Rani Velu Nachiyar | |
---|---|
Queen of Sivagangai Princess of Ramanathapuram | |
Monarch of Sivaganga estate | |
Reign | c. 1780-c. 1790[1] |
Coronation | 1780 |
Predecessor | Muthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar (until 1772) |
Successor | Vellacci[1] |
Born | 3 January 1730 Ramanathapuram, Kingdom of Sivaganga (Modern day Tamil Nadu, India) |
Died | 25 December 1796 Sivaganga, Kingdom of Sivaganga (Modern day Tamil Nadu, India) | (aged 66)
Burial | 25 December 1796 Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, India |
Spouse | Muthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar |
Dynasty | Sethupathi |
Father | Chellamuthu vijayaragunatha Sethupathy |
Mother | Muthathal Nachiyar |
"Veeramangai" Rani Velu Nachiyar (3 January 1730 – 25 December 1796) was a queen of Sivaganga estate from c. 1780–1790. She was the first Indian queen to wage war with the East India Company in India.[2][3] She is proudly called by Tamils as Veeramangai ("brave woman").[4] With the support of Hyder Ali's army, feudal lords, the Maruthu Brothers, Dalit commanders, and Thandavarayan Pillai, she fought the East India company.[5][6][7][8]