The Thondaiman dynasty

The princely state of Pudkottai was created by Raghunatha Thondaiman.

Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati of Ramnad (1673-1708) married Kathali Nachiar the sister of Thondaiman, he appointed his brother in law Raghunatha Thondaiman as a chief of the district of Pudukottai. Raghunatha Thondaiman was earlier ruling Thirumayam. In appreciation of Raghunatha Tondaman's services, Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati has given Pudukkottai as an honour for his services.

In later centuries, the Thondaiman rulers, while nominally feudatories of the Ramnad state, often pursued an independent foreign policy, a trend common in all parts of India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 at that time. After the death of Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati he become ruler of Pudukottai.

After becoming the ruler of Pudukottai, Raghunatha Thondaiman fought against the Nayaks of Tanjore in support of the Nayaks of Madurai and conquered Thirukkattupalli a very important place. Then there was a direct clash between Thondaimans of Pudukottai and the Nayaks rulers of Tanjore. Thondaiman conquered the west of Thirukkattupalli.

The next ruler Raja Vijaya Reghunatha Raya Thondaiman he helped Arcot Nawab against Hyder Ali the ruler of Mysore. He was also loyal towards the British Government. After some time, when Hyder Ali’s army tried to enter into Pudukkottai, the Thondaiman’s army successfully defeated them and drove Hyder’s army away. Thondaiman captured Kilanilai and Aranthangi. He helped the British Government against Tipu Sultan.

Pudukkotai finally came under formal British protection. This was arguably unavoidable, since the Thondaimans were much menaced in that period by a resurgent Mysore ruled by Hyder Ali

Hyder Ali

Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...

 and Tipu Sultan

Tipu Sultan

Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...

. Tipu Sultan had sought to leverage the power of the French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 against his British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

List of Thondaman Kings

The Thondaman lineage:

• Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman
  Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman
  Raja Sri Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman was the ruler of the Pudukkottai kingdom from 1686 to 1730. Starting his career as a feudatory chieftain of the Sethupathi of Ramnad, in 1686, Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman was recognised as the independent ruler of Pudukkottai by the Sethupathi for the services he...
  
   (1686 - 1730)
• Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman
  Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman
  Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman may refer to* Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman I , the ruler of Pudukkottai state from 1730 to 1769.* Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman II , the ruler of Pudukkottai state from 1807 to 1825....
  
   (1730 - 1769)
• Raya Raghunatha Tondaiman
  Raya Raghunatha Tondaiman
  Raja Sri Raya Raghunatha Tondaiman was the ruler of Pudukkottai kingdom from 28 December 1769 to 30 December 1789.- Early life :...
  
   (1769 - Dec 1789)
• Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman
  Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman
  Raja Sri Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman Bahadur was the ruler of the kingdom of Pudukkottai from 30 December 1789 to 1 February 1807.- Early life :...
  
   (Dec 1789 - February 1, 1807)
• Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman
  Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman
  Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman may refer to* Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman I , the ruler of Pudukkottai state from 1730 to 1769.* Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman II , the ruler of Pudukkottai state from 1807 to 1825....
  
   (February 1, 1807 - June 1825)
• Raghunatha Tondaiman
  Raghunatha Tondaiman
  His Excellency Raja Sri Raghunatha Tondaiman Bahadur was the ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai from 4 June 1825 to 13 July 1839.- Early life :...
  
   (June 1825 - July 13, 1839)
• Ramachandra Tondaiman
  Ramachandra Tondaiman
  Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Ramachandra Tondaiman Bahadur was the ruler of princely state of Pudukkottai from July 13, 1839 to April 15, 1886.- Early life :...
  
   (July 13, 1839 - April 15, 1886)
• Marthanda Bhairava Tondaiman (April 15, 1886 - May 28, 1928)
• Rajagopala Tondaiman
  Rajagopala Tondaiman
  Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sri Rajagopala Tondaiman Bahadur was the ninth and last ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai.- Early life :...
  
  (October 28, 1928 - March 4, 1948)