According to Ramabhadramba, Raghunatha first fought a rebellious regional chieftain called Solaga, pursuing him to Kumbakonam and then besieging him in his island-fortress on the Kollidam before turning his attention to the Portuguese and attacking Jaffna.
After his victory over the Portuguese, Ramabhadramba claims, Raghunatha returned to the Indian mainland, where he pursued Jaggaraya to Toppur and defeated him.
[3] The Battle of Toppur was dated 12 December 1616 based on the Raghunathabyudayam, which states that Raghunatha was camping at Pazhamaneri in August 1616.
Supported by Krishnappa Nayak, the Portuguese and Muslim mercenaries, Solaga put up strong resistance but was finally defeated by Raghunatha's artillery.
Like Bhuvanekabahu VII of Kotte Kingdom, through a mixture of native cunning and the ability to perform a delicate balancing act, the Jaffna king secured a surprising degree of room for maneuver.
[10] On his return to India, Raghunatha Nayak personally led an army against Jaggaraya, who had usurped the throne of Vijayanagar after killing Sriranga II.
[11] Yagnanarayana Dikshita mentions that Jaggaraya had the support of the Yavanas and Parasikas, whose identities remain unclear.
Raghunatha's army consisted of strong infantry and cavalry divisions, elephant corps, and armed soldiers.
Raghunatha was completely victorious; Jaggaraya was captured and killed, and Rama Deva Raya was placed on the throne.
[15][16][17] He also composed a number of kavyas in Telugu, important ones being Parijatapaharanamu, Valmikicharitram,[19] Rukminiparinaya Yakshaganam and Ramayanam.
He also gave lavish gifts to the Madhva pontiff, Vijayendra Tirtha, and the Sri Mutt in Kumbakonam.
The Portuguese had established factories at San Thome and Nagapattinam on the eastern coast before the accession of Raghunatha, while the Dutch founded a settlement at Tegnapatnam in 1610.
[20] Ove Gjedde of the Danish East India Company founded the settlement of Tranquebar on 19 November 1620.
[23] Johnson wrote home: ... the Great Naik demands of men what the reason is that the English do not desire to trade in his land as well as Portugal, saying they shall have the pepper and anything the land doth afford and likewise buy the commodities that they do bring with them as tin, lead, iron and red cloth is well sold.
[23]Johnson's proposal was approved; a mission landed at Karaikal on 23 May 1624 and proceeded inland to Thanjavur to seek an audience with the king, reaching the capital in June.