3.

THE PALEGARS OF RAYALASEEMA

RISE OF PALEGAR SYSTEM IN RAYALASEEMA

It has been noted that the palegar system

originated as a peculiar institution in South India under

troub1ed conditions. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

accounted for the maximum number of pa 1 agars The

pa 1egars did not appear on the political scene either

suddenly or spontaneously. They came into existence

gradually through stages and as a result of an interplay

of historical circumsatances and political considerations.

As such they represented not only the product of the

system of the age but also it ------ . They lived and

flourished as long as the same situation that gave rise to

them prevailed but declined and vanished when a new order

 56

During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the

Vijayanagara rulers had bestowed on or confirmed vassal

chiefs, bearing various titles, sundry tracts in Mysore on

conclusion of payment of tribute and rendering military

service. Those chiefs who were in the northern parts of

the empire were directly controlled from the imperial

capital. The southern chiefs were placed under a viceroy

whose seats of Government was at Srirangapatnam. The

battle of Talikota in 1565 was a serious blow and set back

to the fortunes of the Vijayanagara Empire. It enabled

some of the ambitious vassals to (arrest) themselves.

However, the Empire held together and alTegiance continued

to be paid to few representatives of the state at

Penugonda and to the Viceroy at Srirangapatnam. Only

after the decadence of the Aravidu dynasty, did the chiefs

2
declared themselves independent.

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE

The ceded districts embrance an area of about

26,000 square miles, nearly half the size of England. The

population of these districts consists of mainly

Telugu-speaking people. The shape of this area resembles

a wedge driving westwards into the kannada-speaking

country, and separating modern Mysore from the Bombay

Province, The ceded districts have always formed a

frontier area-zone within which the pressure of the

invasions from the north came up. At the same time these

incursions felt the impact of effective opposition from

the south. The Vijayanagara became the great bulwark of

strength and resistance against the onslaught of Deccan

3
Mus1ims.

In the sixteenth century the Vijayanagara Empire

disintegrated and by 1800 the ceded districts fell into

the hands of the British. In the beginning the ceded

districts were formed with the single collectorate of

Bellary. In 1807 they were split into two collectorates,

name 1y, Be 1lary and Cuddapah. In 1858 Kurnoo1 was

constituted into a separate district. Later in 1882 the

District of Anantapur was added. It shou1d be noted that

 58

the native Feudatory state of Sundur in the Bellary

Collectorate and the princely state of Bangakapaily

(Banaganapa11y) in the Kurnool collectorate were separate

entities. They did not come under the jurisdiction of the

4
ceded districts.

The story of the emergence of the palegar system

in the ceded district is interesting. Even in the early

years of the 16th century we find the palegars were

encouraged and patronized by the Imperial rulers. The

rulers themselves were constantly involved in warfare and

needed the services of the chieftains. The Dukes were in

perpetual need of money. It is true that more than the

feudatory houses, it was the palegars who could provide

their royal masters with the necessary funds. These funds

were collected from the people by regular and irregular

5
ways.

As long as palegars collected the dues in a

peaceful way, things moved on smoothly. But the moment

 59

they indulged in loot, pillage and forced exaction,

disorder and chaos followed. There were complaints of

people being terrorized. These excesses had assumed such

as proportion that even journey on the highways became

unsafe. Such of those chiefs who had been crushed by the

imperial army went underground and began swelling the

ranks of way side robbers. In the great regime of the

celebrated Krishnadevaraya himself, special kavalgars with

grants of jagir had to be appointed to provide safety on

the roads.®

The country was plagued by civil wars. There was

breakdown of law and order everywhere. Consequently the

authority of the central government was weakened. The

powers of the poligars increased to such an extent that

they began to rule themselves as independent princes in

their own sphere of influence. It was also true that some

kavaI gars who had acquired ’polloms* or palayams during

the Vijayanagara period became palegars in the 19th

century. The palegars who were basically war-lords

 30

enjoyed plenty of powers. Some of them having their armed

U'*''
camps in the heart of the forest turned to be naturally ^
free-footers. Others could trace their connections with (£'

old royal houses, high officials or revenue officials ' 7

J

under ancient kingdons.^

After their victory over the Vijayanagara, the

Golkonda Sultans could not establish their political

p'

ascendency over the conquered territory. Therefore in the ft-

ns*

absence of any effective central authority in the power

|U

vaccun created by the collapse of the Vijayanagara

Kingdom, local chiefs and palegars could easily emerge

powerful,. Various circumstances enabled them to exercise

sovereign rights within their jurisdiction. The

independence of the palegars continued under the weak

rulers of king Tirumalaraya who had his seat of power at

o
Penukonda.

During the hegemony of the deccan Sultans, the

palegars assumed even more power. Adoni was lost to the

 <X

1/
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k\ V"

/V!
61 (X">

Sultan of Bijapur from the descendant of Vijayanagara.

Following this a great part of Bellary District was

swallowed by a number of palegars. In 1677 the Marata

leader Shivaji captured the Fort of Bellary and subdued a

few palegars when actually the Sultan of Bijapur

capitulated Bellary to Shivaji, the palegars of the

district began paying to the Chatrapathi the customary

tribute called the Chaj£^h.®

In 1687 the Mughul Emperor Aurangzeb annexed both

Bijapur and Golkonda to the Mughul Empire. Despite the

development the palegars still enjoyed their *Po11oms* in

a state of semi-independence. In 1723 Asaf Jah, the

Mughul viceroy of Deccan declared his independence and

thus was born the new state of Hyderabad. Yet Bellary was

troubled. The Maratas continued to collect tribute from

the palegars. In 1713 Sundur was seized by the Maratas

10
from palegar chief.

Exactly at this time a new power was rising in

the Southern State of Mysore. In 1761 Hyder Ali who was

 \
$

62

in the service of the Hindu Raja family of Mysore

overthrew the Raja and usurped power. He moved through

Bellary and received submission of the palegars there. In

1776 when the palegars to the Subedhar of Deccan, Hyder

Ali attacked him with the help of the French. Later Hyder

Ali himself took the Fort of Adoni. The Subedhar and all

the palegarsof Bellary including those of Adoni,

Harapanahal1i and Rayadurgam acknowledged the supremacy of

Mysore. Hyder Ali’s son Tipu Sultan dismantled the

fortifications of Adoni in 1786.**

THE BRITISH IN THE CEDED DISTRICT

The districts Ceded to the company by the Nizam’s

government in October 1800 were for the purpose of

defraying the costs of a subsidiary force in Hyderabad.

From its western border in Bellary to the eastern border

in Cuddapah, the territory of the ceded districts extended

over 200 miles. The largely monotonous and treeless Ceded

districts plain, sloping from west to east, and ranging

 63 r vf’ V
.0 C

0 1
between 3000 and 1000 feet above sea level, were cut by

many river systems. There were the Tungabadra in the

North and West, the Pennar and Cheyyaru systems in the

west, but only the Pennar opens to a basin of any size, in

Cuddapah. High as well as dry, the Ceded districts lay

within low rainfall zone which stretches from Maharastra

to Cape Comorin. The rainfall is very low. It was

12
therefore an area with a high risk of drought.

Agriculture in the harsh environment was a risky

operation. Grinding poverty, punctuated by famine, was

the lot of its people. In 1805 Hunro reported that the

ryots of the Ceded Districts were divisible with those

classes a 'better sort’ of about 20% of land holding. a

'midling sort’ of 45% of patta class and a 'poorer sort’,

holding the balance of 35% land. Approximately 54% of the

population was engaged in agriculture. The British also

found the political condition in the Ceded districts were

as hard as the palegorical features.

 64

RAYALASEEMA PALEGARS AND THE COMPANY

Munro as the Chief col lector of the ceded

districts was charged 'to introduce regular Government

into a province hitherto an subduejjL - He had to suppress

the evils arising from the weakness of the Nizam’s

Government. He had to cope with 30,000 armed retainers of

palegars who roamed the countryside. Almost everywhere

these local chiefs or palegars had constituted their

13
governments.

THE PALEGAR OF BELLARY

The origin of the Bellary Palegar family is

shrouded in obscurity. The ancestors of this family

appear to be a Kuruba (Shepherd Caste) named Hanumappa

Nayaka. Several palegar families like those of Bellary;

Harapanahai1i, Jarannali rose immediately after the fall

of the Vijayanagara empire. The above-mentioned Khuruba

ancestor seems to have been an officer of the Vijayanagara

 65

Kingdom. In that capacity he acquired the areas of

Kurugodu and Takkalakota from the Adil Shah of Bijapur on

payment of a tribute and performance of military service

with three thousand peons. His successors ruled Bellary

until 163i.14

The successors of Hanumappa Nayaka ruled Bellary

till 1631, when the Muslims took over the areas and ruled

over them for some time. Two more of the palegar families

namely, Chikka Malahappa and Chikka-Nayaka Saheb also had

some authority. In 1678 Marata Chief Shivaji had become

the master of the fort for a while. The fort was however

restored to the family on payment of a tribute. In 1780

Emperor Aurangzeb became the master of these areas after

suppressing the Maratas.

About 1692 the palegar family again obtained

authority over the Bellary Fort and succession of palegars

like Devappa Nayaka, Hariappa Nayaka II, Hire Ramappa,

Chikka Ramappa, Neelamma, and Daddatale Ramappa ruled till

 86

the invasion of Hyder Ali on Beilary in 1775 who seized

the fort. The palegar of Beilary witnessed the rise and

fall of their destiny in this way. 15

HARAPANAHALLI PALEGARS

The Harapanaha11i family was the most powerful of

all the palegar families in the district with a long

history. The founder of this line was a Beda named

Dadayya. Following the fall ofVijayanagar in 1565

Dadayya made himself master of Bagali and Nilagunda with

the areas around them. Dadayya attacked and defeated

Kenganna Nayaka of Besavapatra. He married the daughter

of Jakkanna on whose behalf he went to war with Venganna

Nayaka. He received as a reward the hill fort of

Chitradurga then controlled by the Chitradurga palegar.*®

After some time when Dadayya quarrelled with his

father-in-law he married again the daughters of the

palegar of Jaramali, the palegar of Gudikota and the chief

 G7

of Bilichodu in Chitradurga Daddayya died in 1592.

Daddyya was forced to pay tribute to Adilshab of Bijapur.

But on the decline of Bijapur, Dadayya’s successors

extended their possessions. Now Harapanaha11i estate

consisted of 460 villages with an income of over eight

lakhs of rupees. In 1680 the Harapanahal1i Palegar

acknowledged the Marata suzerainty.

Many successors of Daddayya ruled till the time

-jS<W
of Som^para Nayaka in 1766, during whose time Harpanahalli

reached the height of its prosperity, According to Munro

he paid a peshkash of 12,000 Pagodas to the Nizam, 6,000

to the Raja of Gooty, and from two to three lakhs of

Pagodas to the Peshwa.

In 1775 Harapanahal1i was taken by Haider Ali.

However in 1792 the Fort was retaken with the help of the

Maratas. Somesekara was the last of the Harapanaha11i

Palegars. After his death in 1625 the East India Company

refused to recognise the rights of his widows and resumed

the estate, after pensioning off the widows.

 68

JARAMALI PALEGARS

The founder of this house of Palegars was one

Pennappa Nayaka, who received Jarmali as a reward from the

Vijayanagara King, Achyutaraya for his services in seizing

a rebellious chief. After the fall of Vijayanagara, he

consolidated his position. Later the Jarmali Palegar

suffered at the hands of Adil Shah of Bijapur and the

chiefs of Chitradurga and Harapanaha11i. However, the

Mysore Sultan Haider Ali reinstated him in his estate in

1777. Pennappa’s troubles did not end these. He was

again troubled by Tipu Sultan. In the partition treaty of

1799 Jarmali was made over to the Nizam when actually

Bellary was ceded to the East India Company in 1800, he

took refuge in Mysore.*8

RULERS OF SANDUR

The Ghorpades related to the Bhonsles of the

Marata family ruled over Sandur since the 18th century and

held their fort till 1949 when its administration was

transferred to the dominion government. Siddojirao was

 69

the ancestor of the Sandur hosue. His son and successor

Murari Rao was the most famous chief of Sandur, He ruled

from Gooty. Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore captured

Sandur. After the peace treaty between the East India

Company and Tipu in 1792, the Ghorpades were allowed to

retain sandur,

Shivarao was the ruler of Sandur when Bellary was

ceded to the East India Company in 1800, But Sir Thomas

Munro marched to Sandur and took over the state. However,

Shivarao was restored to Sandur in 1818. Shivarao*s son

Venkata Rao also was given a Sanad right by the East India

Company. Sandur continued to be a dependency of the

British till the independence of India. In 1949 the ruler

signed the merger agreement and was pensioned off.

THE PALEGARS OF KURNOOL

Sir Thomas Munro*s memorandum of the palegars of

Ceded districts has listed about twenty two palegars of

the Kurnool district.

 70

1) THE K0TAK0NDA PALEGARS

The ancestor of this house Perampa Nair was

originally a Tallairay of the vi11 age of Gonagantla in

Kurnoo1. After the fa 1 1 of the Vijayanagara, he

consolidated his posit ion around Kawali , Gadwal, Raichoor

and Mudgal. A partition took place in the time of Mudapa

'Nair, a descendant of Fermapa, between two branches of the

family. The palegars met with a set back during the

invasions of Haider Ali. Munro pensioned off the

20
surviving family members of the palegar house.

2) KAPPATRALLA PALEGARS

When Haider Ali reduced the Kurnool District, the

Poligar Chota Madappa, then a boy escaped. But he was

brought back in 1777. Bassalat Jang gave him the two

villages of Rajula Mandagiri and Kannuka for his

maintenance. In 1706 Mahabat Jang gave Kappatralla in

rent to Madapa the successors of Madappa fortified

 71

Kappatralla. In 1799 both Kappatralla and Kotakonda were

placed under Amaldoss, while the family members of the old

house were pensioned off.

3) DOODI KONDA

During the Vijayanagara days Mullappa Nair was

the Kavalgar of Doodikonda and Pundikonda. His sons

rented their districts. One of his sons Papa Nair was

rated by the camel at Canteroy Pagodas 1,127. After the

East India Company took over the estate the Palegar was

granted a pension for his maintenance.

4) PANDIKONDA PALEGAR

The palegar of the estate was La 11 Muni who had

descended from Ramat Nair who was powerful during the

Vijayanagara days. The service was remitted by Asaf Jah

and the Peshcush was raised to 300 Pagodas. Under the

company rule the palegar received a small pension.

 72

5) DEVANAKONDA PALEGAR

The family served under the Vijayanagara kings.

The palegar was Raman Naik, His son was forcibly coverted

to Islam by Nazir Jang for causing some disturbance. A

part of his territory was taken over. He rebelled again

in 1768, but he died in 1795 after having been restored

his villages by Mahabat jang. The Comapany had granted

21
them palegar, Hussain Naik, a pension.

6) THE BASHWAPUR PALEGAR

Papah Nair, the ancestor of the palegar of

Bashwapur served under the Vijayanagara Kings. When the

Hyderabad rulers conquered the estate, Papah was allowed

to retain his Jagir. Aurangzeb’s officer further reduced

their services. There was a civil war in the time of

Rangapa Naik among his sons. This enabled the Mysore

Ruler Tipu Sultan to interfere in the affairs of

Bahswapur. In 1791 the then palegar Nundikeshoo Naik

failed to pay the peshcush and attend the cutcherry. He

was expelled and the district was resumed by the company.

 73

7) PULLALCHERUVU PALEGAR

This palegar descended from Papa Naik. In 1719

this palegar was incharge of 55 villages. But 45 of his

villages were by a Royal sanad given to Jagir Akbar Khan

and Sher Zeman Khan, In 1779 the palegars expelled by

Haider Ali and fled to Carnatac. But he took possession of

his districts in 1791. When the British took over the

pa layam the palegar refused to attend the cutcherry he was

expelied.

5) BOLLUPALLI PALEGAR

This palegar Jeili Baswapa Naik was the

descendant of Raja Naik. When the inheritance was divided

in 1712, his ancestors got for their share 13 of the old

villages and one new village given by the Nawab of

Cuddapah. The income amounted to 3791 cantary Pagodas.

Haider Ali expelled the then poligar in 1779. But his son

recovered the districts. When the country was ceded to

the company new villages were resumed. Having refused to

22
come to the cutcherry he was expel led.
 74

9) SYAYAPANYNI PALEGAR

The ancestors of the present palegar

Seshacha1apanthi Naik served under the Vijayanagara Kings

with 50® peons. The position of the family was not

disturbed by the conquest of the country by the kings of

Hyderabad, The Nawabs of Cuddapah gave the family 38

additional villages making the total 56 villages with a

rent of Canteroy Pagoda 13,992. Haider Ali had taken over

the Palayam in 1779.

10) RAWAR PALEGAR

Under Aurangzeb the ancestor of Suba Naik

obtained 13 villages in rent worth Canteroy Pagodas 3,127.

The rent under the Cuddapah Nawabs was further reduced.

But in 1779 Haider Ali raised the rent. Under Tipu Sultan

the Palegar continued to enjoy the same privileges. When

their company took over the district a pension was granted

to the palegar.
 75

11) CHAPALANDUGU PALEGAR

Ths family rented seven villages under the

Hyderabad Kings. Under Aruangseb they paid only Canteroy

Pagodas 65, but maintained 56 peons. The Cuddapah Nawabs

and Haider Ali raised the rent. The Palegar held his

palayam privately under the Sultan’s government. In 1792

the Nizam’s officers gave him an additional village. When

the British took over he was granted a pension of Bs.26 a

month.

12) VENKATADRI PALEGAR

Palegar Boliveeranna descended from the same

ancestos and rented 25 villages in all under the Hyderabad

kings. From the total of 300 peons they maintained the

amount was reduced to just 100 by the Cuddapah Nawab in

1712. During Haider Ali’s invasion the Palegar fled the

country. Under ths compnay he enjoyed a meagre pension.

 76

13) WURLAGUNTA PALEGAR

in 1642 the ancestor of Antapah Naik obtained a

Jagir of 7 villages with Canteroy Pagodas 452 and the

service of 50 peons. The Cuddapah Nawabs remitted the

service. The villages were resumed by Haider Ali till

they were made over to the Nizam. The Paiegar was allowed

a pension of Canteroy Pagodas 36 by the Company.

14) NALLI GALA PALEGAR

The ancestors of paiegar Venkatarasu was a vassal

of the Vijayanagara Rayas with 200 peons. When

Vijayanagara Empire declined he seized 9 villages, but was

expelled by the Hyderabad kings and Aurangazeb. The

Cuddapah Nawabs remitted the service and raised the rent.

During Haider All’s invasion paiegar fled and returned

later. The Nizam’s officers further lowered the rent.

Under the company a pension of canteroy Pagodas 50 was

granted to him.
 77

15) KOIOLKUNTLA PALEGAR

This was a vast palayam with 2000 peons whose

ancestors were vassals under the Vijayanagara Rayas. The

palegars extended their territory when Viajayanagar

declined but their power was reduced by the Hyderabad

kings. Palegar Gopal Reddy and his brother Krishna Reddy

were deprived of some of their old villages. However,

Daulat Khan gave them additional villages. The Palayam

suffered under Haider Ali in 1776. The palegars defaulted

payment to the company. When the Nizam’s officer besieged

the well-known palegar Nosam Reddy the British intervined

and took over the palayam.

16) OWKE PALEGAR

The predecessors of Palegar Rama Krishna Raj

served under the Rayas of Vijayanagara from whom they got

a Jagir in 1450 of Kamulrent Canteroy Pagodas 10,514.

The Jagir continued under the kings of Hyderabad.

Aurangzeb resumed it, but the palegar enjoyed other

 78

villages. In 1778 the palegar submitted to Haider Ali.

Under Tipu Sultan the palegar fled the country. In 1798

he was again permitted to rent a small village, Nettoor.

The company gave him a pension.

17) BADEMMANUR PALEGAR

Originally the paiegars of this palayam were a

branch of the Hanumatgundam family. They held the village

rated at Kamul rent 697 Canteroy Pagodas to maintain 50

peons. Under Aurangazeb they obtained four additional

villages. In 1778 the poligar was expelled by Haider Ali.

His wife was restored by the Nizam’s officers in 1792.

She lost the right of inheritance for the adopted son when

the company took over the estate.

18)MUT1 ALPAD PALEGAR

Ranga Naidu, Kavalgar of Mutialpad or Muthiapur

served under the Vijayanagara Rayas. With 700 peons, on

the fall of the Empire the palegar was permitted to hold

 79

the village by the Hyderabad kings. When the district was

resumed by Aurangzeb, the Nawab of Cuddapah, restored it

to the palegar. Haider Ali expelled him but Tipu Sultan’s

Anildars permitted him to run the estate privately. When

the company took over the Palayam, the famil of was

extinct.

19) WHURAPUR PALEGAR

Viswapal Reddy was palegar of Racherla under the

Vijayanagar Rayas. On the conquest of the country by the

Muslims he obtained Whurapur and some other villages in

rent worth Canteroy Pagodas 2,800 for the pay of 200

peons. The pay was reduced under Aurangzeb, but restored

by the Nawab of Cuddapah. The palegar was taken off by

Haider Ali but released later. On the take over of the

palayam by the English the Palegar was left with only

Whurapur.
 80

20) PYAPILLI PALEGAR

The ancestors of the house were raised by the

Vijayanagara Kings to command 10,000 peons, the Kamul rent

being Canteroy Pagodas 23,400. The Hyderabad kings

continued the Jagir with reduced number of peons.

Aurangzeb fixed the service at 800 peons. The Cuddapah

Nawab resumed some villages leaving the palegar 37

villages. In 1774 Haider Ali entertained the then palegar

with a party of peons. Tipu Sultan carried him to

Srirangapatnam in 1785. The company relieved him of his

services.

21) MADDIKERA PALEGAR

The founder of the family was granted a Jagir by

the Vijayanagara Kings. The Hyderabad Kings continued the

Jagir. Aurangzeb granted seven villages. Haider Ali

resumed the palayam and granted the palegar an annual

allowance. Tipu Sultan hanged him in 1789. The company

24
removed the palegar with a small pension.
 81

All the palegars of Kurnool whose fortunes have

been discussed in the forgoing pages had some thing in

common. Their origin began with the Vijayanagara Empire.

The Hyderabad Kings and the Cuddapah Nawabs had been

considerate to them. They suffered set backs during the

invasions of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan perhaps the

company found them to be a restless and dangerous lot.

Their power was ended and all their services were

dispensed with. The company considered it wise to take

over the palayuams and keep the powerful palegars at arm’s

length by giving them a pension. Of all the districts of

the Rayalaseema, Kurnool seems to top the list in the

number of palegars, nearly one fourth of the total

amounts.

THE PALEGARS OF CUDDAPAH

The most important and the earliest of the

Palegars of Cuddapah were the Matli Chiefs. The

fluctuating fortunes of the ruling dynasties of the region

 82

resulted in the rise of the Palegars. As the imperial

power declined, numerous chieftains ruling over smaller

territories asserted themselves and attempted to

expand. 25

THE MATLI CHIEFS

These cheifs were more than petty chieftains

because their territory was equal to a principality and

from the beginning of the 17th century at least they

assumed the title of Raja. They were the chieftains of

the Cuddapah district, holding sway over Siddhavatam,

Jammalamadugu, Chennuru and other places. These chiefs

were powerful at Pottappisima and Pulugur Nadu according

to reliable evidences. 26

The Matli chiefs belonged to the Devachoda

family, Claiming descent from old Chola kings, they

assumed the title of Chola-Maharaja. One of the famous

chiefs of the line named Varadayya Devachoda Maharaja

 83

built an irrigation canal, Anantaranga-Ka1uva at Fottappi.

Similarly another chief Matla Tirumalaraja gifted a villge

to Brahmins for the sake of agrahara.

Matla Ananta Deva Choda, another chief of the

same family gifted land followed by yet another scion

27
named Kumara Ananta making a similar grant.

Muthukumara Anantaraja, also is lauded in the

inscriptions as a great donor of land. The name of a

Matli chief Venkata Krishnaraju son of Perumal Raju, is

associated with the building of a shrine to the tank which

rto
had been constructed by Bacharasu Timmarasu.

Among the Matli chiefs are Yellama raja and his

son (Pedda) Anantaseema to have been celebrated figures.

The Kondaraja brothers had held important places as

Nayankaras under Sri Ranga,I of the Aravidu dynasty.

Yellamaraja and his sons joined Venkatapati ruling from

Chandragiri. When the Kondarajas tried to expand their

 84

power, Yellamaraja was sent against them on the promise

that he would be siddhavatam in^the event of his victory

over the Kondarajas. In the battle that followed the

chiefs of Siddhavatam were killed. Chennuru was captured

by Tirumalaraju, the brother of Yellamaraju. Following

these other palams like Duvvuru, Forumavilla, Kamalapuram

29
and Baddevolu were also submitted.

Matli Ananta, who was a commander during the

attack on Siddhavatam defeated the Sardar of the fort of

Gurramkonda in support of Venkatapati II, war against the

Qutbsahis. He claimed to have defeated the Sultans of

Golkonda, Ananta is reputed to have supported a rebellion

of Nandyala Krishnamaraju in the battle of

Jambulamadaka-Jamaiamadugu Ananta was also a patron of

letters. The Ayyalaraju Poets, Ayyala and Bhaskara

adorned his court. Ananta himself was the author of

Kakutta Vijayam and other Nibhandagrandha (commentaries).

When the ceded districts were brought under the

control of the British, Cuddapah region was dominated by

 85

palegars of strength and renown. The Palegars of Chitvel,

Pormamila, Narasapath, Tippireddipal i i, Uppalur,

Kamalapur, Bonamala, Yerraguntla, Sethivaripalem, Vemula,

Lopatinuntla, Kommanutla, Gopagudipa11e and Mudimpadu were

behaving as sovereign chieftains. They had their own

royal constumes, retinue and courts.

But the company’s forces which were superior in

military strength overpowered the palegars. What the

Nawabs of Cuddapah, the kings of Hyderabad, Haider Ali and

Tipu, could not achieve, the British were able to do

without much difficulty.

THE PALEGARS OF ANANTAPUR

The important palegar families of the Anantapur

district had their origin in the days of the Vijayanagara

Rajas. Among the most prominent chiefs of Anantapur, we

have the Hande chiefs, the Kundurpi chiefs and the Harati

chiefs. All these families took advantage of the

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disturbed political conditions following the fall of the

Vijayanagara Empire and consolidated their power in the

17th century.

1. THE HANDE CHEIFS

This family of chiefs originated during the

period of Ramaraya, the regent of Sadasivaraya.

Hanumappa, one of the Hande chiefs received Anantapur from

the regent as a reward for supressing a rebellion against

the Raya. During the regin of Sriranga I, the Hande chief

Timmappa Nayudu asserted independence and joined hands

with Ali Adil Sha during his invasion of Penukonda.

Malakappa Nayudu, Grandson of Hanumappa frequently shifted

his loyalty. But finally his estates were annexed by sri

Ranga to Vijayanagara.
iJO
_

Malakappa was followed by a number of chiefs who

ruled for short periods. The region finally came under

the control of the Mughals during the reign of Aurangzeb.

r
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During the times of Ramappa (1740-1752 A.D.) one of the

later Hande Chiefs, the Maratas brought the Hande chiefs

under control.30

Ramappa was a warrior who successfully conducted

expedition against Siddappa of Anantapur and the Palegar

of Rayadurg. But he was assassinated by the Palegar of

Be 11 ary.

Ramappa’s son Siddappa was the last great Hande

palegar. In 1775 Haider Ali enhanced the peshcush to be

paid by the Hande Chief. Unfortunately his estate fell

with arrears of Peshcush. He was arrested by Haider Ali

and his property was attached. His sons were -taken to

Srirangapattnam. Tipu Sulatan hanged all the male members

of the Hande family. The chief was finally pensioned off

by Sir Thomas Munro in 1800.

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, jJ
2. THE KUNDURPI CHEIFS ' /

The Kundurpi family in the Kalyandurg region came

to prominence under the Aravidu dynasty. The chief Koneti

Nayaka received Penukonda from Venkata I I as a fief. From

the Bijapur Sultan, Koneti Nayaka received Kundurpi in

exchange for Penukonda. Soon after Koneti Nayaka

established his control over Rayadurg. Koneti had an

abiding interest in the welfare of his subjects. 32

Koneti’s son Venkatapati Nayaka protected his

estate from the evil designs of the chief of Chitradurg.

He was also interested in the we I fare of the peasant

community. Timmappa the infant son of Venkatapati

succeeded him. His mother Lachcha Rama Ammavaru repulsed

the attacks of the Palegar of Chitradurg. Timmappa

assumed the title of 'Maharaja*.

Koneti Nayaka II was one of the most powerful of

the Kundurpi family. In alliance with the palegars of

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Harpanahalli and Bednur he attached the Palegar of

Chitradurg and killed them.

In 1787 Tipu Sultan captured the fort of

Rayadurg and sent the palegar and his family to

Srirangapattnam. Rayadurg thus became a part of Tipu’s

territory. After the death of Tipu, the British took over

the Palayam and the last Hands cheif Raja Gopal Nayaka,

was pensioned off.

3. THE HARATI CHEIFS

The Harati chiefs ruling over Nidugal were the

vassals of the Vijayanagara Raja Venkata III. The Harati

chief Hotenna Nayaka received the territory of Nidugal

durga. This chief built the towns of Dodderi and Harati

and named them after his ancestral homes. At his death he

divided his estate among his seven sons who fell an easy

prey to the attacks of the Bijapur army. Most of the

Harati chiefs are referred to as Mahanayakacharyas in the

 so

inscriptions. It is clear from this that the chiefs began

their careers as petty officials and later consolidated

themselves when the empire declined. Among the Harati

chiefs of Nidugal, Thimma Nripa was contemporary e»f

Sriranga 111. Most of the inscriptions of Harati palegars

are found in Madakasira taluq.

Sir Thomas Munro’s Memorandum listed about eighty

palegars totally in the Ceded districts. It was not

possible to give an account of all of them in the

foregoing pages. Only the most important palegars and

their territories have been selectively mentioned. One

common factor that emerges as a result of an analysis of

the palegar families of the Ceded districts is that the

story of the rise and fall is similar to a large extent.

Almost all these palayams came into existence as

an administrative exigency of the Vijayanagara Empire in

the 16th century. Then their fortunes began to fluctuate

according to the rulers of the moment at the decline of

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the Vijayanagara Empire. The new master like the king of

Hyderabad, the Nawabs of Cuddapah, the Mysore Rulers like

Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan and finally the East India

Company.

The British found it necessary to contain the

power of the poligars of the ceded districts, if law and

order should prevail there and the collection of revenue

increase. According to Company’s sources, bad faith of

the former governments, and the arbitrary and treacherous

conduct of their officers often drove the palegars to seek

their safety in resistance. But the motive of rendering

themselves entirely independent or extending their

territory or displaying their absurd vanity also made them

aggressive. Therefore depriving them of all power and

granting them an allowance either in land or money, for

their maintenance was the only plan that promised to

34
ensure internal peace.

The good consequences of the vigorous operations

were not confined to the particular districts whose

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refractory chiefs have been expelled, but extended to

every part of the ceded territories occupied by the

palegars, upon whom they had made such an impression, that

very few of them have, of late, opposed the civil

authority. Having described the vicissicitudes of the

palegars of the ceded districts, it becomes necessary to

study their duties, powers and status.