Peda Venkata Raya

Peda Venkata Raya

Vijayanagara Empire

Sangama dynasty Harihara I 1336–1356 Bukka Raya I 1356–1377 Harihara Raya II 1377–1404 Virupaksha Raya 1404–1405 Bukka Raya II 1405–1406 Deva Raya I 1406–1422 Ramachandra Raya 1422 Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya 1422–1424 Deva Raya II 1424–1446 Mallikarjuna Raya 1446–1465 Virupaksha Raya II 1465–1485 Praudha Raya 1485 Saluva dynasty Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya 1485–1491 Thimma Bhupala 1491 Narasimha Raya II 1491–1505 Tuluva dynasty Tuluva Narasa Nayaka 1491–1503 Vira Narasimha Raya 1503–1509 Krishna Deva Raya 1509–1529 Achyuta Deva Raya 1529–1542 Venkata I 1542 Sadasiva Raya 1542–1570 Aravidu dynasty Aliya Rama Raya 1542–1565 Tirumala Deva Raya 1565–1572 Sriranga I 1572–1586 Venkata II 1586–1614 Sriranga II 1614 Rama Deva Raya 1617–1632 Venkata III 1632–1642 Sriranga III 1642–1646

Vijaynagar Venkathiraya Tamil Inscription, 1605 AD, Vellore District, displayed at the ASI Museum, Vellore Fort

Venkata III (a.k.a. Peda Venkata Raya), the grandson of Aliya Rama Raya became the King of Vijayanagara Empire from 1632–1642.

Seizure by Timma Raja

But his paternal uncle, Timma Raja, another brother of Sriranga II, thought himself to have a better claim, seized the government at Vellore Fort, compelling Venkata III to remaining in his native place Anekonda. The Nayaks of Gingee, Tanjore and Madurai declared support for Venkata III, while Timma Raja got support from no-one and was looked upon as a usurper.

Timma Raja nevertheless made a lot of trouble and civil strife continued until his death in 1635. Initially he was winning, until the King Peda Venkata (Venkata III)’s nephew, Sriranga III took to the field and defeated Timma Raja with help from the Dutch in Pulicat, compelling him to accept Venkata III’s claim. Timma Raja was allowed some territories under his control, but stirred up trouble for a second time, only to be slain by the Nayak of Gingee in 1635.

Peace was finally restored and Peda Venkata Raya or Venkata III returned to Vellore to take charge.

Madras Land Grant

On 22 August 1639 Francis Day of the East India Company obtained a small strip of Land in the Coromandel Coast from Peda Venkata Raya (a.k.a.Venkata III) in Chandragiri as a place to build a factory and warehouse for their trading activities. The region was under the control of the Damerla Venkatadri Nayakudu, a Recherla Velama chieftain of Srikalahasti and Vandavasi. Venkatadri Nayakudu was son of Damerla Chennappa Nayakudu. This is widely regarded at the founding event of the formation of the Chennai (Madras) Metropolis and is to the day celebrated as Madras Day.

Trouble from Southern Nayaks

In 1637 the Nayaks of Tanjore and Madurai, out of some complications attempted to seize Venkata III and attacked Vellore but were defeated and peace was established.

Sriranga III’s rebellion

The Kings loyal nephew, Sriranga III for some reasons turned against the King in 1638 and engineered an invasion from Bijapur. The Bijapur – Sriranga III combine initially attacked Bangalore making the King Venkata III buy peace after an expensive deal. In 1641 the same combine launched another attack and were just 12 miles from Vellore Fort, but their camp was attacked with backing by Southern Nayaks.

Golkonda forces

In the following year (1641), the Golkonda Sultan watching the disorder, sent a huge force along the East Coast. The Golkonda army, after facing a stiff resistance near Madras by Venkata III’s army backed by Damerla Venkatadri Nayaka and the Gingee Nayak, marched towards the Vellore Fort. But Venkata III, now badly under threat from all sides retreated to the Jungles of Chittoor and died October 1642.

Venkata III had no son and was immediately succeeded by his treacherous nephew Sriranga III, who came to Vellore Fort after deserting the Bijapur camp.

References

• Rao, Velcheru Narayana, and David Shulman, Sanjay Subrahmanyam. Symbols of substance : court and state in Nayaka period Tamilnadu (Delhi ; Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1998) ; xix, 349 p., [16] p. of plates : ill., maps ; 22 cm. ; Oxford India paperbacks ; Includes bibliographical references and index ; ISBN 0-19-564399-2.
• Sathianathaier, R. History of the Nayaks of Madura [microform] by R. Sathyanatha Aiyar ; edited for the University, with introduction and notes by S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar ([Madras] : Oxford University Press, 1924) ; see also ([London] : H. Milford, Oxford university press, 1924) ; xvi, 403 p. ; 21 cm. ; SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project item 10819.
• K.A. Nilakanta Sastry, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, (Reprinted 2002) ISBN 0-19-560686-8.