Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is well-known as the founder of the Maratha Empire, but what of the other leaders who continued his legacy? After Shivaji Maharaj, it was his oldest son – Chhatrapati Sambhaji – who went on to expand his father’s empire, becoming one of the most formidable Maratha leaders. 

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The Prince’s Childhood

Sambhaji was born in 1657, two years after which, his mother passed away. He was sent to live in Amber as a political hostage at the age of nine. Young Sambhaji’s mettle would be tested even further, when he and his father were invited to visit the court of Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, in Agra. Under the guise of friendship, the two were trapped and kept under house arrest. Stories abound that when Aurangzeb asked the young prince if he was scared of him, Sambhaji replied, “I fear no one – people fear me.” 

Cleverly, Shivaji Maharaj managed to escape from Agra with his son, smuggled in boxes meant to contain fruits. Then, Sambhaji was handed over to allies in Mathura while his father undertook the treacherous journey back home to Rajgad on his own. There, Shivaji spread rumours that the prince had died on the way home and even performed his last rites. When the Mughals were convinced that the prince was dead and stopped looking for him, Sambhaji travelled back hundreds of miles on foot with his father’s friends, finally making it back to his family. 

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An Eventful Youth

Through his teenage years, Sambhaji successfully conducted political negotiations with the English and was involved in several court judgements. He was a good warrior who successfully ran a major military campaign in Hubli, and was said to have defeated a lion with his bare hands in defence of one of his men! Despite all this, he was sometimes reckless like young men often are. His behaviour once led Shivaji to send him away from the capital. Disgruntled, Sambhaji went to stay with Diler Khan, a Mughal commander, until they set out to capture Panhala. Witnessing Khan’s butchering of the gentry, both Hindu and Muslim, in the town of Tikota, opened Sambhaji’s eyes to Khan’s cruelty. Fearing for his own safety, he eventually fled and returned home after almost a year away. Back at the Maratha court, Shivaji’s second wife, Soyrabai, had used Sambhaji’s absence to promote her young son, Rajaram, and installed him on the throne after Chhatrapati Shivaji’s death in 1680. It wasn’t until 1681 that Sambhaji was able to overthrow him and take his rightful place on the throne. 

A Just Ruler

Sambhaji would go on to promote his father’s ideal of Swarajya or self-rule through his campaigns against Aurangzeb and European invaders. This was the same ideal that inspired him to create systems of justice that empowered his subjects. While he is well-known as a champion of Hinduism, due to his efforts to promote Maratha Hindu sovereignty and culture, Sambhaji firmly believed in tolerance and distributed grants to sacred places from all religions. When drought struck the region during the early years of his rule, he built new irrigation systems and distributed food and land to landless farmers. He even pardoned those who had fled due to their inability to pay taxes, and encouraged them to return and increase cultivation. 

As a poet and musician himself, Sambhaji Maharaj was a big patron of the arts. His court was a melting pot of scholars, artists, and performers invited from all over India. A poet friend inspired in him a love of languages, and it is believed that the king spoke several fluently – including Marathi, Sanskrit, Hindi, Persian, English, and Portuguese – a talent that he deployed to great political success. He even wrote a treatise in Sanskrit, Budhbhushanam, a work on politics and military defence for the benefit of future kings. 

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A Call to War

Chhatrapati Shivaji’s death unfortunately brought about the end of the relatively stable relations with the Mughals and other regional powers. Sambhaji Maharaj took the throne and ultimately spent the rest of his life expanding and defending the Maratha Empire. To start with, he developed the navy his father had created, and brokered deals with the English to obtain weapons. When the Portuguese implemented forced conversions and destroyed Hindu temples in Goa, he fought back and conquered large parts of the Konkan coast, gaining control of many valuable ports. 

Recognising the threat the Marathas posed to the Mughal Empire, Aurangzeb left Delhi and marched towards the Deccan. Sambhaji successfully defended his kingdom for nine years until he was betrayed by Soyrabai and her supporters, and captured by Aurangzeb. When he refused Aurangzeb’s orders to accept him as his sovereign ruler and convert to Islam, Sambhaji Maharaj was brutally tortured and killed. 

While Rajaram was placed on the throne immediately after his death, Chhatrapati Sambhaji’s sacrifice allowed the Maratha Empire to survive independently as a stronghold in Central India, away from Aurangzeb’s conquests. The Maharaj, fondly referred to as chaava or lion cub, remains respected till date, for the care he showed his people and the sacrifices he made to safeguard their freedom. 

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The Bhaumakara Reign 

In the first half of 8th century CE, the Bhaumakara dynasty had conquered and unified the kingdoms of Kangoda, Kalinga and Toshali, in the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent. Their rule would extend for over two centuries, from 736 CE to 945 CE. This period was also a time of tremendous change in society, as Buddhism and Jainism evolved during their early rule, and later, Hinduism was revived. 

During their reign, the Bhaumakaras established trade and cultural links with South-East Asia. Their maritime trade is evident from inscriptions of the period as they include the words ‘samudrakara bandha’ which translates to ‘ocean tax’. Due to these links, the region experienced overall prosperity. It was the golden era of Utkala or the Land of Exquisite Arts. 

The Widow Queens 

It was during this period that the Bhaumakara Queens, who were widows, reigned for almost 200 years but, initially, not in direct succession. Nowhere else in the land had widows ascended the throne. Earlier, royal women could donate land and order temples to be built but could not participate in the administration of the kingdom.  

Tribhuvana Mahadevi – the First Queen 

The first and most acclaimed of the widow queens was Tribhuvana Mahadevi, who ascended the throne in 845 CE, after the death of her son. The charters of Dhenkanal and Talcher state that Tribhuvana Mahadevi restored peace in her kingdom, overcoming rebellions with the help of her father. She appointed honest officials to oversee her subjects, administered a light-tax and used the royal treasury to build temples, monasteries and charitable shelters for the poor.  

Tribhuvana Mahadevi commanded an army of men and women, estimated to have a strength of 3,00,000 people. These figures are inscribed on copper plates discovered in recent archaeological excavations. Royal women were skillful warriors, having learnt the art from their childhoods. Women were respected in the kingdom. In fact, early Vedic marriage hymns hoped that young brides would speak with composure at assemblies held for the welfare of the people. There is no evidence of Sati or Purdah in palm leaf inscriptions or copper-plate charters. Women in her kingdom were educated and permitted to study the sacred texts and conduct sacrifices. They even wore sacred threads, like the menfolk. Royal women were granted administrative rights to issue charters and land grants.  

Her charters state that she truly cared for her people and built roads, wells and bridges. She performed rituals in temples and donated ghee, milk, curd, betel-leaf, sandalwood paste and incense. She participated in discourses on religious doctrines. Tribhuvana Mahadevi gave from her personal resources to fight wars, stave off pestilence and famine. Harmony prevailed during her rule. 

Subsequent Queens 

Tribhuvana Mahadevi abdicated her throne after eighteen years of rule, to her grandson, Santikara Deva II, when she felt he was ready to rule. Fifty years later, another widow, Prithivi Mahadevi, ascended the throne, after the mysterious death of the reigning king, her brother-in-law. She assumed the title of Tribhuvana Devi the Second. However, as she was suspected of having her brother-in-law killed with the help of her father, she was not accepted on the throne by the court and was deposed, after a few years of rule. Her name was not included in their genealogical tree. 

The last male ruler of the Bhaumakaras, Subhakara V, was succeeded by his widow, Gauri Mahadevi, who ruled briefly. She decreed the construction of the Gauri Temple at Bhubaneswar. Her daughter, Dandi Mahadevi, was a powerful ruler and administrator. However, she died a premature and mysterious death. She was succeeded by her stepmother, Vakula Mahadevi, a princess of the Bhanja dynasty. Little is known of her rule.  

After her, the widow of Santikara III, Dharma Mahadevi, ascended the throne. She was also a princess of the Bhanja dynasty and was the last Bhaumakara ruler. After her death, the kingdom was occupied by the Somavamsi King Dharmaratha.  

Sadly, there are few statues or images of these brave widow queens, and only remnants of the monuments they had ordered to be built. Many have been destroyed by later conquerors of different faiths. Intrigue, strife, murder and mystery are deeply embedded in the history of these courageous and inspirational queens of Odisha.  

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Seldom do stories start with “Once upon a time there was a queen…” as kings seem to have taken precedence over the queens in history. However, this story about Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi starts with the triumphant tune of “Once, there lived a queen…”

The Travancore Dynasty

The Travancore dynasty ruled from 1729, over most of the south of Kerala and the southernmost part of modern-day Tamil Nadu. The Travancore family was matrilineal, where succession passed through the female lines. This meant that the throne did not go from father to son but rather, to a sister’s son. Since at the time the royal family came to consist solely of Maharajah Moolam Thirunal, Senior Rani Lakshmi Bayi and her two nephews; the Senior Maharani decided to adopt the daughter of her nieces. As such, Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi, the granddaughter of artist Raja Ravi Varma was adopted into the Kingdom of Travancore. 

Since King Moolam Thirunal died and his heir to the throne was only 12 years old at the time, a regency became necessary until the minor King Chithira Thirunal came of age. So, in September 1924, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi became the Maharani of the Kingdom of Travancore. Though a regent, she ruled as a monarch due to the matrilineal system which gave women equal power and right to reign.

Putting an End to Archaic Traditions

During her rule, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi abolished the Devadasi system. This was a practice where women would dedicate themselves to the worship of a deity. This was harmful because the devadasis had no legal right to marry and were obligated to dedicate themselves to the deity for the rest of their lives. She also put a stop to the sacrifice of animals.

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi’s reign began with the Vaikom Satyagraha. At the time, people of lower castes were not allowed to enter the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. Therefore, a satyagraha which was launched on 30 March, 1924, aimed at allowing temple entry for worship of god, irrespective of caste, creed or community. After her meeting with Mahatma Gandhi regarding the same, she opened the doors of the temple to all castes. Gandhi called this initiative by the queen a “bedrock of freedom” in a magazine.

Creating Educational Opportunities

In 1927, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi elevated the Trivandrum Women’s College, which offered non-professional, ‘ladylike’ courses, by offering courses in history, natural science, languages and mathematics. She did this by securing an affiliation with the University of Madras. Soon, over 9,500 women were enrolled in English-speaking schools in Travancore and 232 women were attending college.

The Maharani allowed female students to study law despite criticism imploring otherwise. Soon after, the state produced Miss Anna Chandy, who became the first woman judicial officer not only in Travancore but also of India.

Empowering Women in the Kingdom

The Maharani was devoted to the cause of women’s empowerment. While feminism would not have been a word relevant at the time, to call her a feminist icon would not be a mistake. She aimed to further women’s participation in the political sphere of the country.

In line with her aims, the Maharani promoted Dr Mary Poonen Lukose, the first woman to receive a medical degree from Travancore and a graduate of London University, from Surgeon-In-Charge of the Women and Children’s Hospital, to Head of the Medical Department of Travancore. Dr Mary was also the first woman to be elected to the Legislative Council after being nominated by the Maharani for the position. It was the first time a woman was named the head of a significant department in India, as well as the first time a “Lady Legislator” had been appointed from Travancore.

In 1928, the Maharani nominated another female legislator, Mrs Elizabeth Kuruvilla. Mrs Kuruvilla pushed for equal opportunity for men and women to hold public office. This allowed for many more women to follow their aspirations to pursue a career and seek independence.

Since this was a culture reset when many were used to women being those who toiled at home, the Maharani was subject to a lot of criticism. There was constant resistance to her progressive ideals. 

By the end of 1931, the decision that Sree Chithira Thirunal would become king after his 19th birthday was made. As a result, after seven long years of rule, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi’s regency ended in November 1931. 

A revolutionary in her own right, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, was set in her ways, tirelessly aiming for her goals. Her success, often foreshadowed by her successor, must be brought to light. Therefore, to read about Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi’s achievements becomes necessary to understand the powerful women in India’s history. 

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Hakka and Bukka, the valiant brothers from Warangal, overcame every hurdle thrown their way, to become the founders of one of the greatest Indian empires – Vijayanagara.  

Warangal’s Battles 

In 1310, Malik Kafur led the army of Ala-ud-din Khilji to capture the fort of Warangal. Though the army of Warangal fought back bravely, King Pratapa Rudra was forced to accept defeat in the end. As an act of surrender, Pratapa Rudra sent a golden image of himself, with a gold chain around the neck, to Malik Kafur. Malik Kafur happily informed Khilji that the doors had opened for them for their conquest of the south. However, soon hope emerged again in the king’s mind, with the death of Khilji. Unfortunately, things began to go downhill once again for the king, when he refused to pay tributes to the new sultan, Ghiyas-ud-Din. In retaliation, Ghiyas ud-din invaded Warangal. The king was defeated by Ghiyas-ud-Din and at the end of the war, the sultan’s army rode away in triumph, taking with them rich booty from Warangal.  

The Valiant Brothers 

Hakka and Bukka were the sons of Sangama, a chieftain of Warangal. They introduced themselves to Pratapa Rudra and demonstrated their loyalty to him. Meanwhile, the army of the sultan invaded Warangal again, when Pratapa Rudra refused to pay tribute even after his defeat. Hakka and Bukka joined the battle and fought bravely for the king. One night, a rumour about Ghiyas-ud-Din’s death spread rapidly among the soldiers of Warangal. Hakka and Bukka convinced Pratapa Rudra to use this opportunity to spread the rumour to the enemy camp too, in order to demoralise them. Their strategic plan worked as most of the military chiefs in the sultan’s army believed the rumour. They left with their men for Delhi, without even informing their commander. 

Kampili’s Events 

Though Pratapa Rudra gained victory over the army of the sultan, the threat of invasion still lingered around Warangal, even after two years. When the city was attacked again by the sultan’s army, the king was outnumbered and captured by his enemies. Hakka and Bukka tried to impart courage into the hearts of their fleeing soldiers but to their dismay, they learnt that Pratapa Rudra had killed himself on his way to Delhi, to escape the humiliation of imprisonment. Soon, the dejected brothers met the Prince of Kampili, on their way to the south. The prince introduced them to his father, King Kampili Deva. A few days after the arrival of the brothers in Kampili, Baha-ud-din, the nephew of the new sultan, Muhammad-Bin-Tughlaq, arrived at the court of Kampili Deva. Baha-ud-din had incurred the wrath of his uncle and sought refuge from the king. Moved by pity, Kampili Deva promised protection to the distressed Baha-ud-din. 

Battle of Anegundi 

When the sultan sent him a message to surrender his nephew to him, Kampili Deva refused to betray Baha-ud-din. So, Tughlaq’s army attacked Kampili and was defeated, twice. Though he emerged victorious twice, Kampili Deva shifted the capital to Anegundi. As suggested by his council, this city was impregnable and could withstand any attacks in future. However, the battles between Kampili Deva and the army of the Sultan seemed never-ending. In the final battle of Anegundi, losses were severe on both sides. At dawn, the ladies of the royal family underwent jauhar by entering into fire. The next day, Hakka and Bukka rode with the prince to face the army of the sultan. Unfortunately, both the brothers were wounded in battle and fell unconscious. When they gained consciousness, they found that the battlefield was filled with corpses along with the bodies of Kampili Deva and the prince. They lamented over the death of the heroes, who fought bravely against the army of the sultan. Then, they went to Hoysala, where Baha-ud-din had been sent for his safety. 

Exile and Victory 

On their arrival, the Hoysala king shared some more bad news with them. He told them that Baha-ud-din had been taken away when Tughlaq’s army had invaded Hoysala. The Hoysala king was impressed by Hakka and Bukka’s determination to regain their lost territories, even after facing defeats at Warangal and Kampili. The two brothers left Hoysala and went into hiding to escape from the soldiers of the sultan. During this time, they met Sage Vidyaranya, who decided to help them in raising their army.

Vidyaranya showed them a secret passage, where they could train thousands of soldiers without raising any suspicion. He also told them that they could train men who came to temple, through the secret passage. Their plan worked as thousands of men were trained secretly by Hakka and Bukka. With the blessings of Vidyaranya, Hakka and Bukka captured the fort of Anegundi at night. The people of Anegundi gave a rousing welcome to Hakka and Bukka when they entered the city. 

The Beginning  

A few days later, Hakka and Bukka crossed the Tungabhadra River while out on a hunt with their dogs. Their dogs chased a hare. The hare ran fast, but came to a sudden halt at a particular place and bravely fought the dogs back.  When the brothers reported this incident to Vidyaranya, he said that the aura of that place must have evoked bravery in the hare. He also suggested that Hakka and Bukka build a kingdom at the same spot.

Later, Vidyaranya rejected the brothers’ request to name the city after him. Instead, he named the city Vijayanagara, the City of Victory. With the name Harihara Raya I, Hakka became the first king of Vijayanagara, a small kingdom that eventually rose to become one of the mighty empires in Indian history. 

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Chennamma, the queen of Keladi, effectively took over the administration of Keladi after her husband’s death. She reigned justly for over 25 years. Read on to know how this determined queen saved both Rajaram, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji, and Keladi from the wrath of Aurangzeb. 

Royal marriage

Somashekhara Nayak was the king of Keladi, a kingdom in the Malnad area. In 1663, at the behest of his ministers, the king married young Chennamma, the daughter of a merchant, in a joyful wedding ceremony. However, there was one man who was unhappy with the royal marriage – Bharama Mahuta, a close friend of the king – who was secretly gathering support to seize the throne. He was worried that this marriage would provide an heir to King Somashekhara, thus foiling his plans. Years passed and the young Chennamma grew into a confident, wise and able queen. 

Longing for an heir

The couple was happy, but the king longed for a child who would be his heir. Somashekara Nayak shared his worries with Bharama Mahuta. Devious Bharama saw this as an opportunity to manipulate the king. He convinced the king that he could obtain an heir by drinking a secret potion. Somashekhara Nayak was to leave for war soon and Bharama assured him that the potion would be ready by the time he came back. After a few weeks, the king returned triumphantly and received a warm welcome at home, after conquering the kingdom of Belur and Kannatur. That night, Bharama Mahuta gave the king his potion before he retired to his bed.

Tragedy strikes

The king woke up delirious and screaming in the middle of the night. The horrified Chennamma immediately summoned the physician. As he took his dying breaths, the king whispered about his need for an heir and the potion, alerting Chennamma to foul play. The next morning, Chennamma summoned Bharama Mahuta and had him arrested for the king’s murder. She bitterly told the terrified Bharama that he had become a traitor after he poisoned the king and he too would meet death for his terrible sins. Although she was in mourning for her husband, Chennamma knew that she was now responsible for the safety and well-being of the citizens of Kelad and that she must take charge soon. 

Chaos and invasion

Over the next few weeks, every powerful minister proposed a different successor to the queen. Though the queen promised that she would consider each of their proposals carefully, the ministers became impatient and plotted to remove Chennamma from the throne. Amidst this chaos, the queen received news from her spies that the Bijapur army was on its way to attack Keladi. Chennamma tried to convince her council that their first priority at such a time was to repel the invader, not decide the next ruler of Keladi. However, Thimmanna Nayak, the commander-in-chief, walked out of the meeting, declaring that he could not fight for a kingdom without a ruler. Chennamma did not give up. She appealed directly to the army and the people and encouraged them to fight for Keladi. She also informed them that she would fight for her kingdom alongside them. Motivated by the queen’s speech, the people and the army of Keladi fought bravely against the huge army of Bijapur. Despite their efforts, the Bijapur army forced its way through and captured the Bidanpur fort. When the army entered the vanquished city, they realised that the queen had escaped with her citizens along with the jewels and money in the royal treasury.

Coronation and adoption

Chennamma, with her people, took refuge in the fortress of Bhuvanagiri, deep in the forest. One day, the queen was surprised to see Thimmanna Nayak in her fortress. The commander-in-chief apologised for his behaviour and sought the queen’s forgiveness. Chennamma forgave him and Thimmanna gathered the chieftains and citizens from the surrounding parts of Bhuvanagiri and trained them for the war against the Bijapur army. Soon, the Keladi army attacked their enemy and freed Bidanpur from the captors. In 1971, Chennamma was crowned the queen of Keladi. She later adopted a young boy, Basava Nayaka, and trained him to become the next ruler of Keladi. Meanwhile, rebellious Keladi chieftains and neighbouring kings, joined hands with Chikkadevaraya Wodeyar, the king of Mysore, and planned various attacks on Keladi. Chennamma fought back bravely and won numerous wars against the Mysore army. The Queen treated her prisoners kindly and won the admiration of her enemies. Finally, Keladi and Mysore signed a treaty of friendship, which brought peace and harmony between the two kingdoms.

Meeting with Rajaram

One day, during her daily alms-giving, Chennamma saw a young monk approaching her. The monk bowed to her and introduced himself as Rajaram, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji. He told her that the Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb had sent an army to kill him after he had killed his step-brother, Sambhaji. Rajaram also added that every southern ruler had denied him permission to pass through their kingdom for the fear of Aurangazeb. He requested the queen to permit him to pass through her kingdom, and seek temporary refuge in the fort of Jinji. Chennamma agreed. Soon, the Mughal army, under Jaan Nisar Khan, marched towards Keladi to find Rajaram. Aurangazeb also sent Chennamma a letter threatening her and asking her to surrender Rajaram. Chennamma boldly responded, informing Aurangzeb that Rajaram was not in her kingdom and that he had passed safely through Keladi. Before the queen’s letter could reach Aurangazeb, the Mughal army attacked Keladi.

The final twist

The Keladi soldiers fought bravely against the Mughal invasion. Soon, the war was halted due to heavy rains. Along with the rains, the unfamiliar forest areas and illness among their soldiers became a major setback for the Mughals. One day, Jann Nisar Khan received a message from Aurangazeb, informing him that Rajaram was in Jinji. The Mughals decided to proceed to Jinji instead and therefore proposed a peace treaty with Keladi. Chennamma was relieved that her kingdom was safe. She knew that Jinji was well fortified and prayed for Rajaram’s safety. 

Sometime later, Rajaram wrote a grateful letter to the queen, thanking her for giving him shelter, hospitality, and the passage which even the rulers of larger kingdoms had refused. Chennamma ruled Keladi justly for 25 years and was succeeded by her son, Basava Nayaka.

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Krishnadeva Raya was the King of Vijayanagara from 1509 to 1529. During his reign, Vijayanagara reached the zenith of its prosperity. He won many important battles and defeated the Sultans of Bijapur and Golconda. He was considered one of the most powerful rulers of his time when the north witnessed the rise of the Mughal Emperor Babur. Read on to know more about his life.

Brotherly Betrayal

In 1509, Vira Narasimha, the King of Vijayanagara, fell seriously ill. Due to the severity of his condition, there was much discussion about succession after his death. People wondered whether the throne would go to Vira Narasimha’s young son or his brother, Krishnadeva Raya. Vira Narasimha desperately wanted his son to succeed him. The king, blinded by affection, saw his younger brother as a threat to his son. Taking drastic measures, he ordered his trusted minister Timmarasu (known fondly as ‘Appaji’) to kill Krishnadeva Raya to secure the throne for his young son. Appaji was shocked at this order, since he had witnessed how devoted Krishnadeva Raya was to his elder brother.

In an attempt to save his life, Appaji arranged for Krishnadeva Raya to be exiled in secret. Appaji then brought Vira Narasimha the eyes of a goat as proof of his younger brother’s death.

The Succession

The news of Vira Narasimha’s illness and the disappearance of Krishnadeva Raya reached Mahmood Shah, the Bahmani king. He decided to take advantage of this opportunity and planned an attack on Vijayanagara. Upon hearing this, Vira Narasimha panicked. He realized that his son was too young to defend the kingdom and he, in his foolishness, had ordered the death of his brother without thinking about the grave consequences. But soon, Appaji revealed the truth. Vira Narasimha was overjoyed. He immediately summoned Krishnadeva Raya to apologise for his actions. Krishnadeva Raya was crowned King of Vijayanagara after the death of Vira Narasimha, with the full support of the council. Mahmood Shah retreated after learning about the coronation. 

Defeat of Kalinga

After ascending the throne, Krishnadeva Raya decided to attack his enemies, Pratapa Rudra of Kalinga and Adil Khan of Bijapur, to secure the stability of Vijayanagara. Pratapa Rudra planned his defence well, but Krishnadeva Raya’s army was ferocious. After capturing the forts of Udayagiri and Kondavidu, Krishnadeva Raya marched on to Potanur. There, Appaji found out that as long as  Pratapa Rudra had the support of his sixteen loyal chieftains, Krishnadeva Raya would not be victorious. With the help of his secret agents, Appaji created friction and doubt in the mind of Pratapa Rudra about the loyalty of these chieftains. When the chieftains learnt about the king’s suspicions, they quietly slipped away to save themselves from the wrath of Pratapa Rudra. With no barriers to stop him, Krishnadeva Raya triumphantly marched into the city. Pratapa Rudra, now helpless, was unable to stop him from entering the city. Later, peace was declared between the kingdoms of Vijayanagara and Kalinga with Krishnadeva Raya marrying Jaganmohini, the Princess of Kalinga.

Adil Khan’s Takedown

Krishnadeva Raya soon turned his attention towards Bijapur. After the death of Mahmood Shah, the Bahmani King Ismail Adil Khan, had declared himself as the independent ruler of Bijapur. He had imprisoned the sons of Mahmood Shah and seized Raichur, when Krishnadeva Raya was busy with the battle of Kalinga. On his return, Krishnadeva Raya and his army laid siege to Raichur. Even though Adil Khan had the upper hand initially, the soldiers of Vijayanagara fought fearlessly. Adil Khan and his army had to retreat. When Krishnadeva Raya entered Raichur, Adil Khan sent his ambassador to request Krishnadeva Raya to give him back his territories. Krishnadeva Raya promised to return his territories, with the condition of the personal surrender of Adil Khan. When Adil Khan didn’t turn up, Krishnadeva Raya captured Gulbarga and made the first son of Mahmood Shah, the Bahmani King of Deccan.

In the span of twenty years, Krishnadeva Raya defeated his enemies and made Vijayanagara a strong and prosperous kingdom. 

Read more about Krishnadeva Raya in our title Krishnadeva Raya. Now available on the ACK Comics App, Kindle, Amazon, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers. 

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The greed for the throne 

Rana Raimal ruled Mewar in the early half of the sixteenth century. He was a kind and valiant king who upheld the glorious history and tradition of his kingdom. However, his three sons Sanga, Prithviraj and Jaimal often quarrelled with each other with regards to the succession of the throne. These quarrels troubled the king who wanted his sons united for the sake of his kingdom. The king also blamed his brother-in-law Surajmal for setting the princes against one another.

The tragedy at the temple

The three brothers Sanga, Jaimal and Prithviraj went to Charani Devi temple to listen to the oracle speak about the next successor of Mewar’s throne. The priest informed the princes that the goddess will answer their question through her attendant. The attendant pointed to the tiger skin on which Sanga was sitting and Surajmal was resting a knee. Prithviraj was furious with the outcome that Sanga was destined to rule Mewar. In his fury, he drew his sword and charged at Sanga. In his defence, Surajmal leapt forward and received the blow instead. Sanga, shocked by the turn of events and not wanting to get involved in a fight in the temple, ran out and mounted his horse. Seeing this, Prithviraj aimed an arrow and hit Sanga in one eye, blinding it for life.

The crowned king of Mewar

Sanga, defeated and injured, joined a group of Rajput rebels under disguise. Sanga withdrew from fighting his brothers over the throne as he felt it would only benefit the enemies of Mewar. After a while, Sanga married the daughter of the chief of the rebels, revealing his true identity to them. In the meantime, Sanga received the news of the deaths of his brothers and decided to return to his kingdom. Rana Raimal was delighted to have his son back when he had lost all hopes for him. After the death of Rana Raimal, Sanga was crowned as King Rana Sanga of Mewar.

Victory over the Sultan

Under the rule of Rana Sanga, Mewar reached the summit of its prosperity. Sanga wanted to capture Delhi when he saw the decline of Ibrahim Lodi’s reign. At the same time, Mahmood Khilji, the Sultan of Malwa, invaded Mewar. Rana Sanga fought with great valour and defeated the forces of Khilji. Rana Sanga even treated the defeated Khilji with the respect deserved by a king. Khilji had to cede four provinces before Sanga released him.

Betrayal and defeat

In April 1526, Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi to capture Delhi. Rana Sanga immediately started the preparations for war in Chittor. In March 1527, the forces of Babur and Rana Sanga met on the battlefield of Khanwa. The Babur’s men met with strong resistance and the reinforcements sent by Babur too made a hurried retreat. On the second day of the battle, Babur met Shiladitya, the emissary sent by Rana Sanga. Babur offered him Chittor in return for his help to win the war. Overcome by greed, Shiladitya agreed to side with Babur.

Unaware of this betrayal by Shiladitya, Rana Sanga appointed him to lead the frontal attack. Soon at the battlefield, Rana Sanga realized the treachery when his forces joined Babur to attack Chittoor. Since a major part of his army was under Shiladitya’s command, Rana Sanga had to abandon his fort and retreat into the hills. Due to the loss of his land and defeat, Rana Sanga’s health worsened and he died at Vasva, a small village in the hills, with the regret of not being able to defend his land.

Read the full story of Rana Sanga on the ACK Comics App. Also available on Kindle, Amazon, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers. 

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Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor, under whose reign the Mughal Empire reached the peak of its cultural glory. Shah Jahan was famous for his competency on the battlefield, his knowledge in political affairs, and his interest in architecture. However, an interesting and lesser known facet of Shah Jahan was his unique culinary tastes. Here are a few facts from the Nuskha-e-ShahJahani that reveals the diet and dining patterns of the erstwhile Mughal ruler. 

• Quantity and Quality 

Like any standard royal court, most of the dishes were prepared in bulk. Food was prepared for many guests on a daily basis and hence, huge quantities of ingredients were used. The emperors dined with their queens, except on festive occasions when they dined with nobles and courtiers. Since an exceptionally large number of dishes were served at each meal, a production line of staff undertook the chopping and cleaning and washing and grinding. Food was cooked in rainwater mixed with water brought in from the Ganges. An elaborate chain of commands was given to servers who ensured the right food was served in the right order at the right time on the right occasion.

• Adapting Foreign Tastes 

Thanks to their numerous trade routes, the Portuguese had established a relationship with the Mughals a long time ago. This led to the royal kitchens encountering an additional ingredient, chilli, brought by the Portuguese. The chilli, due to its similarity with the long pepper, effortlessly blended with Indian recipes and ingredients, making it easier for the royal chefs of the Mughal era to use it liberally. 

• Long hours at the Dastarkhwan

Shah Jahan was a slow eater. He loved to enjoy every morsel he ate. During his reign, banquets ran for hours and Shah Jahan ended up spending long hours at the Dastarkhwan or the royal dining hall.

• His Love for Mangoes

Shah Jahan’s love for mangoes was a known fact and every time, the emperor received mangoes as gifts, he personally got the weight and quality checked. He once got angry with his son, Aurangzeb, who had eaten mangoes from his favourite tree in the Deccan Plateau instead of sending the mangoes to him.

• The Royal Dietician 

An interesting fact about the Mughal royal kitchen is that it was a royal physician who planned the menu each day. This was to ensure that medicinally beneficial ingredients were included in each dish. This way, the people in the royal court could be assured that the food they ate was not only good for their taste buds but also their body. 

• Culinary Paradise

Based on the Nuskha-e-Shahjahani, it can be inferred that it was not only the royal kitchen, but even the bazaars that were filled with different flavours from all over the known world. The city was known as a paradise of food then, with records from the time speaking to Shah Jahan’s reputation as a gastronome. 

• His Last Suppers

Deposed by his son Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan was imprisoned in Agra Fort and remained there for eight years until his death in 1666. Legends narrate how Aurangzeb ordered that his father be allowed just one ingredient of his preference and Shah Jahan chose chickpeas because that could be cooked in multiple ways.

Read the complete story of the fifth Mughal emperor in our title ‘Shah Jahan’, available on the ACK Comics app, Kindle, Amazon, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers. 

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Rani Abbakka Chowta belonged to the Chowta dynasty who ruled over parts of coastal Karnataka. She was popular as Abhaya Rani for her fierce and feisty nature, her decisions and actions ultimately paving the way for the Indian freedom movement. Rani Abbakka was one of the earliest freedom fighters who rebelled against foreign invaders and colonialism. Determined to avenge the defeat of her mother at the hands of Portuguese, she strived hard to drive the Portuguese completely out of Mangalore. Ultimately fulfilling her dream of a free kingdom, she won the respect of her people and is held in high regard and cherished in her hometown of Ullal even today.

RANI ABBAKKA WASN’T SCARED OF ANYONE

When Rani Abbakka was crowned the queen of Ullal, she decided she would completely stop paying the Portuguese the tribute that all the local rulers paid them. In 1555, a Portuguese envoy was sent to Rani Abbakka to remind her to pay up. Abbakka firmly refused to bow to their demands. The furious Portuguese army planned to capture Ullal at once. The Portuguese had built a fort in Mangalore, which gave them the military advantage against Ullal. However, inspired by their queen, the soldiers of Ullal fought bravely in the battle and ultimately captured the Mangalore fort from the Portuguese. The Portuguese ended up surrendering to the fearless soldiers and beating a hasty retreat.

In those times, the Portuguese suppressed any attempts of the rulers to have direct trade with other foreign countries. Rani Abbakka was determined to trade on her own terms for the benefit of her own people, not according to the rules set by the Portuguese. This spark of rebellion against colonialism coming from a queen not only stunned the Portuguese but also some of her own feeble ministers.

SHE LIVED LIFE ON HER OWN TERMS

Rani Abbakka didn’t have a happy marriage. Her husband, the king of Bangadi, Veera Narasimha, had tried to convince her to not defy the Portuguese. He also wanted their daughter to get married to his nephew, a political alliance that would cement the relationship between Ullal and Bangadi further. Abbakka was completely against this marriage and wanted her daughter to marry a worthy husband. When her husband tried to kidnap their daughter and force her into this alliance, Abbaka rescued her and arranged her marriage to a noble prince. Enraged by her actions, her husband joined hands with the Portuguese to seek revenge for his humiliation. However, it did not matter to the principled queen; Rani Abbakka believed in her decisions and stood by them even though it meant going against her husband. 

SHE DID NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RELIGION

Though Rani Abbakka followed the path of Jainism, her administration and army consisted of people from all sects and castes, including Hindus, and Muslims. Interestingly, during her rule, even men belonging to the Beary community served as seamen in her naval force. She forged alliances with the Zamorin of Calicut to strengthen her rule. When the Portuguese managed to capture the city of Ullal in 1557, she did not think twice about taking refuge in a mosque. That very same night, she gathered around two hundred of her soldiers and retaliated against the Portuguese. In the battle that ensued, Abbakka Rani won her kingdom back.

Rani Abbakka was considered the biggest threat for the Portuguese during her time and was one of the earliest torchbearers of the Indian freedom movement. Hail the feisty queen who broke all barriers and crushed the Portuguese power in India.

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