Know about Kittur.RANI CHANNAMMA- WARRIOR QUEEN OF KITTUR Just about 40 Kms south-east of Belgaum in Karnataka stands the fort of Kittur. In 1824 this fort witnessed a ferocious battle when the gallant Rani Channamma of Kittur took her sword to challenge of British. History tell us that Rani Channamma was one of the two wives of Mallasarja Desai of Kittur. The small kingdom was founded in 1585. In 1816 Mallasarja passed away and was succeeded by his son Shivalinga Rudrasarja. The latter however failed to produce a lawful heir to the throne of Kittur. The British saw their opportunity and began drawing a plan for taking possession of the territory. The man behind this design was J. Thackeray, collector of Dharwar. Shivalinga Rudrasarja who had been ill for a long time died on September 11, 1824. Although the late king adopted a male child as his legal heir, the British refused to recognize the adoption. Rani Channamma received collector Thackeray’s letter to that effect. Soon Thackeray received Rani Channamma’s reply in which she stated that the adoption of a child was their business of Kittur would remain independent as long as she was alive.