Indian Antiquary Vol 46

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 229

SEPTEMBER, 1917)
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
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were in the hands of Minakshi, while the court and the kingdom were in the hands of Barigåru. The leading men in the queen's party were her brothers, Veikata Naik and Perumal Naik: while Bangaru had for his supporter the crafty Veikata Raghavâchârya whose story we have already given. It is highly probable that the support of the greatest military officer in the State was the most determining factor in the formation of the two parties; for his example woull have been imitated by many officers of rank and influence. The balance of power was in consequence upset : and by losing the support of the army the queen became so weak that, though she remained in the palace. her enemies were able to seize the administration and the revenues.
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The Muhammadan Interference; its different Versions. It was at this crisis that foreigners intervened and, taking advantage of the domestic differences that weakened Madura. brought about the extinction of both the parties and of the kingdom itself. In the year 1734. i.e., two years after the accession of Minâkshi, Dost Ali, the Nawab of the Carnatics?, the representative of the Mughal Empire and the suzerain over the Southern kingcloms, despatched his son Nafdar Ali and his son-in-law Chanda Sahib on a campaign to the south. The cause of the expedition is stated clifferently by different authorities. The Hist. of the Carnu. Clourn. which is a partisan history in favour of Bangaru Tirumala. attributes it to Minâkshi. When matters were so situated, it says. "Minakshi Amma! wrote to Chanda Sahil) for assistance. Bangaru Tirumalai Naicker, hearing of her proceeding. wrote to Nawab Safder Ali Khan. The Nawab Safder Ali Khan and Chanda Sahib. in consequence. came at the head of 10.000 cavalry, and encamped outside the fort of Trichinopoly." The Telugu chronicle is comparatively obscure, and simply says that while the parties were struggling with each other at Trichinopoly, "the Subah of Arcot. named Safder Ali Khan, came to Trichinopoly," and having ordered thirty lakhs of rupees, returned to Arcot. The European writers are the best informed on the subject, and in consequence most reliable. The great historian Orme attributes the invasion to the ambition of the Nawab of Arcot, the suppression and annexation of the southern kingdoms. “The kingdoms of Trichinopoly and Tanjore," he Bays" although tributary to the Moghul. were each of them governed by its own prince or Raja, and the care of levying tributes of these countries, was intrusted to the Nawabs of Arcot who wore sometimes obliged to send an army to facilitate the collection of them. The death of the king of Trichinopoly in 1736 83 was followed by disputes between the queen and a prince of the royal blood, which produced a confusion in the government sufficient to give the Nawab of Arcot hopes of subjecting the kingdom to his authority. He there. fore determined to send an army under the command of his son Safdar Ali and the Dewan Chanda Sahib to seize an opportunity which might offer of getting possession of the city of
89 The nephew and the successor of Sa'adat Ali Khan, who died in 1732, i. e., the very yerr of Vijaya Ranga's death. As Wilks says, the Muhammadans would have intervened in 1732 in Trichinopoly owing. to the dispute in succession, but for the death of Sa'adat Ali and the arrangement of the succession in Arcot,-An Arrangement which ignored and displeased the Nizam, and which, therefore, afterwards. gave rise to trouble. Vide Wilks, I, p. 155.
83 This is wrong, the correct date being 1731.