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Salem, Tamil Nadu

City in Tamil Nadu, India

  • 10 min read
  • 11 chapters
part of Salem city from Oothumalai
Arulmuru182002 · Public domain

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Through Sangam literature, Chera dynasty and Roman Empire

The history of the region dates back to the Sangam period (1st–4th centuries CE), when it was part of the Chera Empire. It was engaged in trade with the Roman Empire, evidenced by Roman coins, dating back to the era, found in archeological excavations in the region. The region was ruled by various successive dynasties including the Pandyas, Pallavas, Cholas, and Hoysalas. In the 14th century, it became part of the Vijayanagara Empire, and later ruled by the Madurai Nayaks. During the period, the governance was under the control of local chieftains known as Poligars.

By the late 18th century, it came under the Kingdom of Mysore after conflicts with the Madurai Nayaks. Following the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Anglo-Mysore Wars, the region was annexed by the British East India Company and integrated into the Madras Presidency. Salem district was formally established in 1792. The region played a role in early resistance against the British, and was the base of Dheeran Chinnamalai during the Second Polygar War. After Indian independence, Salem became part of the Madras Province, which later became Tamil Nadu.

In modern times, Salem has developed into a major industrial and economic hub, known for textiles, steel production, and agro-based industries like sago extraction and mango cultivation. It is home to the Salem Steel Plant and several industrial corridors and special economic zones. The city has a well developed transport network including rail, highways, and an airport, and is home to several educational institutions.

History

The region was part of the Chera Empire during Sangam period between c. 1st and the 4th centuries CE. The city might have had trade connections with the Roman Empire in the 1st century CE, evident from the Roman coins bearing the seal of Emperor Tiberius (37–68 CE) found in the region. In the 2nd century CE, the region came under the rule of the Pandyas. In the 4th century CE, the Pallavas rose to power in the region, and it was the center of conflict between the Pallavas and the Pandyas over the 8th and 9th centuries CE. In the 10th century, the region was captured by the Cholas. After the decline of the Chola Empire in the 12th century CE, the region was under the rule of the Hoysalas and the Later Pandyas in the 12th–13th centuries CE.

The region came under the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century CE. It was later governed by Poligars, military chieftains under the Vijayanagara and the later Nayak rule. In the latter part of the 18th century, the region came under the Kingdom of Mysore, following a series of wars with the Madurai Nayak dynasty. After the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Anglo-Mysore Wars, the British East India Company annexed the region to the Madras Presidency. The Salem district was established in 4 April 1792 and consisted of the present-day districts of Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, and Krishnagiri. The region played a prominent role in the Second Poligar War (1801), when it was the area of operations of Dheeran Chinnamalai. After Indian independence in 1947, it became part of the Madras Province, which later became Tamil Nadu.

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