Belawadi Mallamma


Belawadi Mallamma was a warrior queen from Bailhongal, Belgaum District, North Karnataka, Karnataka, India. Belvadi Mallamma is believed by many to be the first woman to form a women's army to fight against Dadaji Raghunath Nedkar. She also credited with being the first queen in the history the Indian subcontinent who built and trained a women's army in the 17th century.

Biography

She was the daughter of Sode King Madhulinga Nayaka and wife of King Ishaprabhu. Belawadi Mallamma, also known as Savitribai, was a Queen of Hindu community, fought with the Maratha commander Dadaji Raghunath Nedkar while defending her husband's kingdom. In the battle, Shivaji's soldier cut the leg of the horse on which she was riding and she fell. When she rose and began fighting she was surrounded and taken captive by Raghunath Nedkar's troops. Later she was released on Shivaji's orders. She fought enemy troops on horseback, wearing a saree in veeragacche.
Scholar Shesho Srinivas Muthalik recorded the life in the palace of Madhulinga Nayaka in 1704-5 A.D. in the Marathi language.