Kadapa
(Cuddapah) is considered to be one of the district endowed
with rich history. Though its history goes back to second
century B C, primarily it starts with Mourya & Satavahana
dynasty as per the Archeological survey evidences. It was
the battle field for several dynasties - Pallava, Chalukya,
Cholas who waged wars for getting authority over South India.
The Pallava kings penetrated from a time into the North
of Cuddapah district and ruled for a certain period during
the 5th century. Later on the Cholas defeated the Pallavas
and their rule appears to have lasted till the later part
of the 8th century. Subsequently the next dynasty which
established its authority for a considerable period to be
that of Banas
With the retreat of the Banas, Cuddapah came under the sway
of a dynasty of kings called the Rastrakutas. King Indra
III (915 A.D.) a later king Krishna III were the popular
rulers. With the death of king Krishna III, the power and
influence of this dynasty declined. The Telugu Cholas who
were feudatories of Chola dynasty ruled entire Cuddapah
District and their power seems to have suffered a temporary
eclipse due to the aggression of Pandas but soon, the Cholas
kingdom firmly established once again in the district during
the first half of the 13th century.
In the latter half of 13th century, the district fallen
in to the hands of Ambadeva who had temporarily usurped
the Kakatiya crown and ruled from Vallur, 15 Kms. from Cuddapah
and during his time the land survey carried out and a river
channel was constructed at Lebaka. Subsequently Kakatiya
King Prataparudra succeeded the throne after death of Ambadeva
and ruled the district with Warrangal as the Capital during
the opening of 14th century.
But in A.D.1309, came the invasion of the Deccan by Muslims
during the reign of Khilji emperor Alla Uddin and Pratapa
Rudra was defeated and he was carried as a prisoner to Delhi
and hence Warrangal, the capital came into the hands of
Alla-ud-din.
In A.D.1336 the Vijayanagar Kingdom was found by Hari Hara
and Bukka. During A.D.1344 a Hindu confederation of Warrangal,
Krishna Vijaya NagaramRaja and the Hoysala King of Mysore,
with an immense force drove the Muslims out of Warrangal
and rolled back the tide of their advance. This is the out
come establishment of Vijayanagar empire and during the
two centuries of its ascendancy.
In the battle of Talikota, the Hindus and Muslims with forces
of almost fabulous strength, contested for the supremacy
over Deccan and with the result the Hindus were totally
defeated and the Deccan fallen into the hands of King of
Golkonda.
In the year 1740 the Marathas invaded and defeated the Nawab
of Kurnool and Cuddapah. Hyder Ali obtained the possession
of Gurramkonda and Cuddapah from the hands of Marathas and
appointed his brother-in-law Mir Saheb in Cuddapah district.
Hence Mir Saheb and his son Kamaluddin were the first rulers
of the district. The district later fell in to the Nizam
by the treaties of Mysore and Srirangapatnam.
Later on this area was ceded to the British by the Nizam.
Cuddapah tasted the lawlessness of the 'palegars'. Finally
Major Munro, the first District Collector took over the
reins of administration. He gave peace to the people of
this region.
Shaik Peer Shah took prominent part in the first war of
Independence in 1857. During the subsequent decades, people
followed the leaders of the freedom movement and rejoiced
with the rest of the people when India became free in 1947.
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