Belawadi Mallamma (ಬೆಳವಡಿ ಮಲ್ಲಮ್ಮ) was a queen of Belawadi kingdom (''samshtana''). She is also credited with being the first queen in history who built and trained a women's army in the 17th century. She fought war against Shivaji defending her kingdom.

Biography

She was the daughter of

Sodhe Sode is a village near Sirsi in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka in India. Location Sodhe is a village in the Malenadu region, surrounded by thick forests. It is 22 km from Sirsi and 13 km from Hulekal. Prehistoric rock art Prehist ...

King Madhulinga Nayaka and later became wife of Belawadi King Ishaprabhu.

Conflict with Shivaji

As mentioned in The book ''Turukari panchamara itihasa'' written by ''Shiva basava shastri'' of Brahanmatha (heritage site of Belavadi Sansthana). History of Belawadi Sansthana starts from 1511 with king ''Chandrashekhara raja'' and it mentions about war between Shivaji and Mallamma. Ishaprabhu died in the battlefield later Mallamma fought with Shivaji and she defeated the

Shivaji Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adil ...

.He is at present beseiging a fort where, by relatron of their owne people come from him, he has suffered more disgrace than ever he did from all power of the Mogull or Decans, and he who hath conquered soe many kingdomes is not able to reduce this woman Desy; (Factory Records 1659-1682, p.586) As result of battle hero stone is installed in their Samshtana. The book '' Turukari panchamara itihasa'' was published first time in 1929. Marathi works ''jede shakavari'' , ''Chitragupta bakhar'' , ''91 Kalami bakhar'' mentioned about battle between Shivaji and Mallamma. ''Shiva vamsha sudharnava'' is

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

book written by mallamma's teacher ''Shankara bhattaru'' . The book says

was defeated by Belawadi Mallamma . ''Tarabai'' second daughter-in-law of Shivaji gave first prize for this book and mentioning that the book contains exact subject of Shivaji and Mallamma. Second prize for ''Balasaheb bhave''s ''Shivaji charitra'' and third prize for the book written by ''Shesho Shinivas Muthalika''. Scholar Shesho Srinivas Muthalik recorded the life in the palace of Madhulinga Nayaka in 1704-5 A.D. in the Marathi language. In

Jadunath Sarkar Sir Jadunath Sarkar (10 December 1870 – 19 May 1958) was a prominent Indian historian and a specialist on the Mughal dynasty. Academic career Sarkar was born in Karachmaria village in Natore, Bengal to Rajkumar Sarkar, the local Zamindar ...

's biography of Shivaji in

Marathi language Marathi (; ''Marāṭhī'', ) is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by Marathi people in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the official language of Maharashtra, and additional official language in the state of Goa. It is one of t ...

, he mentioned Mallamma as ''Savitribai'' and 27 days war held between Shivaji and Mallamma. A contemporary British work says ''He Shivaji is At present besieging a fort where.. he has suffered more disgrace than even he did from all power of the moghul of the deccan (Bijapuri) and he who hath conquered so many kingdoms is not able to reduce this woman Desai'' actory records,Surat,107 ''Yadavada stone'' is a symbol about compromise between Shivaji and Mallamma.

References

Bibliography

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mallamma, Belawadi Indian military leaders History of Karnataka 17th-century women rulers Indian women in war Hindu monarchs Kannada people Lingayatism People from Belgaum Women in 17th-century warfare 17th-century Indian women 17th-century Indian people Indian female royalty