Draft:Ganapati's Coastal Andhra Campaign

Coastal Andhra Campaign
Part of Ganapati Wars of Unification
Date 1201-1209 A.D Location Andhra Pradesh, India Result Kakatiya victory
Belligerents
Kakatiyas Kota Vamsa Natavadi Malyala Chiefs Supported By : Nellore Chodas Konidena Chodas	Velanati Chodas Ayya Chiefs
Commanders and leaders
Ganapati (Kakatiya dynasty) Vakkadimalla Rudra Malyala Chaunda Nellore Chodas: Tikka Choda I Konidena Chodas: Balli Choda	Pruthviswara  Ayya Pinni Choda

Background

Ganapati's Ascension To The Throne

Ganapati’s rule started during a difficult time but became one of the most successful periods in Andhra’s history. He was a strong and active ruler who reigned for sixty-three years. Through war and smart diplomacy, he united almost all the Telugu-speaking regions under his control. The fall of the Western Chalukya and Chola empires helped him, as the region had broken into many small kingdoms constantly fighting each other. One of the important groups during this time were the chiefs of Velnadu. Although their power weakened after the death of Choda II around 1181 AD, records from places like Draksharamam, Pithapuram, and Srikurmam show that a ruler named Pruthvisvara still controlled the northern coastal Andhra region until his death around 1210 AD.

Decline of Velanati Choda's Authority

Some loyal supporters of Pruthvisvara’s family, especially from the Divi Island region and nearby areas, accepted his leadership and helped him in battles, even though they ruled their lands as independent princes. A Telugu book from the 15th century, called Simhasana-Dvatrimsika by Goparaju, mentions that Pruthvisvara ruled from his ancestral capital, Tsandavolu, in the Krishna district. This matches what find in old inscriptions and literature, confirming that the Velanati Choda family continued to rule at least a part of coastal Andhra. However, their control was not complete, as the region was filled with many small, independent or semi-independent feudal states that limited their power.

Reign of Small Independent Kingdoms

Before Ganapati fully took power, the Andhra country was split among many local rulers. The Kolanu (Sarasipuri) chiefs controlled the area around the Kolar lake. The Chagis of Gudimetta ruled parts of the inner Krishna region, and the Nitavadis held land along the river’s north bank in what was the Kambhamet district of the old Hyderabad State. In today’s Guntur area, the Kotas and the Telugu Chodas of Konidena were in charge. Farther south, the Telugu Choda kingdom of Nellore covered the Nellore and Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh and most of the Chingleput district of the old Madras State, with Nellore and Kanchi used as alternative capitals. The small chiefs of Eruva, at the junction of Nellore, Guntur, and Kurnool, accepted the rule of the Nellore Chodas, and many minor principalities also existed in the Cuddapah and Kurnool borderlands. In the north-east, parts of the region were under the Gangas of Kalinga. This was the political scene when Ganapati finally took the reins of government.

Planning

Ganapati followed a policy already planned by his predecessors, Prola II and Rudra, who had dreams of building a large empire. They wanted to rule not only Telangana but also the coastal regions and bring the entire Andhra country under their control. While they succeeded in conquering Telangana, their attempts to expand south and east failed because of strong resistance from the Velanati chiefs. These chiefs ruled the coastal areas as representatives of the Chalukya-Chola emperors. However, their power weakened after the death of Choda II in 1181 AD. His grandson, Pruthviswara, tried to hold on to power but was not strong enough to control the rebellious nobles or stop the decline. Seeing this chance, Ganapati invaded the coastal districts in 1201 AD with a large army. He was supported by many local chiefs like the Kotas, Natavadis, and Malayalas.

Campaign

Capture of Bezawada

Ganapati began his military campaign by attacking Bezawada (modern-day Vijayawada), which was located on the eastern edge of the Kakatiya kingdom. An inscription from 1201 AD, found at the Kanakadurga-mantapa near the Indrakila hill, mentions a Natavadi prince named Vakkadimalla Rudra. This suggests that troops from the Natavadis and likely the Kakatiyas as well were present in the city at the time. The inscription indicates that there was a battle, and soon after, Bezawada was captured by Ganapati’s army.

Siege of Divi

After capturing Bezawada, the Kakatiya army moved east towards the island of Divi, located near the mouth of the Krishna River. This island was the stronghold of the Ayya chiefs, who ruled over the rich and fertile lands of the delta. The Ayya rulers did not give up easily and put up strong resistance, relying on the strong defenses of their island fort. However, they were eventually defeated, and their wealthy capital was looted by the Kakatiya forces. In appreciation of the bravery shown by the Malyala chief Chaunda during the battle, Ganapati gave him the title Dvipi Lumthaka or Divi Churakara, meaning "plunderer of Divi Island," as mentioned in the Kondiparti inscription dated 1203 AD. Still, Ganapati did not directly take over the island. Being a clever ruler, he knew that peace and cooperation would help him build a more lasting and stable rule.