Nayaks of Thanjavur: Map & History
The Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty, established by Sevappa Nayaka around 1532, was a ruling lineage that governed Thanjavur between 16th and 17th centuries.
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The Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty, established by Sevappa Nayaka around 1532, was a ruling lineage that governed Thanjavur between 16th and 17th centuries. Hailing from Telugu Balijas ancestry, the Nayaks were initially appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagara Emperor in the early 16th century, alongside governorships based at Madurai, and Gingee. They governed with increasing autonomy following the decline of central Vijayanagara authority after 1565. They became known for their extensive architectural and literary patronage in Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit.
Modern Countries Once Part of Nayaks of Thanjavur
At its mapped extent, Nayaks of Thanjavur covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Nayaks of Thanjavur's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Nayaks of Thanjavur in Depth
History
Following the collapse of the Chola Empire in 1279, Thanjavur passed to the Pandyas and later to Vijayanagara Empire during the late 14th century. In 1532 CE, Achyuta Deva Raya—successor to Krishna Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire—granted regional governor Sevappa Nayaka permission to establish a hereditary feudatory kingdom.
Sevappa Nayaka (r. 1532–1580) was the founder of the Thanjavur Nayak kingdom. He was the son of Timmappa Nayaka (also known as Timmabhupati), a Vijayanagara provincial commander in the Arcot region, and his wife Bayyambika. Genealogical details recorded in Raghunathabhyudayam and local epigraphs trace the family's ancestral seat to Nedungunram in North Arcot. The epigraphs of all of the Tanjore Nayaks show that they belonged to Nedungunram.
Origins
The family traced its lineage to Balija merchant-warrior communities originating in the Telugu country (present-day Andhra Pradesh). Epigraphical studies by archaeologist Kudavayil Balasubramanian identified the dynasty as members of Kavarai community. A 1556 CE inscription at Arunachalesvara Temple in Tiruvannamalai identifies the founder's father, Timmappa Nayaka, as a member of kavarai community, also noting that his son Sevappa Nayaka governed Thanjavur. Kavarai is the traditional Tamil designation for Telugu-speaking Balijas settled in Tamil Nadu. The deity Rajagoplaswamy (locally known as Mannaru) at the Mannargudi temple was their kula deivam (tutelary family deity).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Thanjavur Nayak kingdom (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Nayaks of Thanjavur: Key Facts
| Capital | Thanjavur |
|---|---|
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1532 |
| Dissolved | 1673 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q1588434 (CC0).
Nayaks of Thanjavur Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Nayaks of Thanjavur appears, with the other states of the time.
Nayaks of Thanjavur Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 14,694 km² in 1674 CE.
Nayaks of Thanjavur: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Nayaks of Thanjavur exist?
Nayaks of Thanjavur is dated to 1534 CE – 1676 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of Nayaks of Thanjavur?
The capital of Nayaks of Thanjavur was Thanjavur.
How large was Nayaks of Thanjavur at its peak?
At its peak in 1674 Nayaks of Thanjavur covered about 14,694 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
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Industrial Era • Capital: London
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