Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Study guides

Kakatiyas

1163–1323 CE

This guide organises pages on this site; every fact is on the linked pages with its sources.

In brief

Between about 1150 and 1323 the Kakatiya kings brought much of the Telugu-speaking country under one dynasty. They ruled first from Anumakonda (Hanamkonda) and then from Orugallu (Warangal), and the period is usually dated from Rudradeva's inscription of January 1163. They ruled through lesser chiefs and military commanders, and built Telangana's great irrigation tanks and temples. The kingdom ended when the armies of the Delhi Sultanate took Warangal in the 1320s.

Read the full era page: Kakatiyas →

Key dates

Each date links to the page it comes from. "About" and "or" are kept where the page gives them.

WhenWhat happened
19 January 1163Rudradeva's inscription at the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda records the gods he installed and announces his sovereignty. Thousand Pillar Temple inscription of Rudradeva
26 April 1195The last known date of Rudradeva. His brother Mahadeva succeeds him. Rudradeva
26 December 1199The earliest known record of Ganapatideva, after his father Mahadeva was killed attacking Devagiri. Ganapatideva
by 1203Ganapatideva's general Malyala Chaunda takes the island of Divi. Ganapatideva
31 March 1213The general Recherla Rudra makes his gift to the Ramappa temple at Palampet, by Barnett's calculation. Ramappa Temple
probably 7 July 1228An inscription near Warangal fort lists the dues paid by native and foreign traders. Warangal toll inscription of Ganapatideva
1244–45Ganapatideva's edict at Motupalli promises sea traders that wrecked cargoes will no longer be seized, and fixes customs at one part in thirty. Kakatiyas
about 1250Ganapatideva's armies reach Kanchi in the far south. Kakatiyas
about 1260Ganapatideva's daughter Rudramadevi begins to rule, under the name Rudradeva Maharaja. Kakatiyas
November 1289An inscription at Chandupatla shows that Rudramadevi had died by this date. Her grandson Prataparudra rules from 1289 to 1323. Kakatiyas
1291Prataparudra's generals drive the rebel Kayastha chief Ambadeva from Tripurantakam. Prataparudra
1303Ala-ud-din Khalji's first expedition against Warangal fails, in the Imperial Gazetteer's date. Kakatiyas
1309–10Malik Kafur besieges Warangal and forces Prataparudra to pay tribute. Kakatiyas
1318Khusrau Khan forces Prataparudra to give up five districts and pay more tribute. Kakatiyas
1321 or 1323Ulugh Khan takes Warangal on his second siege, captures Prataparudra and renames the city Sultanpur. Barani gives 1321, and Parabrahma Sastry, following Isami, 1323. Kakatiyas
1882J. F. Fleet publishes Rudradeva's Hanamkonda inscription, and the systematic study of the period begins. Kakatiyas
2021The World Heritage Committee inscribes the Ramappa temple as a World Heritage Site. Ramappa Temple

Main points

From the era page: Kakatiyas

  • The Kakatiya kings ruled from Anumakonda (Hanamkonda) and then Orugallu (Warangal), between about 1150 and 1323. The period is usually dated from January 1163, when Rudradeva's inscription at the Thousand Pillar Temple announced his sovereignty.
  • Ganapatideva (1199–c. 1260) was the most important king. He gained control of the coast and moved his court to Orugallu. His armies reached Kanchi about 1250. His daughter Rudramadevi ruled from about 1260, and her grandson Prataparudra from 1289.
  • The kings ruled through lesser chiefs and the nayamkara system, under which nayakas (military chiefs) held villages for keeping troops. Their tanks, such as Pakhal, Ramappa, Laknavaram and Ghanpur, still watered thousands of acres in the 1970s.
  • Malik Kafur forced Prataparudra to pay tribute in 1309–10. Ulugh Khan later took Warangal and captured Prataparudra. Barani dates this to 1321, while Parabrahma Sastry follows Isami and dates the fall to 1323.

From other pages of the period

  • The kings kept the modest title of mahamandaleshvara, and left their allied chiefs much freedom. Under the nayankara system, commanders held villages instead of a salary, and kept troops for the king's wars. Kakatiyas
  • Later Telugu chronicles described her as Ganapati's wife, and Henry Yule called her his widow. The Kotagiri copper plates of 1273, published in 1925, settled the question by naming her as his daughter. Rudramadevi
  • It says that Rudramadevi and Mallikarjuna-nayaka had already attained Shivaloka, that is, had died. Before it was found, historians believed that she reigned until about 1291 or even 1295. Since its publication her death has generally been placed in November 1289. Chandupatla inscription
  • The Thousand Pillar Temple at Hanamkonda has three shrines, for Rudra (Shiva), Vasudeva (Vishnu) and Surya (the Sun). Its inscription says the Kakatiya ruler Rudradeva installed these gods in January 1163. He named the Shiva image Rudreshvara after himself. Thousand Pillar Temple
  • Parabrahma Sastry describes three ramparts (walls). The outer one is of mud. The second is a huge mud wall about twenty feet high, with four gates and a deep moat. The inner one is a stone wall, the kanchu-kota, with its own moat. Warangal Fort
  • Parabrahma Sastry, citing that inscription, states that the lake was built in Ganapatideva's time by Jagadalu Mummadi, son of a minister. He says it could water about 17,258 acres. Pakhal Lake
  • It is best known for its bracket figures on the outer pillars. Yazdani counted twelve life-size female figures in polished black stone. ICOMOS counts 38 bracket figures in all. Ramappa Temple
  • Earlier kings had seized the whole cargo of ships wrecked on the coast. Ganapatideva now let traders keep everything except the fixed duty, generally one in thirty. He set up the edict in Saka 1166, which Hultzsch equates with 1244–45 CE. Motupalli pillar inscription of Ganapatideva
  • When Manumasiddhi was driven out of Nellore, Tikkana went as his envoy to the Kakatiya king Ganapatideva. According to Chenchiah and Bhujanga Rao, Manuma owed his return to Tikkana. Parabrahma Sastry noted that the Kakatiya army played a large part. Tikkana Somayaji
  • Vidyanatha calls the Telugu country Trilinga, after its three famous lingas (stone emblems of Shiva) at Srisailam, Kaleshvara and Draksharama. Trivedi took Kaleshvara to be Kalahasti. Parabrahma Sastry identified it with Kaleshvaram in the Karimnagar district. Vidyanatha

Key terms

mahamandalesvara మహామండలేశ్వరుడు
great provincial lord; also great feudal lord
feudatory సామంతుడు
subordinate ruler
mandalika మాండలికుడు
provincial lord; also local lord
mahapradhana మహాప్రధాని
chief minister
nayaka నాయకుడు
military chief
nayamkara నాయంకర
land held for military service
lenkas లెంకలు
sworn followers
nadu నాడు
district
sthala స్థలం
a revenue unit of about twenty villages
ayagars ఆయగార్లు
village servants
gadyana గద్యాణం
gold coins
buckrams బక్రమ్‌లు
fine cloths; also cotton cloth
svadesi స్వదేశి
native
paradesi పరదేశి
foreign
trikuta త్రికూటం
triple-shrined
dhvajastambha ధ్వజస్తంభం
flag pillar
madanikas మదనికలు
maidens
rajaguru రాజగురువు
royal teacher
matha మఠం
monastery
dvipada ద్విపద
couplet
kavitraya కవిత్రయం
the three poets of the Telugu Mahabharata

People, places, monuments and inscriptions to know

Dynasties

People

Places

Monuments

Inscriptions

Maps and the timeline

Swipe sideways to see the whole chart; tap a bar for details.

Each bar is a ruling power in its region; time runs left to right. Dashed = approximate dates. Select a bar for details.

110011501200125013001350Eastern Chalukyas & the Deccan powers (624–1163 CE)Kakatiyas (1163–1323 CE)Nayakas, Reddis & Bahmanis (1323–1518 CE)Vijayanagara & the Qutb Shahis (1336–1687 CE)TelanganaChalukyas of MudigondaDelhi Sultanate (Tughluqs)Bahmani SultanateWestern Chalukyas of KalyaniMusunuri NayakasKakatiyasRecherla Velamas (Padmanayakas)Telugu Chodas of KanduruKakatiyasCoastal AndhraEastern Gangas of KalingaCholas of TanjoreKakatiyasReddis of KondaveeduHaihayas of Kona and PalnaduKotas of DharanikotaVijayanagara EmpireTelugu Chodas of Pottapi and NelloreMusunuri NayakasVelanati ChodasPandyasCholas of TanjoreRayalaseemaCholas of TanjorePandyasVijayanagara EmpireWestern Chalukyas of KalyaniKakatiyasTelugu Chodas of Pottapi and NelloreHoysalas110011501200125013001350
Show as a list

Eastern Chalukyas & the Deccan powers 624–1163 CE

Telangana
Chalukyas of Mudigonda (c. 890–1218 CE) · Western Chalukyas of Kalyani (c. 973–1163 CE) · Kakatiyas (c. 1052–1162 CE) · Telugu Chodas of Kanduru (c. 1060–1160 CE)
Coastal Andhra
Eastern Gangas of Kalinga (c. 537–1434 CE) · Cholas of Tanjore (c. 999–1135 CE) · Haihayas of Kona and Palnadu (c. 1073–1364 CE) · Kotas of Dharanikota (c. 1100–1276 CE) · Telugu Chodas of Pottapi and Nellore (c. 1106–1316 CE) · Velanati Chodas (c. 1118–1209 CE) · Western Chalukyas of Kalyani (c. 1118–1126 CE)
Rayalaseema
Cholas of Tanjore (c. 985–1268 CE) · Western Chalukyas of Kalyani (c. 1000–1190 CE) · Telugu Chodas of Pottapi and Nellore (c. 1120–1268 CE)

Kakatiyas 1163–1323 CE

Telangana
Chalukyas of Mudigonda (c. 890–1218 CE) · Kakatiyas (c. 1163–1323 CE)
Coastal Andhra
Eastern Gangas of Kalinga (c. 537–1434 CE) · Kakatiyas (c. 1185–1323 CE) · Haihayas of Kona and Palnadu (c. 1073–1364 CE) · Kotas of Dharanikota (c. 1100–1276 CE) · Telugu Chodas of Pottapi and Nellore (c. 1106–1316 CE) · Velanati Chodas (c. 1118–1209 CE) · Pandyas (c. 1260–1264 CE) · Cholas of Tanjore (c. 1135–1264 CE)
Rayalaseema
Cholas of Tanjore (c. 985–1268 CE) · Pandyas (1285–1293 CE) · Western Chalukyas of Kalyani (c. 1000–1190 CE) · Kakatiyas (c. 1250–1323 CE) · Telugu Chodas of Pottapi and Nellore (c. 1120–1268 CE) · Hoysalas (c. 1178–1342 CE)

Nayakas, Reddis & Bahmanis 1323–1518 CE

Telangana
Delhi Sultanate (Tughluqs) (c. 1323–1336 CE) · Bahmani Sultanate (c. 1347–1518 CE) · Musunuri Nayakas (c. 1336–1368 CE) · Recherla Velamas (Padmanayakas) (c. 1361–1475 CE)
Coastal Andhra
Eastern Gangas of Kalinga (c. 537–1434 CE) · Reddis of Kondaveedu (c. 1325–1424 CE) · Haihayas of Kona and Palnadu (c. 1073–1364 CE) · Reddis of Rajahmundry (c. 1386–1448 CE) · Delhi Sultanate (Tughluqs) (c. 1323–1326 CE) · Vijayanagara Empire (c. 1350–1579 CE) · Musunuri Nayakas (c. 1325–1346 CE)
Rayalaseema
Vijayanagara Empire (c. 1336–1646 CE) · Reddis of Kondaveedu (c. 1346–1386 CE) · Hoysalas (c. 1178–1342 CE)

Vijayanagara & the Qutb Shahis 1336–1687 CE

Telangana
Bahmani Sultanate (c. 1347–1518 CE) · Musunuri Nayakas (c. 1336–1368 CE) · Recherla Velamas (Padmanayakas) (c. 1361–1475 CE)
Coastal Andhra
Eastern Gangas of Kalinga (c. 537–1434 CE) · Reddis of Kondaveedu (c. 1325–1424 CE) · Haihayas of Kona and Palnadu (c. 1073–1364 CE) · Reddis of Rajahmundry (c. 1386–1448 CE) · Vijayanagara Empire (c. 1350–1579 CE) · Musunuri Nayakas (c. 1325–1346 CE)
Rayalaseema
Vijayanagara Empire (c. 1336–1646 CE) · Reddis of Kondaveedu (c. 1346–1386 CE) · Hoysalas (c. 1178–1342 CE)
Kingdoms and empires Sultanates Uncertain or debated dates Held another region first

Where historians disagree

These questions are still open. Each line links to the section of the page that gives both sides with their sources. They are useful for essay answers.

  • Fleet saw Rudradeva as throwing off Chalukya rule, but Parabrahma Sastry saw no revolt, only a claim to sovereignty once the Chalukyas had gone. Kakatiyas
  • Parabrahma Sastry ends Rudramadevi's reign in 1289, after the Chandupatla inscription, while Venkataramanayya and Somasekhara Sarma carry it to 1295. Kakatiyas
  • The Hyderabad gazetteer of 1909 calls Rudramadevi Ganapatideva's "wife or daughter", while the Madras inscription reports call her his daughter. Women in Telugu history
  • The nayakas have been described as seventy-seven Velamas, as seventy-five men of all classes, or, by Talbot, as Padmanayakas, a later identity. Kakatiyas
  • Barani and the Imperial Gazetteer date the fall of Warangal to 1321, and Parabrahma Sastry, following Isami, to 1323. Kakatiyas
  • Parabrahma Sastry traced the family to Gundyana, a Rashtrakuta general, but Venkataramanayya and Somasekhara Sarma rejected the link, and older writers made them Eastern Chalukya feudatories. Kakatiyas

Practise

For teachers

Lesson outline

  1. Period 1: From chiefs to kings (40 minutes)

    Read the opening and the first two sections of the era page (15 minutes). Then read the Thousand Pillar Temple and its inscription. Ask what the inscription records and why historians start the Kakatiya period from it.

    Read: Kakatiyas → Thousand Pillar Temple inscription of Rudradeva → Thousand Pillar Temple

  2. Period 2: Ganapatideva and Rudramadevi (40 minutes)

    Read "The kingdom at its height" on the era page. Then read the pages on Rudramadevi and the Motupalli edict. Discuss how one short inscription at Chandupatla changed the date of her death.

    Read: Kakatiyas → Ganapatideva → Rudramadevi → Motupalli pillar inscription of Ganapatideva

  3. Period 3: Tanks, temples and the fall of Warangal (45 minutes)

    Read "Government and society" on the era page and look at how villages were named after kings and queens. Then read about the Ramappa temple and Pakhal lake. End with "The end" on the era page and the two dates for the fall of Warangal.

    Read: Kakatiyas → Ramappa Temple → Pakhal Lake → Warangal Fort

Activities

Discussion questions

Every question can be answered from the page linked after it.

  1. Why is the Kakatiya period usually dated from January 1163? (Answer on: Kakatiyas)
  2. What was the nayamkara system, and why did it matter to the kings? (Answer on: Kakatiyas)
  3. Which record settled that Rudramadevi was Ganapatideva's daughter, not his wife? (Answer on: Rudramadevi)
  4. What did the Motupalli edict promise to traders who came by sea? (Answer on: Motupalli pillar inscription of Ganapatideva)
  5. Name three Kakatiya tanks that still watered land in the 1970s, and say how such tanks were made. (Answer on: Kakatiyas)
  6. What is unusual about the tower of the Ramappa temple, and what are its bracket figures? (Answer on: Ramappa Temple)
  7. Who wrote the Prataparudriya, and why is it still studied? (Answer on: Vidyanatha)
  8. How did Warangal fall to Delhi, and what happened to Prataparudra? (Answer on: Kakatiyas)

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