5/5 Vanithkumar A J. 10 months ago on Google
A
number
of
inscriptions
of
the
Chalukyas,
the
Hoysalas
and
the
Vijayanagar
kings
have
been
found
in
and
around
the
fort.
These
inscriptions
traces
the
history
of
the
fort
to
the
Ashokan
period
rock
edicts
found
near
Brahmagiri
also
link
Chitradurga
to
the
Mauryan
Empire
during
the
reign
of
the
royal
dynasties
of
Rashtrakutas,
Chalukyas
and
Hoysalas.
However,
the
area
where
the
fort
now
exists
achieved
prominence
only
under
the
dynastic
rule
of
the
Nayakas
of
Chitradurga
or
"Paleygars"
(called
"little
kings")
as
a
feudatory
of
the
Vijayanagar
Empire.
Between
1500
AD
and
1800
AD,
Chitradurga
Fort
witnessed
a
turbulent
history
starting
with
the
Vijayanagar
Empire;
the
empire
had
gained
control
of
this
region
from
the
Hoysalas.
Vijayanagar
rulers
brought
the
Nayakas,
the
traditional
local
chieftains
of
the
area,
under
their
control
as
their
feudatory
until
their
dynastic
reign
ended
in
1565
A.D.
Thereafter,
the
Nayakas
of
Chitradurga
took
independent
control
of
the
region,
and
their
clan
ruled
for
more
than
200
years
until
the
last
of
their
rulers,
Madakari
Nayaka
V,
was
defeated
by
Hyder
Ali
of
Mysore
Kingdom,
in
1779.
During
all
these
years,
Chitradurga
Fort
was
central
to
the
reign,
particularly
of
the
Nayakas.
Timmana
Nayaka
or
Thimmappa
Nayaka,
a
chieftain
from
Matti
during
the
rule
of
Saluva
Narasimha,
was
the
first
ruler
in
the
hierarchy
of
the
Nayakas
of
Chitradurga.
Initially,
he
was
a
chieftain
under
the
Vijayanagar
Empire.
Still,
he
was
soon
elevated
to
the
rank
of
Governor
of
Chitradurga
by
the
Vijayanagar
ruler
in
recognition
of
his
excellent
military
service
to
the
empire.
He
controlled
areas
of
the
Chitradurga
District
including
Davangere,
Jaglur
and
Harihar
in
the
present
Davangere
District.
His
rule
lasted
for
a
brief
period
and
ended
with
his
incarceration
and
death
as
a
prisoner
of
the
Vijaynagar
Empire.
His
son
Obana
Nayaka
or
Madakari
Nayaka
(1588–1602)
succeeded
him.
Followed
by
a
series
of
hierarchical
or
other
adopted
forms
of
successions
of
the
same
clan.
Bharamappa
Nayaka,
who
ruled
from
1689
until
1722,
is
regarded
as
the
greatest
of
the
Nayaka
rulers
famed
for
building
forts,
palaces,
tanks,
and
temples,
including
several
gateways
and
bastions.
He
fought
several
battles
against
the
Mughals.
