The Recherlas (1360 CE - 1475 CE) were a prominent warrior lineage of Telangana who initially served the Kakatiyas as generals (senāpatis) and feudatories from 996 CE - 1323 CE. They first appear in inscriptions as Recherla “Reddies” and later as Nayakas stationed at strategic centers such as Kupriyal, Palampet, and Anumagallu, responsible for defending Kakatiya territories.
Following the fall of the Kakatiya empire in 1323 CE, the Recherla chiefs, like other Telugu nobles, initially aligned with the Musunuri Nayakas in the struggle against Delhi Sultanate rule, serving as key feudatories within this new confederation from 1323 CE to 1360 CE
By circa 1360 CE, as Musunuri power waned, the Recherlas under Dāma Nayaka I asserted their independence, establishing the sovereign kingdoms of Rachakonda (in Northern Telangana) and its branch at Devarakonda (in Southern Telangana). Their rule (c. 1360 - 1475 CE) represents a critical link between the Kakatiya polity and the subsequent Bahmani, Vijayanagara, and Gajapati contestations over the Telangana region.
1. Origins and Rise
Kupriyal / Palampet / Penugonda: Early power centers; strategic military outposts.
Transitional phase (13th c.): Emergence of Nayamkara system under Prasaditya Nayaka and Rudramadevi (~1279 AD), formalizing the Nayaka title.
Independent kingdoms (1360 CE–1475 CE): Rachakonda and Devarakonda branches arose after the collapse of the Kakatiyas.
Transitional phase (13th c.): Emergence of Nayamkara system under Prasaditya Nayaka and Rudramadevi (~1279 AD), formalizing the Nayaka title.
Independent kingdoms (1360 CE–1475 CE): Rachakonda and Devarakonda branches arose after the collapse of the Kakatiyas.
Rulers
Kupriyal (Kamareddy) Branch (Under Kakatiyas) (996 CE - 1281 CE)
Recherla Brahma / Bamma (996 CE –1052 CE)
Founder
General of Beta I Defeated Choda king; took doors of Kanchi Early inscriptions (general references) Kupriyal (Kamareddy)
Muccha (1052 CE –1076 CE)
General of Prola I Military campaigns under Kakatiyas — Kupriyal
Kata I (1076 CE –1108 CE)
Kataya General of Beta II Supported Beta II campaigns — Kupriyal
Kama Chamupati (1116 CE –1157 CE)
General of Prola II Defeated Manthenya Gunda; grandfather of Recherla Rudra Palampet inscription Palampet (Mulugu)
Kata II (1158 CE –1190 CE)
General of Rudradeva / Prataparudra I Military service under Kakatiyas — Palampet
Recherla Rudra (1190 CE –1262 CE)
General under Rudradeva, Mahadeva, Ganapathi Deva Ruled Kakatiay Kingdom from 1199 CE–1208 CE in Ganapathidevas absense; defended Kakatiya kingdom; instrumental in building Ramappa Temple Palampet inscription Palampet (Mulugu)
Recharla Mallaya Reddi / Malliraju (1262 CE –1281 CE)
Lord of Penugonda; Nirbhayamalla, Rayastha Panacharya Grants for Sriparvatanadha rituals (3 Sept 1280, Yadaram, Bibipet) and Nilaknanthadeva worship (19 July 1281, Kupriyal) Yadaram & Kupriyal inscriptions Kupriyal (Kamareddy), Penugonda (Mahabubabad)
Amangallu (Suryapeta) Branch (Under Kakatiyas) (1230 CE - 1323 CE)
Recherla Betala Reddi (c. 1230–1262 CE)
Lieutenant under Ganapathi Deva; Amangallu assigned
Sons Dama, Prasaditya, Rudranayaka served Kakatiyas — Amangallu (Suryapet/Nalgonda)
Prasaditya Nayaka (1262 CE –1289 CE)
Kakatiya Sthapanacharya, Rayapita Mahanka Helped Rudramadevi ascend throne;
First formal Nayaka title (1279 AD) — Amangallu / Kupriyal
Vennama Nayaka (1289 CE –1323 CE)
Chief of Prataparudra’s army Fought Delhi Sultanate (1303 AD); father of Erra Dacha — Amangallu / Palampet
Erra Dacha / Dachanayaka (1289 CE –1323 CE)
Pancha Pandyadala Vibhala, Pandya Gajakesari Father of Singama Nayaka I; fought Pandyas, Hoysalas, Delhi Sultanate; Kakatiya general — Rachakonda region
Singama Nayaka I was a subordinate/ally of the Musunuri Nayakas during the peak of their power, approximately from the 1330s until the late 1350s.Singama Nayaka I (1326 CE–1360 CE)
Based at Palampet / Rachakonda region
Rachakonda Branch (Northern Independent Kingdom, Nalgonda/Yadadri)
1. Dāma Nayaka I (c. 1360 - 1385 CE)
Brother of Singama Nayaka I
Inscription: Rachakonda Fort Inscription (Saka 1285 / 1363 CE).Content: Records the construction of the fort of Rachakonda and the digging of a large tank (Pedda Cheruvu) by Dāma Nayaka. It gives his titles like "Lord of the Southern Ocean" (Dakshina Samudradhipati).
Location: On the fort walls near the main entrance.
2. Anapota Nayaka (c. 1385-1420 CE)
Content: Records a grant for the worship of God Narasimha at Bhongir. It details his victories over the Reddy chiefs of Kondaveedu and the Kalinga Gajapati.
Inscription: Rachakonda Inscription (Saka 1320 / 1398 CE).
Content: A land grant to a Brahmin. Provides a detailed genealogy from Betala Reddi.
Fought Reddy chiefs & Bahmanis; expanded kingdom Ainavolu sasanam
3. Singama Nayaka II (Mada Nayaka) (c. 1420-1430 CE)
Inscription: Yadagirigutta Inscription (Saka 1342 / 1420 CE).Content: A grant to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Yadagirigutta. Establishes his succession after his father, Anapota.
4. Lakshmana Rao (c. 1430-1435 CE)
Inscription: Panagal Inscription (Saka 1355 / 1433 CE).Content: Records a grant made at Panagal (in Nalgonda district) during his reign, showing the extent of his territory.
5. Dāma Nayaka II (c. 1435-1460 CE)
Reign Context: His reign was marked by continuous warfare against the Bahmani Sultanate. He ruled alongside his relative, Peda Anapota Nayaka, the ruler of Devarakonda, in a close alliance.Key Inscription: His reign is attested by the Devarakonda Inscription of Saka 1368 (1446 CE), issued during the rule of Peda Anapota Nayaka. This inscription confirms Dāma Nayaka II as the contemporary ruler of Rachakonda and highlights the collaborative nature of their rule against common threats.
End of Reign: Dāma Nayaka II was the last ruler to hold Rachakonda with a significant degree of independence. The fort was finally conquered by the Bahmani Sultanate around or shortly after his death in 1460 CE.
Bahmani Sultanate, under Sultan Humayun Shah and his minister Mahmud Gawan, launched a decisive campaign in the 1450s-60s. The fort of Rachakonda fell around 1460 CE, marking the end of that kingdom.
Devarakonda Branch (Southern Independent Kingdom, Mahabubabad/Khammam)
1. Vedagiri (c. 1400-1410 CE) - The Founder of the Branch
Inscription: Devarakonda Inscription (Saka 1325 / 1403 CE).Content: Records his appointment as ruler of Devarakonda by his father, Anapota Nayaka of Rachakonda. It establishes the subsidiary line.
2. Rao Dāma Nayaka (c. 1410-1430 CE)
Inscription: Devarakonda Fort Inscription (Saka 1333 / 1411 CE).Content: Records the construction of a temple and grants to it. Provides his genealogy linking him to Vedagiri and the main Rachakonda line.
3. Peda Anapota Nayaka (c. 1430-1450 CE)
Inscription: Several inscriptions at Devarakonda (Saka 1352-1370 / 1430-1448 CE).Content: These are numerous and record various land grants and donations. They highlight the peak of Devarakonda's prosperity and his long reign. He is a contemporary of Dāma II of Rachakonda.
4. Mada Nayaka (Dāmarasa) (c. 1450-1470 CE)
Inscription: Devarakonda Inscription (Saka 1372 / 1450 CE).Content: Records his succession. Later inscriptions from his reign often mention the "Turushka" (Turkish/Muslim) invasions, referring to the Bahmani campaigns.
5. Vīra Anapota Nayaka (c. 1470-1475 CE)
Inscription: Devarakonda Inscription (Saka 1395 / 1473 CE).Content: One of the last known inscriptions of the independent dynasty. It is fragmentary and suggests the kingdom was in its final days before the Bahmani conquest.
Recherla Nayaks, Bahmani Sultanate, and Gajapati Conflicts (14th–15th Century)
The Recherla Nayaks of Rachakonda and Devarakonda were strategically located in Telangana, between the Bahmani Sultanate to the west and the Gajapatis of Orissa to the east. Their position made them key players in regional politics, often shifting alliances based on the prevailing power dynamics.Early Alliances and Tributary Status
During the late 14th century, the Recherla rulers like Anapota Nayaka I and his successors became tributaries of the Bahmani Sultanate, benefiting from military support against rivals such as the Reddy chiefs of Kondaveeduand the Kalinga Gajapati kingdom.
The Ainavolu sasanam and other inscriptions indicate that Anapota Nayaka expanded his kingdom under Bahmani protection, holding key forts such as Rachakonda, Orugallu, and Singavaram.
Conflicts with the Bahmani Sultanate
1433–1438 CE: Bahmanis of Bidar, under Ahmad Shah I, occupied strategic forts at Medak, Warangal, and Bhuvanagiri, threatening the Recherla dominions.
1435 CE: The Rachakonda area was assigned to Mohammed Khan, brother of the Sultan, signaling a formal Bahmani administrative presence.
The Recherla Nayaks occasionally rebelled against Bahmani authority, such as supporting Sikander Khan’s rebellion against Sultan Humayun Shah.
Bahmani generals like Kwaja Jahan and Nizam Ul Mulk were sent to subdue the Recherlas, culminating in repeated battles over Devarakonda and Rachakonda forts.
Alliances with the Gajapatis of Orissa
Facing Bahmani aggression, the Recherlas turned to the Gajapati king Kapileswara for military support.
1430s–1460s CE: The Gajapati forces, led by Kapileswara’s son Hamviradeva (Ambar Roy), intervened to protect the Recherlas, inflicting defeats on the Bahmani armies.
After 1462 CE, the Recherla Nayaks lost full independence and became tributaries of the Gajapatis of Orissa, as attested in the Shayampet inscription.
Decline and Bahmani Conquest
Even with Gajapati support, the Recherlas faced sustained Bahmani campaigns.
Following the death of Kapileswara Gajapati (~1470 CE), the Recherlas lost their main external protector.
Around 1475 CE, Muhammad Shah II of the Bahmani Sultanate, aided by generals such as Malik Nizam ul Mulk Bahri, captured Rachakonda and Devarakonda, ending Recherla sovereignty.
The former Recherla territories were then administered by Bahmani governors, and the remaining Nayakas sought refuge at Hampi (Vijayanagara).
Political Dynamics
The Recherlas’ survival strategy relied on flexible allegiance, supporting whichever power—Bahmani, Vijayanagara, or Gajapati—could help maintain territorial control.
Their wars demonstrate the fluid frontier politics of 15th-century Deccan and Telangana, where small dynasties navigated between larger empires to sustain autonomy.
3. Administration
Divided territories into Northern (Rachakonda) and Southern (Devarakonda) regions for effective control.
Local governors and military commanders appointed as Nayakas.
Amangallu / Kupriyal / Palampet: administrative and military centers under Kakatiya suzerainty.
Local governors and military commanders appointed as Nayakas.
Amangallu / Kupriyal / Palampet: administrative and military centers under Kakatiya suzerainty.
4. Economy and Trade
Revenue from fertile plains of Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubabad, Khammam.Donations and grants to temples (Sriparvatanadha, Nilaknanthadeva, Milara Deva) indicate agrarian prosperity.
Tribute system with Bahmanis, later Vijayanagara and Gajapatis.
5. Society
Titles Reddi / Nayaka were official titles, not castes.Military meritocracy: any capable warrior could rise as general and receive Reddi/Nayaka titles.
Society organized around agrarian settlements, fortified towns, and temple patronage.
6. Art and Culture
Temple construction: Ramappa Temple (Palampet, Mulugu), Skandadri temples (Devarakonda branch).Patronage of Telugu literature: Singama Nayaka II (“Sarvajna Singa Bhupala”) was a noted poet.
Inscriptions in Telugu and Sanskrit, often on stone pillars and temples.
7. Foreign Relations
Initially loyal feudatories to Kakatiyas; later, independent rulers navigated relations with:Bahmani Sultanate – tributary, military alliance, and conflicts.
Vijayanagara Empire – conflict and later alliance.
Reddy Kingdoms (Kondaveedu / Rajahmundry) – territorial rivalry.
Gajapatis of Orissa – late 15th c. subordination.
Conducted campaigns in Kalinga, Kondaveedu, Srisailam, and strategic forts like Warangal, Orugallu, Panugallu.
8. Achievements and Legacy
Bridged Kakatiya and post-Kakatiya Telangana polity.Consolidated northern (Rachakonda) and southern (Devarakonda) Telangana kingdoms.
Patronized temples, literature, and local administration.
Influenced subsequent political order under Bahmani, Vijayanagara, and Gajapati rulers.
9. Chronology, Dating, and Inscriptions
116–1157 Kama Chamupati defeats Manthenya Gunda Palampet inscription1199–1202 Recherla Rudra temporarily rules Kakatiya kingdom Palampet inscription
c. 1230–1262 Recherla Betala Reddi assigned Amangallu —
1262–1281 Recharla Mallaya Reddi: grants for temples Yadaram (Bibipet, 3 Sept 1280)
Kupriyal (19 July 1281)
1279 Prasaditya Nayaka receives Nayaka title under Rudramadevi
1361–1384 Mada Nayaka I: Skandadri temples Kandikonda inscription
1384–1419 Vedagiri I / Peda Vedagiri Murupunuthula inscription (1399)
1461–1462 Dharma Nayaka becomes Gajapati tributary Shayampet inscription
Bahmanis (mid-15th c.)
Vijayanagara Empire (alliances and conflicts)
Gajapatis of Orissa (final subordination, c. 1462 AD)
Local estates and fort governors continued as vassals / tributaries, retaining limited authority.
https://www.mcrhrdi.gov.in/images/land/TEL%20-Vol%202%20-%20pg%201-404%20-%20%2005.01.2023%20-%20for%20MCRHRDI%20website.pdf
1279 Prasaditya Nayaka receives Nayaka title under Rudramadevi
1361–1384 Mada Nayaka I: Skandadri temples Kandikonda inscription
1384–1419 Vedagiri I / Peda Vedagiri Murupunuthula inscription (1399)
1461–1462 Dharma Nayaka becomes Gajapati tributary Shayampet inscription
10. Successor States / Vassals
Rachakonda / Devarakonda Nayakas lost independence to:Bahmanis (mid-15th c.)
Vijayanagara Empire (alliances and conflicts)
Gajapatis of Orissa (final subordination, c. 1462 AD)
Local estates and fort governors continued as vassals / tributaries, retaining limited authority.