Poligar’s Revolt

When?
1795 AD

Supressed
1805 AD
Poligars
Who? Why?
3 tier administrative system of
Vijayanagar Empire Wallajah, Nawab of Carnatic
(established in 1336) gave the management and
control of Tinneveli and the
Carnatic provinces to the
East India Company in 1781

ruled between Polygars were not happy

1502 – 1529
with it as British EIC was
asking for Tax from them.

Timeline
Supressed
Supressed
Poligars of
MARADU North Arcot
Rebellion Rebelled

1795 1799 Feb 1801 Oct 1801 1803 1805

1st Phase Poligar’s War 2nd Phase Poligar’s War

2nd Phase
1st Phase Leaders
# Oomathurai (brother of Kattabomman)
# Kattabomman Nayakan (Poligar of Panjalankurichi) # Marathu Pandian (Leader of Maradu rebellion)

Sequence of Events
2nd Phase
1st Phase
1. Poligars imprisoned in the fort of
1. 1st war won by Poligars and lost the 2nd attack from
Palamcotta escaped and took control of
British EIC
many forts and even captured Tuticorin.
2. Kattaboman Nayakan hide along with his friends
2. British EIC countered this by sending
in Pudukottai Forest.
reinforcements from Malabar
3. British EIC declared cash prize for information on
3. Fugitives fled by Oomathurai (brother of
Kattabomman.
Kattabomman) fled to Sivagangai in
4. Ettappam – king of Pudukottai informed British
Ramnad and joined Maradu rebellion led by
EIC about hiding location of Kattaboman
Marathu Pandian
5. Kattabomman was publicly hanged on 16 Oct 1799
4. Oct 1801 – Maradu rebellion supressed.
along with his close associate Subramania Pillai
5. Nawab of Carnatic surrendered the civil and
6. Another rebel, Soundara Pandian was brutually
military administration of all territories and
Killed.
dependencies of Carnatic to British EIC and
7. Other prominent Poligars were executed or sent to
they tried to abolish Kaval system.
prison
6. Poligars of North Arcot rebelled and this was
8. Oomathurai (Kattabomman’s brother was also sent
supressed in 1805 by British EIC.
to prison
Poligar’s Revolt
Outcome

1. Poligars were forced to disband their armies

2. Poligars who used to function as semi-independent principalities and
also started acting as local ruler, now after 2nd phase of Poligar’s revolt
were transformed into mere rent seeking landlords