumyorin, Dragoons under 479N, 530.

Q

Qasim Khan, sent against the Marathas 261.
Qazi Daim (Dayem Ali Khan) 498N, 510.

- 597 —

•QuranicLaw, provision for administration of 207.
Queyroz, quoted 137, 139.

R

Raghava lyengar, Rao Sahib M., referred to 79N.

Baghuji Pantulu 268, 372N1.

Eaghuji Bhonsle. his expedition 452N, 455, 456, his

power 457.
RaghunGthabhyudayam, The. 66. 75N, 76, 93, 102, 103,

134, 139, 140, 142, 143, 144N1.
RaghunuthCiblnjudayani, of Vijayaraghava 144N2, 146.

Raghunatha Vildsa Natakam^ The. referred to 146.

Raghunatha Nayak of Tanjore, author 75N, his exploits
76, 77, 91, 92, 93, his part in the release of
the Gingee Nayak from imprisonment 93,
95, 104, his help to the Gingee Nayak 131N,
his loyalty to the Emperor Rama 135, 142,
143, his fight 144, 145, his victory 145, 146,
his further victories 146, 149, 150,

Raghunatha Pandit, subhedar of Gingee 240.

Raghunatha Pant 214, his agreement with the captain
of Gingee 214, 215N.

Rahmatulla Khan 498N.

Raigad, fort in the Konkan 222, 225, 239, 253, 254, captur-
ed by the Mughals 255, 256, 259N2,(Raigarh)
260, invested 286, Zulfikar's victory at 287.

Rairee 229.

Rajagambhiram, fortress of 49, also called Rajagambira-
malai : capture of 49.

Rajagiri, also known as Kamalagiri and Anandagiri:
one of the citadels of Gingee 2, 3, also called
the Great Mountain 4, description of 4, 5,
springs at 10, 11, 14, 15, fortified by the
Vijayanagar Nayaks 17 to 49, temple at the
base of 22. Ramaswami temple in 85N, 88N,

- 598 -

name given to Anandagiri by Krishnappa
Nayaka 85N, 201, 206, 296, 333, 334, Todar-
mal's encampment at 424, date of Gingee's
fall engraved upon 434? 438, Mughal prince's
arrival at 446, 465, 478, scaling up the walls
of 479N, 481N1, 525N, 527, 530.

Rajagopalaswami temple at Gingee 85N, identified with
Venkataramanaswami temple 85N.

Raja-karanampettai 88N.

Rajahmundry 462.

Baja Raja Cholan Ula 122.

Raja Raja Chola III 123N-

Raja Ram, ruler of Qingee 8.

Raja Ram, second son of Shivaji : his rule in Gingee
225, 238, 239, Sambhaji's younger brother ;
his arrival in the south 253. appointed
regent 253, 254&N, his march to Pratapgad
and his fight with the Mughals 254-5, be*
sieged 255, 256, his march upon Gingee 257,
at Bangalore 258&Nnl&2, an account and
date of his advance 258N2, 263. asked to
assume authority on Sahu's imprisonment
264, his attempt to unify the Marathas as
against the Mughals 264, his council of
ministers at Gingee 265, 266. his financial
difficulties 266, his anxiety to sell Devanam-
patnam 267, 268-9, 270, sold it to the English
271, 272&N1, his far man to the English
272N1, 278, also called Rama Raja 279, his
granting of a farman to the English 279,
Dutch complaint to 280, 281N1, 285, his
leaving for Tanjore 287, despatched an army
to obstruct the Mughals 287, 288, at Tanjore
289, his return to Gingee 290, 291, 294,
295&N1, Maratha help to 297, 299, his pro-
clamation 300, and Kam Baksh 301, 303, 307,
309, 315, his seizure of the forts in the south

— 599 —

316, 320N, his demand of a heavy sum of
money from the English 329N, 323, the
friendly attitude of the Dutch towards him
324, 325N2, 329, his petition to Aurangzib
329, 330, 331, escaped to Vellore 332, 333, his
family invested 333 to 335, his escape to
Poona 336, 337N, bribed 338, 341, 347, 351,
370, his cowle to the English 374, 410N. 433,

Rajanatha Dindima, author, 59.

Rajapur. 218N".

Raja Udayar of Mysore 152, his capture of Seringapa-
tam 154, 155.

Rajendra Choi a I 27.

Rajendra Chola III 34N", defeated by Someswara 42. 43N.

Rajputs, troubles from the : 367, their rule in Gingee 436,
437, 45L

Ramabhadramba, a Tanjore poetess 75N. 76. 144N1.

Ramachandra, Sen, 510.

Ramachandra Amatya 255, 257.

Ramachandra Bavdekar. the commander of Maharash-
tra 266.

Ramachandra Nayaka of Gingee, Achyutha Vijaya 83,
a mahamandaleswara 87&Ni built the gopura
at Tiruvannamalai 88N".

Ramachandra, the Yadava ruler 54.

Ramadeva of Vijayanagar. his family 52. Mallambika
belonged to this family 54, 94.

Ramadeva I, brother of Venkata I and viceroy of Serin-
gapatam 135N, his two sons 135N.

Ramadeva II, son of Sriranga 135&N. crowned as em-
peror at Kumbakonam 135NJ 142, 147N, 150.

Ramagopalaswami temple at Gingee 85N.

Ramakrishna Payya, the recorder of Gingee 356, 410N.
422, 427. 437.

Ramakrisbna Kavi, of Tenali, mentioned 130.

Ramalinga, a friend of the English 355.

— 600 —

Ramdas, Raja, 505, 509.

Ramnad4 poligars of, their submisssion to Zulfikar

Khan 352.

Ramanatha 43, see also Vira Ramanatha.
Ramanuja, founder of Srivaishnavism 79N, his con-
secration of Govindaraja at Lower Tirupati

79N, 122, his uncle 129.

Ramanuja Divya Cl\aritai, mentioned, 123N".
Ramapuram, English capture of, the people of 385.
Rama Rao 318.
Rama Raya of Vijayanagar : his coronation at Vellore

106N. his grant to the English referred,

to, 402.

Rama Rs,ya, lieutenant of Achyutaraya 123N, 126N.
Rama Chetty, builder of Chettikulam, 8, 410N, 433.
Rama Singh Hada. 329, 330.
Ramaswami temple in Rajagiri 85N.
Rama, temple at Padaividu 32N3
Ramayana, scenes from the, depicted on the walls of

the Venkataramanaswami temple 7.
Rameswaram, 46, 66, 188, 254N, 258N1, 374N.
Ramchand Hada 334.

Ramchand Pandit, Rajaram's minister 329N.
Ramje Nalage, appointed to be in charge of Gingee 216.
Ram Raja, ruler of Gingee 16N.
Rampur 449N.
Ranade, referred to 232.
Ranadulla Khan the Bijapur general 156, 157, 160,

167, 358N.

Ranga I of Vijayanaker, 90,
Rangacharya Prof. V, referred to, 91, 92, 181N.

Ranganatha temple, on the top of Rajagiri 5, 11, the
shrine at Singavaram 12, 14, 61, tutelary
god of Desing 424, 427.

Ranga Raja, author of Satvikabrahma Vidya Vilasa ISO.

— 601 —

Eanipettai ; founded by Sadatullah Khan 433.
Ranjangudi449N, 506.
Ranoo, Santaji's son, 329.
Rauf Khan of Gingee, 214, 215N,
Ravilla Venka, 148,
Ravuttanallur 449N, 497.

Raworth, Robert, 374, took possessioz^of Fort St. David
390, sent to negotiate peaca 392, 393, 399,
401, 403, 408N.

Rayachoti 469.

Raya Mahal of Gingee, The, 85N,

Rayas of Vijayanagar, The, their fortification of Gingeo.
16N.

Raza Ali, Chanda Sahib's son 468, his help to Anwaru'd-
din 468,

Razaak Abdur, the traveller 191, 200N.

Red Hills Lake, 37.

Renukambal temple, 32N3.

Right Hand castes in Gingee, The, 88N".

Roach, Capt., 374, 382, 387, 391XN, attacked 392, his
plunder 406.

Roberts, Gabriel, Governor of Fort. St. David, 373, 378.
379, 381, 396, 400, 405N.

Roe. Sir. Thomas, his reference to the betel, .200N.

Rouvray M. de, 479N.

Royal Asiatic Society. The, 67N.

Rubino, Fr. referred to, 145.

Rudraji Salvi, an officer 216.

Rupaji the Bhosle freebooter 266.

Riipa Chand, Diwan, 444.

Hup Nayak of Gingee 184.

75

— 602 —

8

Sadasivaraya of Vijayanagar 29, his epigraph, 200.

Sadat Namah The, also Said Namah: biography of
Sadatullah Khan 361&N.

Sadat Tiyar Khan : appointed kiiledar of Gingee, 434,
437, 438' his strife with Abdul Nabi Khan
and death 440, 447. 451, his death 464,

Sadatullah Khan* his mosque 6, his fight with Desing
referred to 12, 18, 353, 358N, 360&N, 363,
his origin 364, his personality 364, sought
service under Aurangzib 364, mansabdar
364, accompanied Daud Khan to the Car-
natic 365, his official life 365, his praise-
worthy rule 365&N, 366, made Sarup
Singh his diwan 367, his report to the
Emperor of Sarup Singh's non-payment
of arrears 367-8, 368&N, 382N, 384, his
territory plundered 408, 410N, his march
on Gingee 410N, sent an army against
Desing 410N, 417, 418, 420, 423, his struggle
with Desing 423, 427, his desire to capture
Desing alive 428, his capture of Gingee 429,
430, his victory referred to 431, his entry
into Gingee 432, his clemency 433, his
building of a town in memory of Desing's
wife near Arcot 433, his organisation of
affairs at Gingee 438, his retriment from
Gingee 438, his rule in Gingee referred to
439, opposed Abdul Nabi Khan 440, The
Nizam's march into the subah of 443, his
; - : submission of accounts to the Nizam 444,

445N, The Nizam's conferment of honours
upon 446, his letter to the Emperor regard-
ing a Mughal prince 446, his organisat
ion of the killas and death 449, his titles
449-50,

Sadras, The Dutch at 208, Sadraspatam 371N.

— 603 —

Safdar Ali Khan, nephew of Sadatullah, 442N, 452&N,

454, 456, Nawab 457, his bravery admired

457 his murder 458&N, sons 459, his mother

463N killed 464.
Safshikan Khan, 498N
Sagar 311.
Sahityaratnakara, The. 66, 75N, 76, 93, 102, 103, 134r

140, 142, 144N1.
Sahu, his imprisonment, 264.
Saint George, M. 479N.
Saint, Marc. French sergeant 477&N.
Saiya Bai, Shivaji's first wife, 238.
Saiyad Khan, the Tanjore adventurer 452N.
Salabat Khan 410N.
Salabat Jang, 487N1, 508.
Salem 155.
Salim Khan 337N, brother of Daud Khan Panni 348,

his attack on Cuddalore 348, second attack

349, his plunders 349.
Saluva Mangu 48, 50, 59, 62&N.
Samayavaram, Gopanarya's defeat of the Muhammadans

at 61.

Sambhaji, his dismissal of Raghunatha Pant 237, alleged
rumour of his death 238, appointed his bro-
ther-in-law to Gingee 238&N, plots against
239, English appeal to 242, grant of privileges
to the English 242, 245, sent garrisons to the
south 245, his order to Harji Raja 250, 251,
his war with the Mughals 251, captured by
the Mughals 252, execution of 252N, his
council of ministers 253, 254, 256^,
against 260, sent an army againjj
261, his death in 1689 referred 1
capture of his family 287.

Sambhaji, the Maratha prince won

441, 442 set up against Sha
442N.

— 604 —

Sambuvarayar chief 49, 50, defeat of the Sambuvarayans
58, 59.

SammiLnamanavar, a distinction bestowed upon the shep-
herds by Anandakon 31N.

Sampat Rao, 512.

Sandur, Mahratta outpost in 442N.

Sangama, father of Bukkaraya 52, 54.

Sangita Sudha, The, 75N.

Sanjivi) the panacea of Hindu mythology ; considered as
the root of the name Senji and Gingee 22.

Sankarapuram 449N.

Santaji, half-brother of 'Shivaji 221, 224, in charge of
Gingee 236.

Santavasal village 32N3.

San Thome, the Missionary college at 98N, 109N, Bishop
of 110, conquest of 180, the French at 208,
siege of 218N, 361N, 447N.

Sarasangupettai (Nasir Jangai-Konrapettai ?) 489N1, 500.

Sardesai, Rao Bahadur G. S. referred to 227.

Sarfoji of Tanjore, attacked 440, his appeal to Satara
440.

Sarkar, Sir J. N. referred to 174, 211, 214N, 215N,
223N, 226, 230, his views on Shivaji's
southern expedition 230, 258N2, 292, 297,
311, 312, 314, 331, 332, his date for the
fall of Gingee 342, 343, 344.

Sarup Singh, a Bundela chief and a Rajput: Raja of
Gingee 351, got Gingee from Aurangzib,
354, an account of his early life 354, be-
came killedar of Gingee in A.D. 1700, 355
his officers 356, his administration 356, 357,
his later quarrels with the English 357,
his death in A.D. 1714, 367, arrest of his
agent 368&N, 369, also spelt Surop Singh,
Seroop Singh 369, and Syroop Singh 370,
his capture of English officials 373, 374N,
his bad treatment of the English captives

— 605 —

and greed for money 382&N, his demand
of a ransom 383, 384, his adamant attitude
in not releasing the English prisoners
384-5, causes for his stiffness and fight
390-1, 396, his action justified 397, 398, 399,
peace with the English and its terms 402,
403, causes for the treaty with the English
404-7, his death in A.D. 1713-14, 407,
408&N, 409, 410&N, his death referred to
418. his sons 419, his quarrel with the
English Council at Fort St. David 419, 420,
421, 423, his neglect to pay off the arrears
referred to 423, 426, his reign in A.D. 1713,
429, his son, 430, 431, his nephew 433, 447.

Sarvagna Lingama Nayudu, Yacha's younger brother

149.

Satara 214, 440, 442N, 456,
Satghar fort, 313, 315, 337N, 449N, Satgadh 459.
Sattangadu 361N, granted to the English 447N.
Satyamangalarn, Plates 54, Mysore capture of 157.
Satyanatha Aiyar, Mr. R. referred to 181N.
Satyavedu 449N.
Sauinders, Governor 503, 515.
Saudiancopang, granted to the English 458N.
Savanadrug 168.

Savanur Bankapur 358N, 445N, Nawab of 471N.
Sayana Udayar, son of Bukka: 51, his rule in the

South 51.

Sayyid Amber Khan, the faujdar of the Carnatic, 206, his
sons 214N, 215N, Maratha treaty with 226.

Sayyid Lashkar Khan, his supply of provisions to Zul-
fikar 291, his post in the seige of Gingee
296, 297.

Sayyid Hussain Ali and his fight 360.

Sayyid Muhammad Khan, 451.

— 606 —

Sayyid Nasir Khan of Gingee 206,

Sayyid Brothers, the 367.

Schopenhauer, the German philosopher 70N.

Scott, Major referred to 293N2, 298, his date for the
fall of Gingee 343.

Semmandalam, the Nawab's camp at, 519.
Senal, 489N1.

Senji : old name of Gingee and called so after the name of
the goddess of the place 5, 21, Tamil name 24.

Senjiamman, the virgin goddess of Gingee 5. identified
with Kamalakkanni Amman 5, 22,

Sendamangalam : (Chentamangalam) : fort built by
Kobilingam 31N, 34&N, 35, headquarters
of Kopperunjinga 35.

Sen, Dr. S. N. referred to 231.

Sera, also Sira, Mussalman capture of 156, Nayak killed
168, Mughal governor of and his defeat
325N1, 358N, Maratha outpost in 442N, 446.

Serappa, Checca, the Company's merchant 374N, his in-
fluence 390.

Seringapatam, capture of 152, 154, 155, siege of 156, 157,
168, robbed 230N, tribute enacted from
441, II Maratha expedition called after
this 442N.

Seshadri Aiyangar, Nallan Chakravarti, Rajaguru of
Tubaki Krishnappa Nayaka 88N.

Seven Pagodas, The, 109N.

Sewell, Robert, referred to 74N, 138, 142.

Shah Alam, his succession 301, 307, 450N.

Shahbeg Khan, 498N.

Shah Nawaz Khan, 494N, 498N, 509, 513.

Shah Jahan, confirmed Mir Jumla in possession of the
Carnatic 176.

— 607 —

Shahji, the Maratha general of Bijapur 153N, his death
in A.D. 1664, 166, saved the Hindu empire

167, 168, got Bangalore 168, subdued Mysore

168, attacked Kenga Hanuma 168, his at-
tempt to form a confederacy of the south-
ern Nayaks 168, 169, his power in A.D.
1648, 169, and Sriranga 170, his imprison-
ment at Bijapur and release 170, in Gingee
173, 174, events leading to his arrest 174,
his power in the south 174, 175, his victory
over Mir Jumla 175, 180, his advance to
Gingee 180, 183, 187, his part in the con-
quest of Gingee 187, his attack on Trichi-
nopoly and flight to Tanjore 188, father of
Shivqji 358N.

Shahji II, Raja of Tanjore 316, his submission to the

Moghuls 316.
Shahu, Maharaja of Satara, his help to Sarfoji 440, 441,

442N. his desire to annex the south 442N,

Nizam's war upon 443, 455, his" southern

expedition 456,

Shaikh Abdul Khadir the Quazi of the Padshah, 438,
Shaikh, Nur, 356, 357.
Shaitan Dari, gate of Gingee 296, 330, 334.
Shamji Nayak Punde, 238, his imprisonment 239, at

Gingee 260.

Shamsullah Qadir 494N, 495. 498.
Shankarji Malhar Eao, 265.

Sher Khan Lodi, of Valikandapuram. 215, Martin's ally

218N, 228, his war with Gingee 232, 233.
Sheva Reddi Nayak, a trader 373. 374N, 377, 379.
Shikar Udaya Ram, the jupyanavis, 356,

Shivaji (also Sivaji), the Great Maratha : his campaign
in the South 16, his fortification of Gingee
16N, his rebellion 174, 185, his Karnatak

— 608 —

expedition 188, his attack on Gingee 210r
got help from Golkonda 211, his plunder of
Bijapur 211, his alliance with Bahlol Khan,
and with Golkonda 211, his relations with
Golkonda 212, his starting on the Karnatak
expedition 212, his aliiance with Golkonda
213, his assurance to Golkonda and Bijapur

213. his route 213, built the Ganesh Ghat on
the banks of the Krishna and visited
Srisaila 214, his entry into the Carnatic

214, his arrival at Gingee and capture
of it 215, an account of its capture
215N, 216, 217, his works at various
places 417, 218N, the English fear of
220, his letter to the English 220-1, his
capture of Vellore 221, his fortification of
Gingee 223-4, 225, his capture of Gingee
recalled 226, his Carnatic expedition 226,
his claims on the south 227, and Madanna
Pant 228 as the commander of Golkonda
forces 228, 229, the object of his expedition
230, causes that led to his expedition ani
the help of Golkonda therefore 233-4, his
treachery to Golkonda 234&N, 235, his
organisation of Gingee 236, his death
in A.D. 1680, 237, the condition of Gingee
at the time of his death 237, his daughter
238N, his wife 239, 253, 254N, 256, 358N,
his country 276.

Shivaji, son of Sambhaji 253, chosen as ruler 253, 254&N,
captured by the Mughals 255.

Shivnath Singh, made killedar of Gingee, 352, a follower
of Jaipur Eaja 353, 354.

Sholinghur, Mahacharya or Doddacharya of; and his
part in the consecration of the Govindaraja,
shrine 79N, 123N.

Silatgadh, 497.

— 609 —

Siddavaram, 313N.

Siddhi Raihan, commander 183.

Sidhout, 358N.

Sikhs, troubles from the 367.

Simhalas, The, conquest of 52.

Simon de Sa, Rector of the Jesuit College at San Thome
98N.

Singarampettai 88N.

Singavaram shrine 12, identified with Bishun Gingee
(Vishnu Gingee) 13, 14, 22, 24N2, its origin
25N, earliest mention in a Chola epigraph
as Singapura Nadu 27, connection with
Srirangam 55, 61, Adivaraha temple at 71,
88N, 107, hill 296, 300, 427, 481N1.

Sirukadambur 88N, temple built by Tubaki Krishnappa
88N, 465,

Sittamur, the stone car-stand at 7, inhabited by the Jains
7. temple built by the Jains 88N, 316, 513N1.

Sivaganga, Poligar of and his submisssion to Zulfikar
352, 452N,

Sivanath, the recipient of the Gingee jaghir 15.

Sivappa Nayaka of Ikkeri 160, his help to Sriranga III,
160, his success 160, 161 hostility to
Shahji 169, 172, 173, got honours from
Sriranga 173, 176.

Smith, Captain Stephen 521, 524, 527, 529.

S'olaga of the Collroon, his defeat 76, 100 also known
as Salavacha 102, ruler of Devikottai 102, an
account of 102, his attitude towards the
Jesuits 103, his descendants 103N, family
title of S'olaganar 103N, 131N.

Somappa, general of Kampana, 50.

Somasekhara Nayaka, Raja 421N,

77

— 610 —

Somaya Dandanayaka the Mahapradhani of Kampana,

49. See Somappa.

Someswara, see Vira Someswara the Hoysala.
Somerville Ensign 374, his base conduct 391&N, his flight

392.

Sornay the French engineer, 479N.
Sorya Bai, Shivaji's wife 239, her desire to secure the

throne for her son 239.
South Arcot Dt. Collector of 8, 24N, under the Cholas

27, 34N, 51, District 54, 55, 72, 80, 106N,

131N, 146.

Spain, King of 111,
Srikaracharya Kalgankar 265.

Srimushnam temple, built by Tubaki Krishnappa Nayaka
85, image of Krishnappa Nayaka, at 86.
sculptures in the temple of 202, 316.

Srinivasa Dikshita Ratnakhita, author, 90,

Sri Ram, Huzur Arnani, 356.

Srirangam 14, 43, temple 50, 51, sack of 55, 60, 61 resto-
ration of its temple 58, date of its consecra-
tion 62, gifts to 62, 123N, 144.

Sriranga Raya III of Vijayanagar, 123N, 152, his war
with Mysore 152-3, his flight to Ikkeri 160,
honoured Sivappa Nayaka 160, 161, his
friendly attitude towards the English 161-2,
confirmation of the grant of Madras in
A. D. 1645., 162, 163, his success over the
Golkonda forces 163, attacked by Bijapur
and Golkonda forces 164, his flight 164
his refuge in Mysore 165, his second flight
from the capital 166, the condition of the
empire at the time of his accession 166-7,
170, alliance with Bijapur 170, his determin-
ed opposition towards the Mussalmans 171,
forced to flee 171, attacked 172, betrayed 172,
sought the help of the Ikkeri Nayaka 172.

— 611 —

his restoration 173, 175, his appeal to
Aurangzib 175, peace with Bijapur 175,
his subsequent fortunes 176, 177, his
recovery 177N, his defeat 178, his conquest
of Tirupati and other places 178, his request
to the Dutch 179, his last attempts to gain
power 180, 181, his failure to achieve any-
thing 181&N, his epigraphs 197, 205.

Sriranga the nephew of Venkata I ; appointed Raya
133, supported by Yachama Nayaka 134t
murder of 134, his son, Rama 135, chosen
heir 135N, his short rule 135&N, 137, 138,
139 his murder 141, 143, 146,

Srisaila, God Mallikarjuna of 214.

Sripat Rao the Maratha Pratinidhi, 441.

Stalakaranampettai 88N.

St. George's Mountain, present name of Chandrayan

Drug 3. 526,-29.
St. Thomas 523.
Sulupgadh 449N.
Sunda, Raja Ram at, 257.
Sundara Balaji, the subhedar of Kunimedu 268, his

negotiations with the English 268-9, 270.

Sundara Pandya I, 34N, 55.

Sunku Rama, the Company's merchant, 447N.

Surappa Nayaka of Gingee, his epigraph 78, called lord
of Maninagapura 78, his relationship with
the Gingee Nayaks 78, 89, called Adappam
Surappa Krishnama 89, his ancestors and
brothers 90, his help to Vijayanagar 90,
difficulty in fixing his chronology 90, gov-
ernor of Tiruvati 198.

Surat, 217, 218N, 227, 230N, 244.

Surman, John, his letter referred to 430, his embassy to
the Emperor 447N,

— 612 —

Tabari, the Muhammadan historian, 364.

Tadpatri 451, 510.

Takkayagapparani by Otta kuttan 123N.

Talikota battle of 90, (Rakhas Tagdi) 181N, 204.

Talkanoor 497.

Tamarappakkam 449N.

Tamil country, the 55, 59, 62, 63, 71, the Nayaks of 143.

Tandore, grant of 325N2.

Tanjore, road leading to 32, District 34N, 35, Nayaks
of 48, under Sayana Udayar 51, Nayaks of
64, 65, 72, 74&N, sources for their history
75N, palace: description of 76, Nayaks 77,
91 to 93, 95, 101, 104, 107, sought the help
of the Dutch 117, union with Madura 146,
149, joined Tirumala, but later on severed
connection 159, loyalty to Vijayanagar 159,
and Shahji 169, 170, 171, joining Madura
and betrayal 172, 175, attacked and plunder-
ed by Bijapur 180, Muslim advance upon
186, 189, its tribute 190, Nayak of 200N, 205,
Shivaji's capture of 222, its ruler 226, 230N,
233, 234, Nayak of 260, Raja of 287, Raja
Ram s request for help 287, migration of
people to 288, 289, Raja of 290, his help to
Rama Raya 299, Zulfikar's march towards
294, 295, 314, 315, Raja of 316, 320N, tribute
from 328, Z^lfikar at 357, 358N, Raja of 365N,
440, Bhonsla line 442N, capture of, by Chanda
Sahib 452, anarchy 452N, 456, Anwarud-
din's march towards 466, Muzaffar Jang's
march towards 469, raising siege of Tanjore
470, 477.

Tanyal 489N.

Tadikara Virappan. the valiant protector of the virgin
sisters, 22.

— 613 —

Taqi AliKhan, killedar of Wandiwash 452

Tarani Singh, Desing's uncle and his rule in Gingee
369, 420,

Tatacharya, Tirumala: the great Vaishnava teacher 120t
126N, his religious zeal 126N, 128, called
Ettur Kumara Tirumala Tatacharya 128,
also called Lakshmi Kumara and Koti-
kanyadana and Venkataraya Tatacharya, on
account of his influence in the court of
Venkata I 128, royal guru and manager
of Vishnu temples 128, his magnificence
128, identified with Tatarya, great grandson
of Srinivasa 129, his works 129, 130.

Tatasamudram, tank dug by Tatacharya 129.

Taylor Rev. William: author of the Catalogue Raisonnee
2, Referred to and his summary of Karnatakct
Bajakkalchantam quoted 28N, 67N, 74N.

Tegnapatam, also known as Devanampatnam, the present
Fort St. David 108, 109 also spelt as Teva-
nampatnam and Taunapatam in thePortu-
guese records 109N, 110, 111, 112, arrival of
the Dutch ships at 112, 113, the Dutch at
114, fort of 115&N, Nayak of 116, renewal
of the old cowh 117, capture of the Portu-
guese ships at 117, 118, 119, captured by
the Bijapur forces 165, looted 174, 185, fort
192, abandoned by the Dutch 237, granted
to the English 242, 249, 250, Harji's retreat
to 262. See also Fort. St. David & Deva-
nampatnam.

Tejonath Singh, 15.

Tellar 489N1.

Tenneri taluk 129.

Terrill, Lewis : his account of the siege of Gingee 303,

307,
Terani Sing, father of Desing 369, 417, 419, 420.

— 614 —

Tikka, the Telugu Chola chief, 42.

Tillai Muvayiravar of Chidambaram 123N.

Timaji Keshav 216.

Timiri, 365N, 410N, 449N, 513N1.

Timmaji Nayak appointed subhedar of Gingee, 264.

Timmappayan Durgam 449N.

Timma Naique 138,

Tindivafcam, road leading to 6, 31&N2, Vishnu temple
built by Ramachandra Nayaka of Gingee
88N, Siva shrine at 88N, 202, 277, 314, 356,
357, 465, 466, 486N1.

Tippu Sultan, his capture of Gingee 83N.
Tipudas, agent of Sadatullah 368N.
Tirukkajfikkudi 51.
Tirakkovoiyor^ a Saiva work 123N.

Tirukoyilur taluk, 34&N, temple built by Tubaki
Krishnappa Nayaka 85, image of Krish-
nappa Nayaka 86, taluk 89, sculptures at
202, 328, 356, 357.

Tirumala Nayaka of Madura : his accession and in-
subordination 152&N, 153&N, 157, and
Kongu 157, and Sriranga III 159, his union
with the other Nayaks 159, his appeal to
Golkonda 159, 166, 167, 169, his treachery
172, his march to Gingee 173, his death
180, his opposition to Sriranga 181, his
treachery 181N, his help to Gingee 183,
186, his suceessor 187, 205, his policy re-
ferred to 206.

Tirumala, Bangaru of Madura 452N, his treachery
452N, 453. 454.

Tirumalaraya of Vijayanagar 90.

Tirumalipatam (Tirumalarayanpatnam) 117.

Tirumangai Alwar, the Vaishnava saint, 123N.

Tirumullaivasal, Trimlivasal, 272N1.

— 615 —

Tirunagari, 74N".

Tirunamanallur 316.

Tirupapuliyur (Cud'dalore N. T.) castle, 114, 115&N, 116,

to 119, 357, 370, 374N, 386, people of 387,

400.
Tirupassur 449N.

Tirupati, 61, Lower 79N, consecration of Govindaraja by
Ramanuja 123, virnana gilded by Tatacharya
128, his other gifts to 129, Sriranga's cap-
ture of 178, 220, 229, hundi on 446.

Tirupparankunram epigraph, 66, 78, 150, 188,
Tiruppattur 336.
Tiruppulivanam 51.

Tiruppukkuli Inscription 49, 313N.

Tiruvadi (Tanjore Dt.) 201N, Zulfikar's camp at 351,
Tiruvakkarai 589.

Tiruvagaliswaramudayar temple, 49.

Tiruvamattur, 197, 356, 457.

Tiruvannamalai, road leading to 6, 11, 21, 41, 44, 46, 50
temple prakaras and gopura built by the
Gingee Nayak 88N, 147, temple built 202,
207, 252, Kesho Trimbak imprisoned at 263,
Zulfikar's attempt to capture it 294, 313N,
gate 335, Mughals at 336, 352, 449N, 481N1,
496, 206, 526, 530N,

Tiruvati (S. Arcot Dt.) 27, chief, a feudatory of Gingee
102, 104, 131N, 198, 317, 352, Muzaffar
Jang's retreat to 470, 471N, French attack
on 471N, 473 captured by the French 475,
battles at 475, 481N1, 517-22.

Tiruvendipuram 397, Vishnu temple 400, grant of 402.
501-4.

Tiruvenkatam Pillai 434.

Tiruvennainallur 352.

Tiruvikrama Perumal temple, 202,

— 616 —

Tiruvottiyur, grant of to the English, 361N, 447N.

Tittagudi 315.

Todar Mall, Lala the sheristadar 410N, sent to Gingee
410F, his report of Desing's behaviour
410N, his advance towards Gingee 424, 425r
426 his unsuccessful mediation 427.

Tondamandalam 34N, 36, 37, 48, 57, Narasa Nayaka's
invasion upon 72, 73 governor of 117.

Tondiarpet 447N.

Toppur, battle of 135&N, also Tohur 135N, 144, date of
the battle 145, 149, 166.

Tranquebar 207.

Travancore 70N, South 74N, 101, Sriranga Ill's invasion
on 153, 358N.

Trenchfield, Richard 325N2, 374.

Trichinopoly, road leading to 32, district 43, 46, 74N,
134N, 144, 149, siege of 187, 188, 189,
Nayak of 260, Zulfikar's march upon 294,
Nayak of 316 his submission to Zulfikar
351, Raja of 365N, 440, 452N, 454, Maratha
siege of 456, Asaf Jah's attempt to recover
it from the Marathas 460, 461, 466 Muham-
Ali's retirement to 468, 471&N, 474, 417N1,
506-8, 516.

Trikalinga kings 42.

Trimbak Rao 289.

Triplicane 349, scare in 361N.

Tristapitla, son of Anandakon of Gingee 83N.

Tughlak Muhammad-bin 60.

Tukoji. Tanjore Raja ; his help to the Marathas, 442&N.

Tulapur 255.

Tumbur 481N1.

Tumkur 166.

Tundira, conquest of 52. 74, Tanjore's victory over 76.

Tungabadra, an island in the 258N2. 358N.

— 617

Tuzuk-i-Walajuhi, the, 504.
Tyagadrug, 522-4, 528.

Udayagiri ; taken by Mir Jumla 164, Golkonda capture

of 172, 449N.

Udayarpalayam 469. 530N1.
Ulundurpet 207.

Ushaparinayam, The. a Telugu work 94.
Uttaramallur 106N, battle referred to 134N, 149, Uttira-
merur 37.

Vajendragadh 449N.

Vaidya, Mr. C. V. referred to 211, 225.

Vaishnavism, its growth in South India 120, Vaishnava*

123&N.

Vaiyappa Nayaka 73, his conquests 73, 78, 81, 82, 85.
Valentine, referred to 217.
Valikandapuram 218N, 229, 230N, 233.
Vallalaraya ruled over Gingee 41, 42, Ballala III 42.

Vallappa Danda Nayakar 44, called Vallappar and identi-
fied with Vallalaraya 44, king of Senji and
son-in-law of Ballala IV, 45.

ValudavQr 207, 208, Vardavur 274, 294, 356, 357, 373,
Waldore 374N, rented out 377, 380, 381,
382&N, 386, plundered 388, 389, 392,
406, Desing's appeal for help to the ruler of
410N, killedar joined Desing 426, 449N, 457,
471N, Nasir Jang's advance towards 474,
497, 509, 521-2.

Vander Meer, head of the Dutch factory at Tegnapatam
119.

Vannandurgam 449N.

Vanniyars, The 64.

— 618 —

Varadambikaparinayami The 72.

Varadamambapuram 313N.

Varadapya Nayaka of Gingee, 78, 83&N, identified with
Krishnappa Nayaka 91, 92, 150, 188.

Varadaraja, author 123N,

Varadarajaswami temple at Conjeevaram 25N, 128.

Varahanadi, The, dam across built by the Nayaks, 88N,
building of the mania pa 88N, 410N, the
Sankaraparani of the ballad 428.

Varthema 189, 200N.

Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese chief 112, mentioned
200N.

Vayyambika, queen of Venkata I, 133.

Vedanta Desika, the great Vaishnava teacher 61, his
praise of Gopanarya 62, 79.

Velimedoupet 486, 487N1. 489N1, Nasir Jang's death at
500. 506, 512, 513N.

Veplas. The 63, 64.

Vellar, The, 100, called Valarius by Du Jarric 100, 146.

Vellore gate or Arcot gate of Gingee 4, siege of 16N,

Krishnaraya's army encamped at 73, 74N.

Gate 96, 98N, the Nayak of 102, 103, 106N,

Venkata's residence at 107, 119, 126N

Nayaks: followers ofSaivism 126N, 131N,

an account of the siege of 131N, became the

residence of Venkata in 1606. 131N, also

called Rayavelur 131N, 138, 139, 153N, los«

of 159, lost by Sriranga III 160, recovery of

160, 161, Arlour identified with 162, 165,

166, invested 169, 170, 171, fort invested by

Shahji 171, Sriranga's attempt to recover it

175, its siege by Shivaji 221, 222, 227, 232,

237, Rajaram at 257, 258N2, 295N1, 315,

325N2, Rajaram's escape to 332, Marathas

at 333, 336, 337&N, 347, 358N, 365&N,

jaghir granted to Ghulam Ali 438N, 449N,

killedarof 450. 458&N, 459. 481N, 498N, 502,

522.

— 619 —

Velugoti family, chiefs of Kalahasti 94, history of,
134N, brothers of 157, an account of 313&N.
Vvlugotivarivamsauali The 105.
Vengalamba, mother of Surappa Nayaka 90,
Venkata Boriah, Kavali 67N.
Venkatacharya, the Madura dalavay 452N.
Venkata I of Vijayanagar. 76, 90, 91, 92, called Ven-
katapatir in the Jesuit records, 92, 93, his
imprisoning Krishnappa Nayaka and subse-
quent release 93, his death in A.D. 1614.
94, 98N, his gift to the Jesuit 98N, his
residence 98N, 103, 104, his war with
Krishnappa Nayaka 104, abandoned his
march upon Gingee 105, sent a general
instead 105, fight 106, his early wars with
the Muhammadans referred to 106N, started
for Gingee from Vellore 107, his letter to
Philip III of Spain 109N, and the Portu-
guese 110, 111, his order for the expulsion
of the Dutch 110, 111, 112, 120, 121, his
patronage of Appayya Dikshita 126N, his
leanings towards Saivism 126N, and Vaishna-
vism as well 128, the Vilapaka grant 126N,
his relations with the Jesuits 130, his death
131, the civil war after his death 131 N, his
victory over Krishnappa referred to 131N,
his victory over Lingama Nayaka of Vel-
lore 131N, his wives 133, his nephews 135N,
137, 149, 153 and the ruler of Mysore 154,
his administration 157, 158 and the Jesuits
191, 203, 204.
Venkata II. of Vijayanagar 94, brother-in-law of Venka-

tappa of Kalahasti 94.

Venkata. brother of the Kalahasti chief and commander
of Venkata I's forces in Gingee 93, his
defeat of Krishnappa Nayaka 93, his rule in
Gingee 94, built a tank 94, belonged to the
Velugoti family 94, 131N.

— 620 —

Venkatagiri, chief of 134, 135N, under Yachama Nayak
148, taluk, 313N, help to the Nawab of the
Carnatic 410N, 425.

Venkatakrishna. Dubash 379.

Venkatakrishna Nayak of Gingee 83&N.

Venkatammal, a sister of Venkatapati Nayak 203.

Veakatammalpettai 203.

Venkatapathi Gautama, sent by the Mughal emperor
to the south 332, 335, appointed jaghirdar
of Pennattur 438.

Venkatapati Nayak. Bala or Vala, 80, persecuted the
Jains 80, also known as Dubala Krishnappa
81, identified with Tubaki Krishnappa 82,
150N, 203.

Venkatappa Nayak of Gingee, 73, 74, 83, 88N. contem-
porary of Venkata I 91, identified with
Krishnappa Nayaka 92.

Venkatappa Nayaka called Moodu Venkatappa and son
of Damarla Chenama Nayak, granted
Madras to the English 95, his victory over
Lingama Nayaka of Vellore 107.

Venkataramaswami temple 7, 8, conservation of 19,
85N, 87, built by Muthialu Nayaka 87, 89,
201, 410N, 424, 520N.

Venkataram Nayaka of Gingee 83&N.

Venkata Rao, killedar of Ami, 410N,

Venkatesapura, a village granted to Tatacharya 129.

Venrumankonda Sambuvaraya, 49.

Venugopalaswami temple, 9.

Vepery. grant of, 325N2, 458N.

Vepur Durgam. 449N.

Verhoven, Admiral Pieter Willemsen, 113.

Versailles, Records 476N, 479N.

Very, M. 479N, 513N.

Vettavalam 33, woods 296, 317, 356, 357. Vettavanam
poligar of 465.

Vico, Fr. referred to 65, 190.

— 621 —

Vijayanagar. its style of architecture in Gingee 6. 10
rulers of 25, and Kobilingan 34, rulers at
Gingee 37, conquest of Gingee 41, their at-
titude towards the agriculturists 64, TON,
Nayaks under 77, emperor's help in the con-
secration of Govindaraja at Chidambaram
79N, 83N, and Vaishnavism 120, and the
Chidambaram temple 122, empire and the
civil war 131, its causes 135N, duration
of the war 137, results of the war 147-8,
151N, 167, disruption of the empire 172, re-
sults 181N, 188, empire and its organisation
188-9, its tributaries 190-1, its palmy days
193-4, state interference in social matters
198-204, offer of betel, a custom ; its origin
199-200, civil war referred to 205, its glory
and legacy 205.

Vijayappa Nayaka of Gingee 83 &N.

Vijayaraghavaswami. God 313N.

Vijayaraghava Nayaka, general of Krishnadevaraya,
73, 74.

Vijayaraghava Nayaka of Tanjore, author 75N, son of
Raghimatha 76, 144N2, 146.

Vijayara</hai'a vamsavali. The 75N.

Vijayaranga Nayak, governor 83N, got Gingee as
jdtjhir from Krishnappa Nayaka 83N.

Vijayindra Tirtha, the Madhwa Guru 126N.

Vikrama Chola, 123N.

Vikramapura, See Kannanur.

Vikravandi 517-9.

Vilapaka grant of Venkata I, 131 N.

Viiiiyanur (Villenour) 489N1, 509, 522-3.

Villupuram. 470, 476, 481N, 486, Belpur 490N, 495-7,
504, 513N, 516, 519, 511.

Vilukkam 513N.

Virabhadra Nayaka of Ikkeri, his defeat of Kenga
Hanuma 155, his complaint to Bijapur, 156.

Virana, nephew of Ballala IV. 45N.

— 622 —

Vira Narasimha III. the Hoysala 43, his fighting with

his brother 43, 44.
Vira Ramanatha : the Hoysala, 43.
Vira Saiva Gurus 126N.
Vira Someswara: the Hoysala 42, his conquest of the

Chola 42, 43, his death 43&N.
Vira Vijayarayar 41.
Virinchipuram 48, identified with Marakatapuri 50t

defeat of Sambuvaraya at, 58.
Virupakshapatta*ia, founded by Ballala III, 46.
Virupaksha, son of Harihara II, 51, 55, 71, 72.
Virupaksha II. referred to 130.
Vishalgad, Raja Ram's escape to, 255, 256.
Vishnu, Lord 52.
Viswanatha Hoysala 44.
Vifctala Raja, governor of Vijayanagar 103.
Vittala temple at Pandharpur. 130.
Vivers, Capt. 380.

Vizagapatam. 272N1, chief of 278, 349, 356.
Vriddhachalam,f the building of the prakara, gopura etc.

by the Gingee Nayaks, 88N, 449N, 521.
Vyasarpadi. 361N". granted to the English 447N.

W

Wagingera, seige of 292.

Wandiwash, Raja of 41, 94, chief of 157, Mughal cap-
ture of 252, Maratha defeat at 262, Mughal
camp at 262, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309 to 311,
313, 314, return of Mughal army to 317,
320N, 321, 325N2, 328, 330N, 337N, 365N,
449N, 452, 460, 470, 485-6, 494, 513N, 521,
530N.

Waring, Scott, referred to and quoted 13, 14, 15.

White Town (Madras), fortifications of 447N.

Wilks. Col. referred to, 213, 215N, 225, 452N, 530N.

William III. King of England. 281N1.

William, Fort. 325N2.

— 623 —

Wilson, Prof. H. H. 67N.
Wood, Capt. 521.
Woodga Naik, 377&N.
Wynad. 39.
Wynch, Alexander 503.

Xavier. St. Francis, 70N.

Y

Yachama Nayaka. Velugoti chief 105, his capture of
Gingee 106, an account of him 106N, his
early wars 106N, and the civil war 131&N,
his capture of Gingee 131N, leader of the
loyalists 134, his early victories 134N, alias
Yachasura 134N, 135N, alias Pedda Yacha-
ma Nayudu and Yachasurudu 140, Yacha-
mahipa 140N, his refusal to join Jaggaraya
140, 141, 142, his victory over Yatiraja 146,
his later wars with Yatiraja 147N, 148, his
title 148, his military exploits 149, his
younger brother 149.

Yachama Nayaka, alias Raja Bangaru Yachama Naidu
of the Velugoti family ; and also Yachappa
Nayaka 258N2, his rebellion 288&N, 289
298, 307, 313&N, an account of his gifts
313N, 315, his letter to the Mughal emperor
317, was put to death by Zulfikar Khan 317,
319, 320&N, 410N, his son, 428N.

Yachama Nayaka. Bangaru Kumara: also Sarvagna
Kumara Yachendra, son of Yachama, 318,
installed as mansabdar 352, his help to
Zulfikar Khan 425, 428N.

Yadavas of Devagiri. the 199.

Yagnanarayana Dikshita, son of Govinda Dikshita,
75N, 77.

Yakub Khan, 498.

— 624 —

Yale, Mr. Elihu. his mission to Gingee 208, 209, 241,
got privilege at Cuddalore 241, Governor of
Madras 270, 272&N1, sent to Gingee 275,
281N1, his help requested by the Marathas
287, 325N2, 374.'

Yale. Mr. Thomas. 270, 279, 280, 281&N1.

Yatiraja, brother of Jaggaraya. 106N, his part in the
civil war 146, his defeat 147&N.

Yembollum. damage done to 374N.

Yesubai. Sambhaji's widow, 253, her administration
253-4&N, captured by the Mughals, 255, 264

Zamorin of Calicut, his alliance with the Dutch 108.

Zinatunnisa Princess Begum Sahiba, second daughter of
Aurangzib: her friendly attitude to Sham-
bhaji's widow and son 255, her attachment
towards Sivaji, 256.

Zulfikar Khan Nusrat Jang, Nawab and commander in
chief of the Mughal forces : his siege of
Gingee 16N, 23, 272N1, his far man to the
English 285, despatch to the Carnatic 286,
286, his terms to the English 286, 287, also
Dhul Faqar Khan 288, at Gingee 288,
attacked by the Marathas 288N, 289, his
advance upon Gingee 289, 291, his march
towards the South and return after plunder
294, his advice to Raja Ram to surrender
the fort 295&NI, his siege of Gingee 296,
297, failure and further plans 298, his watch
over Kambaksh -301-2, 303, 304&N, 305,
accused of treachery 312, his retreat to
Wandiwash 313&N, 314, 315, his arrival at
Tanjore 316; his renewed attack on Gingee
317, his collusion with the Marathas 317, his
charge against Yachama Nayaka 317, 319,
his prolonged siege 321, his victory at Ami

— 625 —

328, his financial difficulties 328, 329&N,
his renewed attack 330&N, got the title of
Nasrat Jang 330N, his prolonged siege-show
331, his collusion with the Marathas 332, 333 ;
entered Gingee 334, his kind treatment of the
Maratha royal family 334, title Amir-ul-
umara, 335, 336, ocoupied Gingee 337, called
Gingee Nasratgadh 338, 339, 340, an account
of his capture of Gingee 341, and cruelties
341-2, 344, 346, 347, 348, his letter to the
English 348, restoration of order in Gingee
and its neighbourhood 351, 352, 353, gave
Sarup singh the kiUedari of Gingee 355,
made over the administration and returned
to Aurangzib 356, 357, appointed subhedar
360&N, his conquest of Gingee referred to
374, grant of cowle to the English 374, 379,
394, 399, his earlier grant to the English
referred to 402, 425, 428N.

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D-Journals

Annals of Oriental Research, University of Madras

Vols. Ill and IV.

The Annamalai University Journal, Vols. VIII. IX & X.
The Indian Antiquary, Vols. LIV & LV.
The Journal of Indian History, Vols. V, IX, XI, XVI &

.X. VII.

The Journal of the Madras University — Vol. IV.
The Madras Journal of Literature and Science.

ERRATA

PAGE FOOT- LINE

FOR

READ

NOTE

47 N 3

B. N. Saletore

B. A. Saletore

63 N 5

Invader

Invaders

75 N 12-13

Illuminating

an illuminating

92 12

identification

identification

104 9

Trivati

Tiruvati

150 16

Amdala

Andola

(Andoloka)

150 17

was

way

168 25

noteworth

noteworthy

190 22

plundered

were plundered

201 N 1

1924-Sevvappa

1596-Achyut-

appa

205 3-4

resources,

resources as

before

before

245 12

seige

siege

246 8

seige

siege

247 • 2

letter

latter

250 26

sat

set

253 21

seige

siege

259 N 29

canalry

cavalry

276 11

One of the main

"One of the

reasons

. main reasons.

286 Chapter

Seige

Siege

heading

288 N3

poligas

poligars

80

X

PAGE FOOT-

LINE

FOR

READ

NOTE

295

23

beseiged

besieged

296

16

beseiged

besieged

297

17

sufficient troop

sufficient

troops

304

22

Singhor army

besieging army

321 N

20

consequent an

consequent on

all

all

333

24

to the top of

at the top of

363

2

Burhanibu

Burhan-ibn

363

4

picture of the

picture of him

402

2

from from

from

418

17

as a man

a man

419

16

Mack. Mass

Mack. Mss.

429 Nl

1

S. J. Epigraph-

S. I. Epigraph-

ist's Report.

ist's Report.

435 N

2

1914

1714

476

6

seige

siege

477

11

seige

siege

481

3

seige

siege

483 N

20

fo be much

to be much

487

7

in the middle

in the middle of

487 Nl

15

Qnran

Quran

500

28

of fhe town

of the town

501

2

essay on Olive :

essay on Olive

" the column

and adds that

" the column

502

4

of them as fol-

of them is as

lows : —

follows : —

xi

PAGE FOOT-
NOTE

LINE

FOR

503

22

worte

503

24

Nasir Jung

513 Nl

18

Muslims

historian

515

2

seige

522

14

of Valudavur

524

14

an convoy

526

10

unpercieved

527

8

siezed

527

20

was not be

expected

527

22

On the every
day

529

17

stategic

530 N

19

Liteuenant

READ

wrote

Nasir Jang
Muslim

historian
siege

Valudavur
a convoy
unperceived

seized

was not to be
expected

On the very

day

strategic
Lieutenant

JAI SINGH OF GINGEE (Desing?)

* .$