Vishwanatha Nayak

Viswanatha Nayaka was the

Vijayanagara Vijayanagara () is a city located in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka state in India.Vijayanagara

viceroy to
Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...
in south
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
during the 16th century. He later became the ruler of Madurai after the fall of the
Vijayanagara Vijayanagara () is a city located in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka state in India.Vijayanagara
empire. He is the founder of the Nayak dynasty of Madurai.Saints, Goddesses and Kings By
Susan Bayly Susan Bayly is Professor Emerita of Historical Anthropology in the Cambridge University Department of Social Anthropology and a Life Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge Christ's College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constit ...
He hailed from the Garikepati family of
Balija The Balija are a Telugu-speaking mercantile community primarily living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and in smaller numbers in Telangana and Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, they are known as Gavarais. Etymology Var ...
caste. He was supported by his general Ariyanatha Mudaliar who led Viswanatha Nayak's army became second in command and took power along with the latter in
Tirunelveli Tirunelveli (), also known as Nellai and historically (during British rule) as Tinnevelly, is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirunelveli District. It is the fourth-largest munici ...
in southern India. Viswantha Nayak was then succeeded by his son Krishnappa Nayak who along with his father's able minister Ariyanatha expanded the
Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...
Kingdom under the Nayaks and brought most of the ancient
Pandyan The Pandya dynasty (), also referred to as the Pandyas of Madurai, was an ancient Tamil dynasty of South India, and among the four great kingdoms of Tamilakam, the other three being the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Cheras. Existing sinc ...
territory under its rule.

History
He was the son of Nagama Nayaka, the successful general of Krishnadevaraya in the
Vijayanagara Vijayanagara () is a city located in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka state in India.Vijayanagara
empire. In the early 16th century, the
Chola The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...
ruler Veerasekara Chola invaded the
Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...
country and deposed the Pandya king Chandrasekara Pandyan. The Pandya king was under the protection of the
Vijayanagara Vijayanagara () is a city located in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka state in India.Vijayanagara
empireThe New Cambridge History of India By Gordon Johnson, Christopher Alan Bayly, J. F. Richards and he appealed to the court of
Vijayanagara Vijayanagara () is a city located in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka state in India.Vijayanagara
, and an expedition under Kotikam Nagama Nayaka was sent to his aid. Nagama suppressed the Chola ruler and took Madurai, but then suddenly he threw off his allegiance and declining to help the Pandya king, usurped the throne. The Vijayanagara emperor demanded that someone cure the defection: Nagama's own son, Viswanatha, volunteered, and the king sent him with a large force against the rebel. He overthrew his father and handed him over to the emperor and as a reward for his loyalty the king appointed Viswanatha Nayaka as the governor of
Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...
and other provinces in the Tamil country thus leading to formation of the Nayak Kingdom of Madurai in 1529. The Nayaks protected the southern districts from invasion of Mysore and Deccan sultans.

Telugu film
This historical event was made as Telugu film in 1987 entitled '' Viswanatha Nayakudu'' under the direction of
Dasari Narayana Rao Dasari Narayana Rao (4 May 1942 – 30 May 2017) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, lyricist, and politician, primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema. Over his four decade career, he directed more than 150 feature ...
.Viswanatha Nayakudu film at IMDb.
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Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nayaka, Viswanatha Telugu people Hindu monarchs Telugu monarchs Viswanatha 16th-century monarchs in Asia Tamil people of Telugu descent