Ramaiyan

2021-06-16T07:08:23Z

2405:204:3408:DBF8:DBC0:254C:3525:7849:

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
'''Ramaiyan''', '''Ramayyan''' or '''Ramappaiyyan''' was a general who served under the [[Madurai Nayak]] king [[Thirumalai Nayak]]. He is the subject of the Tamil [[ballad]] ''Ramayyan Ammanai''.

== Personal life ==

Ramaiyan was a [[Brahmin]] soldier who served in the army of Thirumalai Nayak.<ref name="balladpoetryp133">{{cite book|title=Ballad poetry|pages=133|author=M. Arunachalam|publisher=Gandhi Vidhyalayam|year=1976}}</ref><ref name="kingshipp20">{{cite book|title=Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India|pages=20|author=Pamela G. Price|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1996|id={{ISBN|0521552478}}, {{ISBN|978-0-521-55247-9}}}}</ref> He acquired fame for his prowess as a swordsman and gradually rose to become an important general in the Nayak's army.<ref name="kingshipp21">{{cite book|title=Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India|pages=21|author=Pamela G. Price|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1996|id={{ISBN|0521552478}}, {{ISBN|978-0-521-55247-9}}}}</ref>

== War against Mysore ==

Ramaiyan's first major battle was against Harasura Nandi Raja, the general of the Mysore kingdom. In 1633, Halasura invaded the Nayak kingdom and marched as far as Dindigul but was repulsed by Ramaiyan and Ranganna Nayak, the ''polygar'' of Kannivadi.

Ramaiyan also participated in the Nayak invasion of Travancore in 1634-35.

== War against Ramnad ==

In 1639, Tambi, an illegitimate brother of the Sethupathi Cadaikkan and a contender for the throne rebelled against the king.<ref name="kingshipp21" /> Thirumalai supported the rebel and sent a huge army under the leadership of Ramaiyan.<ref name="kingshipp21" />

Ramaiyan fought the Ramnad troops led by the Sethupathi's son-in-law Vanni in the Maravar country.<ref name="kingshipp20" /> The war lasted five months and resulted in Nayak's victory.<ref name="kingshipp20" /> The Sethupathi, himself, fled to [[Pamban Island]] but was captured and taken prisoner.<ref name="kingshipp20" />

== ''Ramayyan Ammanai'' ==

Ramaiyan's exploits in the 1639 war were the subject of a popular Tamil ballad, ''Ramayyan Ammanai''.<ref name="kingshipp20" /> In the ballad, Cadaikkan, initially, ridicules Ramaiyan

{{quotation|Does he not know the might of Cadaikkan? Does he not know what will happen? Who can defeat me? I am not Cadaikkan and I am not a brave man if I do not pluck out the eyes of the Brahmin who has come I am not Cadaikkan and I am a coward If I do not tie a coconut to his tuft and do not break it into pieces while the great world witnesses<ref name="kingshipp21" />}}

On completion of the war, Ramaiyan sends the following message to Thirumalai Nayak:

{{quotation|I made those who speak ill of you surrender at the entrance of Madurai. Did not the kings of the earth obey you and extend their hands with taxes?<ref name="kingshipp20" />}}

== Death ==

Ramaiyan died shortly after his victory against Ramnad. His death is believed to have taken place sometime between 1639 and 1648.

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==

* {{cite book|title=History of the Nayaks of Madura|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5932|author=R. Sathyanatha Aiyar|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1924|pages=[https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5932/page/n133 120]–124}}

[[Category:Madurai Nayak dynasty]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:17th-century deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]

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Ramaiyan