Disorder had broken out in the Telegu…
1262 CE
Disorder had broken out in the Telegu kingdom of the Kakatiyas on the Deccan Plateau at the close of of the twelfth century.
Following the death of the illustrious King Rudradeva and the imprisonment of his nephew Ganapati in the hands of the Yadavas, his younger brother Mahadeva had ascended the throne and ruled the kingdom for a short span of about three years: in leading an expedition against the Yadava kingdom to avenge Rudra's death and also to release his son Ganapati, he lost his life in the battle.
Recherla Rudra, the commander-in-chief of the Kakatiya ruler, had saved the kingdom from crumbling.
Ganapati had been freed by Jaitrapala due to political considerations, chiefly his desire to secure himself against an attack from Warangal in the event of a conflict with the aggressive Hoysalas in the south.
Known as the greatest of the Kakatiyas, Ganapatideva had been the first after the Satavahanas to bring the entire Telugu area under one rule.
Ending the rule of the Cholas, who had accepted his suzerainty 1210, he has established order in his vast dominion and encouraged trade.
Ganapatideva's reign, which has lasted for sixty-two years, has been one of the most brilliant epochs in the history of Andhradesa.
During his long reign, he has brought under his sway almost the whole land inhabited by the Telugu speaking people.
He retires from active politics in 1262, handing over the reigns of administration to his capable daughter Rudramadevi, one of the few queens in Indian history.