Pudukkottai was founded by Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman in 1686. When he defeated the Pallavaraya chiefs of the area. The family came from Tondaimandalam, a small village near Tirupathi, and belonged to the kallen (or robber) caste. IN the late eighteen century the Toidaman added the British in their struggles against the French in the Carnatic. With British ascendancy, the pudukkottai rulers were confirmed in their control of the region. This was regularized in 1806 when, subject to a yearly tribute of the elephant, the rajas of Pudukkottai were guaranteed their position. In 1948 the state was merged into Trichinopoly District.