In 1540s, Vijayanagara troops headed by Vittala Raya, cousin of Rama Raya, attacked Portuguese in Goa and Portuguese surrendered. Another attack on Mylopore, Chennai made Portuguese flee to Bengal.(Details are in point no1)
I will give you below all accounts of Europeans, engaged war with Vijayanagara Empire and their Vassals.
Vijayanagara had powerful army of huge size in three layers-Empire had, their Kingdoms had, Vassals of Kingdom had. Vassals & Kingdoms managed Regional battles on their own. If they could not manage, then only requested the Empire. For big wars, all are called with necessary logistics by the Empire.
In addition, local forces are trained to defend the temples.
European looters, (Portugese, Dutch, French and British) had the habit of seizing treasures from temples, when there is internal conflict or King is engaged some where else.
Few examples,
- Portuguese in 16th century planned to loot treasures in Tirupati Temple. When portuguese troup went to the temple, Aliya Rama Raya of Vijayanagara was there with his huge army. Portuguese flee from East coast(Chennai) to Bengal. This has led to the attack by Vittala Raya in Goa. Portuguese surrendered.
- In 17th century, Dutch and Portugese were based at Kayalpattinam, Tuticorin for the trading spices to Europe. Fortification of temples and looting of temples were a common thing with European traders and invaders when the king is engaged in war elsewhere. The temples recovered from them, once the king is back. Tiruchendur Senthil Andavar temple invasion by Dutch in 17th century is another example. Dutch fortified the temple, looted, set fire and had taken away the idol to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and demanded money. When Thirumalai Naicker returned from the war victorious, he recovered the idol by warning and further plan with Kandy Naickers in ceylon, made Dutch to return the idol.
- Naicker Kings of Chenji, Tanjore, Madurai created local forces to defend temples based on 14th century invasion memory of Malik Kafur. For example, Sri Rangam was well defended in 18th Century when Tipu Sultan tried to seize it.
- Some polypats are created and their main duty is to safeguard the Temple, - one example is Sethu Patis of Rameswaram.
- Temples along the Kaveri and Tamirabharani river basins, there are plenty, were well defended by Local Polygars. In 18th century, British and French fortified few temples at some point in time. Example: Aththi Varadhar rising in Kanchi.
Unfortunately, when British and French in action, there were no Vijayanagara Empire (1st layer of army) after 1660 and no Chatrapathi Sivaji of Marathas.
In 1750s, Maduarai Kingdom (2nd layer of army) suffered a setback with the suicide of Regent Queen Minakshi.
There were chaos due to too many wars between too many players in Tamil country. English and French in alliance with Nizams and Nawabs, Marathas, Dutch, Portugese and Polygars.
These Polygars, without the Madurai King, without the Vjayanagara empire, fought three polygar wars( with only 3rd layer of army) on their own from 1799 till 1810. Some of them were caught and hung in public by British.
