Kakatiya Dynasty - Social Status and Marital Alliances

Social Status and Marital Alliances

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. Ganapatideva's first daughter Rudramadevi was married to Veerabhadra, Eastern Chalukyan prince of Nidadavolu and his second daughter Ganapamba was married to Kota Betaraja. 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. 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. 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. It was a disaster because of the valiant resistance of the Kakatiya army in the battle at Upparapalli (Karimnagar District). 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. 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. 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. Three new fledgling kingdoms arose out of the ruins of the Kakatiya empire namely the Reddy kingdom, Padma Nayaka Velama kingdom and the great Vijayanagara Empire.

The Royal family of Bastar state that Kakatiya King Pratap Rudra's brother, Annama Deva, left Warangal and established his kingdom at Bastar, 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. 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.