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Rani Chennabhairadevi, (also called Raina-Da-Pimenta by the Portuguese), was the 16th-century Jain queen of Nagire province under the 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. 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.
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. 
Remains of the Mirjan Fort and Kanur Fort from her reign can still be seen. She built the 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.
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. 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. 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. His wife ''Chennadevi'' was the elder sister of Chennabhairadevi. The Portuguese captain ''Alfonso D'Souza'' attackedBhatkala
Bhatkal, is a coastal town in the Uttara Kannada District of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bhatkal lies on National Highway 66, which runs between Mumbai and Kanyakumari, and has Bhatkal railway station which is one of the major railw ...
, defeated Chennadevi and burnt Bhatkala, 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. Bhairadevi built Mirjan Fort on the banks of the Aghanashini river and used to control the pepper business through it.
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. Pepper
Pepper or peppers may refer to:
Food and spice
* Piperaceae or the pepper family, a large family of flowering plant
** Black pepper
* ''Capsicum'' or pepper, a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae
** Bell pepper
** Chili ...
, cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfa ...
, nutmeg, ginger
Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice
A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices ...
and sandalwood were exported to Europe during her reign.
Remains of the Mirjan Fort and Kanur Fort from her reign can still be seen. She built the 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.
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.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chennabhairadevi, Rani Indian women in war Women in 15th-century warfare Indian female royalty Kannada people Jainism History of Karnataka Indian rebels Indian queen consorts 15th-century Indian women 15th-century Indian people 16th-century Indian women 16th-century Indian people Regents of India