The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s2.t4.2

v2.c15.s2.t4.2

Rudramadēvī or Rudrāmbā, who, it may be remembered, was nominated by her father Gaṇapatidēva as the heir to the throne, began to rule the kingdom, as already stated, conjointly with him as his co-regent from Ś. 1182 (A.D. 1259-60) onwards,² under the name of Rudradēva Mahārāja. During the first two or three years of her joint rule with her father, whilst she was being initiated into the mysteries of government under his guidance, the country was thrown into confusion and disorder, as we have explained above, by the Pāṇḍyan invasion and the disastrous defeat on the battlefield of Muttukūr. Although Gaṇapati was, as we know, ultimately successful in vanquishing the Pāṇḍyan armies which had penetrated as far north as the banks of the Kṛṣṇā, and in turning back the tide of invasion, he yet suffered considerable loss of territory, and his hold over his feudatories and nobles was very much shaken. In consequence of this they became more powerful and manifested an increasing tendency to act independently without reference to the central government. Realizing perhaps that he was too old and feeble to cope with the new situation, Gaṇapati appears to have withdrawn from active politics about this time and to have retired into the background, leaving the government entirely in the hands of his daughter and her counsellors.