Rani Velu Nachiyar

The first Indian queen to militarily resist British colonial rule, establishing guerrilla warfare tactics that inspired later independence movements.

Rani Velu Nachiyar (1730–1796) was an Indian warrior queen from Tamil Nadu who became the first ruler to wage organized combat against British East India Company forces in 1780. After her husband's assassination by Thondaiman allies, she formed the Viramma Kottai (Fort of the Brave) militia and trained in European warfare tactics. Her alliance with Hyder Ali of Mysore created a strategic front against British advances. Innovatively using suicide attacks with fire-laden boats on British ships, her 1780 victory at Vellore Fort delayed British consolidation in South India. Nachiyar's reign emphasized gender equality, appointing women to military and administrative roles. Though her kingdom was short-lived, her legacy influenced later leaders like Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. Modern historians note her foresight in merging traditional warfare with modern logistics, preserved in letters archived at Tamil Nadu Archives. Her annual memorial in Sivaganga district underscores her enduring symbolic role in Indian resistance narratives.