* [[#Military Career|Battle of Mallur]]
* [[#Military Career|Battle of Mallur]]
* [[#Military Career|Campaign against mountain chiefs]]
* [[#Military Career|Campaign against mountain chiefs]]
** [[#Military Career|Battle of Tirupati]]
** [[#Military Career|Siege of Chengalpattu]]
* [[Battle of Toppur]]
* [[Battle of Toppur]]
* [[#Military Career|Battle of Palemukota]]
* [[#Military Career|Battle of Palemukota]]
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Pedda Yachama Nayaka, also known as Yacha Sura was the second son of Kasturi Rangappa Naidu. He ruled the region of Perimidi, which was given to him by Venkatapati Raya and his capital was at Maduranthakam.[1]
When Yachama Nayaka and his followers took control of the fort at North Mallur, the local chief, Yaradi Nagappa Nayaka, quickly prepared a large force to stop him. He called his brave brother-in-law Davala Papa Nayaka and supported him with tributary chiefs, many Reddi warriors, and the elephants and cavalry sent by the rulers of Gingee and Tanjore. Altogether, this army had about 1,000 sardars, 100 elephants, 1,000 horsemen, and nearly 30,000 foot soldiers. They soon arrived at North Mallur, ready for battle. But Yachama Nayaka, joined by his younger brother Sarwagna Singama Nayaka, stood firm and fought back. Even though he had only about 2,000 men, he defeated the huge army completely. The enemy forces fled, and all the sardars were killed, including Papa Nayaka, who was beheaded on the battlefield.[1]
Campaign against mountain chiefs
[edit]
Yachama Nayaka later marched towards Tirumala near today’s Tirupati in the Chittoor district. There he fought against the mountain chiefs and defeated them in a battle. After securing the region, he moved further south and captured Chengalpattu.[2]
When Venkatapati Raya died without a direct heir, he chose his nephew Sriranga II to succeed him. But his queen, Bayamma, wanted the throne for a Brahmin boy she had adopted, named Chenga Raya. Her plan led to a serious conflict in the empire. Bayamma’s brother Gobburi Jagga Raya went so far as to kidnap and kill Sriranga II and almost his entire family. Only one young son survived. This shocking act angered the royal court and many powerful nayak commanders. Velugoti Yachama Nayaka, the commander of the imperial army rose in revolt and supported the surviving boy Rama Deva Raya as the rightful heir to the throne.[3]
When Jagga Raya learned that Rama Deva Raya was staying in Kumbakonam he decided to kill him before he could claim the throne. To strengthen his plan, he won the support of the rulers of Gingee and Madurai by convincing them that he had the right to choose the next king. With these allies, he marched toward Kumbakonam. Hearing about this danger, Raghunatha Nayaka quickly set out to protect the young heir. On his way, he stopped for the night at Palamaneri before continuing his journey.[3]
The next day, Raghunatha Nayaka joined by Yachama Nayaka prepared to face the combined forces of their enemies. The armies of Muttu Virappa Nayaka from Madurai, Gobburi Jagga Raya and Varadappa Nayaka from Gingee had all come together against them.[3]
Early in the morning, the battle began with Raghunatha Nayaka ordering his cannons to fire, and the Madurai forces answering with their own. The guns kept firing for more than ninety minutes, until they became too hot to use. Many soldiers on both sides were killed during this exchange. At the right moment, Raghunatha Nayaka sent out his cavalry, which he had quietly kept hidden behind his infantry. Their sudden attack caused confusion and fear in the enemy ranks, forcing Muttu Virappa Nayaka and his commanders to withdraw from the field. The remaining Madurai infantry was surrounded and cut down without mercy. In the next phase of the fight, the infantry of Thanjavur moved in to take the place of their retreating cavalry, and the Madurai foot soldiers quickly fled.[3]
Later, Gobburi Jagga Raya entered the battlefield with his army. The moment Raghunatha Nayaka saw Jagga’s battle flag, he became furious and moved forward on his elephant. He ordered a heavy shower of arrows to be launched at the enemy. One of the Thanjavur commander remembering the king’s oath to kill Jagga threw a spear with all his strength. The spear struck Jagga pierced through his armour and killed him on the spot. Seeing their leader dead, Jagga Raya’s soldiers fled from the battlefield.[3]
After Jagga Raya’s fall, Muttu Virappa entered the battlefield again, this time with the support of the Gingee armies. To help the tired Thanjavur troops, Yachama Nayaka rode in with his own forces. With strong and steady attacks, he broke the formations of both the Madurai and Gingee soldiers, forcing them to retreat. The enemy withdrew completely, unable to continue the fight. By evening, the combined efforts of Raghunatha Nayaka and Yachama Nayaka brought a clear and decisive victory.[3]
Battle of Palemukota
[edit]
Yatiraja the brother of Gobburi Jagga Raya continued for some time to support the false claim to the throne, but his strength slowly faded. A report written by Fr. Rubino on November 29, 1617, says that Yatiraja could no longer stand against the growing power of the young prince, Rama Deva Raya. He also noted that the boy, the true heir, was winning more victories every day. The Bahulasvacharitram mentions that Yachama Nayaka defeated Yatiraja near Palemukota in South Arcot, proving how strong Rama’s supporters had become. Captain Pedro Barreto de Rezende also wrote that the young king, who had grown up in hiding, began to win back parts of his kingdom with the help of a loyal followers led by Yachama Nayaka, Raghunatha Nayaka of Tanjore, and their allies, Rama Deva Raya was finally placed firmly on the throne of Ghanagiri (Penukonda).[4]
