Nayakas of Keladi, also known as
Nayakas of Bednore and
Kings of Ikkeri, (1499–1763) were an
Indian dynasty based from
Keladi in
Shimoga district,
Karnataka,
India. They were an important ruling dynasty in
post-medieval Karnataka. They initially ruled as a vassal of the famous
Vijayanagar Empire. After the fall of the empire in 1565, they gained independence and ruled significant parts of
Malnad region of the
Western Ghats in present-day
Karnataka, most areas in the
coastal regions of Karnataka, and parts of northern
Kerala,
Malabar and the central plains along the
Tungabhadra river. In 1763 AD, with their defeat to
Hyder Ali, they were absorbed into the
Kingdom of Mysore. They played an important part in the history of Karnataka, during a time of confusion and fragmentation that generally prevailed in
South India after the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire. The Keladi rulers were
Lingayats but they were tolerant towards followers of other faiths. The
Haleri Kings of Kodagu who ruled over
Coorg between 1600 A.D and 1834 A.D. were an offshoot of Keladi Nayaka dynasty.