ABSTRACT
Construction of both the palace and fort at Ramnad began in the late seventeenth century under the rule of Raghunatha Setupati (1674–1710). This ambitious project would not have been possible without a sudden increase in the kingdom’s prosperity. The fort visibly expressed the king’s newly elevated position and protected the people, treasures and palace buildings which now surrounded him. Now that the inner functions of the palace have been considered, the role which Ramnad town played in constructing the identity of the king will be examined. Like other palace towns, Ramnad pinpointed the centre of the kingdom and provided a location for kingly ceremonies such as navaratri.
