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Sangolli Rayanna

(1798 – 1831) – (Karnataka)

Sangolli Rayanna was born on August 15, 1798, in Sangolli, Belgaum, Karnataka, India. He was an Indian military Shetsanadi (Sainik) and warrior in the Kittur princely state of Karnataka. Rayanna participated in the 1824 rebellion and was arrested by the British, but later released. He continued to fight against the British and sought to install the adopted son of King Mallasarja and Rani Chennamma, Shivalingappa, as the ruler of Kittur.

Rayanna mobilized local people and started a guerrilla-type war against the British. He and his guerrilla army moved from place to place, burnt government offices, waylaid British troops, and plundered treasuries. Most of his land was confiscated and the remaining was heavily taxed. Rayanna taxed the landlords and built up an army from the masses. The British troops could not defeat him in open battle. Hence, he was caught in April 1830 by treachery, tied up by the British, and sentenced to death by January 26, 1831, in Belgaum, Karnataka, India. Shivalingappa, the boy who was supposed to be the new ruler, was also arrested by the British.