Chamrajar Wodeyar IV (r. 1572- 1576) went a step further and expelled the remaining Vijayanagara high command; namely, envoys and revenue collectors from his kingdom. He then acquired the town of Bangalore built by a Vijayanagara chieftain named, Kempe Gowda I.
Chamrajar Wodeyar V (r. 1576- 1578)
Raja Wodeyar I (r. 1578- 1617) was a devout king (a Vaishnavite). He is also credited with initiating the much celebrated Mysore Dasara.
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| The golden howdah that carries goddess Chamundeshwari during Mysore Dasara celebrations. It weighs about 750kgs. |
Chamrajar Wodeyar VI (r. 1617- 1637)
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Chamrajar Wodeyar of Mysore (the year is not clear). Photo is displayed at Mysore Palace.
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Raja Wodeyar II (r. 1637- 1638)- the Dalvoys (commanders-in-chief) returned and Raja Wodeyar II's reign was cut short. It is said he was poisoned to death on the orders of the Dalvoys.
Kanthirava Narasaraja I (1638- 1659), Kanthirava, like his previous 2 predecessors, expanded the borders of Mysore. He also brought about a crushing defeat to the Adil Shahis of Bijapur.
Devaraja Wodeyar I (r. 1659- 1673)
đź’ˇIt is unfortunate that besides the Mysore Maharajas, many other hindu kings such as the Naiks of Madurai and Sivappa Nayak of Kelladi still warred with one another despite threats from Islamic invasions and the European invasions. While Hindus kings focussed on expanding their kingdom, Muslim rulers led campaigns with a single-minded focus of jihad and converting the infidels to Islam. European trading companies wanted to amass vast profits without keeping the welfare of locals at heart.
Chikka Devaraja (r. 1673- 1704) was hated for the massacre of his own people (namely, 400 priests), as the people revolted against the high taxes levied on peasants. Chikka Devaraja made another terrible mistake of preferring an alliance with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb instead of the Marathas. Aurangzeb even gifted him a signet ring and a sword; though some historians say this was a sign of his subjugation to the Mughal Empire.
However, it must be said that Devaraja benefitted from this alliance and it helped him to expand his kingdom even farther.
Kanthirava Narasaraja II (r. 1704- 1714)
Krishnaraja Wodeyar I (r. 1714- 1732) this Maharaja was also best known for his weak and capricious temperament and given to sensual pleasure. As a result the affairs of his kingdom were completely managed by his ministers.
Chamaraja Wodeyar VII (r. 1732- 1734)- Due to his father/ predecessor's lack of prudence, the Dalvoys who managed the affairs of the state of Mysore; namely, Devaraja (army chief) and Nanjaraja (revenue minister) wielded absolute control while the Maharajas were mere puppets.
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Read my blogpost- hike to Kaballadurga hill from Bangalore/ Mysore (blue link 👇)
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Krishnaraja Wodeyar II (r. 1735- 1766)- continued ruling as a puppet monarch until Devaraja, the Dalvoy army chief's death in 1746. Then another Dalvoy (minister) named Hyder Ali took charge of the affairs of Mysore in 1761, much against Krishnaraja's will. His opponents proved far more united and resourceful in stifling his freedom.
Suggested read- Mysore history during Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan
Nanjaraja Wodeyar (r. 1766- 1770)
Chamaraja Wodeyar VIII (r. 1770- 1776)
đź’ˇHyder Ali was the Sarvadhikari (in complete control) of Mysore kingdom
đź’ˇ Mysore was the first capital of the kingdom and later it changed to Srirangapatnam.
Chamaraja Wodeyar IX (r. 1776- 1796) It was during his reign that Haider Ali's son, Tipu Sultan seized total power of Mysore kingdom and assumed the title of Padshah.
Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (r. 30 June 1799 till 27 March 1868): the longest serving Maharaja of Mysore
The longest reigning (70 years) Maharaja. He was the son of Chamaraja Wodeyar IX and Chamaraja's 1st wife, Maharani Kempananjammani Avaru.
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Maharani Kempananjammani Avaru. She was Krishnaraja Wodeyar III's mother
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Krishnaraja however was greatly influenced by his grandmother Lakshmi Anmani Devi. She did her best to ally with the British, in an attempt to overthrow Hyder Ali and later his son Tipu Sultan.
After Tipu Sultan was shot dead, she worked closely with the British to regain control of Mysore. She succeeded in this endeavour, and that is how Krishnaraja Wodeyar III ascended the Mysore throne, but remained in allegiance to the British.
Chamaraja Wodeyar X (r. 1868- 1894)
The Kingdom of Mysore was now directly being administered by the British. Chamaraja X, the grandson of his predecessor Krishnaraja X (ie. his mother was Krishnraja X's eldest daughter) was adopted as a son instead. Even his adoption needed approval from the British.
During his short reign/ lifespan of roughly 30 years, Chamaraja built several buildings and institutions such as~ The Bangalore Palace, The glass enclosure at Lalbagh where the flower show is held annually, Mysore zoo, Maharaja college- Mysore (1889) and many other govt offices etc. The Maharaj even sponsored Swami Vivekananda's tour to America, where the Swami delivered his famous speech at Chicago. Not to mention that he was a proponent of art and culture.
Chamrajarendra was married to Kempananjammanni, daughter of a prominent nobleman at the Mysore court.
They had 4 sons and 3 daughters.
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| KrishnaraJammanni (daughter of Chamaraja Wodeyar X) with her children- 1 son, 3 daughters |
After Chamarajendra's death, regent Queen Kempananjammanni played an important role in holding the reigns of the kingdom.
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| The Vani Vilas Sagara dam across the river Vedavati in Karnataka's Chitradurga district, was commissioned by Kempananjammanni, widow of Chamaraja Wodeyar X. She had to even pledge the royal jewellery to fund for the building of this dam. |
Suggested read- 1 Day road trip to Vani Vilas Sagara dam and Chitradurga fort from Bangalore Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV (r. 1902- 1940): ushers in a golden era
Krishna Raja IV, the son of his predecessor, is credited for ushering in a golden era in Mysore's history. Many high profile personalities have expressed their opinion; Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV~ a Saint, Philosopher & King.
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| Portrait of Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV, regent of the Kingdom of Mysore (r. 1902- 1940)- displayed at Mysore Palace |
Krishna Raja IV was fortunate to have in his court a gifted prime minister named M. Visvesvaraya, who also earned the sobriquet 'Maker of Modern Mysore'. Mysore kingdom witnessed development in a range of fields, plus he left behind a rich legacy, such as~
State Bank of Mysore
Mysore Iron Works
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Lalitha Mahal Palace
St. Philomena's Cathedral
K R Market in Bangalore
Multiple colleges, hospitals and institutes
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| The Kalyana mantapa hall of Mysore Palace. Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV was instrumental in building the palace as we see it today |
Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar (r. 1940- 1950) : The last Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore
Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar ascended the Mysore throne on 3 Aug 1940, after his predecessor and uncle died of a sudden heart attack. On 15 Aug 1947, India got Independence from British rule, but Maharaja continued to rule until the Constitution was enacted in 1950 and India became a Republic.
THE KINGDOM OF MYSORE IS CEDED INTO THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
Thereafter, upon the persuasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's 1st Home Minister, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar graciously merged his prosperous Kingdom of Mysore into the REPUBLIC OF INDIA, just as most other royals had, sparing a few.
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