Nedunjeliyan II

2026-09-11T19:06:46Z

2401:4900:CCE0:A409:9040:7BFF:FE78:E268:

{{use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| reign = 210 CE
| dynasty = [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandyan]]
}}
{{Pandyan}}
'''Nedunjeliyan II''' (c. 210 CE) was the greatest of [[Early Pandyan Kingdom|Early Pandya Kings]]. He defeated a confederacy of the [[Cholas]] and [[Cheras]] at Talaiyalanganam near [[Tiruvarur]] and conquered most of the Tamil country establishing him as the most important ruler of his time. His deeds have been described in detail in the ''[[Maduraikkanci]]''.

== Reign ==

Nedunjeliyan II was a descendant of [[Nedunjeliyan I]]. His reign has been arbitrarily fixed in the early part of the 3rd century AD. Nedunjeliyan II ascended the throne at an early age and almost immediately upon his accession, the kingdom was invaded by the Cheras and Cholas. Nedunjeliyan II, however, defeated the invaders and pursued the retreating forces as far as Thalaiyalangaanam deep inside Chola territory and inflicted a crushing defeat upon them. The Chera king Mandaranjeral Irumporai was taken captive by Nedunjeliyan.During the battle Pandyan Nedunjeliyan ll captured entire [[Tamilakam]] up to [[Coorg]] and [[Mangalore]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alain Daniélou |url=http://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin00dani |title=A brief history of India |date=2003 |publisher=Inner Traditions |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-89281-923-2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Thalaiyaalagaanathu Seruvendra Pandyan Nedunchezhian: Battle, Battles and the Thalaiyalangaanam Battle (Part II) |url=https://www.tamilculture.com/thalaiyaalagaanathu-seruvendra-pandyan-nedunchezhian-battle-battles-and-the-thalaiyalangaanam-battle-part-ii |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=TamilCulture.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. A. Nilakanta |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.16035 |title=History of South India |date=1958 |language=English}}</ref>

Following his victory at Talaiyalanganam, Nedunjeliyan mounted a campaign against the [[Velirs]] and Millalai and Muttur.

== References ==

* {{cite book|title=[[A History of South India: From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar]]|first=K. A. Nilakanta|last=Sastri|authorlink=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|page=115}}

{{Pandya dynasty}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pandyan dynasty]]
[[Category:3rd-century Indian monarchs]]

Dheeran Chinnamalai

2026-09-11T17:53:58Z

2401:4900:CCE0:A409:9040:7BFF:FE78:E268: Added sourced military history of Dheeran Chinnamalai, covering his Mysore/Tipu Sultan connection, Noyyal conflict, British resistance and Odanilai operations, with references to Ramesh (p.12), Nandakumar (p.34), Vijayabharatham Prasuram (pp.1872–1887), and London Swaminathan.Added additional book sources including Pride of Tamilnadu Freedom Fighters (2024) and London Swaminathan’s Strange Stories About Hindu Saints, Temples And Historical Atrocities.

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox monarch
| name = Dheeran Chinnamalai
| title = Pattakarar of Palayakottai, Kangayam Nadu
| image = Dheeran Chinnamalai1.jpg
| caption = Statue of Dheeran Chinnamalai at Odanilai modelled after actor [[Sivakumar]]'s drawing
| full name = Theerthagiri Sarkarai Uthama Kaminda Manradiar
| predecessor =
Kongunaadu region
| successor = [[British Rule]]
| father =Rathnasamy Gounder
| mother =Periyatha
|religion=[[Shaivism]] | birth_date = {{birth date|1756|04|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Melapalayam or [[Kasbah]] Palayakottai, [[Kangeyam]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1805|07|31|1756|04|17|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Sankagiri]], [[Salem district]], [[Tamil Nadu]] or Karumalai, [[Oddanchatram]], [[Dindigul district]], [[Tamil Nadu]] ([[Madras Presidency]])
| date of burial = July/August 1805
| place of burial = Odanilai, [[Arachalur]], [[Erode district]], Tamil Nadu }}

'''Dheeran Chinnamalai''' (17 April 1756 – 31 July 1805) was a [[Palayakkarar]] Pattakarar who fought against the [[British East India Company]].

==Early life==
Dheeran Chinnamalai was born on April 17, 1756 in present-day [[Kangeyam]], to a noble family.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-04-18|title=Celebrating Dheeran Chinnamalai: Saluting his ideals or inciting casteist passions?|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/celebrating-dheeran-chinnamalai-saluting-his-ideals-or-inciting-casteist-passions-41796|access-date=2021-06-27|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> His birth name was Theerthagiri.<ref name="History">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/10/stories/2007071051470300.htm|title=Dheeran Chinnamalai statue to be installed in Odanilai soon|date=10 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201093126/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/10/stories/2007071051470300.htm|archive-date=1 December 2007|url-status=dead|work=[[The Hindu]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Military Victories==

===Noyyal Conflict===
In the Kongu region, which was under Mysore rule, Tipu Sultan's minister Muhammad Ali was collecting taxes. While returning to Mysore with the collected tax money, Theerthagiri intercepted him and seized the money. Following this, a confrontation took place on the riverbed of the Noyyal between the force sent by Muhammad Ali and Theerthagiri's forces. P. Ramesh states that Theerthagiri's side emerged victorious.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramesh |first=P. |title=History of Tamil Nadu Since 1801 CE |publisher=Manonmaniam Sundaranar University |page=12}}</ref>

===Actions Against the British in Alliance with Tipu===
Theeran Chinnamalai, who is described as having received French military training, is stated by P. Ramesh to have mobilised Kongu youths and participated in resistance against the British East India Company in alliance with Tipu Sultan.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramesh |first=P. |title=History of Tamil Nadu Since 1801 CE |publisher=Manonmaniam Sundaranar University |page=12}}</ref>

===Operations at Sivasamudram, Malavalli and Srirangapatna===
According to the Rattibha compilation, during the period when Theeran Chinnamalai was allied with Tipu Sultan, he participated in battles at Sivasamudram, Malavalli and Srirangapatna.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nandakumar |first=J. |title=Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future |year=2022 |page=34}}</ref>

===Odanilai Fort and Guerrilla Warfare===
Following the death of Tipu Sultan, Theeran Chinnamalai is stated to have built a fort at Odanilai and continued fighting against the British forces from there. P. Ramesh records that he later used guerrilla warfare tactics to operate without being captured by the British forces.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramesh |first=P. |title=History of Tamil Nadu Since 1801 CE |publisher=Manonmaniam Sundaranar University |page=12}}</ref>

===Battle of the Kaveri===
According to the Rattibha compilation, a battle took place in the Kaveri River region in 1801 between the forces of the British East India Company and those of Theeran Chinnamalai. The compilation states that Chinnamalai's forces were victorious. It also states that a British officer, Colonel Makishkan (Col. Makishkan), was killed in the battle.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nandakumar |first=J. |title=Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future |year=2022 |page=34}}</ref>

===Battle of Odanilai===
In 1802, a confrontation between the British forces and Theeran Chinnamalai is reported to have taken place at Odanilai. The Rattibha compilation states that Chinnamalai's forces defeated the British forces.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nandakumar |first=J. |title=Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future |year=2022 |page=34}}</ref>

===Battle of Arachalur===
In 1804, a battle between the British forces and those of Theeran Chinnamalai is reported to have taken place at Arachalur. The Rattibha compilation states that Chinnamalai's forces defeated the British forces.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nandakumar |first=J. |title=Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future |year=2022 |page=34}}</ref>

===Continuation of Military Resistance===
Even after the death of Tipu Sultan, Theeran Chinnamalai continued his armed resistance against British rule in the Kongu region. P. Ramesh states that he operated from Odanilai as a base and used both direct engagements and guerrilla warfare tactics.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramesh |first=P. |title=History of Tamil Nadu Since 1801 CE |publisher=Manonmaniam Sundaranar University |page=12}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Vijayabharatham Prasuram |title=Pride of Tamilnadu Freedom Fighters |year=2024 |pages=1872–1887}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Swaminathan |first=London |title=Strange Stories About Hindu Saints, Temples And Historical Atrocities |chapter=Dheeran Chinnamalai, a fighter to the last!}}</ref>

===Polygar wars===
Chinnamalai is said to be one of the commanders in the [[Polygar Wars]], notably during the [[Polygar War#Second Polygar War 1800-1802|Second Polygar War]] that took place in 1801–1802.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

After [[Kattabomman]] and [[Tipu Sultan]]'s deaths in 1799, Chinnamalai sought the help of [[Dhondia Wagh]] and [[Maruthu Pandiyar]] and lead the local Pattakarars [[Polygars]], notably Varanavasi Gounder and Vella Gounder of Erode, Chinnamalai's sister's husband Kumara Vellai of Perundurai, Appachi Gounder of [[Paramathi Velur (Namakkal district)|Paramathi-Velur]], Aravakurichi Periya Thambi, Somandurai Muchadayandi Vanaraya Gounder of Pollachi and the [[Naicker]] [[Polygars]] of [[Dhali, India|Dhali]], Virupakshi and Ramagiri among others, to attack the British at [[Coimbatore]] in 1800.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

British forces managed to stop the armies of the allies and hence Chinnamalai was forced to attack Coimbatore along with the above Polygars of Kongu Nadu. His army was defeated and he escaped from the British forces.<ref name="Life"/> Chinnamalai engaged in [[guerrilla warfare]] and defeated the British in battles at [[Cauvery]] in 1801, Odanilai [[kangeyam]] in 1802 and [[Arachalur]] in 1804.<ref name="History"/>

==Death==
Chinnamalai was betrayed by his cook Nallapan and was captured by the British in 1805. Nallappan usurped the title of Nallasenapthi Sarkarai Manradiar with British support.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} Some sources say he was hanged at [[Sankagiri Fort]] on 2 August 1805, as also were his two brothers; other sources give the date as 31 July.<ref name="Life">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Chinnamalai-a-lesser-known-freedom-fighter-of-Kongu-soil/article15270841.ece|title=Chinnamalai, a lesser-known freedom fighter of Kongu soil|work=The Hindu|date=2 August 2008}}</ref><ref name="toi050412"/>

==Legacy==
[[File:Dheeran Chinnamalai memorial.jpg|thumb|Dheeran Chinnamalai memorial at Sankagiri]]

Statues and memorials commemorating Chinnamalai exist in [[Chennai]], [[Tiruchirappalli]], [[Erode]] and [[Arachalur|Odanilai]].<ref name="History"/><ref name="Times">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Memorial-of-Dheeran-Chinnamalai-set-for-a-facelift/articleshow/19607361.cms|title=Memorial of Dheeran Chinnamalai set for face lift|date=18 April 2013|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

On 31 July 2005, a commemorative postage stamp commemorating him was released by [[India Post]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://postagestamps.gov.in/Stamps2005.aspx|title=Postage Stamps|work=postagestamps.gov.in|access-date=12 September 2015}}</ref>

Until 1997, [[Tiruchirapalli]] division of [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation]] was known as Dheeran Chinnamalai Transport Corporation.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8As_ndJ17jcC&pg=PA143|title=State Transport undertakings|author=P. Jegadish Gandhi|publisher=Deep and Deep|year=1998|isbn=9788176290845}}</ref>{{pn|date=July 2020}}

The headquarter of [[Erode Municipal Corporation]] was named after him.<ref name="toi050412">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/In-memory-of-a-valiant-Kongu-Chieftain/articleshow/12540624.cms|title=In memory of a valiant Kongu Chieftain|date=5 April 2012|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

{{Commons}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinnamalai, Dheeran}}
[[Category:1756 births]]
[[Category:1805 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Tamil monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Erode district]]
[[Category:People executed by British India by hanging]]

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Nedunjeliyan II

Dheeran Chinnamalai