Chronicles of Vellore Fort: Traversing Empires and Mutiny

Anshika Rana

Chronicles of Vellore Fort: Traversing Empires and Mutiny

Vellore is an ancient town located in Tamil Nadu, India, with a rich history, culture, and architecture. The Vellore Fort is a prime example of its architectural brilliance and historical significance. Built by various rulers, the fort has stood the test of time, serving as a stronghold for kings and an important site of historical sacrifices made by people of the Vijayanagara and Vellore regiments in defending their motherland against enemy forces.

Vellore Fort; Source: Wikipedia

Vellore, a majestic town in South India, exudes an old-world charm that harks back to its rich historical roots. Situated in Tamil Nadu, this town boasts a culture as vast as the Arabian Sea and its prosperity has withstood the test of time. At the heart of its historical and cultural brilliance lies the iconic Vellore Fort, a medieval defence fort constructed in 1556 CE. With its towering walls and towering legacy, this fortress is a treasure trove of history, bearing witness to monumental events that have passed through time unrecorded in history books.

It is well known that the mighty Vijayanagara Empire was defeated in the Battle of Talikota (1555 CE) and went into obscurity in history thereafter. However, little does anyone know that after being uprooted from its capital city, it sought to restore its prestige by shifting to Chandragiri in Tamil Nadu. Soon, a small town near Chandragiri acquired strategic political importance owing to its proximity to the core of the renowned empire. This was Vellore!

In 1556 CE, a year after the Battle of Talikota, Chinna Bommi Reddy and Thimma Reddy Nayaka, subordinate chieftains to Sadasiva Raya, the last ruler of the Tuluva dynasty of Vijayanagara, constructed a magnificent fort in Vellore. This fort quickly gained paramount importance when it began to be used by Vijayanagara Nayakas as their residence, placing it at the centre of heightened political drama due to a coup.

Besides its historical heritage, the Vellore Fort is also an architectural marvel. It is a rectangular fort situated in the heart of Vellore, sprawling over an area of 133 acres. Made of sturdy granite rocks, it is a military fort protected by double-layered walls and a deep, wide moat, which was once patrolled by 10,000 crocodiles to deter unwanted intruders. Within its boundaries, several palatial buildings are housed, such as Tipu Mahal, Kandy Mahal, and Begum Mahal.

The Vellore Fort can be symbolized as the iron throne of South India, serving as the seat of power for the Pallavas, Cholas, Marathas, Bijapur, and Arcot Nawabs. With each change of power, the fort became a melting pot of cultures and religions, creating a heterogeneous composite of diverse cultures that coexisted remarkably well. This is reflected in the architectural landscape of the fort, which includes a mosque built by the Last Arcot Nawab, a church devoted to St. John built by Robert Clive, and a famous Hindu temple called Jalakanteshwarar Temple within its premises. It is surprising to know that a fort which embodied such religious harmony became the site of a religious turmoil that took place in the nineteenth century: the Vellore Mutiny.

In the nineteenth century, the first sepoy mutiny broke out in colonial India. While many are aware of the mutiny of 1857, few know that it was not the first sepoy mutiny to occur in India. Almost 50 years before 1857, in 1806, India witnessed the first-ever mutiny against British rule in Vellore. Discontent had been building up among the soldiers in Deccan relating to the British masters' policies towards non-Christian religions. These accumulated grievances erupted when the British introduced a new turban known as the firangi topi (hat) and implemented new regulations regarding the sporting of caste marks on the forehead, earrings, and facial hair. The sepoys rebelled in a raging uproar and secretly coordinated their plans, aided by fakirs who spread the word about the mutiny. On July 10th, they took over the Vellore Fort and hoisted the flag of Tipu Sultan. The soldiers massacred their colonial masters, killing 15 officers and nearly 100 British soldiers. After seeking revenge in blood and flesh, they began plundering English offices. Despite their zeal, they could not withstand the reinforcements brought by Col. Kennedy, especially when the Indian sepoys were running out of ammunition. The fort was easily recaptured, and the rebellion was crushed within one day. However, there remains no witness or record of the mutiny except for the fort itself: Vellore Fort. After crushing the rebellion, the captured soldiers were ruthlessly executed against the fort walls.

Thus, the Vellore Fort stands tall and retired after centuries of direct and indirect involvement in the politics of the region, now serving as a qualified chronicler, recounting untold tales.

The succession of Tuluvas by the Aravidu dynasty was marked by instability. Venkatapati Raya, the fifth ruler of the Aravidu dynasty, nominated his nephew to the throne despite his wife’s wishes to appoint their adopted son. The succession was marred by hostilities, leading to a civil war with much bloodshed. The tensions ultimately culminated in the Battle of Toppur in 1616-1667 CE. During the battle, the Vellore Fort was used as the base for military planning and attack. Henceforth, the fort witnessed several battles and attacks waged by rulers who coveted the strategic city of Vellore. During the 1650s, when Vijayanagara lost to the Bijapur Empire, it marked the end of the Vijaynagar Empire. The fort changed hands several times in the further course of history, ultimately falling into British colonial rule, which held the fort until India gained independence.