Mirjan Fort: The Residence of the Pepper Queen of History

Soumyaroop Mukherjee

Mirjan Fort: The Residence of the Pepper Queen of History

The Mirjan Fort is located on the west coast of the Uttara Kannada district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. This elegantly designed fort has witnessed several conflicts over the years. It is situated approximately 0.5 kilometers away from National Highway 66 and 21 kilometers away from Gokarna, a well-known Hindu pilgrimage site on India's west coast.

Mrijan Fort; Source: Creative Commons License

In some ways, male and female genders are now considered equal, but the era we are discussing was one in which patriarchy dominated. It was difficult for women to make a name for themselves in a society where men held the upper hand. However, not all historical accounts glorify "him" or the bravery of male monarchs; instead, certain forts in India describe the courage of a queen who managed commerce and battles just as well as any man could have.

The Mirjan Fort is located on the western shore of Uttara Kannada district in southern India. Strategically, the fort is situated 21 kilometers from Gokarna, a well-known Hindu pilgrimage site on India's western coast. Gokarna is famous for its revered Shiva temple. The Mirjan Fort was reportedly built in the 16th century by Queen Chennabhairadevi.

According to the earliest historical records, Rani Chennabhairadevi of Gersoppa rose to prominence. She was a queen who ruled as a subordinate under the powerful Vijayanagara Empire, which held sway over the entirety of South India for a prolonged period of time. Rani Chennabhairadevi ruled for 54 years and took up residence inside the Mirjan fort.

If we examine the temples, we can observe inscriptions of this fort and queen. The vast kingdom of Chennabhairadevi, which covered a large area from Goa to Bhatkal and from Karwar to the southernmost tip of Kerala in Malabar, is referenced in Telegu and Kannada inscriptions from this region. Gersoppa's territory gained significance in the fifteenth century as the seat of her kingdom.

Queen Chennabhairavdevi, engaged in the expensive but lucrative trade of spices. She traded extensively with European superpowers such as the Portuguese, British, and Dutch. Legend has it that her ships were loaded with different exquisite spices, precious and semi-precious stones and gems, and betel nuts.

The great woman ruled over an extensive part of South India, including the north and south Kanara districts and south Goa. Strategically, these areas were important due to their ports, such as Malpe, Bidnoor, Mirjan, Honnavar, Ankola, and Karwar. These ports were exporters of expensive products, notably pepper, which were shipped to Europe. In Europe, it was highly priced and only the rich could afford it.

The queen was an ardent follower of Jainism, a religion common among certain North and South Indian kings. During her rule, she built several Jaina Basadis, or places of devotion and relaxation, for Jainas. To stand out as a woman in this patriarchal society, one must be special, courageous, and willing to take risks.

During the reign of Chennabhairavdevi, the port of Mirjan - located thirty-two km southeast of Karwar - was famous for shipping expensive and profitable commodities such as pepper, saltpetre, and betel nut from Surat to Gujarat. The area of Gersoppa, which had long been conquered by Bednur, was also well known for its pepper exports.

One might wonder how she managed to ascend to the throne in the middle of a long line of male successors. She used her monarchical authority in accordance with the doctrine of succession Aliyasatana, a matriarchal tradition followed in the coastal belt of Konkan and Kerala. South India, which was less patriarchal than the northern portion of India and considerably more liberal regarding women's succession rights, was home to a large population that adhered to this belief.

Being a queen in a male-dominated world was not an easy task, as history only remembers the great tasks of male kings and often overlooks those of women. Nonetheless, some princesses and queens made their mark, such as Razia from the Delhi Sultanate, Rudramadevi from the Kakatiya dynasty, and Rani Chennabhairadevi, among others.

The area of Gersoppa, which was long ago conquered by Bednur, was well known for its exports of pepper. Pepper, which has both medicinal and culinary properties, is native to India. It was a highly profitable good for trading, dating back to the time of the Indus Valley civilization.

The Gersoppa queen was nicknamed "Rani, the pepper queen" (Rainha de Pimenta) by the Portuguese. Between the 15th and 16th centuries, Gersoppa served as the seat of the Saluva dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire under her rule. The Portuguese were familiar with the maritime route due to their reputation for commerce and piracy, akin to knowledge of their own blood vessels.