Kakatiya dynasty

Kakatiya dynasty
1163[1]–1323
Map of the Kakatiyas.
Map of the Kakatiyas, circa 1150–1300 CE.[2]
StatusDynasty
CapitalOrugallu (Warangal)
Common languagesTelugu
Sanskrit
Kannada[3][4]
Religion
Hinduism (Converted from Jainism)[5]
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
History 
• Earliest rulers
c. 800
• Established
1163[1]
• Disestablished
9 November 1323
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Eastern Chalukyas
Western Chalukya Empire
Reddi Kingdom
Musunuri Nayakas
Delhi Sultanate
Bahmani Sultanate
Vijayanagara Empire
Today part ofIndia
Part of a series on
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Chronology of the Telugu people, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana history
History and Kingdoms
Dynasties

The Kakatiya dynasty (IAST: Kākatīya)[a] was a Telugu dynasty that ruled most of eastern Deccan region in present-day India between 12th and 14th centuries.[6] Their territory comprised much of the present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of eastern Karnataka, northern Tamil Nadu, and southern Odisha.[7][8] Their capital was Orugallu, now known as Warangal.

Early Kakatiya rulers served as feudatories to Rashtrakutas and Western Chalukyas for more than two centuries. They assumed sovereignty under Prataparudra I in 1163 CE by suppressing other Chalukya subordinates in the Telangana region.[9] Ganapati Deva (r. 1199–1262) significantly expanded Kakatiya lands during the 1230s and brought under Kakatiya control the Telugu-speaking lowland delta areas around the Godavari and Krishna rivers. Ganapati Deva was succeeded by Rudrama Devi (r. 1262–1289) who is one of the few queens in Indian history. Marco Polo, who visited India around 1289–1293, made note of Rudrama Devi's rule and nature in flattering terms. She successfully repelled the attacks of Yadavas (Seuna) of Devagiri into the Kakatiyan territory.[9]

In 1303, Alauddin Khalji, the emperor of the Delhi Sultanate invaded the Kakatiya territory which ended up as a disaster for the Turks.[b] But after the successful siege of Warangal in 1310, Prataparudra II was forced to pay annual tribute to Delhi. Another attack by Ulugh Khan (i.e. Tughluq) in 1323 saw stiff resistance by the Kakatiyan army, but they were finally defeated. The demise of the Kakatiya dynasty resulted in confusion and anarchy under alien rulers for some time, before Musunuri Nayakas united the various Telugu clans and recovered Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate.[10]

Kakatiyas unified the distinct upland and lowland cultures of Telugu lands, which brought into being a feeling of cultural affinity between those who spoke the Telugu language. Kakatiya period also saw the construction of reservoirs for irrigation in the uplands called "tanks" many of which are still used today. They were egalitarian in nature and anyone, regardless of birth, could acquire the nayaka title that denoted the warrior status. They recruited peasants into the military which resulted in a new warrior class and provided social mobility. Kakatiya era also saw the development of a distinct style of architecture that improved and innovated upon the existing modes.[11] Most notable examples are the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda, Ramappa Temple in Palampet, Warangal Fort, Golconda Fort and Kota Gullu in Ghanpur.

  1. ^ Talbot 2001, p. 26.
  2. ^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical Atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 147, map XIV.3 (b). ISBN 0226742210.
  3. ^ Rao 1993, p. 22.
  4. ^ Precolonial India in Practice Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. 20 September 2001. ISBN 978-0-19-803123-9. The Kakatiyas first issued inscriptions in Kannada that were very closely modelled on those of their imperial overlords, the Chalukyas of Kalyani
  5. ^ Sastry 1978, p. 25.
  6. ^ Dr. Mamidi, Harikrishna (19 October 2023). "Rise and fall of Kakatiyas, turning point in Indian history". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  7. ^ Ventakaramanayya 1942, pp. 1–2.
  8. ^ For a map of their territory see: Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 147, map XIV.3 (b). ISBN 0226742210.
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Talbot 2001, p. 178; Eaton 2005, pp. 26–27; Chattopadhyaya 1998, pp. 57–59
  11. ^ Singh, B. Satyanarayana (1999). The Art and Architecture of the Kākatīyas. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. pp. 33, 65. ISBN 978-81-86050-34-7.


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