Madurai Nayak dynasty
[2] The Nayak reign which lasted for over two centuries from around 1529 to 1736 was noted for its achievements in arts, cultural and administrative reforms, revitalization of temples previously ransacked by the Delhi Sultans, and the inauguration of a unique architectural style.[6] These merchants styled themselves as protectors of Vira Balanja Dharma[7] and their capital was at Ayyavole or Aihole in Bijapur district of Karnataka.[8] Description of the Nayakas of Madurai was compiled by an official of the Dutch East India Company in 1677, it mentions that the founder of the dynasty, Viswanatha Nayak, as belonging to the Wellen Chetti merchant community.[2][1] The Kaifiyat of the Karnata Kotikam Kings mentions the founder of the dynasty, Viswanatha Nayak, as belonging to the Garikepati family of the Balija caste.[11] According to Srivamsa Prakashika, an 18th century Telugu writing mentions the last ruler of the dynasty, Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Nayak, as belonging to the Garikepati family of the Balija caste.[12] According to a The Madura Country A Manual written by J. H. Nelson in 1868, it mentions that the descendants of the Madurai Nayaks belonged to the Balija community.That region had long been a troubled province due to its distance from Vijayanagara and had been only been fully subjugated in the early 16th century under Veera Narasimha.Towards the end of Krishnadevaraya's reign, trouble erupted in the south as the Chola Nayakas openly revolted and fled to Travancore, while Nangama began defying central orders while still claiming power of deputy.However, many of the local chieftains were still chafing under his rule, and so to appease them, Viswanatha's chief minister, Ariyanatha Mudaliar, assisted him in using the palayam or poligar system.[16] Of these 72, Kurvikulam and Ilayarasanendal, which were ruled by Kamma Nayakas of the Pemmasani, Komatineni and Ravella clans, were considered royal palayams.[18] After his death a succession crisis arose and Krishnappa Nayaka II's youngest brother, Kasturi Rangappa, seized the throne but was assassinated a week later.The community was excellent at fishing and pearl diving, which made them a valuable revenue source, but the region had generally been neglected by previous Nayakas.He was succeeded by his son Muttu Virappa Nayaka in 1609, who desired greater independence from his Vijayanagara overlords and thus stopped paying tribute regularly.This fomented a succession crisis in the Vijayanagara empire developed and civil war broke out between him and Rama Deva Raya, Sriranga II's son, who had escaped.In the Battle of Toppur in 1616, the generalship of Raghunatha and Yachama led to a crushing defeat for Jagga Raya's forces, and he was killed.In this campaign, the Portuguese supported Tirumala Nayaka, and in return he allowed them to build a fortress and station a small garrison wherever they might want.[18] In 1655, Mysore launched another invasion of Madurai when Tirumala was on his sickbed, and so he entrusted his defense to the Sethupathi of Ramnad, who had just emerged from a period of chaos.After his death in 1732, his wife, Queen Meenakshi, decided to adopt the son of Bangaru Tirumalai Nayaka, a member of the royal house.Once he was admitted into the Tiruchirappalli fort, however, Chanda Sahib declared himself king and imprisoned Meenakshi in her palace, ending the Madurai Nayakas for good.[18] The earliest Muslim work in Tamil that survives complete is a translation by Vaṇṇapparimaḷappulavar of the Persian Book of One Thousand Questions that was presented at the Madurai court in 1572.The original structure that stood there during Pandyan times was neglected during the Madurai Sultanate and fell into ruin, and the Vijayanagara rulers had begun to rebuild it.In the case of the Ranganathaswamy temple, the Nayakas expanded the original shrine to be seven concentric enclosures, each topped with towering gopurams.Thirumala Nayaka is famous for his huge Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal, which George Mitchell speculated must have been the largest of all royal residences in the 17th century, develops earlier palace architecture from the Vijayanagara period.Chokkanatha Nayak, one of the last rulers of the dynasty, issued coins displaying various animals, such as the bear, elephant and lion.
MaduraiTiruchirapalliTeluguVijayanagara EmpirePandiyan DynastyDelhi SultanateMadurai SultanateCarnatic SultanateKingdom of MysoreRamnad estatePudukkottai stateBritish CeylonTamil NaduKingdom of KandySri LankaBalijaAndhra PradeshDelhi SultansTirumala NayakaRani MangammalPortugueseVenkata IViswanatha NayakBanajigaKannadaValanjiyarAyyavoleAiholeBijapurKarnatakaDutch East India CompanyTelugu-speakingKaifiyatRamabadra NaidudescendantMilitaryCollectorMadurai NayaksVijayanagarKrishnadevarayaPandya NaduTravancoreViswanatha NayakaPandyasCholasYARKENTKHANATETURPANKHANATETSANGPACHAM-PAMINGDYNASTYMUGHALEMPIREVIJAYANAGARASAFAVIDEMPIREOTTOMANEMPIREKHIVAKHANATEBUKHARAKHANATEKAZAKH KHANATETSARDOM OF RUSSIACRIMEANKHANATEJO-SEONAYUT-THAYADAIVIETFOUROIRATSNORTHERN YUANMadurai Nayak DynastyHistory of Tamil NaduTirumala NayakChokkanatha NayakQueen MeenakshiTiruchirapalli Rock FortDindigul FortNamakkal FortSankagiri FortAttur FortThirumalai Nayak MahalChokkanatha Nayak PalaceRani Mangammal Tamukkam palaceChola NaduThanjavur NayakasRama RayaAriyanatha MudaliarpoligarPandyanKurvikulamPemmasaniBattle of TalikotaAnuradhapuraKrishnappa NayakaVenkatapati RayaParavarsRaghunatha NayakaKalahastiTirumalai Nayaka PalaceSethupathiTamiḻakamChronology of Tamil historyList of Tamil monarchsWootz steelMaritime contactsSangam periodSourcesThree Crowned KingsEducationLegal systemNaming conventionsGovernmentEconomySocietyReligionEarly PandyasEarly CherasEarly CholasVelirsKalabhra EmpirePallava EmpirePandyan EmpireChola EmpireChera KingdomTanjore NayaksKalahasti NayaksGingee NayaksThondaiman KingdomMarathasVenkojiMeenakshiBangaru Tirumalai Nayaka