After defeating the French and their Indian allies in the three Carnatic Wars, the East India Company began to consolidate and extend its power. Local kings and feudal chieftains resisted. The first resistance to the Company's territorial aggrandisement came from Puli Thevar of Nerkattumseval in the Tirunelveli region. He was followed by Velunachiyar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Marudhu brothers and Dheeran Chinnamalai. These Palayakkarars Wars culminated in the Vellore Revolt of 1806.
1. Palayams and Palayakkarars
- The word "palayam" means a domain, a military camp, or a little kingdom.
- A Palayakkarar (the British called them Poligar) was the holder of a little kingdom as a feudatory to a greater sovereign. A palayam was given for valuable military services.
- The system was in practice during the rule of Prataba Rudhra of Warangal in the Kakatiya kingdom.
- It was put in place in Tamil Nadu by Viswanatha Nayaka when he became the Nayak ruler of Madurai in 1529, with the support of his minister Ariyanathar.
- Traditionally there were supposed to be 72 Palayakkarars.
- They collected revenue, administered the territory, settled disputes and maintained law and order. Their police duties were known as Padikaval or Arasu Kaval.
- The system lasted for about two hundred years, from the Nayaks of Madurai until the British takeover.