Kurnool state was a smallprincely state during theCompany rule in India.[1] It had its capital at the town ofKurnool in the present-day state ofAndhra Pradesh and was eventually annexed by theEast India Company.
Kurnool State was established by a Pathan general. It was ruled byNawabs until the British Government took over in 1839.[2] Kurnool was initially under the suzerainty of theNizam of Hyderabad. After the Nizam ceded the region to theEast India Company, thenawab, Aluf Khan, agreed to pay a voluntarypeishcush of rupees one lakh to the Company government.[3]
Ghulam Rasul Khan Bahadur (died on 12 July 1840) was the lastNawab ofKurnool.[1][4] He ruled from 1823 to 1839 until the kingdom was defeated by theEast India Company.
TheWahhabi movement was popularised in India byShah Ismail Dehlvi in the 18th century.Mubarez-ud-Daulah, younger brother of theNizam of Hyderabad,Nasir-ud-Daulah, was inspired by the Wahhabi movement.[5] According toThomas Herbert Maddock, Mubarez-ud-Daulah was instrumental in spreading the Wahhabi movement in theDeccan region.[6]
Nawab Rasool Khan of Kurnool was also influenced by the movement. WhenMubarez-ud-Daulah learned of it, he struck a secret deal with him. According to the deal, Rasool Khan would set up a secret arsenal to manufacture arms. In return, Mubarez-ud-Daulah would provide monetary help.[5]
Inc. 1835, a rumor spread that a Russian army was advancing towards India from Central Asia. It was also believed that the combined armies of Mubarez-ud-Daulah and Rasool Khan had overthrown the East India Company and defeated NizamNasir-ud-Daulah. Subsequently, theMaratha Empire would be restored and Mubarez-ud-Daulah would be appointedsubahdar of Deccan byMohammad Shah Qajar, the Shah of Persia.[5][7]
[8] On 12 October 1839, a war broke out betweenBritish Indian Army and the kingdom and continued for six days until the king was detained on 18 October. He was subsequently sent toTiruchirappalli Central Prison where he died on 12 July 1840.[9][1][3]
List of the Pathannawabs of Kurnool-[10]
| Nawab | Reign | |
|---|---|---|
| From | Until | |
| Khizr Khan Panni | 1674 | 1677 |
| Daud Khan Panni | 1690 | ? |
| Ibrahim Khan Panni | ? | 1724 |
| Alif Khan I | 1724 | 1733 |
| Himayat Bahadur Khan | 1733 | 1751 |
| Munawar Khan | 1751 | 1792 |
| Alif Khan II | 1792 | 1815 |
| Muzaffar Khan | 1815 | 1816 |
| Munawar Khan | 1816 | 1823 |
| Ghulam Rasul Khan | 1824 | 1839 |