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The Vijaynagara kingdom emerged to counteract all this. It was in Kongu that the Vijayanagara rule was first established before it expanded to the other parts of the Tamil land. During this period the outlook of Hindus developed new standards.
The literature and the temple arts again began to grow afresh. Telugu and Kannada languages were given large support and great encouragement. Telugu and Kannada people such as the Kammalars, Kaikolars, Reddis established their settlements in the Kongu country during this period.
On the decline of Cholas the Kongu territory was occupied by the Chalukyas and then by the Pandyas and the cysalas. Due to internal strife in the Pandyan kingdom the Muslim rulers from Delhi happened to interfere.
Thus the area fell into the hands of Madurai Sultanate from whom the Vijayanagar rulers wrestled for the region during 1377 - 78 after overthrowing the Madurai Sultanate. For a few years the area remained under independent control of Madurai Nayaks.
A sangam verse that praises Nannan, the Velir chief of the Coorg and Mysore region, referred him as 'Ponnam-kanni Nannan'. Since the Kongam flowers are yellow in colour, like the gold, 'Ponnam-Kanni' was described as a beautiful garland of the gold like yellow Kongum flowers.
It is also mentioned in a verse of Perumkadai of Konguvel, that Barugur and North Coimbatore plateau formed the Southern extension of the Mysore plateau and had plenty of Kongam or Kongilavam trees.
The naickers of Madurai, and then Mysore Kings ruled the area for some time. During the period of Muthu Veerappa Nayak and later during the period of Tirumal Nayak internal strife and intermittent wars ruined the kingdom.
As a consequence during the period of Tirumal Nayak, the Kongu region fell into the hands of the Mysore rulers from whom hyder Ali took over the area.
However, consequent on the fall of Tippu Sultan of Mysore in 1799, the Kongu region came to be ceded to the East India Company by the Maharaja of Mysore who was restored to power by the East India Company after defeating Tippu Sultan.
From then till 1947 when India attained Independence, the region remained under British control who initiated systematic revenue administration in the area. HyderAli and Tippu Sulthan fought with the British frequently.
So this area was changing hands frequently. In 1790, Tippu Sulthan succeeds the British and took control. In 1799 fight at Mysore, the British succeeded Tippu and started ruling Coimbatore till the Independence of India.
After the death of Tippu, the then Governor General Welhousi Prabu, took possession of Tippu's assets. They authorised the former King Krishnaraya Udayar to rein Mysore. Authorised Nizam of Hyderabad to reign Ooty, Gurramkonda etc.
They controlled Kannadam, Vayanadu, Coimbatore, Erode, Dharapuram etc. Since the area of Coimbatore was large they bi-furcated Coimbatore into two. To the northern part, some areas of Salem were added.
The southern part of Coimbatore was head quartered at Dharapuram and Coimbatore District was formed in 1804. Coimbatore became Municipality in 1866 with a population of 24,000.
The reason for the city's name is that a Kongu King called Kovan ruled this region and hence the name Kovanpudur which evolved and became anglicized as Koyambuthur, Koyamuthur and Coimbatore.
In modern times the name is sometimes abbreviated as CBE based on the Indian Railways' station code. It is also believed that the City is named after the presiding deity of the town "Koniamman" - "Koniamman pudur" turned into Coimbatore.
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