The Sivaganga Kingdom was ruled by a branch of the Marava royal family of Ramnad till 1790 by Rani Velu Nachiyar.
In 1725, Ramnad was invaded by the polygar of Nalkottai who captured two-fifths of the kingdom including the territory of Sivaganga.
His widow, queen Velu Nachiyar, fled to Dindigul and lived under the protection of Hyder Ali.
After their death, the kingdom was handed over to the British bondservant Padamathur Gowri vallaba udayana Raja.
The kingdom was subsequently reduced to a zamindari by the permanent settlement of Arthur Wellesley.