The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s2.t4.18

v2.c15.s2.t4.18

However this may be, no trace of the Kākatīya rule is to be found either in the Gōdāvarī valley or in Vēṅgī during the first sixteen years of Rudramadēvi’s reign. The Eastern Chāḷukyan and the Haihaya chiefs who were ruling in the region during this period acknowledge no overlord. It is not possible to ascertain whether they were actually independent or were merely for some time allowed by the queen to govern as nominally autonomous princes because of their relationship to her through her marriage. During the latter part of her reign, at any rate, the Gōdāvarī valley and Vēṅgī would appear to have come once more fully under her sway. The Gajapati Vīra Bhānudēva I, son and successor of Narasiṁha I, accompanied by Arjunadēva, the Matsya chief of Oḍḍādi, and others, invaded Vēṅgī in Ś. 1196 (A.D. 1274) and advanced as far as Dākshārāmam on the Gōdāvarī.⁴ To check his advance and to defend the territories of the petty chiefs of Vēṅgī who were probably under her protection, Rudramadēvi sent an army to the east under two capable commanders, Pōti Nāyaka and Prōli Nāyaka, sons of Nallapa Nāyaka, to oppose the invasion. The Kākatīya generals met the Gajapati somewhere on the banks of the Gōdāvarī and inflicted a crushing defeat on his army. They assumed as a mark of their victory the titles *Gajapati-matta-mātaṅga-siṁha* (lion to the rutting elephant, viz. the Gajapati) and *Oḍḍiyarāya-māna-mardana* (the destroyer of the pride of Oḍḍiyarāya, that is the Gajapati).⁵ Kākatīya authority was thus re-established in the coastal Āndhra country, and that it remained unchallenged there until the end of Rudrāmbā’s reign is shown by the provenance of the inscriptions of herself and her subordinates found in the region.¹