Background
He was son of Raghunatha Kilavan, the founder of the kingdom. According to a 1713 letter written by Christian missionary Martin, Vijayaraghunatha Sethupathi was the second son of Raghunatha Kilavan, the founder of the kingdom.
ruler of the Kingdom of Ramnad
He was son of Raghunatha Kilavan, the founder of the kingdom. According to a 1713 letter written by Christian missionary Martin, Vijayaraghunatha Sethupathi was the second son of Raghunatha Kilavan, the founder of the kingdom.
On his deathbed, Raghunatha Kilavan allegedly chose heir apparent Vijayaraghunatha Sethupathi as his successor.
Martin writes
Vaduganatha Deva is master of a good part of Marava. Vijayaraghunatha was a ruler of considerable ability. The kingdom was on the brink of a famine when he ascended the throne but he handled the situation appreciably well.
He set up his base in the fortress of Aranthangi.
With the assistance of French engineers he built a fort in Gundar in Kamudhi in Ramanathapuram district. He even made lavish donations for the construction of a church in Aranthangi in 1711.
However, his attitude changed during a visit to Rameswaran in 1714-1715, when his brother-in-law, Tiruvaluvanathan, whom he had appointed to govern the state in his absence, visited the church in Aranthangi and participated in Christian ceremonies. This, combined with tales of alleged atrocities of Christian missionaries, turned Vijayaraghunatha against them.
His death triggered a civil war in the kingdom at the end of which, the kingdom was partitioned into three and lost most of its power and territory.
While defending the city, Vijayaraghunatha fell victim to plague.