Thanjavur Nayak kingdom

The Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty, established by Sevappa Nayaka around 1532, was a ruling lineage that governed Thanjavur between 16th and 17th centuries. Hailing from Telugu Balijas ancestry, the Nayaks were initially appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagara Emperor in the early 16th century, alongside governorships based at Madurai, and Gingee. They governed with increasing autonomy following the decline of central Vijayanagara authority after 1565. They became known for their extensive architectural and literary patronage in Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit.