RSS To Commemorate Rani Abbakka: The Karnataka Queen Who Fought The Portuguese 6 Times | Sunday Special
"Maharani Abbakka’s life serves as a profound inspiration for the entire nation. On the occasion of the her 500th anniversary, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pays tributes to this exemplary personality and calls upon the entire society to draw inspiration from her glorious life," said Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale
As flaming arrows rained down on Portuguese ships, Rani Abbakka Chowta’s defiant war cry pierced the air. With unyielding courage and an indomitable spirit, she led her soldiers into battle against the European invaders. “We must save our motherland! Fight our enemies on land, sea, streets, or beaches—push them back into the waters!" she thundered, as her warriors unleashed a storm of agnivanas—fire-tipped arrows—on the enemy.
As a tribute to this fearless warrior queen of Tulunadu as part of their centenary celebrations, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) plans to honour Rani Abbakka, a freedom fighter who repeatedly confronted, fought, and defeated the Portuguese.
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This year marks 500 years since her valiant fight and death against the European invaders. The ongoing Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) in Bengaluru also released a special statement to commemorate the 500 years of the valiant warrior queen from Karnataka Rani Abbakka and her unparalleled contributions to the country, said RSS chief spokesperson Sunil Ambekar. “Maharani Abbakka’s life serves as a profound inspiration for the entire nation. On the occasion of the her 500th anniversary, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pays tributes to this exemplary personality and calls upon the entire society to draw inspiration from her glorious life and contribute actively to the ongoing mission of nation-building," said Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, in a statement.
Statement by Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale on the 500th Birth Anniversary of Maharani Abbakka: https://t.co/b84JW2LqGM— RSS (@RSSorg) March 23, 2025
Capt Brijesh Chowta, Lok Sabha member of parliament (MP) from Dakshina Kannada, told News18 that she was “a force who redefined Nari Shakti".
“It is time to revive her in spirit and legend, and as a MP from the Dakshina Kannada region she belonged to, who also shares a second name with her, I look forward to a year-long celebration across the constituency to commemorate her life, legend and legacy," he said.
“Abbakka stood out not just because she fought many wars against the Portuguese as they attacked her kingdom, but because she thought of them as invaders of her country. She did not just ask them to leave Ullal or Karavali; she said she must drive them out of India and safeguard the country. This reflected how she was a great patriot. That makes her a gem," said Prof. Thukaram Poojary, a museologist and historian who, inspired by this valiant 16th-century warrior queen, has recorded her life in a museum in Karnataka’s Bantwal.
Belonging to the Chowta dynasty, which ruled coastal Karnataka between the 12th and 18th centuries, this young warrior queen, known for her steely resolve, was often compared to Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Rani Chennamma of Kittur. She was a princess of the Chowta kingdom, which ruled over coastal Karnataka between the 12th and 18th centuries. Yet, very little has been written about her. Though Rani Abbakka’s name is not as widely known as those of other warrior queens, her heroic deeds, administrative brilliance, and battle strategies live on in the folk traditions of Dakshina Kannada. Her legacy is preserved through the ancient art forms of Bhoota Kola and Yakshagana, which continue to celebrate her fearless defiance against colonial oppression.
Here’s her story:
THE PORTUGESE IN INDIA
India had been a flourishing centre of maritime trade since the 7th century, dealing in textiles, horses, artillery, and spices. The Portuguese, who arrived in Kerala with Vasco da Gama in 1498, soon began dominating trade routes and annexing southern territories. In 1526, they captured the Mangalore port and then set their sights on Ullal, a thriving, self-sufficient coastal town. Their expansionist ambitions led them to construct forts and annex Goa, Kochi, and parts of South India.
Ullal was the capital of the Chowta kingdom, ruled by King Tirumala Raya III. The Chowtas, originally from Gujarat, had migrated south in the early 12th century and followed a matrilineal system in which women became heirs.
WHO IS ABBAKKA?
The Chowta kingdom, a Jain dynasty, was a powerful force in the region. Abbakka was trained by her uncle, Tirumala Raya, to be a warrior princess. She mastered sword fighting, horse riding, and administration and was known for being a just, kind, yet firm ruler.
Her valiant fight eventually ended Portuguese dominance in the region. Her fort in Ullal, Mangalore, stands as a historical reminder of her bravery, with paintings depicting her launching cannon fire on the Portuguese along the coastline.
Fiercely independent and highly skilled in warfare, military strategy, diplomacy, and administration, she emerged as a strong leader just as her kingdom faced the looming Portuguese threat.
Eager to gain control of Ullal’s flourishing trade, which thrived under Abbakka’s leadership, the Portuguese repeatedly tried to impose tributes and taxes on her. Frustrated by their relentless and unjust demands, she refused to comply, standing firm as they relentlessly sought to conquer her kingdom.
FOUGHT OFF 6 PORTUGESE ATTACKS
Rani Abbakka bravely fought off six Portuguese attacks on her kingdom.
The first major battle took place in 1525 when the Portuguese destroyed the Mangalore port. However, Abbakka’s informants alerted her to weaknesses in the enemy’s army, allowing her to regroup her troops with only her most trusted men to prepare for battle.
Three years later, taken aback by her defensive tactics, the Portuguese intensified their efforts. In 1555, they sent Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira to subdue her, demanding she pay tribute and accept their rule. Rani Abbakka refused to bow down.
Rani Abbakka’s masterful battle tactics and diplomatic strategy, where she collaborated with Arab Moors and the Zamorin of Kozhikode, pushed the Portuguese forces back once again.
Alarmed by her growing reputation and the inspiration she provided to other rulers, the Portuguese resorted to treachery when direct attacks failed. They issued a series of edicts making any alliance with her illegal, aiming to isolate her diplomatically. Targeting her husband, Bangaraj of Mangalore, he was also threatened with the destruction of his capital if he assisted Ullal or supported Rani Abbakka.
Determined to break her resistance, the Portuguese launched another attack on Mangalore port in 1557, destroying it beyond use. In 1558, they struck again with heavy artillery, massacring civilians, burning homes and temples, and setting fishing boats ablaze.
Facing a woman warrior whose sheer strategic brilliance had repeatedly outmanoeuvred their powerful army, the Portuguese changed their approach in 1567. They launched a large-scale attack, marching straight into Ullal. Rani Abbakka and her army, supported by local chieftains, fiercely resisted and once again drove them out.
In 1568, the Portuguese sent their top commander, Viceroy António Noronha, to finally subjugate Ullal. He deployed General João Peixoto, known for his ruthless battle tactics, to capture Rani Abbakka and annex the Chowta kingdom.
As Peixoto’s forces stormed Ullal and occupied the royal court, Abbakka, forewarned by her spies, was swiftly moved to safety by her confidantes. Known for her religious tolerance and administrative prowess, she found refuge in a nearby mosque while she regrouped her forces.
At midnight, she launched a surprise counterattack. With 250 soldiers—both on foot and horseback—she descended upon the Portuguese while they slept. In the fierce battle that followed, she killed 70 Portuguese soldiers, including General Peixoto himself. Many more were either slain or captured as prisoners. In a bold move, Abbakka and her chief general stormed the quarters where Admiral Mascarenhas was resting and killed him. Leaderless and demoralised, the Portuguese retreated, leaving Mangalore back in the hands of the Chowta queen.
BETRAYED BY HER HUSBAND
In 1569, with Kundapur and Mangalore under their control, the Portuguese—now backed by her estranged husband—set their sights on Ullal once again.
A 3,000-strong Portuguese army, supported by an armada of battleships, launched a surprise pre-dawn attack on Ullal.
Despite her relentless resistance, the tide turned against her. Betrayed by her husband, Rani Abbakka was wounded in battle and captured by the enemy with the help of a few bribed chieftains.
Even in prison, she refused to surrender. She led a rebellion from within its walls, continuing to defy her captors until the very end. Fighting till her last breath, she ultimately died a warrior’s death.
“She is a role model for today. The Portuguese were so taken aback by how a queen of such a small province was able to make them so terror-stricken," said Poojary.
Her courage, clarity, and conviction, Chowta said, should be emulated by all. He lamented that the colonial hangover and leftist distortion of history meant her tale remained untold for the rest of the country.
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