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{{Short description|Zamindhari kingdom in India (1601 to 1949)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox country
| native_name =
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Ramnad
| common_name = Ramnad dynasty
| status = Kingdom, later Zamindari estate
| common_languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[English language|English]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Persian language|Persian]]
| religion = [[Hinduism|Hindu]], [[Jainism|Jain]]
| event_start =
| date_start =
| year_start = 1601
| event_end =
| date_end =
| year_end = 1949
}}
{{TNhistory}}
{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}}
The '''Kingdom of Ramnad''' or '''Ramnad estate''' was a permanently settled kingdom and later ''[[zamindar]]i'' estate that existed in the Ramnad subdivision of the [[Madurai district]] and later [[Ramanathapuram district|Ramnad district]] of the erstwhile [[Madras Presidency]] in [[British India]] from 1601. It was ruled by the rajas also had the title of [[Sethupathi]]. Madurai Nayaks ruled the Ramnad area with the appointed chieftains between 14th to 16th century CE, and in 17th century CE the appointed governors expanded their power to establish "Ramnad Kingdom" which was also called as "[[Maravar]] Kingdom" by the British. In 1795 CE, after an heir dispute, they were reduced to the status of zamidari by the [[East India Company]]. After the [[independence of India]] in 1947 the [[Political integration of India|estates were merged]] in the Union of India and in 1949 all rulers lost the ruling rights, [[Privy Purse in India|privy purse]] was also finally abolished in 1971.

The seat of administration was the town of [[Ramanathapuram]]. The Zamindari had its origins in the administrative area of Ramnad established by [[Madurai Nayak dynasty|Muthu Krishnappa Nayak]] in the 1605 AD. After the fall of Madurai Nayaks, the governors established Kingdom of Ramnad. In 1803, the kingdom was converted to a ''zamindari'' by the British. The male rulers of Ramnathapuram also bore the title of [[Sethupathi]] or "protector of the bridge", the bridge here referring to the legendary [[Rama's Bridge]]<ref name="sethupathi_tondaimans">{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilnadu.ind.in/tamilnadu_history/sethupathis_thondaimans/sethupathis.php|title=Sethupathi Tondaimans|work=The History of Tamil Nadu|access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="holdersofhistory">{{cite web|title=Holder of History:The Ramnad Sethupathis|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1518390491.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023031602/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1518390491.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2012|access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="bridgeofram">{{cite web|title=Sethupathi Dynasty of Ramnad - Guardians of Rama Sethu|url=http://www.bridgeofram.com/2008/02/sethupathi-dynasty-of-ramnad-guardians.html|publisher=Bridge of Ram|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006003201/http://www.bridgeofram.com/2008/02/sethupathi-dynasty-of-ramnad-guardians.html|archive-date=6 October 2011|access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> while female rulers bore the title "Nachiyar".
[[Image:Ramanathapuram 1784 a.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Ramnad Palace]] front view]]
[[File:S-TN-44.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Built by [[Raghunatha Kilavan]]-[[Ramalinga Vilasam]]]]

== Legend ==
{{anchor | History | Kingdom of Ramnad | Ramnad Kingdom | Maravar Kingdom | Sethupathi Kingdom }}
The estate of Ramnad included the Hindu holy island city of [[Rameswaram]], from where, legend has it that the Hindu god [[Rama]] launched his invasion of [[Ravana]]'s [[Lanka]]. On the conclusion of the war and Rama's success in it, he appointed a ''Sethupathi'' or "lord of the bridge" to guard the way to the island. The "bridge" referred to here is the legendary [[Rama's Bridge]] which was believed to have been constructed by Rama. The chieftains of Ramnad were entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the bridge, hence the appellation.

== History ==

=== 14th-16th century CE: As traditional Maravar kings ===
{{anchor | Maravar | chieftains | chieftain | Maravar chieftains }}
During Muttu Krishnappa Nayak (1601–1609 A.D.) of [[Madurai Nayak dynasty]] reign, the Ramnadu region, due to lack of efficient leadership, crimes and robbery were found frequently against pilgrims of Rameswaram through the wild jungle. Due to lack of knowledge of the Jungles, Nayak army found it hard to control the robbers. Therefore, Muthu Krishnappa Nayaka (1601-1609 A.D.) laid down the foundation of the rule of the Sethupathi (watchmen of the bridge ) of Ramnad area under the Madurai Nayaks and made an agreement with the locals to stop the robbery. Muthu Krishnappa Nayaka appointed Sadayakka Teva as Sethupathi in 1605 A.D. to stop crimes and protect the pilgrims of Rameswaram through the wild and inhospitable region.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Francis |first1=W. |title=Madura |year=1906 |publisher=Madras : Govt. Press |pages=44, 45 |url=https://archive.org/details/madurafrancis01madr/page/44/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rajagopal |first1=S |title=MILITARY POTENTIAL OF MADURAI NAYAKA'S FROM 1564 TO 1623 A.D. – A STUDY |url=https://adalyajournal.com/gallery/43-aug-1681.pdf |date=8 August 2019 |volume=8}}</ref> When the power of the Nayak kings of [[Madurai]] began to decline in the late 17th century, the [[Raghunatha Kilavan]] of Ramnad asserted his independence.

=== 17th-19th century CE: Rise as Ramnad Kingdom or Maravar Kingdom ===
{{anchor | Ramnad | Maravar | Ramnad Kingdom | Kingdom of Ramnad | Maravar Kingdom }}

In the late 17th century, Raghunatha Kilavan crowned himself king of Ramnad and changed his seat from Pogalur to Ramnad close to the east coast on the request of Muslim trade merchants to give protection against Portuguese traders. With the help and fund from Muslim trade merchants, he erected massive fortifications to protect his capital. He ruled from 1673 to 1708 and oversaw the growth of the feudal chieftainship of Ramnad into powerful ''"Kingdom of Ramnad"'' which is known as ''"[[Maravar]] Kingdom"''. In 1725, the [[Thanjavur Marathas|king of Tanjore]] claimed the northern part of the Ramnad kingdom (the [[Aranthangi]] region) up to the river Pambar in return for his services during the civil war in Ramnad. A vassal of Ramnad who was amongst the victors in the civil war took over the westerly located [[Sivaganga]] region, thereby leaving only three-fifths of the kingdom actually in the hands of the king of Ramnad.

=== 19th-20th century CE: reduced to zamidari jagir during British Raj ===
{{anchor | Maravar Kingdom | Ramnad Kingdom | Kingdom of Ramnad }}

Ramnad participated in the [[Carnatic wars]] between the [[British East India Company|British]] and the [[French Indies Company|French East India companies]]. The state came under British influence in the 1790s and the king of Ramnad was deposed in 1795 for misrule. The British, then, made the king's sister the ruler of Ramnad and deprecated the kingdom to a ''zamindari'' by a permanent ''[[Sanad (deed)|sanad]]'' granting them [[jagir]] of Ramnad in 1803. Since then, until the India's independence in 1947, Ramnad was ruled by the queen and her descendants.

[[Bhaskara Sethupathi|Raja Bhaskara Sethupathi]], who lived in the late 19th century, borrowed large amounts of money from [[Nagarathar]] creditors for construction of irrigation works and massive developments projects and for charitable purposes that he soon ran into heavy debt. In 1895, most of the estate was pledged to the creditors who set up a trust for its administration and maintenance. Bhaskara Sethupathi's successors actively supported the [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]]. [[Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi]] was an active supporter of the Justice Party and promoted the Self-Respect Movement.

After the [[independence of India]] in 1947, the [[Government of India]] marged estates, jagiirs, kingdom with the Union of India. Consequently, in 1949 all rulers lost the ruling rights. In 1971, [[Privy Purse in India|privy purse]], an allowance given to the former rulers, was also abolished, thus ending all entitlements.

== List of Sethupathi rulers ==
=== Chieftains With the Madurai Nayaks ===
* Udaiyan Sethupathi (a) Sadaikkan (1601–1623)
* Koottan Sethupathi (1623–1635)
* Dalavai Raghunatha Sethupathi (1635–1645)
* Thirumalai Raghunatha Sethupathi (1646–1676)
* Raja Suriya Sethupathi (1676)
* Aathana Raghunatha Sethupathi (1677)

=== Independent kings of Ramnad Kingdom ===
* [[Raghunatha Kilavan|Raghunatha Kilavan Sethupathi]] (1678–1710)
* Muthu Vairavanatha Sethupathi I (1710–1712)
* [[Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi I|Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi]] (1713-1725)
* Sundaresvara Raghunatha Sethupathi (1725)
* Bavani Sangara Sethupathi (1725–1727)
* Kumara Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi (1728–1735)
* Sivakumara Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi (1735-1747)
* Rakka Thevar Sethupathi (1748)
* Sella Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi (1749–1762)
* [[Muthuramalinga Sethupathi|Muthuramalinga Vijaya Ragunatha Sethupathi]] I (1762-1772 1781-1795)

=== Ruler of princely state under British Raj ===
; As king
* ''Interregnum'' (1795—1803)<ref>{{Cite book |author=A. Ramaswami |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3390/page/n115/mode/1up |page=98|title=Tamil Nadu District Gazetteers: Ramanathapuram |date=1972 |publisher=Director of Stationery and Printing}}</ref>

; As Zamindars
* Mangaleswari Nachiyar (1803–1807)
* Annaswami Sethupathi (1807–1820)
* Ramaswami Sethupathi (1820–1830)
* Muthu Chella Thevar Sethupathi (1830–1846)
* Parvatha Vardhani Ammal Nachchiyar (1846–1862)
* [[Muthuramalinga Sethupathi II]] (1862–1873)
* [[Court of Wards (India)|Court of Wards]] (1873–1889)
* [[Bhaskara Sethupathy]] (1889–1903)
* Dinakara Sethupathy
* [[Raja Rajeswara Sethupathi]] (1903–1929)
* [[Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi]] (1929–1967)
* [[Dasarathan Sethupathi]] (March 1967 - December 1967
* [[Ramanatha Sethupathi]] (1967-1979)
* [[Rajeswari Nachiyar]] (1979-2023)

== Ramnad estate during British raj ==

=== Location ===
[[File:Bhaskara Sethupathy of Ramnad.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Raja of Ramnad [[Bhaskara Sethupathy]] (1889–1903)]]

The estate of Ramnad was located between 9 degrees 6' and 10 degrees 6' N latitude and 77 degrees 56' and 79 degrees 19' E longitudes. It comprised the southern and eastern portion of Madura district and included the whole Bay of Bengal coast of the district.

=== Area and population ===

The estate covered an area of {{convert|2104|sqmi|km2|sigfig=3}} and had a population of 723,886 in 1901. It was one of the largest and most populous ''zamindari'' estates in the Madras Presidency. The zamindar of Ramnad paid a tribute of {{INR}} 3.75 [[lakh]] for the year 1903-04 to the British government.

=== Subdivisions ===
Then part of the Madurai district, the estate was subdivided into five ''zamindari'' tehsils: Ramnad, Tiruvadanai, Paramakudi, Tiruchuli and Mudukulathur. The administration was based in the town of [[Ramanathapuram]] in Ramnad tehsil. Ramanathapuram, Kilakkarai, Paramakudi, Rameswaram, Mandapam and Pamban were some of the important towns in the estate.

== Constructions ==
Jennifer Howes credits Sethupathis for some historic constructions in Pogalur (Sethupathi coronation in 1604), Kamudi had two lines of fortification some buildings and a well probably Sethupathis spent substantial time there, Ramnad, [[Rameswaram]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Howes, . 2003. |first=Jennifer |title=The Courts of Pre-Colonial South India: Material Culture and Kingship. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2003 |isbn=9781135789961 |pages=71–158 |chapter=Pantings in the Ramlinga Vilasam}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Sethupathi]], title of Raghunatha Kilavan and his descendants
* [[Maravar]], community to which Ramnad / Sethupathi kings belonged
* [[Thanjavur Nayak kingdom]], once ally and later adversary of Sethupathis
* [[Madurai Nayak dynasty]], once ally and later adversary of Sethupathis
* [[Marava War of Succession]], war of succession after [[Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi I|Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi]]
* [[Chokkanatha Nayak Invasion of Ramnad]]
* [[Serfoji I's invasion of Ramnad]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book | title=The Imperial Gazetteer of India| url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35009| year=1908| pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35009/page/n185 177]–179| publisher=Clarendon Press|ref=Imperial Gazetteer}}

{{Princely states of the Madras States Agency}}
{{Nobility of the Raj}}

{{coord missing|Tamil Nadu}}
[[Category:States and territories established in 1601]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1949]]
[[Category:Zamindari estates]]
[[Category:Madras Presidency]]
[[Category:Madurai district]]

Ramnad estate - Revision history

imported>BD2412: /* Constructions */ clean up spacing around commas, replaced: , → ,, , → ,