| Keladi Chennamma | |
| Birth Name: | Chennamma |
| Death Date: | 1696 |
| Spouse: | Somashekhara Nayak |
| Known For: | Fighting against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb |
Keladi Chennamma (died 1696), was queen regnant of Keladi Nayaka Kingdom in Karnataka between 1677 and 1696.
She took birth in the household of a man called Siddappa Shetty, who was a native merchant in the region of Kundapur, Karnataka. Chennamma married King Somashekara Nayaka in 1667 CE.
After Somashekhara Nayaka's death in 1677, Chennamma efficiently handled the administration of the Keladi Nayaka dynasty. During her reign of 25 years, she repelled the advance of the Mughal Army led by Aurangzeb from her military base in the kingdom of Keladi located in Sagara, Karnataka, India. She adopted Basavappa Nayaka, one of her close relatives who succeeded as Hiriya Basappa Nayaka. She also rendered a trade agreement with the Portuguese involving commodities like pepper and rice. Channagiri is named after her.
She also permitted Portuguese to establish churches at Mirjan, Honnavara, Chandravara and Kalyanpura.[1] In the state of Karnataka, she is celebrated along with Rani Chennabhairadevi, Abbakka Rani, Kittur Chennamma, Belawadi Mallamma and Onake Obavva, as the foremost women warriors and patriots.[2]
Chikkadeva Raja, the ruler of Mysore, launched a campaign in which he conquered several territories in the north of Mysore, including Chikkatottagere, Magadi, Laddagiri, Kadur, Virannedurga, Channarayadurga, Bijjavara, Gunduma ledurga, and Bhutipura, all of which were part of the Ikkeri kingdom. This expansion posed a significant threat to Maratha interests in Karnataka. However, the Ikkeri kingdom, under the regency of Queen Chennamma who ruled on behalf of her adopted minor son Basava Raja, mounted a formidable defense. The Ikkeri forces successfully defeated the Mysore army at Vasudhare.[3] and reclaimed the territories of Kadur, Banavara, Hassan, and Belur, thereby bolstering their defenses against further incursions by Chikkadeva Raja.[4]
She provided shelter to Rajaram Chhatrapati, son of Shivaji who was fleeing from the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb[5] after a meeting with her cabinet and treated Rajaram with respect,[6] but Aurangazeb attacked Keladi. Aurangzeb sent Jan Nisar Khan to attack her kingdom but Santaji Ghorpade repulsed him. Conflict Between Aurangzeb and Chenamma ended with a treaty.[7] Keladi kingdom was probably the last to lose autonomy to Mysore rulers and subsequently to British. Her cabinet was headed by Timmanna Naik, who was the descendant of a commander of Vijayanagara.
She is considered as the epitome of the Kannada women's valor along with Belwadi Mallamma, Rani Abbakka, Onake Obavva and Kittur Chennamma.[2]
Chennamma was known to be a very virtuous and pious woman, and a pragmatic administrator of her times.