State

Madurai Nayak dynasty

1529–1736 · 16th century · Also known as Nayaks of Madurai

The Madurai Nayak dynasty ruled much of present-day Tamil Nadu from 1529 to 1736. Its founders were governors for the Vijayanagara Empire who became independent after Vijayanagara's defeat in 1565, ruling from Madurai and later Tiruchirappalli. Thirumalai Nayak (r. 1623–1659) is remembered for his palace and for additions to the Meenakshi temple. The line ended in 1736, when Chanda Sahib overthrew Queen Meenakshi.

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Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Madurai Nayak dynasty. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/madurai-nayak-dynasty
MLA
“Madurai Nayak dynasty.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/madurai-nayak-dynasty. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Madurai Nayak dynasty.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/madurai-nayak-dynasty.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Madurai Nayak dynasty’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/madurai-nayak-dynasty (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻