Nayaka dynasties emerged during the

Kakatiya dynasty The Kakatiya dynasty (IAST: Kākatīya) was an Indian dynasty that ruled most of eastern Deccan region comprising present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of eastern Karnataka and southern Odisha between 12th and 14th centuries. Th ...

and the

Vijayanagara Empire The Vijayanagara Empire, also called the Karnata Kingdom, was a Hinduism, Hindu empire based in the region of South India, which consisted the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and some parts of Telangana an ...

period. The Nayakas were originally military governors under the Vijayanagara Empire. After the

battle of Talikota The Battle of Talikota (23 January 1565) was a watershed battle fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and an alliance of the Deccan sultanates. The battle resulted in the defeat of Aliya Rama Raya which led to the eventual collapse of the poli ...

, several of them declared themselves independent.

Major Nayaka kingdoms

The Nayaka kingdoms included the following: *

Musunuri Nayakas The Musunuri Nayakas were warrior kings of 14th-century South India who were briefly significant in the region of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka is said to have taken a leadership role among the Andhra chieftains and driv ...

, 14th century

Kamma Kamma may refer to: *Kamma (caste), a caste or social group found largely in Southern India *Kamma, India, village in Punjab, India *The Pali and Ardhamagadhi term for karma *Bava Kamma, a traditional Jewish civil law procedure (1st volume of Nezi ...

warrior-kings from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. *

Pemmasani Nayaks Pemmasani Nayaks were a ruling clan in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. They came into prominence during Vijayanagara Empire, Vijayanagara times as rulers of Gandikota over 300 years.Gandikota, by Tavva Obul Reddy, 2016, Telugu Samajam pu ...

, 15th–17th century

ruling clan from Andhra Pradesh. * Madurai Nayak, 16th–18th century Telugu rulers. *

Thanjavur Nayak The Thanjavur Nayak kingdom or Thanjavur Nayak dynasty were the rulers of Thanjavur in the 15th and 17th centuries. The Nayaks of the Balija social group, were originally appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagara Empire, Vijayanagar ...

, 16th–17th century Telugu rules of

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

, Tamil Nadu. *

Nayaks of Gingee The Nayaks of Gingee (Senji) were rulers of the Gingee principality of Tamil Nadu between 16th to 18th century CE. They were subordinates of the imperial Vijayanagara emperors, and were appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagar Emper ...

(Senji), 16th–17th century Telugu rulers from Tamil Nadu, previously governors of the Vijayanagara Empire. *

Nayakas of Chitradurga Nayakas of Chitradurga (1588–1779 CE) ruled parts of eastern Karnataka during the post-Vijayanagara period. During the rule of Hoysala Empire and Vijayanagara Empire, they served as a feudatory chiefdom. Later after the fall of the Vijayanaga ...

, 16th–18th century from Karnataka, previously feudatory chiefs of

Hoysala The Hoysala Empire was a Kannada people, Kannadiga power originating from the Indian subcontinent that ruled most of what is now Karnataka, India, Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially loca ...

and Vijayanagara Empire. *

Nayakas of Keladi Nayakas of Keladi (1499–1763), also known as Nayakas of Bednore and Ikkeri Nayakas, were an Indian dynasty based in Keladi in present-day Shimoga district of Karnataka, India. They were an important ruling dynasty in post-medieval Karnata ...

, 16th–18th century ruling dynasty from

Keladi Keladi is a temple town in Sagara Taluk of the state of Karnataka in India. Keladi is located about 8 km from the town of Sagara. History It is the place whence the ''Ikkeri'' chiefs derived their origin, which is thus related: Two broth ...

, Karnataka. *

Nayaks of Vellore The Nayaks of Vellore were local Telugu chieftains of the Vellore principality of Vijayanagar Emperor in the 16th century CE. They were subordinates and were appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagar Emperor who divided their entir ...

, 16th century Telugu chieftains under the Vijayanagara Empire from

Channapatna Channapatana is a city and taluk headquarters in Ramanagara District, Karnataka, India. Channapatna is approximately 60kms from Bangalore and 80kms from Mysore. Geography Channapatna has an average elevation of 739 metres (2424 ft). ...

and

Rayadurgam Rayadurga is a Town in Anantapur District in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is governed by a municipal council. Rayadurga is known for its production of Textile goods and textile manufacturing industry. Rayadurga is in Southern India abou ...

. *

Nayakas of Kalahasti The Nayakas of Kalahasti were a line of rulers of Kalahasti and Vandavasi principalities. Members of the group include Damarla Chennapa Nayaka, after whom the city of Chennai is named. These Nayakas served as vassals of the late Vijayanagara E ...

, 17th–18th century rulers of

Kalahasti Srikalahasti is a holy town in Tirupati district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the revenue division of Srikalahasti mandal & Srikalahasti revenue division. It is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority, wh ...

and

Vandavasi Vandavasi, earlier called Wandiwash is a major town and a municipality in the Tiruvannamalai district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is well known in the Carnatic history for the Battle of Wandiwash. Vandavasi town is also the larges ...

. *

Nayaks of Kandy The Nayaks of Kandy (also referred to as the ''Kandyan Nayak Dynasty'', si, මහනුවර නායක්කාරවරු ''Mahanuwara Nayakkarawaru'', ta, கண்டி நாயக்கர்) were the rulers of the Kingdom of ...

, Telugu rulers of the

Kingdom of Kandy The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the Sri Lanka, island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom ...

between 1739–1815. *

Nayakas of Shorapur Nayaka dynasties emerged during the Kakatiya dynasty and the Vijayanagara Empire period. The Nayakas were originally military governors under the Vijayanagara Empire. After the battle of Talikota, several of them declared themselves independent. ...

, rulers of

Shorapur Surapura, also called Shorapur, is a city and taluka in Yadgir district in the Indian state of Karnataka and a historical place. Surapura was the land of the famous prince of Surapura aasthana, Raja Venkatappa Nayaka, the young rebel freedom fi ...

, Karnataka (final ruler was the 19th century Raja Venkatappa). * Ravella Nayaks, 15th-17th century chieftains from Andhra Pradesh

Other Nayaka kingdoms

* Nayakas of Harappanahalli * Nayakas of Gummanayakana Palya * Nayakas of Kuppam * Nayakas of Rayalaseema * Nayakas of Jarimale * Nayakas of Gudekote * Nayakas of Nayakanahatti * Nayakas of Challapalli * Nayakas of Amaravathi

Notes

References

Telugu people Telugu monarchs Dynasties of India History of Tamil Nadu {{India-culture-stub