Reddi kingdom | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1325–1448 | |||||||||||
 .png) Reddi Kingdom and contemporary main South Asian polities in 1400 CE.[1] | |||||||||||
| Capital | Addanki (initial) Kondavidu Rajahmundry | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Telugu | ||||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval India | ||||||||||
• Established | 1325 | ||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1448 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
TheReddi kingdom orKondavidu Reddi kingdom existed from 1325 to 1448 CE insouthern India. Most of the region that was ruled by the kingdom is now part of modern-day central Andhra andRayalaseema.[2][3] It was established by Prolaya Vema Reddi in 1325.
The Telugu term "Reddi", whose earlier forms were "Raddi", "Rattodi", and "Rattakudi", linked to the Sanskrit term "Rashtrakuta",[citation needed] was used for village headmen, who were responsible for organising the cultivation of the agricultural lands of the villages and collecting taxes.[citation needed] From the seventh century, some of the members of the Rattakudi families had important posts in the administration of the kingdoms.[4] A copperplate record mentioned the grandfather of the founder of the dynasty as asainya-nayaka, a commander of the forces.[5]
The Reddi rulers played a prominent part in post-Kakatiyas. The Kakatiya empire came to an end in 1323 after the army of theDelhi sultanate invadedWarangal and captured Kakatiya ruler Pratapa Rudra. Warangal fell to the invaders and Ulugh Khan commanded Warangal and Telangana. During this time of foreign invasion and chaos in Telugu country, seeds of revolt were sown by two princes, Annaya Mantri and Kolani Rudradeva.[6][need quotation to verify]The Tughlaqs failed to keep the region under effective control and infighting coupled with conflict with local Telugu warriors led to the loss of the entire region by 1347.[7][verification needed]
This led to the rise of theMusunuris (initially based in Coastal Andhra) andRecharlas Velama dynasty in theTelangana region, while the coastal belt saw the rise of a third warrior lineage, the Reddis.[8][verification needed]
The kingdom was stablished in about 1325 by Prolaya Vema Reddi (also known as Komati Vema). He was succeeded by Anavota Reddi who consolidated the kingdom and established its capital at Kondavidu in Guntur District.[8][verification needed]
The Reddi kings’ ancestors were part of the Kakatiya military and held important posts such as the sainya-nayaka.[5][8][9][verification needed]
The Reddi kings ruledcoastal and centralAndhra for over a hundred years from 1325 to 1448.[10] At its maximum extent, the Reddi kingdom stretched fromCuttack, Orissa to the north,Kanchi to the south andSrisailam to the west.[11] The initial capital of the kingdom wasAddanki.[12] Later, it was moved to the fortifiedKondavidu to safeguard the kingdom from the regular invasions of Recherla Velama rulers and their Bahamani allies. Another subsidiary branch of the Reddi kingdom was established in 1395 atRajahmundry[13] which became independent later. The Reddis were known for their fortifications. Two majorhill forts, one atKondapalli, 20 km north west ofVijayawada and another at Kondavidu about 30 km west ofGuntur stand testimony to the fort building skill of the Reddi kings.[14] The forts ofBellamkonda,Vinukonda andNagarjunakonda in thePalnadu region were also part of the Reddi kingdom.[14] The dynasty remained in power until the mid 15th century. In 1424, Kondavidu was annexed by theVijayanagara Empire. Rajahmundry was conquered by theGajapatis some 25 years later.[10] TheGajapatis eventually lost control of coastal Andhra after the defeat of Gajapati Prataprudra Deva byKrishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara.[15]
The Reddi rulers patronised and protected Hinduism and its institutions. TheBrahmins were given liberal grants by the Reddi kings and the agraharas of Brahmins were restored. Vedic studies were encouraged. The Hindu temples ofSrisailam,Tirumala,Vontimitta andAhobilam were provided with more facilities. Prolaya Vema Reddi bestowed a number ofagraharas on the Brahmins. He was revered by the title ofApratima-Bhudana-Parasurama.[16] He commissioned major repairs to the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swami temple, and had a flight of steps built from theKrishna River to the temple. TheNarasimha Swamy temple at Ahobilam was built during his reign. He built 108 temples forShiva.[17]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Reddi Kingdom" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Telugu literature blossomed under the Reddi kings. The Reddi kings also patronizedSanskrit. Several of the Reddi kings themselves were distinguished scholars and authors. Kumaragiri Reddi, Kataya Vema Reddi and Pedakomati Vema Reddi were the most outstanding among them.Errapragada (Errana),Srinatha andPotana were poets during this period. Errapragada, the last of theKavitraya (Trinity of Poets) was the court poet of Prolaya Vema Reddi. He completed the Telugu translation of theMahabharata. He completed the rendition of theAranya Parva of Mahabharata left incomplete byNannaya Bhattu (Aadi Kavi who started the translation of Mahabharata into Telugu). He wrote Hari Vamsa and Narasimha Purana. Errana's translation of theRamayana inChapu form (a style of poetry) has been lost.[14]
| Reddi Kings[18](1325–1448 CE) | |
| Prolaya Vema Reddi | (1325–1353) |
| Anavota Reddi | (1353–1364) |
| Anavema Reddi | (1364–1386) |
| Kumaragiri Reddi | (1386–1402) |
| Kataya Vema Reddi | (1395–1414) |
| Peda Komati Vema Reddi | (1402–1420) |
| Racha Vema Reddi | (1420–1424) |
| Allada Reddi | (1414–1423) |
| Veerabhadra Reddi | (1423–1448) |
The administration was carried according to the "Dharmasutras". One-sixth of agriculture surplus was levied as tax. Under the reign of Anavota Reddi, custom duties and taxes on trade were lifted. As a result, trade flourished. Sea trade was carried through the portMotupalli. A large number of merchants settled down near it.[19]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
