The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s2.t4.7

v2.c15.s2.t4.7

The nomination of Rudrāmbā by Gaṇapatidēva as his heir and successor, and her appointment as his co-regent, did not meet with general approval. Some of the nobles of the country who were unwilling to pay obeisance to a woman and submit to her authority took up arms against her and attempted to throw off her yoke. Certain other members of the royal house, according to the Pratāpacharitra, also made a bid for the throne. It is stated that Hariharadēva and Murāridēva, sons of Gaṇapatidēva by another queen who was not the mother of Rudrāmbā, gathered their followers together, captured Warangal, and ousted Rudrāmbā from the capital city; but she had powerful supporters who rallied round her and helped her to put down the rebels with a stern hand. She marched on the capital with all speed at the head of a large army, persuaded the citizens to join her and abandon her enemies, and with their help easily effected entrance into the fort and put to death her half-brothers who there fell into her hands.³ This account, however, is not supported by other evidence. Nowhere excepting in the Pratāpacharitra do we find any mention of Gaṇapatidēva’s sons Hariharadēva and Murāridēva in the numerous epigraphical and literary records of the time. Thus in the absence of supporting evidence of a trustworthy character no historical value need be attached to the story of Hariharadēva and Murāridēva, though it is not unlikely that the account preserves the memory of a rebellion against the authority of Rudrāmbā. Most of the feudatories, generals, and officials remained firmly loyal to the queen. The Kāyastha chiefs, Jannigadēva and his younger brothers Tripurāri and Ambadēva, Prasāditya of the Rēcherla family, and some of the Reḍḍi chiefs like Gōna Gannaya Reḍḍi espoused her cause and helped her to defeat the rebels. According to the *Velugōṭivāri-vaṁśāvaḷi* Rudrāmbā’s victory over the rebels was entirely due to the unswerving loyalty and soldierly prowess of Rēcherla Prasāditya. After vanquishing the queen’s enemies, he is said to have carried through her coronation and himself to have assumed the proud titles of *Kākatiya-rājya-sthāpanāchārya* and *Rāya-pitāmahāṅka*.¹