History of Khammam District

One of the 16 Mahajanapadas. The region formed part of this early kingdom. Languages: Prakrit. Religions: Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism.

Founded by Chandragupta Maurya. Under Ashoka, Buddhism spread. Prakrit was the court language. The region came under Mauryan influence after the conquest of the Deccan.

Founder: Simuka. Languages: Prakrit, Sanskrit, Telugu. The Satavahanas ruled much of the Deccan, including the Khammam region, as vassals of the Mauryan Empire initially.

The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri ruled the region after the Satavahanas. Nelakondapally excavations have yielded lead coins bearing elephant symbols, which may be ascribed to the Ikshvaku period.

Founder: Vindhyashakti. Capital: Vatsagulma (Washim, Maharashtra). Languages: Maharashtri Prakrit, Sanskrit. Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism.

Founder: Indravarma. Capitals: Amrabad, Bhuvanagiri, Keesaragutta. Languages: Telugu, Sanskrit. Religion: Hinduism (Vaishnavism). Excavations at Nelakondapally yielded three copper coins issued by Vishnukundin kings.

Founder: Pulakeshin I. Pulakeshin I took parts of Telangana from Vishnukundins in c. 550 CE, and Pulakeshin II completed the conquest in 611 CE. Languages: Kannada, Sanskrit. Religion: Jainism, Hinduism.

The Kakatiyas ruled as vassals to the Rashtrakutas (753–982 CE) and later the Western Chalukyas (982–1158 CE) with capitals at Kakatipura, Anumakonda (Hanumakonda), and Orugallu (Warangal).

Son of Beta II, brother of Durgaraja. 4 March 1120 CE – Materu, Khammam District: The Telugu inscription on a stone in front of the Gopalaswamy temple records the gift of lands for offerings to the temples of Mahadeva, Vinayaka, and Kesavadeva, consecrated by Mahasamanta Vemabola Boddama-Mallenayaka, the servant (bantu) of Mahamandalesvara Kakatiya Prolaraja.

Probably of the Vema Cola-kula, who appears to have championed the cause of the Kakati family by defeating their enemies.

Rudradeva (1158–1195): First independent Kakatiya ruler.
Mahadeva (1195–1199): Brother of Rudradeva.
Ganapatideva (1199–1261): Expanded the empire to its zenith.
Rudramadevi (1261–1289): One of the few female rulers in Indian history.
Prataparudra (1289–1323): Last Kakatiya ruler.

1310 CE: Malik Kafur of Delhi Sultanate defeated Prataparudra, forcing annual tribute. The Koh-i-Noor diamond passed to Alauddin Khalji. 1323 CE: Ulugh Khan (Muhammad bin Tughluq) captured Warangal, ending the Kakatiya dynasty.

A movement was started at Rekapalli under Musunuri Prolaya Nayaka and his cousin Kapaya Nayaka, who succeeded in driving away the Muslims in 1328 CE. Kapaya Nayaka became ruler in 1333 CE and Warangal once again became the capital of the Telugu country. 1350 CE: Bahman Shah forced him to cede Kaulas Fort.

1463 CE: Sultan Mohammad Shah Bahmani dispatched Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk to quell disturbances in Telangana. 1512 CE: He defeated Shitab Khan to capture Khammam fort. 1518 CE: Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk declared independence, establishing the Golconda Sultanate.

Ruled from Rachakonda (Nalgonda), Warangal, and Khammam forts. Defeated by Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk in 1512 CE.

Sri Krishna Deva Raya of the Tuluva dynasty. 4 May 1516 CE – Nelakondapalli, Khammam: Telugu inscription on a pillar records the grant of land to some shrines in Kondapalli, on the orders of Kondamarusayya, who ruled as governor in the reign of Krishna-deva-raya.

Nalagonda (Nalgonda), Khammamet, and Khandikonda are referred to as important places in the Gajapati kingdom captured by Krishna Deva Raya.

After Krishna Deva Raya, the region came under the rule of Golconda Qutb Shahis. Abdul Hasan Tana Shah was the last ruler, whose employees included Kancharla Gopanna (Bhadrachala Ramadas). Ministers Akkana and Madanna were from Warangal. 1636 CE: Shah Jahan forced the Qutb Shahis to recognize Mughal suzerainty, which lasted until 1687 CE.

Jallepalle, Khammam District: Inscription on a rocky outcrop refers to the rule of Dachayamnayani over Andhradesa including Jallipalli. Also mentions the name Pratigamda Bayaravumda. In characters of the 15th–16th century A.D.

1687 CE: Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Golconda Sultanate. 1713 CE: Mir Qamaruddin Siddiqi was appointed governor by the Mughals. 1724 CE: He was granted control of Hyderabad with the title Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah, establishing the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

1798 CE: Hyderabad became the first Indian royal state to accede to British protection under the Subsidiary Alliance. 1946–1951: Telangana Rebellion. 15 August 1947: Indian Independence; Nizam Osman Ali Khan chose to remain independent. 17 September 1948: Operation Polo integrated Hyderabad into India.

26 January 1950 – 31 October 1956: Hyderabad State with Nizam as Rajpramukh. 6 March 1952 – 31 October 1956: Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao was elected Chief Minister.

Khammam City was originally the seat of Taluk Administration, part of the larger Warangal District, until 1 October 1953. Five taluks of Warangal district — Khammam, Madhira, Yellandu, Burgampadu, and Paloncha (now Kothagudem) — were carved out and a new district Khammam was formed with Khammam as District Headquarters.

1 November 1956: Andhra State and Telangana region of Hyderabad State were merged to form Andhra Pradesh State. 1959: Bhadrachalam Revenue Division consisting of Bhadrachalam and Nuguru Venkatapuram Taluks of East Godawari district, which were on the other side of the Godavari River, were merged into Khammam on grounds of geographical contiguity and administrative viability.

2 June 2014: Telangana was formed as the 29th state of India. Khammam became one of the key districts of the new state.

Excavations on the mound called Bairagi-gadda exposed four irregular brick-walls plastered with lime. The digging yielded:

• Three copper coins issued by Vishnukundin kings.
• Lead coins bearing elephant symbols, which may be ascribed to the Ikshvaku period.
• Nine mutilated sculptures recovered earlier by villagers, shifted to the State Museum at Vijayawada.

Telugu inscription on a stone in front of the Gopalaswamy temple. Records the gift of lands for offerings to the temples of Mahadeva, Vinayaka, and Kesavadeva, consecrated by Mahasamanta Vemabola Boddama-Mallenayaka, the servant of Mahamandalesvara Kakatiya Prolaraja.

Telugu inscription on a pillar. Records the grant of land to some shrines in Kondapalli, on the orders of Kondamarusayya, who ruled as governor in the reign of Krishna-deva-raya of Vijayanagara.

Inscription on a rocky outcrop refers to the rule of Dachayamnayani over Andhradesa including Jallipalli. Also mentions the name Pratigamda Bayaravumda.