PUDUKKOTTAI
BRIEF HISTORY
The state of Pudukkottai was founded by Raghunath Raya Tondaiman, following a generation of territorial expansion by his predecessors. He had served as a distinguished military commander and Governor of Thirumayam under his brother-in-law, Regunatha Kilavan Setupati of Ramnad. He received Thirumayam fort and the surrounding lands for his many services in 1686, when he built himself a new seat at Pudukkottai (meaning “new fort”) from which the state takes its name. He and his successors established their independence by making alternative alliances with the rulers of Ramnad, Madura or Tanjore. Whichever happened to need their assistance most and would either accept their independence or offer territorial expansion and wealth in return.
Raja Vijaya Raghunath Raya allied himself to the Nawab of the Carnatic and the British in 1752 and provided both military and material aid to the latter in the many wars and campaigns against Chanda Sahib and the French, Tanjore, Madura, and the Maravans. The Raja voluntarily accepted British protection in 1763, though without any formal written agreement, merely the good word of two staunch allies who had been faithful to each other through many vicissitudes of fortune. His grandson’s services during the wars against Tipu Sultan and the French during the latter part of the century secured this status and also brought additions of territory. Although this was to be severely tested several times during the following century, when the administration of the state was placed under the supervision of British officers either for misrule, for falling into debt or the ruler’s absenteeism, the independence of the state continued to be upheld throughout British rule. Pudukkottai remained the only princely to maintain its independence in the whole of Tamil Nadu. The state eventually acceded to the independent Dominion of India in August 1947 and merged with Madras state in the following year. SALUTE:
11-guns (restored 1884).
ARMS:
A shield quartered or; four bars fessewise, gules (2,3), four bars palewise, vert; all within a "Garter" bordured on both sides with an inscription. Above, the the Crown of Pudukkottai, or. Crest: On wreath of five segments, argent and vert; a lion passant guardant vert, holding a flag-staff vert, with a swallow-tailed flag attached argent, Hanuman emblazoned thereon, vert, and facing the hoist. Supporters: Lions rampant guardant, tongued, all proper, holding flags as in the crest. Motto: … in vert on a riband argent, the reverse vert.
FLAG:
2x3 deep-green flag with the state crest (lion) in deep-green but drawn in silver at the hoist. The lion holds a silver staff with a swallow-tailed flag charged with a silver Hanuman. The lions stands on an heraldic wreath of four segments, the first and third in deep-green, second and fourth in silver.
STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja (personal name) Tondaiman Bahadur, Raja of Pudukkottai, with the style of His Highness.
The recognised consort of the ruling prince: Rani (personal name) Rajammani Bayi Sahib Avargal, with the style of Her Highness.
The mother of the ruling prince: Rani Mathusri Raja Sri (personal name) Rajammani Bayi Sahib Avargal, with the style of Her Highness.
The Heir Apparent:
The younger sons and brothers of the ruling prince: M.R.Ry. Sri Rajkumar (personal name) Tondaiman Sahib Avargal.
The daughters and sisters of the ruling prince: Sri Rajkumari (personal name) Ammani Rajayi Sahib Avargal.
RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture with the right of adoption by the recognised head of the family on the failure of natural heirs.
ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
None.
SOURCES:
Arrangements regarding the administration of the Zemindary of Pudukkottai following the death of Raghunatha Tondaiman. Madras Pol 2 Aug 1809, draft 150/1808-09, E/4/903 pp 126-29. IOR/F/4/245/5541. Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Pudukkottai State - M.R.Ry. B.R.R. Thondaiman - claim to succession. File G.O.No.401 dated 26-8-1921. IOR/R/2/897/343. Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Chiefs and Leading Families in the Madras Presidency, First Edition, Madras Govt. Press, 1915.
Death of His Highness the Raja of Pudukattai. Succession of His Highness Raja Sri Rajagopala Tondaiman to the Pudukkottai Gadi. Arrangements for the administration of the State during the minority of the Ruler and question of his education. Future relations of Martanda Sydney with the Pudukkottai State. File 98-P(S)/1928. IOR/R/1/1/1720 (1) and IOR/R/1/1/1720(2). Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Death of the Raja of Pudukkottai, Vijaya Raghunatha Rai Tondaiman, on 4 June 1825 - succession of his brother, Raghunatha Tondaiman - the widow of the deceased Raja is dissuaded from committing Sati, (includes a genealogical table of the ruling family, p 49). Madras Pol 14 Jan 1829, draft 123/1828-29, E/4/936 pp 549-51. IOR/F/4/1011/27772. Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Edward Duyker & Coralie Younger, Molly and the Rajah: Race, Romance and the Raj. Australian Mauritian Press, Sylvania, NSW, 1991.
F.R. Hemingway. Trichinopoly. Madras District Gazetteers. The Superintendent, Government Printing, Madras, 1907.
History of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages in the Madras States, Govt. of India Press, New Delhi, 1941.
The History of the Western Palace Jaghir, Pudukota State, Madras Presidency. St Joseph's College Press, Trichnopoly, 1897.
Letters from Lt-Col William Blackburne, Resident at Tanjore, to the Maharaja of Pudukkottai and his brother Raghunatha Tondaiman; also letter from Sir Thomas Sevestre concerning the health of the Maharaja's son. 1821. Blackburne Papers. Mss Eur D812. Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Note on the Chief and the officials of the Pudukkottai State. File Con A.I.A. 7 1907. IOR/R/1/1/992. Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Pudukkottai Affairs. Memorials from Mr. R.Ry. B.R. Ramchandra Tondaiman Saheb Avergal regarding his claims to the Pudukkottai gadi. Question of the succession to the Pudukkottai State. File 120(5)-P(C)/1925-27. 1925-1927. IOR/R/1/1/1562(2). Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Pudukkottai Gadi - Succession to by B.R.R. Thondaiman. File G.O.No.553 dated 1-12-1921. IOR/R/2/897/344. Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Pudukkottai succession. File 120(8)-P(C)/1927. IOR/R/1/1/1563(1) and IOR/R/1/1/1563(2). Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Question of the recognition of the son born to His Highness the Raja of Pudukkottai by His Australian wife, as heir to the gadi. (2) Proposed abdication of His Highness in the event of his son not being recognised as heir. (3) Question of the social status of His Highness' Australian wife, "the Rani Tondaiman. File S I Aug 1920 7 (1), 1919-1920. IOR/R/1/1/653. Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
Raja of Pudukkottai - Marriage of - with an Australian Lady. File G.O.No.99 dated 0-3-1916. IOR/R/2/895/323. Oriental & India Office Collection, The British Library, St Pancras, London.
K.R. Venkatarama Ayyar, A Manual of Pudukkottai State, Volumes I and II. Sri Brihadamba State Press, Pudukkottai, 1938-1944.
Joanne Punzo Waghorne, The Raja's Magic Clothes: Re-Visioning Kingship and Divinity in England's India. The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, Pennsylvania, 1994.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
John D. McMeekin.
Father Lawrence Ober, SJ