Rani Abbakka, who was given the title of Abhaya Rani, is the first freedom fighter of India who defeated the Portuguese 500 years ago.
Abbakka Chowta, the queen who took on the Portuguese, was the queen of Tulunadu.
No one is born weak in this world. If men and women are to be seen only from the perspective of their bodies, then society has created some rules. The seed of bravery is instilled in all boys and girls from the beginning.
Our country is a testimony to such great brave women whose bravery is an inspiration for the women's community.
One name among the great heroines is Queen Abbakka Chauta. Before this, we have already introduced great heroines like Rani Lakshmibai, Rani Nayaki Devi, Rajmata Ahilya Bai Holkar, Rani Chennamma etc.
Queen Abbakka ruled parts of coastal Karnataka. Puttige was the capital of her kingdom. The port city of Ullal served as their subsidiary capital. Ullal was superior from a commercial point of view, hence the Portuguese wanted to capture it.
But Queen Abbakka was the biggest obstacle in her path. She repelled every attack by the Portuguese for four decades.
She was the last person who had the skill to shoot fire arrows.
Because of her bravery, she is known as Abhaya Rani (fearless queen).
She was the first Indian to fight colonialism. She is also considered the first female freedom fighter of India.
The Jain queen Abbakka not only defeated the Portuguese army but also demonstrated her ability to unite people of different religions against the Portuguese armed forces.
Let us know the great story of the stunning heroine Queen Abbakka Chowta…
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Early Life
Rani Abbakka Chowta was born in the Chowta royal family of Ullal.
King Thirumala Raya III was a feudal Jain king of the Vijayanagara Empire. Who originally migrated from Gujarat to Tulunadu (present-day Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, parts of Udupi and Kasaragod district of Kerala) in the 12th century. Ullal was their capital.
King Thirumala Raya III was the uncle of Queen Abbakka Chowta.
The matrilineal tradition was believed in this dynasty. Matrilineal tradition is such a social system of ancient times, where women were given priority.
Since childhood, she received training in martial arts like archery, horse riding, etc. She mastered the arts of warfare, military strategy, political diplomacy, administrative strategy, and other statecraft.
Following the matrilineal tradition, King Thirumala Raya crowned Queen Abbakka Chowta as his queen in the year 1525.
Queen Abbakka Chowta was married to King Lakshmappa Arsa Bangaraja II of the Banga princely state of Mangalore.
Matrimonial ties with the neighboring Banga dynasty further strengthened the alliance of local rulers.
But this marriage was short-lived and she returned to Ullal with her three daughters.
Her husband later makes an alliance with the Portuguese in order to take revenge on them in the war against them.
The capital of his kingdom was Puttige. While the port city of Ullal was the sub-capital. Ullal was a prosperous port and was part of Mangalore port during that time. Which was prominent as a center of spice trade with Arabia and other countries of the West.
It was a trading hub, with the Portuguese, Dutch, and British competing for control of the region's trade routes.
However, the resistance of the local chieftains was so strong that they could not advance further.
Rani Abbakka displayed good representation during her rule by uniting local leaders across all caste and religious lines, including Jains, Hindus, and Muslims.
Historical research shows that during the reign of Queen Abbakka in the 16th century, Beary men served as sailors in the naval force. The Queen personally supervised the construction of the dam at Malali. She employed Berry men for bouldering work.
Her army also included people of all sects and castes. She also made an alliance with the Zamorin of Calicut. And together they drove away the Portuguese.
She also sought help from Venkatappanayaka, the powerful king of Bidnur, and received his support.
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Portuguese Entry into India
From the end of the 7th century, maritime trade, mainly in spices, textiles, horses, etc., was flourishing between the communities on the west coast of India and the Arabian Peninsula. Due to this the European powers were eager to find a sea route to India.
Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, India in 1489 after a long sea voyage. Hence, the Portuguese were the Europeans who discovered the sea route to India.
Cochin established a port in Kerala in 1503, five years before Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route from India to Europe.
The Portuguese built their first fort in Cochin. They then went on to establish a series of forts in the Indian Ocean region – India, Muscat, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and even Macau in China.
Until the 16th century, Portuguese dominance in the region was not challenged by any other European power.
The Portuguese, with their superior naval technology, took control of all the spice routes to India within twenty years of da Gama's historic voyage.
There was a free trade zone for Indian, Arab, Persian, and African ships to trade in the Indian Ocean, where the Portuguese now imposed a paid permit (Carthage).
After gaining control of Goa, she looked to the Mangalore region for trade supplies.
The Portuguese commander Admiral Don Alvaro de Silvia came via Goa in 1525 and captured Mangalore port. Later, they attacked the South Canara coast and destroyed the port of Mangalore.
Their next target was Ullal, a thriving port city nestled between the lush green peaks of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
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War with the Portuguese
During the 17th century, the Portuguese gained a strong hold on the spice trade in India.
Queen Abbakka Chauta had sensed the danger posed by the presence of the Portuguese and was present to oppose them with all her determination.
Queen Abbakka had refused to pay any tax of any kind to the Portuguese.
Even after the Portuguese attacks, their ships continued to trade with Arabia.
From Mogaviras and Bilawa archers to Mappilah oarsmen, people of all castes and religions found a place in her army and navy.
In the year 1555, the Portuguese attacked, commanded by Admiral Don Alvaro de Silveira. In this war, the queen drove away the invaders.
In the year 1557, the Portuguese plundered and destroyed Mangalore. Even in the year 1558, she committed barbarity on Mangalore. Temples were looted and ships were burnt. Old people, youth, and women were murdered. And the city was also set on fire.
In the year 1567, the Portuguese devastatingly attacked Ullal. But could not stand against Rani Abbakka's strategy.
But the Portuguese were determined to defeat the queen, so in 1568, João Peixoto, a Portuguese general, and a fleet of soldiers were sent by the Portuguese Viceroy Antonio Noronha. They managed to capture the city of Ullal and also entered the royal court.
But Queen Abbakka did not come into their hands. Where was the brave queen to be afraid of these intruders? The queen ran away from there and took shelter in the mosque.
That same night she gathered her 200 soldiers and attacked the Portuguese. General Peixoto was killed in this battle. 70 Portuguese soldiers were taken prisoner and many Portuguese retreated.
In further attacks, Queen Abbakka and her supporters assassinated Admiral Mascarenhas. And forced the Portuguese to vacate the Mangalore fort.
In the year 1569 the Portuguese recaptured the Mangalore fort. Also captured Kundapur (Basrur).
Even after these successes, Queen Abbakka continued to haunt him and remained a source of danger for him.
Now the Portuguese made a treaty with the queen's husband, who was so blinded by his desire to take revenge on Queen Abbakka that he supported the Portuguese and helped them attack Ullal.
But the lioness-like queen faced the fierce battles bravely.
In the year 1570, Queen Abbakka formed an alliance with the Bijapur Sultan of Ahmednagar and the Zamorin of Calicut who were opposing the Portuguese.
Zamorin's commander Kutti Pokar Markar fought on behalf of the queen. and destroyed the Portuguese fort at Mangalore. But when he was returning, the Portuguese killed him.
The Portuguese were fed up with Queen Abbakka inspiring other rulers. The Portuguese passed several orders making any alliance with the queen illegal.
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Final Battle
Queen Abbakka Chauta was aware of the strength of the Portuguese. When she saw the farmer women of the coastal region carrying what looked like curved swords in their hands to harvest paddy, the queen instructed all the women of her kingdom to practice warfare to fight the enemies.
The women's army was trained to drive away the enemy by tying a rope to that paddy-cutting sword and swinging it vigorously. That army was named “Ponnule Pade (Women's Battalion). She won some battles with the help of the women's army.
The mad Portuguese instructed Anthony de Noronha, the Portuguese Viceroy of Goa, to attack Ullal.
In the year 1581, 3000 Portuguese soldiers supported by a group of warships made a surprise pre-dawn attack on Ullal.
Queen Abbakka was returning from a visit to her family temple when she was captured. But she quickly mounted her horse and ran away. She led her troops in a fierce counter-attack.
Her heart-piercing war cry was – “Protect the motherland.” Fought those enemies on land and sea. Fought on the streets and beaches. Send them back into the water.” That roaring sound echoed in all directions.
Queen Abbakka and her soldiers fired fire arrows at the Portuguese ships. Many of their ships were burnt. The Portuguese army was much larger than theirs, yet they continued fighting. On the other hand, her husband had also informed the Portuguese about important information like their war strategies and secret routes.
The queen was seriously injured in the war. And she was taken prisoner. But the fearless queen rebelled even in jail. She fought against the Portuguese till her last breath and the brave warrior was martyred in the year 1582.
Queen Abbakka's legacy was carried on by her brave daughters who continued to defend Tulunadu from the Portuguese.
A warrior queen who dedicated her entire life to protect her freedom and motherland. Despite having little military power, she kept the Portuguese at bay throughout her reign. Today the story of that brave queen has been forgotten by the history books.
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Veer Rani Abbakka Festival and Honor
It is a matter of joy that the fearless queen of Ullal is still alive in the folk culture of Dakshina Kannada region. The story of Queen Abbakka's bravery is presented to the new generation through Daiva Kola and Yakshagana.
Bronze statues of Queen Abbakka Chowta have been installed in both Ullal and Bangalore.
Bantwal also houses the Tulu Baduku Museum, which displays about 3000 artifacts. Which was built by a historian, Professor Tukaram Pujari, in memory of Queen Abbakka Chowta of Ullal.
In the year 2003, a postage stamp dedicated to Queen Abbakka was issued by India Post.
In 2009, the Indian Coast Guard deployed a ship named ICGS Rani Abbakka in her name to patrol the Indian coast.
An annual festival is celebrated in Ullal, in which brave and distinguished women who have contributed in various fields in the previous year are honored with the Veer Rani Abbakka Award.
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