Rani Abbakka Chowta, fearless warrior from Dakshina Kannada

Rani Abbakkadevi Chowta is one of the most underrated freedom fighters in the history of Indian history. Hailing from the Chowta dynasty, Rani Abbakka was well-known for her fierce and feisty nature, her decisions and actions ultimately paving the way for the Indian freedom movement.

In order to avenge the defeat of her mother at the hands of the Portuguese, she strived hard to drive the Portuguese completely out of Mangalore.

Since Chowtas were a matrilineal dynasty, the king’s heir was his young niece, Abbakka. At a very young age, she had been trained in sword fighting, archery, cavalry, military strategy, diplomacy and all other subjects of statecraft.

When Abbakka was crowned the Queen of Ullal, she decided to stop paying the Portuguese the tribute that all the local rulers paid them.

Abbakka’s ships continued to trade with the Arabs despite attacks by the Portuguese. From Mogaveeras and Billava archers to Mappilah oarsmen, people of all castes and religions found a place in her army and navy.

This move led to the Portuguese attacking Ullal repeatedly.

The first battle took place in the year 1556, with the Portuguese fleet being commanded by Admiral Don Alvaro de Silveira, and ended in an uneasy truce. They attacked again, two years later, with a larger force. Although, Rani Abbakka’s masterful battle tactics and diplomatic strategy exempted them from doing so.

When Portuguese army under General Joao Peixoto attacked Ullal and captured the palace but Rani Abbakka managed to escape and took refuge in a mosque. The same night, she and 200 of her trustworthy soldiers mounted an attack on the Portuguese and killed the general along with 70 of his soldiers while the remaining Portuguese troops were forced to retreat.

Rani Abbakka and her soldiers even forced the Portuguese to vacate the Mangalore port.

The Portuguese later resorted to treachery to defeat the Rani. It was then decided to send Anthony D’ Noronha (the Portuguese Viceroy of Goa) to attack Ullal. In a surprise pre-dawn attack, the Portuguese troops numbering around 3000 mounted an attack on Ullal. Rani Abbakka who was returning from a visit to her family temple was caught off guard but she immediately mounted her horse and rode into the battle, leading her troops in a fierce counter-offensive.

Wounded in the crossfire, Rani Abbakka was captured by the enemy with the help of a few bribed chieftains. She breathed her last in captivity.

Rani Abbakka, even today is known as the feisty queen who broke all barriers and crushed the Portuguese power in India.