KING ISHAPRABHU
Ishaprabhu was a feudatory king of Ratta Dynasty who ruled a small kingdom of Belvadi in the beginning of 17th century. He married Mallamma,daughter of Sodhe king Madhuling Nayaka by killing as many tigers as that of the age of Mallamma.They had a son named Mallasarja. Maratha Kingdom was it's peak under King Shivaji.The wast kingdom covered major parts of Karnataka.The Maratha vessel was settled beside the kingdom of Ishaprabhu. The king was about to invite the Maratha Commanders to his court,but because of trick played by Maratha Commander Sakoji,king was humiliated and had faced the Marathas.The king Ishaprabhu was killed during the battle.Battle was continued by Rani Mallamma, wife of King Ishaprabhu. The battle came to end by capturing Mallamma. She was brought before king Shivaji.After seeing queen Shivaji found his mother in Mallamma. He came to know the true facts about the war and felt guilty for the acts of Maratha commanders.Shivaji ordered beheading of faulty commander Sakoji and accepted Mallamma as his sister.He handed over the kingdom to Mallamma and appointed four Maratha commanders for the protection of her kingdom in the four corners of it.Still one can see Maratha families in Belvadi and surrounding villages which were parts of kingdom.