Rudrama Devi

BY AMEYA K BENNET
 Rudrama Devi

 Rudhrama Devi was the elder

of the two daughters born to
Ganapatideva, the emperor of
the Kakatiya dynasty who
ruled from Orugallu in
Telangana.

 At the age of 14, she was made the

successor to her father's empire.
As is the tradition then, she was
formally designated as a male,
and was given the male name of
Rudhradeva.
 Though she succeeded her father
as the ruler of Kakatiya kingdom
in 1262-63 AD, she was crowned
as the Queen only in 1269 AD,
after the death of her father.

 As the people in our country were

sexist then as well, many couldn't
digest the fact that a woman was
ruling them. So there were few
revolts against her rule from
many chieftains in her kingdom.

 She. however, had some staunch

supporters on her side as well.
Primary of them being Kayastha
chiefs Jannigedeva and his younger
brothers Tripurari and Ambadeva,
Recherla Prasaditya and the Reddi
chiefs like Gona Ganna Reddy
 It is said that some of her earliest enemies
happened to be her own stepbrothers, Hari
Hara Devudu and Murari Devudu. They tried to
annex the kingdom and oust Rudhrama Devi,
but she fought back valiantly with the help of
the citizens and won the kingdom back.

 . Her biggest threat happened to be

Mahadeva Nayakudu, the ruler of Sauna.
Though he managed to defeat her kingdom
initially, she fought back and forced him to
retreat and even made him sign a treaty!