Rudrama Devi

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For the 2015 Telugu film, see Rudhramadevi (film).

Rudrama Devi
Rudrama Devi
Statue of Rudrama Devi
Reign1262-1289
PredecessorGanapatideva
SuccessorPrataparudra
Died1289 or 1295
Possibly at Chandupatla
(now in Telangana, India)
SpouseVirabhadra
DynastyKakatiya dynasty
FatherGanapatideva

Rudrama Devi (Rudradeva Maharaja, Rudramadevi, Rani Rudrama or Rudrama-devi), was a monarch of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan Plateau from 1263-1289 (or 1295) until her death. She was one of the very few women to rule as monarchs in India and promoted a male image in order to do so.[1] This was a significant change and one that was followed by her successor and also by the later Vijayanagara Empire.[2][3]

Reign and family[]

Inscription on the death of Rani Rudrama Devi in Chandupatla, 1289

Rudrama Devi married Virabhadra, a member of a minor branch of the Chalukya dynasty, probably in 1240. This was almost certainly a political marriage designed by her father to forge alliances.[4] Virabhadra is virtually undocumented and played no part in her administration. The couple had two daughters (both are adopted).[3] Rudrama Devi probably began her rule of the Kakatiya kingdom jointly with her father, Ganapatideva, as his co-regent, from 1261-62. She assumed full sovereignty in 1263.[5] Unlike her Kakatiya predecessors, she chose to recruit as warriors many people who were not aristocratic, granting them rights over land tax revenue in return for their support.

Marco Polo, who visited India probably some time around 1289–1293, made note of Rudrama Devi's rule and nature in flattering terms.[6][a] She continued the planned fortification of the capital, raising the height of Ganapati's wall as well as adding a second earthen curtain wall 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in diameter and with an additional 150 feet (46 m)-wide moat.[7]

Rudrama Devi faced challenges from the Eastern Ganga dynasty and the Yadavas soon after beginning her rule. She was able to repel the former, who retreated beyond the Godavari River in the late 1270s, and she also defeated the Yadavas, who were forced to cede territory in western Andhra.[citation needed] She was, however, unsuccessful in dealing with the internal dissent posed by the Kayastha chieftain Ambadeva after he became head of his line in 1273. Ambadeva objected to being subordinate to the Kakatiyas and he gained control of much of southwestern Andhra and what is now Guntur District.[8]

Rudrama Devi may have died in 1289 while fighting Ambadeva, although some sources say she did not die until 1295.[b] She was succeeded by Prataparudra, a son of one of her daughters, who inherited a kingdom that was smaller than it had been when Rudrama Devi had ascended her throne.[3]

In popular culture[]

In 2015, filmmaker Gunasekhar made a Telugu film Rudhramadevi on the life of Rudrama Devi with Anushka Shetty, Allu Arjun, Rana Daggubati and Krishnam Raju in the lead roles.[11]

Peninsula Pictures produced an serial on Star Maa titled Rudramadevi which pictured the childhood of Rudramadevi to the TV viewers for 100 episodes.[12]

See also[]

  • History of women in early modern warfare

References[]

Notes

  1. ^ Marco Polo referred to the kingdom as Mutfili, which was the name for the area around a major port of the dynasty, now known as Masulipatnam.(Chakravarti 1991)
  2. ^ One ancient inscription discovered in 1994 suggests that Rudrama Devi died in battle at Chandupatla village on 27 November 1289 but more recent reliable sources make no mention of this and some sources claim she died in 1295.[5][9] Two sculpture discovered in 2017 may possibly confirm the 1289 location and date.[10]

Citations

  1. ^ Ramusack, Barbara N.; Sievers, Sharon L. (1999). Women in Asia: Restoring Women to History. Indiana University Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-25321-267-2.
  2. ^ Talbot, Cynthia (2001). Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. p. 158. ISBN 0195136616.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Smith, Bonnie G. (2008). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History. 1. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 612. ISBN 978-0-19514-890-9.
  4. ^ Talbot, Cynthia (2001). Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. pp. 155–156. ISBN 978-0-19513-661-6.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Talbot, Cynthia (2001). Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. p. 273. ISBN 978-0-19513-661-6.
  6. ^ Rubiés 2000, pp. 50, 73.
  7. ^ Eaton 2005, p. 17.
  8. ^ Talbot, Cynthia (2001). Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. pp. 133–134. ISBN 978-0-19513-661-6.
  9. ^ Reddy, T. Karnakar (20 November 2014). "Govt urged to observe death anniversary of Rani Rudrama Devi". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  10. ^ Venkateshwarlu, K. (5 December 2017). "Two sculptures of Rani Rudrama Devi shed light on her death". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Anushka to do a Tamil-Telugu period film?". The Times of India. 6 October 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Rani Rudrama Devi to begin on Star Maa". Telugu Cinema. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
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