Kakatiya dynasty

Kakatiya dynasty
కాకతీయ సామ్రాజ్యము
Kakatiya dynasty కాకతీయ సామ్రాజ్యము
1083–1323
Capital	Orugallu (Warangal)
Common languages	Telugu
Religion	Hinduism
Government	Monarchy
King
History
• Established	1083
• Disestablished	1323
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Western Chalukya Empire
	Eastern Chalukyas
Deccan sultanates
Reddy dynasty
Vijayanagar Empire
Musunuri Nayaks

The Kakatiya dynasty (Telugu: కాకతీయ సామ్రాజ్యము) was a Telugu dynasty that ruled most of current day Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083 CE to 1323 CE,^[1] with Orugallu (Telugu: ఓరుగల్లు), now Warangal (Telugu: వరంగల్), as its capital. Orugallu is also called 'Eka Sila Nagaram' (Telugu: ఏక శిలా నగరం). Shaivite Hindu in nature, it was one of the great Telugu states that lasted for centuries until conquest by the Delhi Sultanate.

Early history

Gundaya (950 CE) was the first known historical figure among the Kakatiyas.^[2] He sacrificed his life in the service of the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna II while fighting against the Eastern Chalukyas. The grateful Krishna II placed Gundaya's son Eriya in charge of Kurravadi near Warangal. This kingdom was created as a check on the Mudigonda Chalukyas on the eastern borders of the Rashtrakuta Empire.^[3] Eriya made Kakatipura his capital. Eriya's grandson Kakartya Gundyana rendered help on behalf of his master Krishna III to Danarnava in setting aside his brother Amma II and occupying the throne of Vengi, as a result of which he got Natavadi as a token of gratitude. Gundyana's son and successor Betaraja I took advantage of the Chalukya-Chola conflict and carved out for himself a small principality. His son and successor Prola I obtained by way of grant, Hanamkonda from Somesvara I. Beta II, son and successor of Prola, ruled between 1076 CE and 1108 CE. During his period, orugallu became the capital of the Kakatiyas. Prola II the younger brother of Beta II was the most famous among the early Kakatiya rulers. When the Chalukyan power began to decline, Prola II took advantage of the confused situation and proclaimed independence. He also defeated and killed Gunda, the ruler of Mantrakuta (Nuzividu taluk of Krishna district) and annexed it to his kingdom. However, in his attempts to occupy the Velanati kingdom he lost his life at the hands of Rajendra Choda, the prince of the Velanati Telugu Chodas of Chandolu. This was the emergence of the Kakatiya dynasty in its own right.

Rudra Deva

Prola II was succeeded by Rudradeva (1158–1195). Rudradeva, also known as Prataparudra I, was the eldest son of Prola II. By the year 1162 CE, Rudradeva vanquished a number of his enemies and transformed his petty principality into an extensive kingdom. Rudradeva devoted the later part of his reign to the conquest of the coastal region. He consolidated and pushed the kingdom to the east up to the Godavari delta. Thousand Pillar Temple was built by King Rudra Deva in 1163 CE at Hanumakonda. During the years 1176–82 CE the battle of Palanadu was fought. Rudradeva rendered military assistance to Nalagama's faction. In this battle, the military strength of Velanadu had got weakened. Exploiting the situation, Rudradeva led his forces into Coastal Andhra and conquered up to Srisailam and Tripurantakam in the south. In the last year of his reign (1195 CE), he came into conflict with the Seunas (Yadavas) of Devagiri. Rudra suffered defeat and death in his encounter with Jaitrapala I. After Rudradeva's death and the imprisonment of his nephew Ganapati in the hands of the Yadavs, his younger brother Mahadeva ascended the throne and ruled the kingdom for a short span of about three years (1196–1198 CE). He led an expedition against the Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri to avenge Rudra's death and also to release his son Ganapati. He lost his life in the battle.

Ganapati Deva

Following the death of Mahadeva, disorder broke out in the kingdom. Recherla Rudra, the commander-in-chief of the Kakatiya ruler, saved the kingdom from crumbling. Ganapatideva was set free by Jaitrapala due to political considerations like his desire to secure himself against an attack from Warangal in the event of a conflict with the aggressive Hoysalas in the south. Ganapatideva's reign lasted for 20 years. It is one of the most brilliant epochs in the history of South India. Ganapati, during his long reign, brought under his sway almost the whole land inhabited by the Telugu-speaking people, from Karimnagar and Anakapalle in the north to Ongole in the south. Though Ganapatideva was alive until 1269 CE he handed over the threads of administration to his daughter Rudramadevi in 1262 CE itself and retired from active politics.

Ganapatideva was known as the greatest of the Kakatiyas and the first after the Satavahanas to bring the entire Telugu area under one rule. In the year 1216, he put an end to the rule of the Telugu Cholas, who accepted his suzerainty. He established order in his vast dominion and encouraged trade. It is around this period that the Golconda fort was constructed, as well as beautiful temples in the Kakatiya art form such as Ramappa Temple at the tiny village of Palampet outside of Warangal.

Rudramadevi

The most prominent ruler in this dynasty was Rani Rudrama Devi 1262–1289 CE, one of the few queens in Indian history. She was born as Rudramba to Ganapathideva who had no sons. She was formally designated as a son through the ancient Putrika ceremony and given the male name of Rudradeva and declared the Queen. Rudramadevi was married to Veerabhadra, Eastern Chalukyan prince of Nidadavolu.^[4] Despite initial misgivings by some of her generals who resented a female ruler, she suppressed the internal rebellions and external incursions. An able fighter and ruler Rudramba defended the kingdom from the Cholas and the Yadavs, earning their respect. She remains one of the few symbols of female power in South India.

Prataparudra

Rudramadevi died in the month of November, 1289 CE., fighting battle against the rebel Kayastha chief Ambadeva. On the death of Rudrama, her grandson Prataparudra, who was adopted by her as son and as heir apparent on the advice of her father Ganapatideva, ascended the throne at the beginning of the year 1290 CE. Prataparudra had to fight battles throughout his reign against either the internal rebels or the external foes. Prataparudra expanded borders towards the west till Raichur, whilst introducing many administrative reforms, some of which were also later adopted in the Vijayanagar empire.

Social Status and Marital Alliances

Ramappa Temple,located Warangal, the ancient capital of the Kakatiya dynasty, is an example of Kakatiya dynasty.

During the reign of Ganapati Deva small Andhra kingdoms like Chagi, Parichedas, Kota Vamsa and Velanati Chodas became vassals of Kakatiyas. From the period of Ganapati Deva Kakatiyas started having marital alliances with Eastern Chalukyas, Chagi, Kota Vamsa and Bhanj dynasty of Orissa.

Ganapati Deva married Naramamba and Peramamba, sisters of the commander of the Kakatiya elephant corps, Jayapa Senani. Ganapati Deva's sister Melambika was married to the second son of Chagi Buddaraju, who was ruling Natavadi region.^[5] Ganapatideva's first daughter Rudramadevi was married to Veerabhadra, Eastern Chalukyan prince of Nidadavolu^[4] and his second daughter Ganapamba was married to Kota Betaraja.^[6]^[7] After this marital alliance with the three Kshatriya clans of Chagis, Eastern Chalukyas and Kota Vamsa, Kakatiyas started claiming Kshatriya status as evidenced by an inscription found in Guntur District.^[8]^[9] As Rudramma Devi's husband Veerabhadra was from Eastern Chalukya family of Kashyapa gotra, subsequently Kakatiya rulers mentioned themselves as Kshatriyas of Kashyapa Gotra in their inscriptions.^[8]^[10] Khilji subsequently murdered the Sultan and took over the reins of the Sultanate. The glory and wealth of the Kakatiya kingdom attracted the attention of Khilji. The first foray into the Telugu kingdom was made in 1303 CE by the Sultan’s armies led by Malik Fakruddin. It was a disaster because of the valiant resistance of the Kakatiya army in the battle at Upparapalli (Karimnagar District).^[11] The second attempt was made in 1309 CE by Malik Kafur who managed to capture Siripur and Hanumakonda forts. Warangal fort was taken after a prolonged seize.^[12] Malik Kafur indulged in murder and mayhem around the fort which prompted King Prataparudra to make a pact and offer an enormous amount of tribute. Prataparudra asserted his independence in 1320 CE when there was a change of power in Delhi. The Khilji dynasty ended and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq ascended the Delhi throne. Tughlaq sent his son Ulugh Khan in 1323 CE to defeat the defiant Kakatiya king. Ulugh Khan’s (Muhammad bin Tughluq) raid was repulsed but he returned in a month with a larger and determined army. The unprepared and battle-weary army of Warangal was finally defeated, and King Prataparudra was taken prisoner. He committed suicide by drowning himself in the river Narmada, while being taken to Delhi.

The demise of Kakatiya dynasty resulted in confusion and anarchy under alien rulers for sometime. Three new fledgling kingdoms arose out of the ruins of the Kakatiya empire namely the Reddy kingdom, Padma Nayaks and the great Vijayanagara Empire.^[13]^[14] Later Musunuri Nayaks who served as army chiefs for Kakatiya kingdom united the various Telugu clans and recovered Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate and ruled for half a century.^[15]^[16]

The Royal family of Bastar^[17] state that Kakatiya King Pratap Rudra's brother, Annama Deva, left Warangal and established his kingdom at Bastar,^[18] Chhattisgarh around the late 14th century. A daughter of a later descendant named Raja Rudra Pratapa Deva, Praphulla Kumari Devi ascended the throne in 1922. Later in 1927, she was married to Praphul Kumar Bhanj Deo, who belonged to the royal family of Mayurbhanj.^[19] Praphulla Kumari Devi died in 1936 in London and her elder son Maharaja Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo Kakatiya ascended the throne in 1936 at a minor age. Praphul Kumari Devi is believed to be the last link to the Kakatiyas. The current descendant of this dynasty is Komal Chandra Bhanj Deo.

The Legacy

The Kakatiya dynasty is regarded as one of the golden ages in Telugu history. The kingdom was ruled by Telugu speaking rulers who encouraged literature, art and architecture. The Thousand-pillar Temple in Hanumakonda [Anumakonda] (now merged with Warangal) stands as testimony to the kakatiya kingdom Vishwakarma Sthapathis. The famous Kohinoor diamond which was unearthed in Kollur on the banks of Krishna river during their reign, was among the booty carried to Delhi after the dynasty's fall. Ramappa Temple, located 77 km from Warangal and still intact today is an example of brilliant Kakatiya art and sculpture.