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Nayakars

Madurai Nayak dynasty
1529–1736
Madurai
Approximate extent of the Madurai Nayak Kingdom, circa 1570.
Capital Madurai
(1529–1616)

Tiruchirapalli
(1616–1634)
Madurai
(1634–1695)
Tiruchirapalli
(1695-1716)
Madurai
(1716–1736)

Languages Telugu, Tamil
Government Governors, then Monarchy
History
 •  Established 1529
 •  Disestablished 1736
Preceding States Succeeding States Breakaway States
Kings and Queen Regents of
Madurai Nayak Dynasty
Part of History of Tamil Nadu
Tirumalai Nayak Palace
Madurai Nayak rulers
Viswanatha Nayak 1529–1563
Kumara Krishnappa Nayak 1563–1573
Joint Rulers Group I 1573–1595
Joint Rulers Group II 1595–1602
Muttu Krishnappa Nayak 1602–1609
Muttu Virappa Nayak 1609–1623
Tirumalai Nayak 1623–1659
Muthu Alakadri Nayak 1659–1662
Chokkanatha Nayak 1662–1682
Rangakrishna Muthu Virappa Nayak 1682–1689
Rani Mangammal 1689–1704
Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha Nayak 1704–1731
Queen Meenakshi 1731–1736
‡ Regent Queens
Capitals
Madurai 1529–1616
Tiruchirapalli 1616–1634
Madurai 1634–1665
Tiruchirapalli 1665–1736
Major forts
Madurai 72 Bastion Fort
Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort
Dindigul Fort
Thirunelvelli Fort
other Military forts
Namakkal Fort
Sankagiri Fort
Attur Fort
Palaces
Thirumalai Nayak Mahal, Madurai
Chokkanatha Nayak Palace a.k.a. Durbar Hall, Tiruchirapalli
Rani Mangammal Tamukkam palace Madurai

Tiruchirapalli
(1616–1634)
Madurai
(1634–1695)
Tiruchirapalli
(1695-1716)
Madurai
(1716–1736)

The Madurai Nayaks were rulers from around 1529 until 1736, of a region comprising most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital. The Nayak reign was an era noted for its achievement in arts, cultural and administrative reforms, revitalization of temples previously ransacked by the Delhi Sultans, and inauguration of a unique architectural style.

The dynasty consisted of 13 rulers, of whom 9 were kings, 2 were queens, and 2 were joint-kings. The most notable of these were the king, Thirumalai Nayak, and the queen, Rani Mangammal. Foreign trade was conducted mainly with the Dutch and the Portuguese, as the British and the French had not yet made inroads in the region.

Madurai Nayaks belonged to the Balija social group.

Early in the 14th century, a dispute arose over the succession to the Pandya throne. One claimant appealed for help to emperor Ala-ud-din of Delhi, who dispatched his general, Malik Kafur, in 1310. Malik Kafur marched south, ransacking kingdoms on the way and causing enormous changes to the political configuration of central and Southern India. He marched into Madurai, sacking the town, paralysing trade, suppressing public worship, and making civilian life miserable. The great Meenakshi temple with its fourteen towers was pulled down, destroying the nearby streets and buildings, and leaving only the two shrines of Sundaresvara and Meenakshi intact. The events are controversial: as another account describes them,


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