Dodda Kempadevaraja
Encyclopedia
Dodda Kempadevaraja was the wodeyar
ruler of Mysore
(a principality
or petty kingdom
in southern India
) from 1659 until 1672.
. He was adopted and appointed heir apparent
, with title Yuvaraja on 28 July 1659. He succeeded his cousin on the latter's death on 31 July 1659, and was installed on the Mysore gaddi on 19 August 1659
region to the west, where they captured more territory. Dodda Kempadevaraja also abrogated his nominal allegiance to Vijayanagar and declared his kingdom to be independent. Soon the Naiks of Madura invaded Mysore as well; they too were repulsed and chased back into their own dominions, where Erode
and Dharapuram
were annexed to Mysore and Trichonopoly was forced to pay tribute to Mysore. When the Dodda Kempadevaraja died in Chiknayakanhalli
, the northernmost outpost of his territories, in 1672, his dominions had considerably expanded. They extended now to Dharapuram
in Coimbatore in the south, Sakkarepatna
(now Chikmagalur) to the west, and Salem to the east.
Odeyar
Odeyar/Wodeyar is a surname in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.The word oDeyar is more popularly associated with the Royal Family of Mysore better spelled among English speaking as Wodeyers. However, it would be wrong to assume that this word is popular and typical to communities descended from or...
ruler of Mysore
Kingdom of Mysore
The Kingdom of Mysore was a kingdom of southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. The kingdom, which was ruled by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire...
(a principality
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
or petty kingdom
Petty kingdom
A petty kingdom is one of a number of small kingdoms, described as minor or "petty" by contrast to an empire or unified kingdom that either preceded or succeeded it...
in southern India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
) from 1659 until 1672.
Early years
Dodda Kempadevaraja was born on 25 May 1627, the fourth son of Prince Devarajendra Wodeyar, by his second wife, Kempamamba Ammani Avaru. He was imprisoned with his father at Hengul Fort in 1638, the year of incumbency of his cousin Kanthirava Narasaraja IKanthirava Narasaraja I
Kanthirava Narasaraja I was the Wodeyar ruler of Mysore from 1638 to 1659.-Early years:...
. He was adopted and appointed heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
, with title Yuvaraja on 28 July 1659. He succeeded his cousin on the latter's death on 31 July 1659, and was installed on the Mysore gaddi on 19 August 1659
Rule
During his rule, the last of the Vijayanagara rulers sought refuge in Bednur. Soon afterwards, Sivappa Naik, the Nayaka of Kelladi attacked Seringapatam with a large force and with the ostensible intention of restoring Vijayanagara rule at Seringapatam. However, the Mysore forces, led by Dodda Kempadevaraja, repulsed the attack and thereafter pursued the attackers into the malnadMalnad
Malenadu is a region of Karnataka state in South India. Malenadu covers the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, roughly 100 kilometers in width. Malenadu covers portions of the Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu and Hassan districts....
region to the west, where they captured more territory. Dodda Kempadevaraja also abrogated his nominal allegiance to Vijayanagar and declared his kingdom to be independent. Soon the Naiks of Madura invaded Mysore as well; they too were repulsed and chased back into their own dominions, where Erode
Erode
Erode is a city, a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Erode district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.It is situated at the center of the South Indian Peninsula, about southwest from the state capital Chennai and on the banks of the rivers Cauvery and Bhavani, between 11° 19.5"...
and Dharapuram
Dharapuram
Dharapuram is a town and a municipality in the Tirupur district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Dharapuram one of the Oldest Town in Tiruppur District. Dharapuram, then known as Rajarajapuram was the capital of Kongu Nadu under Kongu Cholas. The Amaravathi River flows through the ancient...
were annexed to Mysore and Trichonopoly was forced to pay tribute to Mysore. When the Dodda Kempadevaraja died in Chiknayakanhalli
Chiknayakanhalli
Chikkanayakana Halli is a town in Tumkur district, in the state of Karnataka, in India.•The place lies 67 km away from Tumkur and 132 km from Bangalore.• The town is named after Chikkanayaka, a chief of Hagalavadi...
, the northernmost outpost of his territories, in 1672, his dominions had considerably expanded. They extended now to Dharapuram
Dharapuram
Dharapuram is a town and a municipality in the Tirupur district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Dharapuram one of the Oldest Town in Tiruppur District. Dharapuram, then known as Rajarajapuram was the capital of Kongu Nadu under Kongu Cholas. The Amaravathi River flows through the ancient...
in Coimbatore in the south, Sakkarepatna
Chikkamagaluru
Chikmagalur is a town located in Chikkamagaluru district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located in the foothills of Mullayanagiri range chikmagalur is famous for the coffee, it is known as the coffee land of karnataka. it has international school called ambar valley and a star resort by name...
(now Chikmagalur) to the west, and Salem to the east.