#rudrama-devi

[247reader]

Day 15: Rudrama Devi!

Rudrama Devi was a ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty, the daughter and heir of Ganapati, who ruled large swathes of Southern India. Her father had no sons, and by the early 1260s, he had appointed Rudrama his co-ruler; as her father’s health failed, he granted her the throne in his place.

Vassals and relatives scented blood in the water. Multiple lords, including Rudrama’s uncle, rose in revolt; with the aid of the allies she’d won as a princess, she defeated them. Over the next decades, inscriptions in neighboring kingdoms carry a similar theme: a ruler, after crushing his enemies, had elected, out of chivalry towards women, not to crush Rudrama. In fact, she beat back each army who tried. She reorganized the military, recruiting common-born warriors and constructing strategic forts. Her most dangerous military threat, however, came in the form of an ambitious southern vassal, Amba-deva; a formerly-loyal general who declared himself an independent ruler. Rudrama, now in her eighties, accompanied her army to battle once more - but was killed.

Her grandson and heir, Prataparuda, avenged his grandmother and defeated Amba-deva, but he would be the dynasty’s last ruler. Rudrama’s legacy, however, lives on in modern Telagana, through statues, stories, and, nowadays, film.

[hundredthousandtimes]

PERIOD DRAMA APPRECIATION WEEK 2024:

Day 2 - Favourite character(s):

Penelope Featherington - Bridgerton Rudrama Devi - Rudramadevi Hürrem Sultan - Magnificent Century Lucrezia Borgia - The Borgias Keliyete Hailan - Legend of Ruyi Lagertha - Vikings

[city-of-ladies]

An unprecedented female monarch in her dynasty, Rudrama Devi (r.1262-1289) presided over an age of prosperity. A successful warrior queen, she triumphed over both internal and external threats.

Her father’s heir

Rudrama Devi was the daughter of King Ganapati Deva (r.1199-1262) of the Kakatiya dynasty, who ruled over parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. Their capital was located at Orugallu (Warangal). 

Ganapati Deva was a successful monarch. His kingdom was famed for its’ diamonds and beautiful fabrics. He had no son to succeed him and his older daughter was already married. He thus decided to make his younger daughter Rudrama Devi his heir and gave her the requisite training.

A female monarch would nonetheless be a in vulnerable position and see her legitimacy questioned. To make female rule more acceptable, he arranged a Putrikayagna ceremony for his daughter. This religious rite allowed a sonless man to declare his daughter or his daughter’s son as his son. After that, Rudrama Devi was also known by the masculine name of Rudra Deva. She also attended all public meetings in masculine attire. 

Her story is similar in that regard to that of her near-contemporary, Raziya Sultan of Delhi.

A warrior among warriors

In 1259, Rudrama Devi became her father’s co-ruler and assumed sole rule in 1262. She married the Chalukya prince Virabdhadra, who played no part in her administration, and with whom she had three daughters. 

Rudrama Devi faced many threats at once. Her neighbors saw an opportunity to conquer her kingdom and her feudatory noblemen couldn’t stand being ruled by a woman.

She stood her ground and prevailed, proving her might as a warrior queen. Many of her nobles rebelled, but she successfully defeated them. The Seuna Yadava king, Mahadeva, invaded her territories and reached her capital. Rudrama Devi chased him after 15 days of fighting and forced them to pay a heavy tribute in money and horses. 

To commemorate her victory, she styled herself “Rayagajakesari” or “the lion who rules over the elephant kings”. In the pavilion she built, she was depicted as a warrior mounted on a lion, holding a sword and a shield, with an elephant trunk holding up a lotus to her in sign of submission. 

In 1262, another of her neighbors occupied the Vengi region. She was able to recover it after 12 years of fighting. She was nonetheless unsuccessful in fending off the attacks of her southern rival Ambadeva.

Meritocratic policies

Rudrama Devi completed the construction of the nearly impregnable Warangal Fort. She bought large tracts of land under cultivation, increasing her kingdom’s revenue. She also recruited non-aristocratic warriors from diverse castes. Only 17 percent of her subordinates were of noble background. Prominent commanders could receive lands and become feudatory nobles. She thus established a new warrior class. Since the nobility had rejected her rule, this meritocratic policy allowed her to surround herself with loyal retainers.

Marco Polo, who mistook her for a widow of the previous king, wrote about her very flattering terms, calling her a “lady of much discretion” and a “lover of justice, of equity and of peace”. 

A warrior to the end

At the end of her reign, she chose her grandson, Prataparudra, as her heir. 

Rudrama Devi likely died in 1289 (though some sources date her death from 1295) according to an inscription made by a member of her army commemorating her recent death and that of her army chief. The cause and location of her death are unknown. She likely died facing Ambadeva's armies, leading her troops as she had always done.

Further reading

Gupta Archana Garodia, The women who ruled India, leaders, warriors, icons

Janchariman M., Perspectives in Indian History From the Origins to AD 1857

Talbot Cynthia, "Rudrama‐devi, Queen of Kakatiya dynasty (r. 1262–1289)", In: The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History. 

Talbot Cynthia, Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra

[valkyries-things]

RUDRAMA DEVI // QUEEN OF THE KAKATIYA DYNASTY

“She was a Kakatiya Queen-regnant who ruled substantial parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in southern India. She was among the few and the most successful female rulers of Indian history. Early during her reign, Rudrama appears to have faced a revolt, which she was able to suppress with the support of her loyalists. She recovered some of the territories that the Kakatiyas had lost to their southern neighbours - the Pandyas - during the late 1250s and the early 1260s. She also repulsed invasions by the Seunas (Yadavas) from the north-west, and the Gajapatis from the north-east. In the 1270s and the 1280s, Rudrama lost much of her southern territory to a revolt by the Kayastha chief Amba-deva, and likely lost her life in a conflict against him in 1289.”

[indisden]

Anushka Shetty  as Rudrama Devi (Rudhramadevi)

born 1981, of Tuluva origins - please cast respectfully ♥

textures by andthereisawoman

[diioonysus]

history | powerful women

[yioh]

rudrama devi, warrior queen of the kakatiya dynasty

this is my interpretation of rudrama devi, i’m quite fascinated by her history. she seems to be described as an outstanding queen, whose best interest always remained with her people, whilst simultaneously battling with those who opposed her rule due to her gender. even in the midst of all this, she achieved many things, such as introducing policies allowing non aristocratic people to be hired in the administration, signing peace accords with enemies and more. 

[delicatearcadedeer]

tourismhyderabad

Many Hindu temples were developed under the patronage of Ganapati Deva, Rudrama Devi and Prataparudra who were of Kakatiya dynasty. The Thousand Pillar Temple was believed to be constructed during the period between 1175–1324 CE by order of the king, Rudra Deva. It stands out to be a masterpiece and achieved major heights in terms of architectural skills by the ancient Kakatiya Vishwakarma Sthapathis.

[apricops]

this statue, built recently in honor of the 13th-century Kakatiya dynasty monarch Rudrama Devi, has completely unapologetic titty armor

[thetiara]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Tiara Pageant Coaching (@thetiarapageanttrainingstudio)

@Regran_ed from @pageantstop - Check the historical National costume of Miss India 🇮🇳 🎥 @nehalchudasama9✨ For the National Costume round, she will be dressed as an Indian Warrior Princess. Her National Costume features a matching throne inspired from the scenes of the movie Rudrama Devi, which showcases the Kakatiya Dynasty- a South Indian dynasty which was ruled by the North Indian Sultanate. A quick fact: The costume weighs 105 pounds (50kgs) and is 6'5 tall. Thank you @neeta_lulla and @melvynnoronha for the costume. Fashion Director: @rockystarofficial Assisted by @akshita.vhatkar 5 hours to go for the National Costume show! 🇮🇳 Let's do this India. #MissUniverse #India #MissUniverseIndia #MissUniverse2018 #NehalChudasama #ConfidentlyBeautiful #missdivauniverse #MissUniverso #MissUniverso2018 #natcos #thailand #nehal4universe #usa #missindia2018 #missusa2018 #missthailand2018 #missparaguay2018 #missvietnam2018 #missphilippines2018 #missindonesia2018 #pageant #beautyqueensforever - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/BrO2cOiANry/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14d2bk4whr7be

[buzz-london]

Rudrama Devi: Warrior-Queen of the Kakatiya Dynasty | Telugu History | India

Indian history is full of interesting women, but perhaps foremost among them is Rudrama Devi, a Telugu Queen whose rule as Queen-Regnant of the famed Kakatiya Dynasty lasted for thirty years.

During this time, she fought off a number of different adversaries, and continued in her father's footsteps, implementing many impactful social reforms.  Even today, the water tanks installed during her reign see use.

Whether you're looking for a feminist perspective on Indian history, or are simply looking to understand a storied dynasty and one of its greatest rulers, it is worth getting to know Rudrama Devi.

https://youtu.be/DuSzQYjNI7c

[clevercase]

With the bravery of Rudrama Devi ...

With the bravery of Rudrama Devi …

Bully ›Our channel is ready to unveil the glory of the Kakatiya Empire and the brave adventures of Rani Rudramadevi on the screen. Bully on screen …. Source link

[nvsrworld]

3. RUDRAMMA DEVI.

Rudrama Devi: The Princess Who Became A Prince

Let us see the Queen who ruled a part of present Andhra Pradesh!

Rudrama Devi, or Rudradeva Maharaja, ruled Orugallu

Present-Warangal in the thirteenth century for forty years,

Presided over the Golden age of the Kakatiyas.

The only independent female ruler seen by Marco Polo

In his journey across the world. Her father Ganapata…

[yioh]

hi, i'm back to annoy you, but the plot for princess and her thief *chefs kiss* , reminds me of rudramadevi, but gayer and we love seeing it, i wish we really do get a gay desi period movie/drama someday

lasya u do not annoy me at all grrr !!!! i love talking to u so much ok? anD MFNDNDND listen i love the fact that rudrama devi exists so much she is the coolest mf to exist in ancient indian history i think abt her daily so this is the biggest compliment gkgjgjf and bro ...... same ..... like IMAGINE a baahubali scale desi period movie and the mc is gay i think my jaw would actually drop .... welp one day in the future ig

anonymously (or not) ask me any question you’d like to know about me

[thetiara]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ritika Ramtri (@ritikaramtri)

@Regran_ed from @pageantstop - Check the historical National costume of Miss India 🇮🇳 🎥 @nehalchudasama9✨ For the National Costume round, she will be dressed as an Indian Warrior Princess. Her National Costume features a matching throne inspired from the scenes of the movie Rudrama Devi, which showcases the Kakatiya Dynasty- a South Indian dynasty which was ruled by the North Indian Sultanate. A quick fact: The costume weighs 105 pounds (50kgs) and is 6'5 tall. Thank you @neeta_lulla and @melvynnoronha for the costume. Fashion Director: @rockystarofficial Assisted by @akshita.vhatkar 5 hours to go for the National Costume show! 🇮🇳 Let's do this India. #MissUniverse #India #MissUniverseIndia #MissUniverse2018 #NehalChudasama #ConfidentlyBeautiful #missdivauniverse #MissUniverso #MissUniverso2018 #natcos #thailand #nehal4universe #usa #missindia2018 #missusa2018 #missthailand2018 #missparaguay2018 #missvietnam2018 #missphilippines2018 #missindonesia2018 #pageant #beautyqueensforever - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/BrO2L5mgZJ2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=100rajcv5yibr

[hearttollywood]

Character Outfits: Anushka Shetty as Rudrama Devi