Battle of Vedalai
| Battle of Vedalai | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Vijayanagar-Portuguese Conflicts | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Portuguese Empire | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Vitthala | João Fernandes Correa | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 6,000 | 40 | ||||||
The Battle of Vedalai took place in 1549 when Joao Fernandes Correa, the Portuguese captain at Vedalai, imposed tolls on Hindu pilgrims traveling to Rameswaram. This angered the Brahmins who sought assistance from Madurai leading to a Badaga invasion. A force of 6,000 soldiers, including some Muslim allies, attacked the Portuguese fort. Unable to resist, Correa and his men retreated to the coastal islands, along with many Paravas. During the chaos, Fr. Antonio Criminali, a Jesuit priest, was killed while protecting Christian converts. The fort and chapel were destroyed, and the trench blocking the pilgrimage route was filled in.