Keladi Chennamma

Economic policy and trade

Chennamma maintained a state-controlled monopoly on the black pepper trade, which was the kingdom's primary export. She also rendered a trade agreement with the Portuguese involving commodities like pepper and rice. She skillfully balanced relations with European powers, signing the Treaty of Barkur in 1678 with the Portuguese, which ensured that the Keladi state retained sovereignty over coastal ports while collecting fixed customs duties (Sulkas).^[2]

Religious endowments

Despite being a devout Veerashaiva, her administration practiced religious pluralism. In 1691, she issued a series of copper-plate grants to the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, granting the village of Kuduvalli as Sarvamanya (tax-free) land.^[3]

She also permitted the Portuguese to establish churches at Mirjan, Honnavara, Chandavara and Kalyanpura.^[4]

Fortifications and military logistics

In anticipation of Mughal incursions, Chennamma overhauled the kingdom's defensive infrastructure. She moved the primary treasury and administrative records to the mountain fortress of Bidanur (Nagara). The fort was upgraded with a three-tier defense system, including stone-lined water channels and a network of granaries (Kothis) to withstand long sieges.^[5]

War with Mysore

Chikka Devaraja, the ruler of Mysore, launched a campaign in which he conquered several territories in the north of Mysore, including Chikkatottagere, Magadi, Laddagiri, Kadur, Virannedurga, Channarayadurga, Bijjavara, Gunduma ledurga, and Bhutipura, all of which were part of the Ikkeri kingdom. However, the Ikkeri kingdom, under the regency of Queen Chennamma who ruled on behalf of her adopted minor son Basava Raja, mounted a formidable defense. The Ikkeri forces successfully defeated the Mysore army at Vasudhare^[6] and reclaimed the territories of Kadur, Banavara, Hassan, and Belur, thereby bolstering their defenses against further incursions by Chikka Devaraja.^[7]

Keladi - Mughal war

Following the execution of the Maratha King Sambhaji by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Sambhaji's half-brother, Chhatrapati Rajaram I, fled Raigad in disguise to seek refuge in the south at Gingee Fort (Jinji).^[8]

While traversing the Karnataka region, Rajaram was pursued by a Mughal army led by General Kasim Khan. In late 1689, Rajaram reached the Keladi capital at Bidanur and requested sanctuary. Despite the threat of a full-scale Mughal invasion, Rani Chennamma granted him refuge, providing him with supplies and a safe military escort through the dense Malnad forests toward Jinji.^[9]

Infuriated by the defiance of the Keladi Queen, Aurangzeb dispatched a massive force under Kasim Khan to besiege Bidanur. The Mughal cavalry struggled with the rugged, monsoon-drenched terrain of the Western Ghats, which was unfamiliar to them. Rani Chennamma utilized guerrilla warfare tactics, deploying her "Bedar" (Valmiki) infantry to harass Mughal supply lines and conduct night raids.^[1]

After suffering heavy casualties and facing a stalemate in the dense jungles, the Mughal forces were compelled to withdraw. A treaty was subsequently signed in 1690, where the Mughals recognized the autonomy of the Keladi Kingdom. By this time, Rajaram had successfully reached Jinji, allowing the Maratha resistance against the Mughals to continue for another decade.^[9][8]

  Keladi Timmanna nayaka 

Her cabinet was headed by Timmanna Naik, who was the descendant of a commander of Vijayanagara.^{[citation needed]}

Timmanna Nayaka

Timmanna Nayaka was the Chief General, Chief Minister, Army Chief Commander and a high-ranked official of the Keladi Kingdom. He served as the Dalavayi (Commander-in-Chief) under King Shivappa Nayaka and later as the most trusted and loyal Chief Commander of Queen Keladi Chennamma.

He was born in Matti village in Bhatkal Taluk, Uttara Kannada district in coastal Karnataka. Matti is located near Honnavar in the Karavali region.

He played a very important role in saving the Keladi Kingdom twice — first by saving Shivappa Nayaka from the Portuguese, and later by saving Keladi Chennamma from the Mughals and rebellious Palegars.