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Kodavas of Kodagu – 3

As an answer to Bahmani kingdom south of Deccan, the Vijayanagara kingdom was established and flourished.  Vijaynagara Empire controlled all the lands in South India which were not under the influence of the Bahmani Empire of Bijapur.  Kodava kings paid fealty to the Vijayanagara kings and were thus protected.  After the defeat of Vijayanagara by the concerted effort of the Muslims, various Nayaks ruled splintered Kodagu until the 16^th century.

In the 16^th century, in the aftermath of the fall of Vijayanagara Empire, the Keladi Nayaks of Ikkeri consolidated power in Kodagu and established the Paleri (Haleri) dynasty (so called because of their capital in Paleri).  Paleri kings, who were Lingayats of Veerashaiva faith, ruled the region for more than 200 years (1580 – 1834).  The first ruler of Paleri dynasty was Vira Raja.  His grandson Muddu Raja I was a popular ruler and ruled for more than 50years.  He moved his headquarters to current day Madikeri in 1681.  It was called Muddu Raja Keri and later shortened to Madikeri (anglicized as Mercara).  Under the Paleri dynasty Kodagu attained a status as an Independent kingdom.

Dodda Vira Raja (also called Siribai Dodda Vira Raja) ruled from 1687 – 1736. Dodda Vira Rajendra (1780 – 1809) and Linga Raja II (1811 – 1820) also had significant impact on the history of the region.  Dodda Vira Raja improved transportation by building bridges across ancient trenches.  He also streamlined the administration of the region into villages, districts and appointed district headmen.

In the 18^th century, Hyder Ali had usurped the rulers of Mysore and set his sights on Kodagu.  A weak ruler called Chikkaveerappa was ruling Kodagu.  Hyder Ali grabbed some Kodava land in 1763 but his mighty troops were defeated by the gallant Kodavas in 1766.  After Chikkaveerappa’s death the Paleri dynasty was split into Paleri and Horemale and two rulers called Mudduraja and Muddaihraja came to power.  After their death in 1770, an internal skirmish between Linga Raja I and a Devappa Raja of Paleri and Horemale respectively, gave Hyder Ali an opening.  He sided with Linga Raja I and installed him on the throne and acted as his protectorate.  When Linga Raja I died, Hyder Ali took direct control of the Kodavas.  This enraged the Kodavas and they started heckling the Muslim garrison in Madikeri.  In 1782 the Kodavas took power back from Hyder Ali.  In the same year, Hyder Ali died and his son Tippu Sultan started his ambitious expansion of his kingdom. 

In 1785, Tippu attacked Kodagu, while returning from Mangalore to Srirangapattana, his capital city.  He retained control of Kodagu for sometime. 

Tippu never could continuously hold his power in Kodagu.  As soon as he turned his back on Kodagu, the local heroes revolted and took power back from the Muslim rulers.  Tippu returned to reclaim control though he found the Kodavas a pesky thorn on his sides.  Both Hyder Ali and Tippu were interested in Kodagu because of its abundant rice crops.  In 1788, Dodda Vira Rajendra, who had been taken prisoner, escaped and defeated Tippu and recovered his kingdom.  In 1790 Dodda Vira Rajendra signed a treaty with the British, who promised to protect his kingdom against Tippu’s onslaught.  Eventually, the Kodavas backed the British troops and Tippu fell in the year 1799.  The Paleri rulers continued to rule until 1834, when the British exiled the last of the rajas, Chikka Vira Raja, and took full control of the region.  They charged him with cruelty to his people and sedition as an excuse to annex Kodagu under the British Raj.

Under British protection, Kodagu became a State with nominal independence.  Coorgs Bopanna became the first governor and later his descendents assumed the role of administrators.  The Kodavas in turn earned a name as valiant soldiers and officers in the army.  They earned a reputation as able commanders and brave fighters both under the British rule as well as post independent India.  Eventually, famous sons of Kodagu became prominent members of the armed forces of India.  General K.S. Thimayya DSO and Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa OBE are both well known names to Indians.

– Continued

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