Damarla Chennapa Nayaka

Damarla Chennappa Nayaka (also known as Damal Chennapa Naicker)[lower-alpha 1] was a Telugu Nayaka ruler of Kalahasti and Vandavasi under the suzerainty of Vijayanagar emperor Venkatapati Raya (r. 1585–1614).He was also the Dalavoy or the Commander-in-Chief of the emperor.[1][2] The line of Nayakars were chieftains during the Vijayanagar empire and attained full power after its decline, becoming independent Nayakars.[3]

The city of Chennai (originally called "Chennapatinnam") was founded by his sons, Venkatappa and Ayyappa, and named after Chennapa Nayaka. It was established in order to separate the warring Europeans within the region, the Dutch based at Pulicat and the Portuguese based at Mylapore. Later the British establishment at Madras (Fort St. George) was set up to the south of Chennapata.[4][lower-alpha 2]

Notes
  1. The last name is also found written as Nayakar, Nayaka or Nayakkar, depending on the language and orientation of the writers. The first name (which is a family name) is also written as Damal, a simplified form.
  2. The city was known by the name "Madras" during the British rule and also after Indian independence. The Government of Tamil Nadu eventually ordered it changed to Chennai.

References
  1. Dr. Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar (2005). History of Gingee and its Rulers. The Annamalai University. pp. 132. ISBN 978-1-135-95970-8.
  2. Vēṅkaṭācalapati, Ā Irā; Aravindan, Ramu (1 January 2006). Chennai Not Madras: Perspectives on the City. Marg Publications. ISBN 9788185026749.
  3. Nanditha Krishna (2001). Varahishwara Temple - a history of Darmarla. C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation, Chennai.
  4. Aiyangar, S. Krishnaswami (1994) [first published 1939 by Oxford University Press], "The Character and Significance of the Foundation of Madras", in Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee (ed.), The Madras Tercentenary Commemoration Volume, Asian Educational Services, pp. 39–50, ISBN 978-81-206-0537-4

Further reading
  • Velcheru Narayana Rao and David Shulman, Sanjay Subrahmanyam. Symbols of substance : court and state in Nayaka period Tamilnadu (Delhi ; Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1998) ; xix, 349 p., [16] p. of plates : ill., maps ; 22 cm. ; Oxford India paperbacks ; Includes bibliographical references and index ; ISBN 0-19-564399-2.
  • K.A. Nilakanta Sastry, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, (Reprinted 2002) ISBN 0-19-560686-8.
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