Working through Class 7 English Notes Chapter 15 Rani Abbakka Summary in English simplifies the understanding of long chapters.
Class 7 English Rani Abbakka Summary
Rani AbbakkaSummary in English
Hiriya Abbakka, the queen of Ullal, a small principality of the west coast of Karnataka, was on her death bed. Years ago, Ullal had been captured by the Portuguese and turned it into a vassal state. Ullal was required to pay a tribute to the colonial power. Her daughter and successor, Abakka Devi, was by her side. Hiriya felt helpless. The next day, Abbakka Devi was crowned queen of Ullal. Abbakka appealed for whole hearted cooperation from her men to make Ullal stronger, secure and free!
After the coronation, Abbakka spoke to her husband, Veera Narasimha, the king of Bangadi, about her future plans. She told him that she would stop paying tribute to the Portuguese and they would not sell them spices and cloth either. Her husband objected and called it rather a rash and dangerous decision. Veera Narasimha thought if he supported her decision, Bangadi too might have to face the wrath of the Portuguese. He tried to make her mind change. But she refused to be cowed by the Portuguese. Narasimha ordered the soldiers to seize her but not a soldier stirred. They decided to follow their brave leader.
Abbakka addressed a meeting of rajas and appealed to get united and fight for our land. But none of them agreed and advised her not to provoke the Portuguese. Their reactions only served to strengthen Abbakka’s resolve. She decided to fight the Portuguese alone. The next day, a Portuguese envoy presented himself to the queen and reminded her of the overdue annual tribute from Ullal. The queen replied that they were a sovereign country and they wouldn’t pay tribute to Portugal. She refused to take orders from the Portuguese.
Abbakka ordered merchant ships to be built and defied the Portuguese and established a hugely profitable trading relation with Arabia. On their way back all the ships were apprehended by the Portuguese navy. Abbakka’s army fought bravely and all the ships returned except Abbakka’s commanders. This deeply angered the queen.
The Portuguese attacked Ullal. Abbakka, in turn, unleashed her forces and they attacked the Portuguese port. Ribero the Portuguese commander, escaped to save his life. When Ribero brought the news of the fall of fort Mangalore, the Portuguese governor of Goa reacted sharply.
The Portuguese rallied their forces to attack Ullal. The dauntless Abbakka addressed her men for a final attack and defeat the Portuguese once and for all.
For four days the battle raged, but the forces of Ullal were enough. The Portuguese beat a hasty retreat in defeat, never to trouble Ullal again. Ullal became free from the clutches of the Portuguese.
Rani Abbakka Word Meanings
- apprehend : to catch and arrest somebody
- the last laugh : the satisfaction of ultimate triumph
- retreat : to move backwards in order to leave a battle
- wrath : extreme anger
- dauntless : fearless