Thread by @cbkwgl

As a follow-up, there is one more topic which we generally don't look closely into - what happened to the last kings of South before the Muslims swamped the area? Let me list out one by one.

https://twitter.com/cbkwgl/status/1370066630068166656

Devagiri - Harapaladeva - 1317 - Skinned alive and his straw stuffed body was hung at the gates of Devagiri fort. His brother-in-law, Singhana, whom he succeeded died at the head of his army.

Kakatiya Prataparudra - 1323 - Captured and taken to be displayed as an animal in Delhi court. Committed suicide enroute.

Veera Pandya and Sundara Pandya - No information. Going by the fact that they left Chandrahasa and went to the battle with an intent that they will not come back, one can assume they died leading their armies.

Hoyasala Veera Ballala - 1343 - lost kingdom by 1326 but resisted till 1343. Captured in the Battle of Kannanur, skinned alive when refused to convert. His son met the same fate in 1346.

Kampili Raya - 1327 - Killed in the siege of Kummata. His straw stuffed head was sent to Delhi as a gift to the emperor. Tells much as to how big a trouble he became.

That is the first wave. Coming to the second wave.
Vijayanagara - Ramaraya - 1565 - Betrayed by the one whom he considered as his son at Talikota. Some versions say that Vijayanagara won the war and Bijapur attacked Vijayanagara after the war is over. Captured and beheaded.

His head was fixed to a drain outlet in Ahmednagar. Marathas, after taking over the area removed it and got it cremated ceremonially at Kashi.

Nothing is known of Sriranga Raya except that he died as a king without kingdom in Ikkeri or Bednur.

Third Wave: Meenakshi: Madurai Nayaks - 1736 - The Arcot Prince Chanda Sahib promised to protect her and took oath on a Quran. Just that it was not a Quran but a brick covered by that green cloth. Betrayed her and seized her kingdom.

Calicut: 1766 - When the Samoothiri understood that the Fort can't be saved, he sent his son with 30000 Brahmin families to Travancore and blew up the ammunition killing him and destroying the fort along with him. Calicut died as a fort which was never taken.

Whole of Malabar was ransacked with much brutality. Nairs and Brahmis were hunted down and forced to act as servants to the lowest of the castes. On the same note, many Kannada Nayaks were attacked by Hyder and were either killed or arrested at Kabaldurg Fort.

In summary, a majority of the Hindu rulers of South India, as a general rule, decided to die for their kingdom, their people and their Dharma than to, forget convert, submit to the new cult.
By the way, did I forget anyone in this?