 Thanjavur is believed to have been conquered by Kampanna Udayar during his invasion of Srirangam between 1365 and 1371 . Deva Raya 's inscription dated 1443 , Thirumala 's inscription dated 1455 and Achuta Deva 's land grants dated 1532 and 1539 attest Vijayanagar 's dominance over Thanjavur . Sevappa Nayak ( 1532 – 80 ) , the Vijayanagar viceroy of Arcot , established himself as an independent monarch in 1532 ( 1549 , according to some sources ) and founded the Thanjavur Nayak kingdom . Achuthappa Nayak ( 1560 – 1614 ) , Raghunatha Nayak ( 1600 – 34 ) and Vijaya Raghava Nayak ( 1634 – 73 ) are some of the important rulers of the Nayak dynasty who ruled Thanjavur . Thanjavur Nayaks were notable for their patronage of literature and arts . The rule of the dynasty came to an end when Thanjavur fell to the Madurai Nayak king Chokkanatha Nayak ( 1662 – 82 ) in 1673 . Vijaya Raghunatha Nayak , the son of Chokkanatha , was killed in a battle and Chokkanatha 's brother Alagiri Nayak ( 1673 – 75 ) was crowned as the ruler of the empire . 
