Rani Abbakka Chowta: the Warrior Queen of the Seas

In the coastal kingdom of Ullal (in present-day Karnataka), in the 16th Century existed a queen who fought against foreigners to protect her land. This is the story of Rani Abbakka Chowta — the brave queen of Ullal.

Belonging to the Tuluvu community, Chowtas, who followed a matrilineal tradition (inheritance and authority are usually passed through the female line), usually had women playing important roles in both personal and public life. Ullal, which was ruled by them, was a prosperous port near Mangaluru. This meant trade connections from across the Arabian Sea often approached the kingdom. 

Rani Abbakka was married to Lakshmappa Arasa, a ruler associated with the neighbouring Banga kingdom, but accounts and records show that the marriage did not last, and she returned to Ullal. 

The Portuguese attacks

Around the mid-1500s, the Portuguese under Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira led the first fleet to demand tribute and trade control from Rani Abbakka Chowta, which she refused. She believed Ullal should remain independent and that its people should not lose control of their livelihoods. Her resistance, therefore, was about more than personal bravery: it was also a defence of her kingdom’s freedom and its right to trade. Rana Abbakka thus became one of the earliest Indian rulers to resist European colonial expansion. But this was only the beginning of a series of attacks on the kingdom and the neighbouring areas by the Portuguese. 

There is a popular account about how, around 1568, invaders had attacked Ullal and entered. However, Rani Abbakka managed to escape, gather supporters and launch a surprise counterattack, causing significant damage and loss to the invaders. A brilliant and brave strategist, the queen was known for using her local knowledge and timing to catch her enemies off guard. She was also known to be trained in statecraft and warfare, including archery and horse-riding.

Rani Abbakka’s struggle eventually became harder as opposition from within weakened her position. According to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), it is believed that she was captured after betrayal and continued resisting even in captivity. While exact details about her captivity and death are uncertain, her legacy and persistance to not give her or the people of her kingdom’s freedom are sung in praise all over even today.  

Beyond the battles

Abbakka’s work as a ruler went beyond leading an army into battles. Records show her court and forces included people from different communities, including Jains, Hindus, and Muslims. She also built alliances with neighbouring powers, including the Zamorin of Calicut (a kingdom in Keralam), to strengthen resistance to Portuguese expansion. Her leadership shows an important lesson for us: a community can become stronger when people work together despite their differences.

Often called Abhaya Rani or fearless queen, the stories of her bravery live through folk songs, stories, and performances such as Yakshagana in coastal Karnataka. The Veera Rani Abbaka Utsava is celebrated every year in Karnataka in her honour and to preserve her legacy. In 2009, the Indian Coast Guard also commissioned a patrol vessel named Rani Abbakka.

Forgotten amidst many names which came up much later in the struggle for freedom in India, Rani Abbakka Chowta is a name we should not let fade away in the pages of our country’s history.