Battle of Toppur

It was one of the largest battles in the history of South Asia. In this battle, the cannons are used in large scale for the first in South India. It causes complete destruction of already declining Vijaya Nagara Empire. It was a civil war fought by the claimants for the kingship of Vijayanagara Empire. Jagga Raya challenged the Sriranga Authority on behalf of his nephew.

Background

King Venkatapati Raya the ruler of Vijayanagara Empire. belonging to the Aravidu line died without direct no heirs. So he declared his nephew Sriranga II as heir. But King Venkatapati's Queen Obayamma who had adopted a Brahmin boy named Chenga Raya wanted him to be a real heir. Her ambition causes civil war. Her brother Gobburi Jaggaraya kidnapped and murdered the king and his whole family. Only his one son was survived. This brutal murder caused angst in his court among other Nayaks and commanders. The commander of Imperial army revolted and supported the son of Sriranga II named Rama Deva Raya.

Battle

The location of the battle that took place is mentioned by most historians as Toppur, located on the banks of Cauvery river a mile of Grand Anicut, which is present day Thogur^[1].

Aftermath

The battle was won by Yachama Naidu faction and Rama Deva Raya, son of Sriranga II, who was only 13 years old and was crowned as Emperor.

References

• http://www.thiruvarangam.com/history.html
• Rao, Velcheru Narayana, and David Shulman, Sanjay Subrahmanyam. Symbols of substance : court and state in Nayaka period Tamilnadu (Delhi ; Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1998) ; xix, 349 p., [16] p. of plates : ill., maps ; 22 cm. ; Oxford India paperbacks ; Includes bibliographical references and index ; ISBN 0-19-564399-2.
• Sathianathaier, R. History of the Nayaks of Madura [microform] by R. Sathyanatha Aiyar ; edited for the University, with introduction and notes by S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar ([Madras] : Oxford University Press, 1924) ; see also ([London] : H. Milford, Oxford university press, 1924) ; xvi, 403 p. ; 21 cm. ; SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project item 10819.
• K.A. Nilakanta Sastry, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, (Reprinted 2002) ISBN 0-19-560686-8.

1. ↑ Srinivasachari, C. S. (1943). History of Gingee and Its Rulers (PDF) (2nd ed.). The Annamalai University. p. 135.