Kanthirava Narasaraja I

Kanthirava Narasaraja I
King of Mysore
Kanthirava Narasaraja I, ruler of the principality of Mysore, 1638–1659.
Reign	1638–1659
Religion	Hindu

Narasa Raja Wodeyar I (1638–1659) was the Wodeyar ruler of Mysore (a principality or petty kingdom in southern India) from 1638 to 1659.

The previous significant ruler, Chamaraja V, was succeeded by his uncle, who in turn was quickly poisoned on the orders of the Dalavoi (Prime Minister), Vikramaraya, within a year of becoming the wodeyar. The 23-year-old Kanthirava Narasaraja I (also known as Ranadhira Kanteerava Narasa Raja Wodeyar), who had earlier been adopted by the widow of Raja I, became, in 1638, the new Wodeyar of Mysore.Before becoming king of mysore,he lived in terakanambi near gundalpet,chamarajanagar district.

Soon after his accession, he was called on to defend Srirangapatna against the invasions of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur, a defense which he mounted with great loss for the enemy. In the fashion of the two wodeyars before him, he continued to expand the Mysore dominions. This included taking Satyamangalam from the Nayaks of Madurai in the south, unseating the Chingalvas from their base in Piriyapatna in the west, gaining possession of Hosur (near Salem) to the north and delivering a major blow at Yelahanka to the rule of Kempe Gowda of Magadi, from whom a large tribute was exacted. Kanthirava Narasaraja I was also the first wodeyar of Mysore to create the symbols associated with royalty, such as establishing a mint and issuing coins named Kanthiraya (corrupted to "Canteroy") after him. These were to remain a part of Mysore's "current national money" for well over a century. Kanthirava Narasaraja I, who married ten times, died on 31 July 1659, at the age of 44. At his funeral, all his surviving wives committed sati.