Rani Abbakka of Ullal: The Admiral Queen Who Fought Portuguese
This is the third in a 5-part weekly essay series – Veiled Valour: The Forgotten Women of Warfare. Rani Abbakka ruled Ullal from 1544 to 1582, a period marked by relentless battles against Portuguese invasions. Beyond her military prowess, Rani Abbakka understood the power of alliances. She strategically forged alliances with the Zamorin of Calicut and the Sultans of Ahmednagar and Bijapur, helping her contain the Portuguese aggression. Honouring her legacy, the Indian Coast Guard named one of its patrol vessels ICGS Rani Abbakka in 2012.
At various points in history, the naval forces of powerful empires sought to invade India, a land blessed with an extensive coastline, fertile plains, lush rainforests, and vast plateaus. In addition to its inviting weather conditions and, most famously, its rich spices, it’s no surprise that foreign powers were drawn to its shores. One can only imagine the extent of their culinary dissatisfaction that drove them to embark on conquests in pursuit of better seasoning.
Vasco da Gama’s expedition to India marked the beginning of Portuguese ambitions to establish dominance in the region. However, this article isn’t about the Portuguese love for spices. It’s about Rani Abbakka Chowta, the fearless queen who stood her ground against Portuguese invasions for four decades.
Rani Abbakka was born into the Chowta Dynasty, which ruled over the coastal region of Ullal, near present-day Mangalore. The Chowtas, originally migrants from Gujarat in the 12th century, were Digambara Jains who followed a matrilineal system, where inheritance was passed down through the female line. Although men ruled, succession typically went to the ruler’s sister’s son. However, in this instance, King Thirumala Raya III had no nephew, so he trained his niece, Abbakka, in statecraft. A prodigious learner, she excelled in her training, classically educated in archery, sword fighting, military science, and the arts.
The Chowta Dynasty ruled over a small but strategically significant port city, which functioned as a feudatory state of the Vijayanagara Empire. The coastal ports around Mangalore played a crucial role in maritime trade, particularly in the import of horses and the export of spices and textiles. Even after the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, these ports remained vital trade hubs.
By the 16th century, the Portuguese, a dominant naval power, had established their monopoly over the Indian Ocean trade, what had previously been a free trade zone for Arab, Egyptian, and Persian merchants. They imposed trade permits and tariffs on the ships travelling through the Indian Ocean. When they approached India, it led to resistance from various Indian coastal kingdoms. Among those who fiercely opposed Portuguese dominance were Admiral Kanhoji Angre of the Maratha Empire, the Kunjali Marakkars of Calicut, and Rani Abbakka of Ullal.
Rani Abbakka, who had been rigorously trained in statecraft and military strategy from a young age, got married to King Lakshmappa Arasa of Mangalore as part of a strategic alliance. The marriage produced three children. Keeping with the matrilineal traditions of her dynasty, she remained the reigning Queen of Ullal alongside her children. However, her personal life was fraught with challenges, Rani Abbakka is said to have divorced her husband because he wanted to yield to the Portuguese, while she wanted to fight back. Unwilling to compromise her sovereignty, Rani Abbakka divorced him, sending back her wedding jewellery as a token of separation, a practice observed in early customs.
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Defiant in the face of Portuguese aggression, she refused to pay the demanded tribute. This led to frequent attacks on her trading ships. In retaliation, she established direct trade relations with the Zamorin of Calicut, bypassing Portuguese tariffs entirely. Her rule was distinguished not only by her military resilience but also by her inclusive governance. An interesting factor in Rani Abbakka’s rule was that her kingdom was multi-religious. She followed Jainism, but her administration consisted of people of both Hindu and Muslim descent. Her coasts were secure as long as her rule because of the Muslim fisherman fighting against the Portuguese navy.
Rani Abbakka ruled Ullal from 1544 to 1582, a period marked by relentless battles against Portuguese invasions. Following the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, smaller coastal kingdoms like Ullal became targets for the Portuguese Navy, facing repeated attacks. In 1555, Admiral Don Álvaro led an invasion against Ullal, but Rani Abbakka and her forces fiercely defended their coast, preventing the Portuguese from advancing. The battle ended with a temporary truce, yet the attacks persisted.
A decade later, in 1565, the Portuguese, under General Peixoto, launched another assault, capturing the royal palace. However, Rani Abbakka managed to escape with her soldiers, seeking refuge in a mosque. That very night, she orchestrated a counterattack, ambushing the Portuguese forces and killing General Peixoto. Caught off guard, the invaders fled toward their ships, unaware that the queen was in pursuit. She and her forces stormed the harbor, killing the admiral along with the invaders.
Beyond her military prowess, Rani Abbakka understood the power of alliances. She strategically forged alliances with the Zamorin of Calicut and the Sultans of Ahmednagar and Bijapur, helping her contain the Portuguese aggression.
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The life of a fearless queen who fought an empire with strong forces came to an end during a final battle against the grand armada of the Portuguese Viceroy of Goa. Fighting until her last breath, her battle cry for her motherland against colonial oppression – “Save the motherland. Fight them on land and the sea. Fight them on the streets and the beaches. Push them back to the waters” – became the stuff of legend, echoing through the waves of the Indian Ocean. Though Rani Abbakka fell on the battlefield, her legacy as a pioneering force in India’s coastal defence remains everlasting. Honouring her legacy, the Indian Coast Guard named one of its patrol vessels ICGS Rani Abbakka in 2012.
This is the third in a 5-part weekly essay series – Veiled Valour: The Forgotten Women of Warfare.
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About the author
Dhanya D is a Research Scholar at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Madras. Her research focuses on contemporary Maritime Security.
Rani Abbakka’s last words are goosebumps worth! Nice description on India’s physical richness. Adding to it, the female warriors. The stamp pic telling how proud she is about her defending her Mother India. Wow!
-Soundarya S
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