1. Ancient and Medieval Andhra: Satavahanas to Qutb Shahis
The Andhra region has a long history, from the Satavahanas more than two thousand years ago to the Qutb Shahis of Golconda. APPSC asks about rulers, capitals, Buddhist sites and patrons of Telugu literature. This lesson gives the key facts in order.
Satavahanas and Ikshvakus
- The Satavahanas (also called Andhras in the Puranas) were founded by Simuka. Their capitals included Pratishthana (Paithan) and Dhanyakataka (Dharanikota, near the ancient town of Amaravati on the Krishna).
- Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest Satavahana king. The Satavahanas issued coins with the king's image, and many had metronymics (mother's name) such as Gautamiputra.
- Hala, a Satavahana king, is linked with the Prakrit poetry collection Gathasaptasati. Amaravati became a great Buddhist centre with its famous stupa.
- After the Satavahanas, the Ikshvakus ruled from Vijayapuri in the Krishna valley (Nagarjunakonda). Their queens were great patrons of Buddhism.
- Nagarjunakonda is named after the Buddhist teacher Acharya Nagarjuna. Its remains were shifted to an island museum when the Nagarjuna Sagar dam was built.
Eastern Chalukyas and Kakatiyas
- The Eastern Chalukyas (Chalukyas of Vengi) were founded by Kubja Vishnuvardhana in the 7th century CE. Vengi was near present-day Eluru.
- King Rajaraja Narendra ruled from Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry). He was the patron of Nannaya, who began the Telugu Mahabharata.
- The Kakatiyas ruled from Orugallu (Warangal, now in Telangana). Important rulers were Ganapatideva, Rudramadevi and Prataparudra.
- Rudramadevi was one of the few women rulers of medieval India. The Venetian traveller Marco Polo visited Motupalli port (Bapatla district) during her time.
- The Kakatiya kingdom ended after attacks by the Delhi Sultanate in the early 14th century.
Vijayanagara and the Qutb Shahis
- Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka. Its greatest ruler, Krishnadevaraya (ruled 1509 to 1529), belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.
- Krishnadevaraya wrote 'Amuktamalyada' in Telugu and is called 'Andhra Bhoja'. He is credited with the line 'Desa bhashalandu Telugu lessa' (Telugu is the best among regional languages).
- His court had eight great poets called the Ashtadiggajas. Allasani Peddana, author of 'Manucharitra', is called 'Andhra Kavita Pitamaha'.
- The Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda was founded by Sultan Quli in 1518. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah founded Hyderabad and built the Charminar (1591).
- The Qutb Shahis supported Telugu as well as Persian. The dynasty ended when Aurangzeb captured Golconda in 1687.
Quick facts
- Satavahana founder
- Simuka
- Greatest Satavahana
- Gautamiputra Satakarni
- Ikshvaku capital
- Vijayapuri (Nagarjunakonda)
- Eastern Chalukya founder
- Kubja Vishnuvardhana (Vengi)
- Patron of Nannaya
- Rajaraja Narendra
- Kakatiya queen
- Rudramadevi; Marco Polo visited Motupalli
- Krishnadevaraya's Telugu work
- Amuktamalyada
- Andhra Kavita Pitamaha
- Allasani Peddana (Manucharitra)
- Charminar
- 1591, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
💡 Link each dynasty to its capital and one famous person: Satavahanas-Dhanyakataka-Gautamiputra, Ikshvakus-Vijayapuri, Eastern Chalukyas-Vengi-Rajaraja Narendra, Kakatiyas-Orugallu-Rudramadevi.
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