The Southern Revolt or popularly known as Vellore Revolt 1806 anticipates Great
Rebellion (1857) by over fifty years. In the backdrop of British conquest of palayams
or little kingdoms as historian Pamela Price called, in Tamil region, the narrative
attempts a historical account of the context, the magnitude and course of the
uprising to its final suppression. It is argued that the spontaneity with which the
troops in Bellary, Wallajabad, Hyderabad and Palayamkottai responded to
insurrection at Vellore Fort is illustrative of their last ditch effort to overthrow the
Company rule.
