1837.] Historical Sketch of the Kingdom of Pandt/a. 209 



although the administration of the affairs of the state was in the hands 

 of a governor, or regent, who exercised unlimited authority.* 



The reign of Vijaya Ranga Chokanath Nayak was not distinguished 

 by any remarkable event. He died in l?3l,f leaving no child ; he was, 

 therefore, succeeded by his wife, Minakshi Amman, who adopted Vija- 

 ya Kumara, the son of Bhangaru Tritnal Nayak, a descendant in a di- 

 rect line from a younger son of Tirumalla Nayak. This adoption was 

 enforced by the law of the country, so that Minakshi Amman was in 

 fact only regent during Vijaya Kumara's minority. The adoption was 

 generally acceded to by the ministers and men in authority, but 

 it was disputed by Bhangaru Tirumalla Nayak, the father of the 

 youth : he claimed the inheritance to the throne, and his claims 

 were powerfully supported by the activity and influence of his 

 years and rank. The parties are described in one account as having 

 come to an indecisive engagement ; but it is admitted that the matter 

 was, with much less policy, referred to the Nawab of Arcot, who 

 sent his son, Sufdar Ali, and Chanda Sahib, with an army to hear and 

 decide the disputed question. The cause was discussed at Trichanapali, 

 and the general bias leaning to Bhangaru Tirumalla Nayak, he was 

 placed on the throne, presenting three lacks of rupees to his Moham- 

 medan friends, and acknowledging himself the tributary of the Nawab 

 of Arcot. 



The same means that had secured a favourable award for the suc- 

 cessful candidate, were now employed to procure a reversion of the 

 sentence, and a nazzer of a crore of rupees, it is said, prevailed on 

 Chanda Sahib to undertake the cause of the Rani. These negocia- 

 tions becoming known to Bhangaru Nayak, he quitted Trichanapali, 

 and endeavoured to secure himself in Madura and Tinnivelly, but he 

 was unequal to oppose the troops of the princess, aided by the Mo- 

 hammedan arms, and, after a few unsuccessful skirmishes, he fled to 

 Sivaganga, where the ruling Setupati, Katta Deva, received him and 

 assigned him some lands for his subsistence. The zeal which Chanda 

 Sahib had displayed in behalf of Minakshi Amman, and the success 

 with which it had been attended were calculated to inspire confidence 

 as well as gratitude ; and it was under these impressions that the 

 princess granted free access to the citadel of Trichanapali to her defen- 



* " Cette Princesse Mangaraal, qui est comme depositaire de la couronne, fait Clever 

 avec un grand soin son petit fits, prince age de quatorze ou quinze ans, a qui le royaume 

 appartient, et confie, cependant, toutle gouvernement de l'etat au Talavay, ou Prince Re- 

 gent."— Lcltres Edifiantes, x. 171. The letter is dated Avour, in the kingdom of Madura, 

 11 Dec. 1700. 



t Mutiah says 1734, Orme (1, 38), 1736 ; but our date is confirmed by MSS. 24, which, 

 as a family account of such recent events, seems to be the best authority. 



