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The Reddy dynasty (1325-1424 CE) was established in southern India by Prolaya Reddy"Reddy".^[1] The Reddy Nayaks were part of the confederation that started a movement against Muslims in 1323 CE and succeeded in repulsing them from Warangal^[2].

Origin

After the fall of Kakatiya dynasty in south India in 1323 CE, there was a movement for independence under the leadership of Musunuri Nayaks. All the warrior castes of Telugu land united and successfully recaptured Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate. However, the unity of Telugu land lasted only for fifty years^[3].

Extent of rule

The Reddy kings of Addanki became independent after the martyrdom of Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka at the hands of Recherla Velama chiefs in the battle of Bhuvanagiri (Bhongir in Telangana region)^[4]. They ruled the coastal area of Andhra Pradesh from 1353 to 1448 CE. The initial capital of the kingdom was Addanki. Later it was moved to Kondavidu and subsequently to Rajahmundry^[5]. The dynasty declined due to its regular warfare with Recharla Velama chiefs and Gajapathis of Orissa. In later years, the Reddys had to be content as vassals of Golconda Muslim kings.

The Reddys were known for their fortifications. Two major hill forts, one at Kondapally 20 km north west of Vijayawada and another at Kondavidu about 30 km west of Guntur bear testimony of the fort building skill of the Reddy kings. Reddys also ruled many local dominions (samsthanams) until the British seized their power.

Prolaya Vema Reddy

Prolaya Vema Reddy, the first king of the Reddy dynasty, described himself as Sudhra Putra, which is one of the four varnas that emerged from the shoulders of MahaVishnu. Vema assembled a large army of peasants and herdsmen, and adopted guerrilla warfare. It is said that when he attacked Muslims, Vema Reddy had their water supply lines contaminated with sewage leading to dysentery in their ranks. Veera Ballala III of Dwarasamudra helped the coalition of Vema Reddy and Kapaya Nayaka. Vema chased the general of the Tughlaq army, Malik Maqbul to the Warangal fort and Kapaya Nayaka then stormed it and took control. Vema then led a blitzkrieg on the Kondavidu fort and hacked off the head of Maliq Gurjar, the Muslim commander there and liberated Nidudavolu, Vundi, and Pithapuram after pitched battles. Vema then defeated an army of Jalaluddin Shah in a raid on Tondaimandalam, while Vira Ballala engaged the Sultan himself. Vira Ballala was finally defeated and skinned alive, and his dry skin was hung from the walls of Madurai where Ibn Battuta reportedly saw it later. Undaunted, Vema continued his lightning raids on the Muslim-occupied forts of Bellamkonda, Vinukonda and Nagarjunakonda and captured them all. He then declared himself a raja (king) with Kondavidu as his capital.

His famous inscriptions from this period state: "I restored all the agraharas of Brahmins, which had been taken away by the evil Muslim kings. I am indeed an Agastya to the ocean which was made of the Muslim".

Prolaya Vema Reddy commissioned major repairs to the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swami temple, and had a flight of steps built from the Krishna river to the temple. He also had the Sri Maha Vishnu temple at Ahobilam repaired. The restoration of peace starting with his reign brought about a revival of literature and the arts. Errana, the translator of the Maha Bharata, lived during his period.

Later kings

• Anavota Reddy (1335-1364 CE) was the successor of Prolaya Vema Reddy. He conquered many small kingdoms like Nirvajyapura (present day Nidadavolu) ruled by Vengi Chalukyas, Vundi ruled by Suryavamsa Kshatriyas, Korukonda ruled by Kondaya Nayakas and Pithapuram ruled by Koppularajus by 1356 CE.

• Anavema Reddy (1364-1386 CE) was the brother of Anavota Reddy. He liberated Rajahmundry from the Muslims and razed down a Mazar (which was built on top of a Hindu Temple). He then scaled the Korukonda fort by night with a small force and freed it from Muslim control. He also conquered the Simhachalam fort and parts of the Kalinga kingdom. He built the Vira Siromandapam at the Srisailam temple. His inscription from Srisailam states that their family belongs to the 'Vellacheri' gotram. His inscription states: "I the valiant member of the fourth Varna destroyed the throngs of Muslims and gathered learned brahmanas at this court".

• Kumaragiri (Komaragiri) Reddy (1386-1402 CE) was the son of Anavota Reddy. Kataya Vema Reddy, the Senapathi of Anavota Reddy and the brother-in-law of Kumaragiri Reddy, and Pedakomati Vema Reddy always indulged in internal squabbles. Many parts of the kingdom announced their independence and did not pay taxes. Kumaragiri Reddy had two daughters, Anitally and Hariharamba.

• Kataya Vema Reddy (1395-1414 CE) suppressed the revolt in Rajamahendravaram and ruled it for 19 years. Harihara Rayalu, the ruler of Vijayanagara empire, married his daughter Hariharamba to Kataya Vema Reddy on hearing about his valour. He fought many wars with Pedakomati Vema Reddy. He had a son.

• Allada Reddy (1414-1423 CE) ruled on behalf of the young Komaragiri Reddy who was only 10 years old at the time. Allada Reddy managed to fend off Pedakomati Reddy twice, and made peace treaties with Vijayanagar and Kalinga.

• Veerabhadra Reddy(1423-1448 CE) succeeded to the kingdom of Rajamahendravaram. Devaraya II of Vijayanagara came to the support of the Reddy kings against the Gajapathis of Orissa. The Reddys could not get the support from Mallikarjuna of Vijayanagar, the successor of Devaraya II, in time and lost to Hamvira, the son of Kapilendra Gajapathi. The Reddy kingdom started to decline because of internecine warfare with the Recherla Velamas and the Gajapathis. By 1448 CE, Rajamahendravaram and the surrounding places were taken by Kapilendra Gajapathi. By 1454 CE, the Kondavidu region also came under the control of the Gajapathis. Veerabhara Reddy's decedents moved to Parlakhemundi region to fight with Gajapathis, were defeated and stayed in this region in a village near Parlakhemundi. The most prominent warrior of the descendants of Veerabhara Reddy in this region was Raghuveera Reddy(1540-1590 CE), who anglicized or changed the surname (and also first names) as Jeeri. The reason for this change is not known.

Literature During The Reddy Rule

Peace and literature blossomed during the period of stability proferred by the Reddy kings.

Gona Buddha Reddy lived during the 13th century so actually belonged to the Kakatiya period. He is famous for his Ranganatha Ramayanam. His translation of the Ramayana was a pioneering work and is still used during puppet shows^[6]

Errapragada of the Kavitraya (The three poets) fame was the court poet of Prolaya Vema Reddy. He is famous for his Telugu rendition of the Aranya Parva left incomplete by Nannaya Bhattu (Aadi Kavi who started the translation of the MahaBharata into Telugu). Errana's translation of the Ramayana in Chapu form (a style of poetry) has been lost. Srinatha was a poet in the Reddy court.

See also

• Madurai Sultanate
• Sultan of Delhi
• Deccan Sultanates
• Gajapati Kingdom

Notes

1. ^ "The Caste System". http://www.vepachedu.org/castemore.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-16.  
2. ^ The History of Andhras, Durga Prasad (http://igmlnet.uohyd.ernet.in:8000/gw_44_5/hi-res/hcu_images/G2.pdf
3. ^ A Forgotten Chapter of Andhra History, 1945, M. Somasekhara Sarma
4. ^ The Kakatiyas, 1978, P.V. Parabrahma Sastry
5. ^ Reddys of Rajahmundry: http://www.rajahmundry.net/rajahmundry/history.asp#Rajamahendravaram
6. ^ Telugu World literature

External links

• Calling on royalty