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quick corrected lead for accuracy further and fixed typos

Bot at 13:33, 21 November 2022

2022-11-21T13:33:18Z

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{{short description|Longest ruling queen in Indian history}}
{{copy edit|date=October 2022}}

{{infobox royalty
| name = Chennabhairadevi
| image = File:Bronze statue of Rani Chennabhairadevi.jpeg
| caption = Bronze statue of Chennabhairadevi
| birth_date = 15 C.
| birth_place = [[Gerusoppa]]
| death_date = Early 16th century
| death_place = [[Keladi]]<ref name="Avvarasi"/>
| title = {{Ubl | Mahamandaleshwari | Queen of pepper | Avvarasi}}
| module = {{Infobox person |embed=yes
| family = [[Saluva dynasty]]
| known_for = {{Ubl | Longest ruled queen (54 years) | War against Portuguese in 1570}}
}}
}}

'''Rani Chennabhairadevi''', (also called '''Raina-Da-Pimenta''' {{lit|'''The Queen of Pepper'''}} by the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]]),<ref name="QUEEN">{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/399154/where-pepper-queen-ruled.html|title=Where the Pepper queen ruled|work=Deccan Herald|author=Chitra Ramaswamy|date=15 April 2014|access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref> was the 16th-century Jain queen of Nagire province under the [[Vijayanagara empire|Vijayanagara Empire]]. She was officially known as '''Mahamandaleshwari Rani Chennabhairadevi'''. She is regarded as being the longest ruling queen in Indian history, from 1552 to 1606, a period of 54 years.<ref name="RANI">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2016/mar/07/Chennabhairadevi-The-Pepper-Queen-of-India-Who-Ruled-for-54-Years-900761.html|title=Chennabhairadevi, The Pepper Queen of India Who Ruled for 54 Years|work=Times of India|date=7 March 2016|access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref> She is also known for her wars against the Portuguese in 1559 and 1570, which she won and helped start commercial relationships with the Portuguese.

She earned the title "The Queen of Pepper" from the Portuguese, as she exported a great amount of pepper and other spices to European and Arab regions through the ports of [[Bhatkal]] and [[Honnavar]].<ref name="Avvarasi">{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2016/mar/07/Chennabhairadevi-The-Pepper-Queen-of-India-Who-Ruled-for-54-Years-900761.html|title=Chennabhairadevi the pepper queen of India who ruled for 54 years|work=The New Indian Express|date=7 March 2016|access-date=17 October 2022}}</ref>

== Nagire province ==
Nagire province, also known as the province of Gerusoppa was one of the small provinces under the control of the king of Vijayanagara, known as Mahamandala. The province followed the banks of [[Sharavathi river]] and extended from South Goa to Malabar.<ref name="DEVI">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangalorefirst.in/?p=22119|title=Chennabhairadevi, The Pepper Queen of India Who Ruled for 54 Years|work=Bangalore Mirror|date=7 March 2016|access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref> Gerusoppa served as the capital of the province. The province was rich in spices and had important ports on the west coast, for example Bhatkal, Honnavar and Karwar.

The provinces of Bilgi and Keladi were Nagire's neighbours and were always tried to capture Nagire to extend their kingship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/spectrum/spectrum-top-stories/the-pepper-queen-of-karnataka-1128719.html|title=The Pepper Queen of Karnataka|work=Deccan Herald|author=Swatee Jog|date=21 July 2022|access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> To counter them, Chennabhairadevi developed a good relationship with the Bijapur kings.

==History==
Kings of one branch of [[Saluva Dynasty]] of Vijayanagar, ruled Gerusoppe while another dynasty ruled Haduvalli. King ''Immadi Devaraya'' (1515–50) of Gerusoppe, fought against the Portuguese. After his defeat in a fierce battle near MadaGoa in 1542, the Portuguese burnt down his capital Bhatkala.<ref>{{cite book |last= Dr. Gajanana |first= Sharma |title= Chennabhairadevi : Karimenasina Raniya Akalanka Charithe |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57881323 |location= |publisher=Ankitha Pusthaka |isbn=9788195113125 | orig-date= 2021 | page=11 }}</ref> His wife ''Chennadevi'' was the elder sister of Chennabhairadevi.

The Portuguese captain ''Alfonso D'Souza'' attacked [[Bhatkala]], defeated Chennadevi and burnt Bhatkala,<ref>{{cite book |last= Dr. Gajanana |first= Sharma|title= Chennabhairadevi : Karimenasina Raniya Akalanka Charithe |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57881323 |location= |publisher=Ankitha Pusthaka |isbn=9788195113125 | orig-date= 2021 | page=14 }}</ref> accusing her of sheltering non-cartaged Mohammedan ships in the port and for not paying Kappa as per the agreement with the Portuguese. After her elder sister, Chennabhairadevi got the power of Gerusoppe along with Haduvalli.

== Reign of the Queen ==
Mahamandaleshwari Chennabhairadevi was praised by historians for being a good administrator. She reigned from 1552 to 1606.<ref name="GERUSOPPA">{{Cite news|url=https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/jothe-jotheyali-serial-actor-anirudh-write-about-uttara-kannada-honnavar-the-pepper-queen-of-india-chennabhairadevi/amp_articleshow/80226470.cms|title=ಕಾಳುಮೆಣಸಿನ ರಾಣಿ' ಚೆನ್ನಭೈರಾದೇವಿ ಆಳಿದ ಹೊನ್ನಾವರದ ಕಾನೂರಿನ ಇಂದಿನ ದುಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಬಿಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟ ಅನಿರುದ್ಧ!|trans-title=Sad state of 'The Queen of Pepper' Chennabhairadevi's Kanur|language=Kannada|work=Vijaya Karnataka|author=Padmashree Bhat|date=12 January 2021|access-date=18 January 2021}}</ref>

Bhairadevi built [[Mirjan Fort]] on the banks of the [[River Aghanashini|Aghanashini]] river and used to control the pepper business through it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mirjan-fort-a-delight-for-history-buffs/article6649091.ece|title=Mirjan fort, a delight for history buffs |work=The Hindu |author=Nayak, Dinesh M |date=9 April 2016|access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Mirjan Fort 02.JPG|thumbnail|Mirjan Fort built by Chennabhairadevi, is located in present-day [[Uttara Kannada]] district.|249x249px]]

Chennabhairadevi's kingdom consisted of Dakshina Goa, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Bhatkala, Malpe, Honnavara, Mirjan, Ankola, Byndur, Karwar. Along with this coast, Bharangi, Marabidi, Karuru, Hannar, Bidanur, Saulnadu, Avinahalli regions on the Ghats were under the rule of Chennabhairadevi. [[Black pepper|Pepper]], [[cinnamon]], [[nutmeg]], [[ginger]] and [[sandalwood]] were exported to Europe during her reign.

[[File:Chaturmukha basadi, Gerusoppa (cropped).jpg|thumbnail|[[Chaturmukha Basadi, Gerusoppa|Chaturmukha Basadi]] in Gerusoppa|249x249px]]
Remains of the [[Mirjan Fort]] and Kanur Fort from her reign can still be seen. She built the [[Chaturmukha Basadi, Karkala|Chaturmukha Basadi in Karkala]] in 1562. The queen gave shelter in her kingdom to the Saraswat Brahmins and Konkanis who sought refuge in Chennabhairadevi's kingdom to escape the conversion by the Portuguese. A Jain Rani helped to build and renovate many Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakti temples. The Rani also assisted in the renovation of Yoganarasimha Swami Temple and Vardhamana Basadi in Baderu or Venupura. Abhinava Bhattakalanka of the Swadi Digambara Jain Math, author of the grammar book "Karnataka Shabdanushasana", was under the patronage of this queen.

{{quote box
|quote="Between Batikala (Bhatkala) and Goa there are places called Onor (Kanur), Marzen (Mirjan) and Ankola. I have heard that they export 5000 cruzados (a fifteenth century Portuguese gold coin) of pepper annually. These places were under the rule of the queen of Gerusoppe (Chennabhairadevi). These peppers are thicker, heavier and spicier than black pepper. These places should be taken under our control."

-Captain '''Alfonso Mexi''' of the Portuguese-held Cochin port.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bangalorefirst.in/?p=22119|title=Chennabhairadevi, The Pepper Queen of India who ruled for 54 years|work=Bangalore First|date=7 March 2016|access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref><br>
|bgcolor = #CCDDFF
|align = left
|salign = right
|width = 20em
}}

==Wars against The Portuguese==
The Queen fought against the Portuguese in 1559 and 1570 and won both wars. She also commanded the united army of 1571. This united army included many kings including the Sultans of Gujarat, the Sultans of Bidar, the Adil Shahis of Bijapur and the Jamorin rulers of Kerala.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/203951/pepper-queen-gerusoppa-rani-chennabhairadevi-karnataka-unsung-portugal-women-rulers-india/|title=Ruling for 54 years, This Little-known 'Pepper Queen' Once Defeated Mighty Portugal|work=The Better India|date=25 November 2019|access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Karnataka topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chennabhairadevi, Rani}}
[[Category:Indian women in war]]
[[Category:Women in 15th-century warfare]]
[[Category:Indian female royalty]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:Jainism]]
[[Category:History of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Indian rebels]]
[[Category:Indian queen consorts]]
[[Category:15th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:15th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:16th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:16th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Regents of India]]

Rani Chennabhairadevi - Revision history

Umaiordarame: quick corrected lead for accuracy further and fixed typos

Bot at 13:33, 21 November 2022