Kongu Nadu was one of the territorial divisions in the ancient
Tamilakam. The region was separated from the
Chera Nadu by the
Western Ghats, and it was part of a trade route leading across the
Palghat gap called
Rajakesari Peruvazhi in the Western Ghats and that extended from
Muziris to
Arikamedu linking the
Mediterranean to
East Asia. Archaeological excavations from
Kodumanal on the banks of the
Noyyal River show traces of civilization from 4th century BCE. Kodumanal is mentioned in
Patiṟṟuppattu literature from the first century CE as a thriving industrial and commercial center. The
Kosar people from the region are mentioned in the 2nd century CE
Tamil epic
Silappathikaram. Early
Tamil Brahmi writings have been found on coins, seals and rings obtained from
Amaravati river bed near
Karuvur. An inscription found in a cave in
Arachalur was dated to 4th Century CE and as per
Iravatham Mahadevan, these were music syllables used in dance with further such sites discovered in Thadagam near
Coimbatore. , showing the bow and arrow emblem of the
Cheras and the tiger signage of the
Cholas The region was ruled by local chieftains during the early
Sangam period, and made marriage alliances with the
Cheras, which resulted in a migration of significant population from Kongu Nadu to Chera Nadu. The region was ruled by the Cheras between first and fourth centuries CE with the capital at
Karuvur. Chera dominance of the region began with the rule of the Palyanai Sel Kelu Kuttuvan, the son of
Uthiyan Cheralathan. The region came under the influence of the
Pandyas during the reign of
Arikesari Maravarman in the seventh century CE. Later, the region was ruled by various dynasties such as
Rashtrakutas and
Western Gangas. Later, the
Kongu Cheras gained influence over the region and were in alliance with the Pandyas. The
medieval Cholas led by
Aditya I, conquered the region in ninth century CE. While the region was directly under the control of the Imperial Cholas till 1064 CE, the Kongu Cholas who were probably vassals or viceroys of the Cholas, ruled the region autonomously later. After the death of Vikrama Chola II in the thirteenth century CE, the Pandyas annexed the region and the inscriptions at
Srirangam temple attest the victory of
Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I in the region. The rule of the Pandyas came to an end with the death of
Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I in 1318 CE. The
Hoysalas ruled the region for sometime later with
Vira Someshwara having a matrimonial alliance with both Pandyas and Cholas. After the defeat of
Veera Ballala III of the Hoysalas, the region came under the control of the
Delhi Sultanate. In the 15th century CE, the
Vijayanagara empire defeated the Mughals and established sway over the region. After the Vijayanagara empire fell in 1646 CE, the region was ruled by various
Nayak governors of the erstwhile Vijayanagara empire who declared independence. They introduced the
Palayakkarar system under which the region was divided into 24
Palayams(towns). In the latter part of the eighteenth century CE, the region came under the influence of the
Kingdom of Mysore after a series of wars with the
Nayaks. After the
defeat of
Tipu Sultan in the
Anglo-Mysore Wars and the subsequent
Polygar Wars, the
British East India Company annexed the region to the
Madras Presidency the early nineteenth century CE. The region played a prominent role in the Second Polygar war (1801), when it was the area of operations of
Dheeran Chinnamalai, who fought against the rule of British East India Company. Later, the
British Empire took control of the region from the British East India Company in 1857, and the region became part of the
Madras Presidency. After
Indian Independence in 1947, the region became part of the Madras Province, and later as a part of
Madras State in 1950. After the
States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which re-organised state boundaries, majority of the region became part of the new Madras state, which would become
Tamil Nadu in 1969. == Geography ==