Venkatagiri Estate | |||||
Zamindari of British India | |||||
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Coat of arms |
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History | |||||
• | Established | 1600 | |||
• | Abolition of the estate | 7 September 1949 | |||
Area | |||||
• | 1901 | 4,103.34 km2(1,584 sq mi) | |||
Population | |||||
• | 1901 | 60,861 | |||
Density | 14.8 /km2 (38.4 /sq mi) | ||||
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. |
Coat of arms
The estate of Venkatagiri was an estate in the erstwhile Madras Presidency. It was located in the Nellore district of the present-day Andhra Pradesh. The town of Venkatagiri was the administrative headquarters.
The kingdom was founded circa 1208 AD by Warrior King Velugoti Recharla Chenvi Redi Bhetala Naidu and existed since the time of Kakatiyas during the reign of Kakati Ganapathi Deva Rai. Later the kingdom was a feudatory under Vijaynagar Empire
Once part of Vijayanagar Empire the kingdom was reestablished by Velugoti Rayudappa Nayani in 1600. The State endured until it was notified and taken over by the State on 7 September 1949, under the Madras Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1948 (Act 26 of 1948). They belonged to the Velugoti Dynasty of the Padmanayaka Velama. Notable rulers include Rajagopala Krishna Yachendra (1857–1916).
Yachama Naidu was one of the famous chiefs of this line during the late 16th and early 17th century. He was a loyalist of Venkata II and Sriranga II. Yachama Naidu was also the son of Kasturi Ranga, another famous general of Venkatagiri royal family. He helped Venkata II to capture territory from the Deccan Sultans and also quelled rebellions by Nayaks of Vellore and Madurai. When Sriranga II succeeded Venkata II, Yachama supported him against Jagga Raya's faction. Yachama Naidu saved Sriranga II's son Rama Deva Raya by smuggling him out of the Vellore prison, with the help of a Washerman, when Sriranga II's family was imprisoned by Jagga Raya. However, he was unable to prevent the murder of Sriranga II's entire family. He fought on behalf of Rama Deva Raya at Toppur with support from Raghunatha Nayak of Tanjore and killed Jagga Raya seizing his Gobburi Estates which formed the regions of Pulicat, Chengalpet and Maduranthakam, but later completely brought under control of Vellore, under control of Rama Deva Raya, the Vijayanagara Emperor.