Prataparudra's Southern Campaign was a significant military campaign led by the Kakatiya monarch to assert control over the strategic region of Kanchi.[1] With ambitions to expand his kingdom and curtail Pandya influence, Prataparudra II launched a three-pronged offensive. He deployed his generals Muppidi Nayaka, Recherla Era Dacha, Manavira, and Devarinayaka to lead separate contingents, each tasked with advancing on key Pandya strongholds. Muppidi Nayaka besieged Kanchi and secured a decisive victory, forcing the Pandya forces into retreat.[2] The campaign culminated in the installation of Sundara Pandya on the throne, a move that temporarily aligned the Pandyas with the Kakatiya Dynasty. This successful conquest bolstered Prataparudra’s prestige, earning his generals honors and titles, and further solidified Kakatiya dominance in the region.[3]
| Prataparudra's Southern Campaign | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Prataparudra's Campaigns | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kakatiya Dynasty |
Pandyas Cheras Hoysalas Shambhuvraya of Padaividu Yadavaraya of Chandragiri | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Prataparudra II Peda Rudra Muppidi Nayaka Era Dacha Manavira Devarinayaka |
Vira Pandyan Veera Ballala III Ravivarman Kulaśēkhara | ||||||
Background
editTaking advantage of the preoccupation of Kakatiya King Prataparudra II with external threats, several vassals in the outlying provinces of his kingdom sought to assert their independence.[1] Following the second Muslim invasion, Prataparudra faced significant internal challenges, particularly in the southern regions. The Telugu Chola ruler of Nellore, Ranganatha, declared independence, as did Mallideva, the Vaidumba chief of Gandikota in Muliki-nadu. In response, Prataparudra dispatched an army under the command of Juttaya Lemka Gomkaya Reddy, who successfully defeated Mallideva and captured Gandikota.[3] Recognizing his loyalty and military prowess, Prataparudra appointed Gomkaya Reddy as the Governor of Gandikota-sima and the surrounding territories[1] Meanwhile, in 1311 A.D., Alauddin Khalji sought Prataparudra's assistance in his campaign against the Pandyas. Seizing this opportunity, Prataparudra marched southward, where he not only supported the invasion but also suppressed Ranganatha's rebellion on his way to Kanchi. This period was marked by instability in the Tamil region, exacerbated by the death of Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I in 1310 A.D., which led to a civil war between his sons, Vira Pandya and Sundara Pandya. The turmoil was further intensified by the invasion of Hoysala Veera Ballala III, who sought to reclaim his family's lost territories in the Tamil country.[1]
Campaign
editFirst Phase
editConflict With Hoysalas
editHoysala King Veera Ballala III launched a fierce attack on Kanchi, successfully capturing the city. However, his victory was short-lived, as he struggled to maintain control over the strategic location. According to an inscription at Daksharama, preserved in the Mackenzie Manuscripts, the Kakatiya commander Peda Rudra led a counter-offensive that decisively defeated Ballala and his allies, including Sambuvaraya of Padaividu and Yadavaraya of Chandragiri. Following this victory, Peda Rudra managed to reclaim Kanchi for the Kakatiya kingdom, restoring its dominance in the region.[3][1]
Second Phase
editConflict With Pandyas
editIn the second phase of the invasion led by the Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra II, the emperor launched a decisive campaign against the Pandya kingdom with the support of his distinguished generals Muppidi Nayaka, Recherla Era Dacha, Manavira, and Devarinayaka.[3] This meticulously planned three-pronged assault aimed to subdue the Pandya rulers, Vira Pandya and Sundara Pandya, who were embroiled in a bitter struggle for supremacy. Muppidi Nayaka led the siege of Kanchipuram, decisively defeating the Pandya forces and securing the city. Meanwhile, another Kakatiya general, Pedda Rudra, advanced towards Nellore, while Prataparudra himself approached Kanchipuram via a different route, ensuring a comprehensive encirclement of the Pandya forces. In a coordinated move, Prolaya Vema Reddi, a notable general, targeted the fortress of Gingee, where Pandya reinforcements had gathered, forcing them into retreat. Devarinayaka, another key general, pursued the fleeing Pandya forces all the way to Jambukesvaram near Trichinopoly[2] This resounding victory allowed Prataparudra II to install Sundara Pandya on the throne, solidifying Kakatiya influence in the region. The successful campaign earned the Kakatiya generals significant recognition, including titles like "Pandyaraya Gajakesari," symbolizing their valor as the "Lion to the Pandyan Elephant," referring to their triumph over the Pandya rulers.[3]
Conflict With Cheras
editRavivarman Kulasekhara, also known as (Sangramadhira) for his valor in battle, ascended to the throne of Travancore around 1311-1312 AD, ruling from Quilon. Amidst the turmoil of Malik Kafur's devastating raids across South India, Ravivarman's kingdom remained unscathed, giving him a strategic advantage over his weakened neighbors.[4] Seizing the opportunity, he launched campaigns that extended his influence far beyond Travancore. His inscriptions, found in Srirangam, Kanchipuram, and Poonamallee, boast of his victories over the Pandyas and Cholas, claiming to have made them subservient to Kerala.[5] Notably, his conquest of Sundara Pandya is commemorated in a grant to Brahmins at Chera-Pandya-Chaturvedi-Mangalam, with the inscription featuring a fish (Pandya symbol) topped by an elephant goad (Chera symbol), signifying his dominance.[4][6][7] However, Ravivarman's triumphs were short-lived. The Kakatiya general Muppidi Nayaka, serving under King Prataparudra II, soon challenged his control, driving Ravivarman out of Kanchipuram and establishing Telugu authority over the northern Pandya territories. Muppidi Nayaka’s victory and subsequent installation of Manavira as governor in Kanchipuram marked a significant, though temporary, extension of Kakatiya power into the southern realms.[4][6][8][7]
Aftermath
editWhile the Kakatiya monarch Prataparudra II was engaged in his southern campaigns, a new threat emerged from the north. In 1318 A.D. Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, the successor of Alauddin Khilji, launched a surprise expedition against Warangal, sending his general Khusrau Khan to lead the assault. The timing of this attack proved to be particularly precarious for the Kakatiyas, as most of their armies were still deployed in the south, engaged in conflicts with the Pandya kingdom. The forces that remained in Warangal were caught unprepared for such a sudden and formidable attack. Recognizing the vulnerability of his capital and the impossibility of mounting an effective defense, Prataparudra was compelled to negotiate peace with the invaders.[2][1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f P.V. Parabrahma Sastry (1978). The Kakatiyas (of Warangal). p. 132–134.
- ^ a b c Rao, M Rama (1957). Andhra Through Ages. p. 69.
- ^ a b c d e Sarma, M N; Sastry, M V (1995). History Culture Of The Andhras. p. 78.
- ^ a b c K.A. Nilakanta Sastry. The Pandya Kingdom. p. 211–213.
- ^ Indian Antiquary. Popular Prakashan. 1908. p. 357.
- ^ a b Raman, K. V. (June 2003). Sri Varadarajaswami Temple, Kanchi: A Study of Its History, Art and Architecture. Abhinav Publications. p. 24. ISBN 978-81-7017-026-6.
- ^ a b Allan, J.; Haig, T. Wolseley; Dodwell, H.H. (1964-01-01). The Cambridge Shorter History of India. Edited by H.H. Dodwell. Internet Archive. S Chand & Co. p. 145-146.
- ^ Indian Antiquary. Popular Prakashan. 1908. p. 357.