Tag Archives: Kondavidu

Indian History Part 77 The Aravidu Dynasty Section III: Venkata Deva Raya II

Canberra, 26 December 2019 Sri Ranga Deva’s younger brother, Rama Raja, had predeceased him, leaving behind two sons. However, at the time of Sri Ranga’s death, both these princes were minors. Therefore, the ‘people’, meaning the nobles, Brahmins and warriors, chose Venkata the youngest brother of Sri Ranga, to succeed to the throne. This move […]

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Indian History Part 77 The Aravidu Rule Section I: Aravidu Rule is Formalised

Canberra 14 December 2014 Even before the Shahi kings departed from Vijayanagara, steeped in their own dissentions and confusion, a power struggle for control had started to crystallise in the defeated kingdom with the son of Rama Raya, Timma, questioning his uncle Tirumala’s claim to becoming the Regent. By the time the departing Shahis had […]

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Indian History Part 75 Te Tuluva Dynasty Section VI: Diminishing Stature

Sydney, 7 October 2019 Krishna Deva Raya personally endorsed the appointment of Achyuta, his step brother, as the heir apparent. Krishna Deva had incarcerated Achyuta in Chandragiri when he ascended the throne to ensure that there would be no contest for the throne. Even though Achyuta was his step-brother, later events proved his selection to […]

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Indian History Part 73 The Sangama Dynasty Section VI: A Whimpering End

Canberra, 23 June 2019 The period immediately following Deva Raya II’s demise is shrouded in conflicting narratives and there is only limited verifiable information available that could help in producing an accurate sequence of events. This period, leading to the end of the Sangama dynasty, has to be classified as one of confusion, an assertion […]

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Indian History Part 73 The Sangama Dynasty Section V: Dynastic Greatness

Canberra, 19 May 2019 The order of succession on the demise of Deva Raya I is a bit confused. Different inscriptions provide perplexing evidence of two sons of Deva Raya I—Ramachandra and Vijaya—as well as a grandson Deva Raya II as ruling at the same time. Although this conflicting information has been gathered from inscriptions […]

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Indian History Part 73 The Sangama Dynasty, Section IV: Altering the Balance of Power

Canberra, 18 May 2019  Harihara Raya II had five grown up sons, at least three of whom were powerful governors and also ambitious. On his death, the succession was violently disputed by these three princes. This was a scenario that Harihara II had wanted to avoid, but the succession struggle continued for nearly two years […]

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Indian History Part 73 The Sangama Dynasty Section III: Stabilisation: Vira Harihara Raya II

Canberra, 27 April 2019 Harihara, son of Bukka with his queen Gourambika, came to the throne on his father’s death while the kingdom was still at war. There are no records of any dispute regarding the succession with few inscriptions emphasising this point. It can be taken for granted that there were no internal dissentions […]

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Indian History Part 68 The Qutb Shahis of Golconda Section I: A Kingdom is established

Canberra, 3 November 2018 In medieval times, the tribe of Qara Quyunla held sway over some territory that was spread between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Timur defeated the tribe during his devastating conquest of Central Asia and the Quyunla were forced to flee to Egypt. On Timur’s death and the subsequent disintegration of his empire, the […]

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