Nayaka dynasties
The Nayaka dynasties refers to a group of Hindu dynasties who emerged during the Kakatiya dynasty and the Vijayanagara Empire period in South India. Many of these dynasties, such as the Madurai Nayaks and the Thanjavur Nayaks, were originally military governors under the Vijayanagara Empire, who, after the Battle of Talikota, declared themselves independent and established their own polities.
Major Nayaka kingdoms
The Nayaka kingdoms included the following:- Musunuri Nayakas, 14th century warrior-kings from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- Recherla Nayakas, 14th-15th century rulers from Telangana.
- Ravella Nayaks, 14th-17th century ruling clan from Andhra Pradesh.
- Sayapaneni Nayaks, 14th-17th century ruling clan from Andhra Pradesh.
- Pemmasani Nayaks, 14th–17th century ruling clan from Andhra Pradesh.
- Suryadevara Nayaks,14th-16th century ruling clan from Andhra Pradesh.
- Madurai Nayaks, 16th–18th century Telugu rulers of Tamil Nadu.
- Thanjavur Nayaks, 16th–17th century Telugu rules of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
- Nayaks of Gingee, 16th–17th century Telugu rulers from Tamil Nadu, previously governors of the Vijayanagara Empire.
- Nayakas of Belur, 15th-18th century rulers from Karnataka.
- Nayakas of Chitradurga, 16th–18th century from Karnataka, previously feudatory chiefs of Hoysala and Vijayanagara Empire.
- Nayakas of Keladi, 16th–18th century ruling dynasty from Keladi, Karnataka.
- Nayaks of Vellore, 16th century Telugu chieftains under the Vijayanagara Empire from Channapatna and Rayadurgam.
- Nayakas of Kalahasti, 17th–18th century rulers of Kalahasti and Vandavasi.
- Nayaks of Kandy, Telugu rulers of the Sri Lanka between 1739 and 1815.
- Nayakas of Shorapur, rulers of Shorapur, Karnataka.
- Hande Nayakas of Bellary, between the 15th to early 19th century, who were initially vassals of Vijayanagar, and then subsequently few became vassals to the Bijapur Sultanate.
- Channapatna Nayaka Dynasty, 16th to 17th century rulers of Channapatna from 1578 to 1669 CE.