Shivappa Nayaka

Shivappa Nayaka
Shivappa Nayaka
	Shivamogga
Reign	1645-1660 (15 years)
Predecessor	Virabhadra Nayaka
Successor	Chikka Venkatappa Nayaka
Religion	Hinduism

Shivappa Nayaka's palace

, Shivamogga, Karnataka

Malabar

, was built by Shivappa Nayaka

Shivappa Nayaka (ಶಿವಪ್ಪ ನಾಯಕ) (r.1645–1660), popularly known as

Bayaluseeme) of modern Karnataka, before succumbing to the Kingdom of Mysore in 1763, which at that time was ruled by Hyder Ali.^[1] He was known as Sistina Shivappa Nayaka because he introduced a tax system called Sist.^[2]

Conquests

Shivappa Nayaka is remembered as an able administrator and soldier. He ascended the throne in 1645. During this time, the last ruler of the diminished Vijayanagara Empire ruling from

Kasargod region of modern Kerala and installed a pillar of victory at Nileshvara. The forts of Chandragiri, Bekal

, Adka Fort, Arikkady and Mangalore were built by Shivappa Nayaka.

Later he invaded north of the

Tungabhadra river and captured territory in the modern Dharwad district from the Bijapur Sultanate. In the south, when he invaded and laid siege to Srirangapatna in modern Mysore district, an epidemic broke out in his army forcing him to withdraw.^[4] In the south, he destroyed the Portuguese political power in the Kanara region by capturing all the Portuguese forts of the coastal region.^[5]

Administrator

Shivappa Nayaka introduced a revenue settlement scheme called Sist, a policy that has found favourable comparison to revenue schemes formulated by the

Komatis and Konkanis to settle down and establish businesses in his kingdom.^[4]

An interesting episode from the time of Shivappa Nayaka's rule goes as follows. A poor Brahmin named Ganesh Mallya came to Keladi, the capital city, with the intention of finding a job. Having no money, he carried a bag full of home-grown coconuts. Before entering the city, every traveller had to pass through eight toll gates, each of which collected a tax. Because he carried no cash, Ganesh Mallya had to part with two coconuts at each toll gate, one as tax and the other as a gift to the official. He also paid with two coconuts at the city entrance. Frustrated with all the tolls, Mallya boldly set up his own toll gate (the ninth toll gate) and collected a toll after registering full details of travellers into the city in his own register. In return for the toll, Ganesh Mallya handed out a receipt with a note new custom station for eighteen coconuts, signature of Ganeshayya Raja of Kumta. This went on unnoticed for eighteen months before King Shivappa Nayaka heard of it. When summoned by the king, Ganesh Mallya admitted he had collected an illegal toll to make a livelihood. Impressed by his honesty and business acumen, Shivappa Nayaka took Ganesh Mallya into his service.[6]

Shivappa Nayaka was succeeded on the throne by his younger brother Chikka Venkatappa Nayaka in 1660.

Notes

^ Kamath (2001), p220
^ ^a ^b His revenue settlement scheme was later praised by British officials such as Francis Buchanan and Rice (Kamath 2001, p223)
^ Kamath (2001), p222
^ ^a ^b ^c Kamath (2001), p223
^ Portuguese Studies Review (ISSN 1057-1515) (Baywolf Press) p.35
^ Kamat, Jyotsna. "Epigraphy Helps to Trace Genealogy of Mahales of Honavar". The Mahales of Honavar. www.Kamat's Potpourri. Retrieved 15 June 2007.

References

Suryanath U. Kamat, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002) OCLC: 7796041

[kel-1] Kamath (2001), p220

[kal3-2] His revenue settlement scheme was later praised by British officials such as Francis Buchanan and Rice (Kamath 2001, p223)

[kel1-3] Kamath (2001), p222

[kel2-4] Kamath (2001), p223

[5] Portuguese Studies Review (ISSN 1057-1515) (Baywolf Press) p.35

[acumen-6] Kamat, Jyotsna. "Epigraphy Helps to Trace Genealogy of Mahales of Honavar". The Mahales of Honavar. www.Kamat's Potpourri. Retrieved 15 June 2007.

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