JINJI

also spelled Gingi, site of an almost inaccessible fortress constructed by the Hindu rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire (c. 13471642). It is located about 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Madras in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In 1638 the fortress was captured from the Maratha chief Shahji by the Muslims of Bijapur. In 1677 Shahji's son, the famous Sivaji, recaptured the fort. From 1690 it was besieged by the Mughals, only surrendering in 1698. A large Mughal army was thus immobilized for eight years, the fortress's chief claim to fame. It was passed to the nawabs of the Carnatic under the Mughals and was captured by the French in 1750 and the British in 1761. It surrendered to Hyder (Haidar) Ali of Mysore in 1780 and thereafter played no part in history.