When Venkata I was on the throne of Vijayanagar, Krishnappa Nayaka was the ruler of Gingee. Anquetil du Perron calls him the contemporary of Vencapatir. Perron has stated that Krishnappa succeeded his father whose name, however, he does not mention. After the death of his father, Krishnappa must have been imprisoned by his uncle for a time in the fortress of Gingee.
According to Father Pimenta, Krishnappa managed to escape from his prison with the help of some friends and imprisoned in turn his usurping uncle and also put out his eyes. Anquetil du Perron says that Krishnappa was freed by his own subjects.
In 1586 Krishnappa Nayaka seems to have rebelled against Venkata I who captured him and imprisoned him. Raghunatha Nayaka of Tanjore rendered help to Krishnappa by requesting from the Emperor an order for his release in return for services rendered to him in repelling the Muhammadans who were then besieging him at Penukonda. Venkata, in gratitude for the help rendered by Raghunatha Nayaka, had to order the immediate release of Krishnappa Nayaka.
The Nayak of Gingee then paid his respects to Raghunatha and prostrated himself before him and showed a due sense of his gratitude by giving away his daughter in marriage to him. The Raghunathabhyudhayam and the Sahitya Ratnakara both definitely refer to the release of Krishnappa from captivity effected through the help of Raghunatha.
Administrative Interregnum
On the occasion of Krishnappa’s rebellion the Emperor had sent against him an army under the command of one Venkata, who was an elder brother of the Kalahasti chief, Ankabhupala. This Venkata seems to have marched against him and defeated him.
During the time of Krishnappa’s confinement in prison, the Gingee country seems to have been ruled by this Venkata, who, according to the Telugu work, Ushaparinayam, is said to have constructed a large tank and named it Chennasagaram, after his father. This implies a fairly long rule of Venkata at Gingee and an equally long term of imprisonment for Krishnappa Nayaka.
Recent Posts
- The Final Stand of Raja Desing: The Battle of Gingee, October 1714
- Raja Desing’s bold stand: Preparing for War in Gingee, 1714
- Raja Desing Short Rule in Gingee: A Tale of Courage and Defiance (1714)
- Swarup Singh’s Death 1714: A Turning Point for Gingee Fort
- Causes That Hastened the 1712 Peace Treaty with Swarup Singh
- Peace in May 1712: Ending the War Between Swarup Singh and the English
- The War Under Raworth: Swarup Singh’s Conflict with the English, 1711–1712
- Swarup Singh and the English: Retaliation and Escalation in the