History of the Madurai Nayaks

1. Dr.B.Athmanathan
Research Coordinator
Centre for Historical Research
Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College
Pasumalai
Madurai - 4
NAYAKS OF MADURA

2. 1. Viswanatha Nayaka (1529-1564)
2. Krishnappa Nayak I (1564-1572)
3. Veerappa Nayak (1572-1595)
4. Krishnappa Nayak II (1595-1601)
5. Muthu Krishnappa Nayak (1601-1609)
6. Muthu Veerappa Nayak I (1609-1623)
7. Thirumalai Nayakar (1623-1659)
8. Muthu Veerappa Nayak II (1659)
9. Chokanatha Nayak (1659-1682)
10. Muthu Veerappa Nayak III (1682-1689)
11. Rani Mangamal (1689-1706)
12. Vijayaranga Chokanatha Nayak (1706-1732)
13. Queen Meenakshi (1732-1736)
NAYAKS OF MADURA CHRONOLOGY

3. Visvanatha Nayaka ruled for 35 years with Madurai as
his capital and established the virtues of discipline,
administrative ability and valor. His provinces included Madurai,
Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Salem, Travancore. He
brought about various reforms and was responsible for the
introduction of the Palayakkara system. He is considered the
backbone of the Madurai Nayak rule and responsible for its
century-long, deep-rooted stability. He achieved many
victories with the help of his lieutenant Ariyanatha Mudaliar
and was a great ruler.

4. During his reign, Visvanatha Nayak cleared the forests
on both banks of Cauvery and Vaigai to free the
people from the fear of thieves and robbers. He
befriended the Tenkasi Pandyas and quelled a long war
waged by the Pancha Pandyas.

5. He renovated Tirunelveli Nellaiyapar temple. He expanded
Tirunelveli town and improved irrigation facilities. He built a
Teppakulam in Trichy. He renovated the Thayumanavar temple at
Trichy hill fort. He renovated the Srirangam temple and built a
town around the temple with good streets and habitable houses.
He brought peace to his administration and introduced the
Palayams system by introducing 72 Palayams on the fort walls of
Madurai.

6. Palayakaras had to pay money or tribute to the Nayaka
king. They were to pay one-third of the income from the lands
granted to them, and the rest for the army and their own
administrative expenses. Ettayapuram, Panjalankurichi and
Pudukottai belong to this Palayapattu system. Wayanad,
Kambam and Kudalur were brought under the rule of Madurai
Nayaka.

7. Krishnappa Nayak I (1564 AD- 1572 AD)
Visvanatha Nayak's son Krishnappa Nayak was a Nayak loyal to
the Vijayanagara Empire. The Madurai region witnessed many events
during the reign. During this time, a fierce battle took place between
the Deccan sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, Bidar, Berar and Ahmednagar
and the Vijayanagara Empire at Talikota. This battle determined the
future of the Vijayanagara Empire as it marked the victory of the
Bamini Sultans and the demise and fall of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Penukonda, which was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, was also
attacked by the Sultans and Chandragiri and Vellore became the
capitals of the Empire.