#AtoZChallenge #IndianHistory #UnsungQueens #KeladiChennamma
Keladi Chennamma was the Queen of Keladi
Kingdom (1671-1696) in Karnataka.
A Lingayat,
she was the daughter of Siddappa Setti, a native merchant of Kundapur,
Karnataka.
Keladi Kingdom (also known as Bednur and Ikkeri), was formed after the fall of Vijayanagara Empire.
Chennamma married King Somashekara
Nayaka in 1667 CE. After Somashekhara Nayaka's death in 1677, Chennamma efficiently handled the
administration of the Keladi Nayaka dynasty.
During her reign of 26
years, she repelled the advances of the Mughal Army
led by Aurangzeb
from her military base in the kingdom of Keladi
located in Sagara, Karnataka India. She adopted
Basavappa Nayaka, one of her close relatives who succeeded as Hiriya Basappa
Nayaka. She also rendered a trade agreement with the Portuguese involving
commodities like pepper and rice.
She was given the epithet "the
Pepper Queen" or "Raina da Pimenta" by the Portuguese. She also
permitted Portuguese to establish churches at Mirjan,
Honnavara,
Chandavara and Kalyanpura.
In the state of Karnataka, she is celebrated along with Abbakka Rani,
Kittur Chennamma and Onake Obavva,
as the foremost women warriors and patriots.
She provided shelter to Rajaram Chhatrapati, son of Shivaji
who was fleeing from the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb
after a meeting with her cabinet and treated Rajaram with respect, but
Aurangazeb attacked Keladi.
Keladi Chennamma fought the war without defeat and battle with Mughals
ended in a treaty. A subordinate of Keladi Kingdom, Sadasiva of Swadi also helped Rajaram
through a loan. Keladi kingdom was probably the last to lose autonomy to Mysore
rulers and subsequently to British. Her cabinet was headed by Timmanna Nayaka
who was the descendent of a commander of Vijayanagra
She is considered as the epitome of
the Kannada
women's valor along with Rani Abbakka, Onake Obavva
and Kittur Chennamma. Mirjan fort was built by
Keladi Chennamma.
Chennamma was known to be a very
virtuous and pious woman, and a pragmatic administrator of her times.
References
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