# Ekoji's conquest of Tanjore

The conquest of Tanjore by Ekoji was a military campaign in which Maratha rule was established in the late 17th century. Ekoji Bhonsle, a general in the service of the Bijapur Sultanate and half-brother of Shivaji, deposed the weakened Madurai Nayak dynasty and Nayak dynasty of Tanjore around 1675. His conquest was shooting off the southern expansion of Bijapur, but subsequently, Ekoji set up the independent Maratha kingdom in Tanjore.

## Background

Venkata Krishna Naik pursued the retreating Tanjore army and camped outside the city for the final attack. He sent one last offer of peace to King Vijaya Raghava Nayak, proposing reconciliation through marriage. The king did not accept these terms. However, that did not dispirit Venkata Krishna Naik, who commanded the immediate assault against the heavily fortified Tanjore fort guarded by more than 20,000 musketeers. The Madurai forces dug up raised earthworks and commenced powerful cannonades against the bastion that were tearing the walls apart and breaking up the morale of defenders. As soon as they opened the breaches, they swarmed the fort, persecuting it and capturing the city. The king, Vijaya Raghava Nayak, was too absorbed in his meditative reverie to hear of the invasion until it was too late.

## Prelude

The year 1674 saw Alagiri Nayaka take over Tanjore after the return to order and inventory reforms in administration. Alagiri started out as a subordinate to Chokkanatha but later began working as an autonomous ruler when he retained some significant revenues to himself and changed the official correspondence. Chokkanatha was furious when he learned what he was doing. Chokkanatha first gave Alagiri a warning. He declined to send an army but kept watch on the situation unfolding. This seized all support away from Alagiri at the critical time.
Some of the former regimes' officers, including Venkanna, the former Rayasam (Secretary), continued to work under Alagiri. They bore witness to the ever widening gulf and may not have been satisfied with their position in the new regime. Venkanna heard through the grapevine that the Nayak dynasty of Tanjore had not been entirely wiped out and that a young heir, Chengamala Das, was secretly being Brahminized in Negapatam. He made use of the opportunity to develop his plans after up-and-along orchestrating the fall of Alagiri and restoring the Nayak line under the aegis of widening the rift between Alagiri and Chokkanatha.
Acquiring Chengamala Das, Venkanna went to Bijapur to seek military support from the Sultan. His diplomacy was accepted and a general Ekoji (Venkoji) was sent by Idal Khan to Tanjore to oust Alagiri and install Chengamala Das as ruler.

## Conquest
### Flight of Alagiri Nayak

Thus, Alagiri Nayaka, knowing about the mischief of Ekoji, secured his place against Ekoji's invasion but could not avert the advance of Ekoji, who had to switch his plans. He kept hovering around the borders of the kingdom for a year, waiting for the right moment. Meanwhile, Venkanna's followers assiduously executed their plan in Tanjore, which abstracted Alagiri from Chokkanatha to the increasing unrest of Tanjore. Following the suggestions put forward by his men, Ekoji marched toward Tanjore and besieged the city. Alagiri, being aware that he was in a very restricted condition, called for help from Chokkanatha; but his supplication was brushed aside. The fort was quickly captured by Ekoji, and Alagiri had no option but to flee to Mysore.
With Tanjore firmly in his control, Ekoji crowned Chengamala Das as the new king, with functions delegated to Venkanna. The king's foster mother had revealed the existence of a secret royal treasury, which yielded 26 lakh pagodas and various precious jewels. Ekoji lavished honors on his supporters and assigned revenue from Kumbakonam, Mannarkovil, and Papanasam to defray the expedition's expenses. After stabilizing his position, he advanced toward Kumbakonam with his army.

### Flight of Chengamala Das

The reign of Chengamala Das started on an unfortunate note, owing to his first major decision on account of which he suffered a downfall shortly thereafter. Influenced by his follower, he appointed a merchant from Negapatam—a man who had done him a good turn during his exile—as his Dalavayi and Pradhani. This irritated Rayasam Venkanna, who craved the post for himself and consequently contrived against Chengamala Das. He defected to Ekoji's camp in Kumbakonam, attempting to induce him to seize Tanjore. Ekoji was initially unsure about this due to his allegiance to the Sultan of Bijapur, but his spirit was raised with news of Idal Khan's death. Encouraged by Venkanna's promise that he would not have to really fight, Ekoji marched towards Tanjore. Alarmed by fantastical reports of Ekoji's plans, Chengamala Das fled to Ariyalur, thereby allowing Ekoji to take Tanjore without opposition. Venkanna, made an authority, soon restored order; but Ekoji, distrusting him for his ever-changing loyalties, plotted to imprison him. Venkanna, upon being acquainted with this threat, escaped out of the city unknown to anyone.