Keladi Chennamma | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chennamma |
| Died | 1696 |
| Known for | Fighting against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb |
| Spouse | Somashekhara Nayak |
Keladi Chennamma (died 1696), was queen regnant of Keladi Veerashaiva Kingdom in Karnataka between 1677 and 1696.
She took birth in the household of a man called Siddappa Shetty, who was a native merchant in the region of Kundapur, Karnataka. 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 25 years, she repelled the advance 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. Channagiri is named after her.
She also permitted Portuguese to establish churches at Mirjan, Honnavara, Chandravara and Kalyanpura.[1] In the state of Karnataka, she is celebrated along with Rani Chennabhairadevi, Abbakka Rani, Kittur Chennamma, Belawadi Mallamma and Onake Obavva, as the foremost women warriors and patriots.[2]
She provided shelter to Rajaram Chhatrapati, son of Shivaji who was fleeing from the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb[3] after a meeting with her cabinet and treated Rajaram with respect,[4] but Aurangazeb attacked Keladi. In the battle that followed, Keladi Chennamma fought off the Mughal threat to her kingdom and the battle with Mughals ended in a treaty.[5] A subordinate of Keladi Kingdom, Sadasiva of Swadi also helped Rajaram through a loan.[4] Keladi kingdom was probably the last to lose autonomy to Mysore rulers and subsequently to British. Her cabinet was headed by Timmanna Naik, who was the descendant of a commander of Vijayanagara.[citation needed]
She is considered as the epitome of the Kannada women's valor along with Belwadi Mallamma, Rani Abbakka, Onake Obavva and Kittur Chennamma.[2]
Chennamma was known to be a very virtuous and pious woman, and a pragmatic administrator of her times.