Adoni - History

History

Adoni has undergone a number of substantial changes over the past few centuries. Emerging as a military base for the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century, the city has evolved to become a modern, manufacturing hub. Under the Vijayanagara, the city stood at the center of the consolidation of a shifting, fragmented countryside into a more structured empire. Even after the Empire fell in the 16th century, as a product of military conflicts, the city remained a core part of Southern Indian history.

After the fall of Vijayanagar, Adoni was taken possession of by the Bijapur sovereigns. Adoni was under Bijapur in the period of 16th and 17th century. It was the principal fort of the Kurnool district. In the 17th century, Kurnool was under the governorship of an hereditary line of jagirdars of African origin, who were among the most powerful nobles at court. In 1683, one noble, Siddi Masud, the governor of Kurnool and regent of Sultan Sikandar Bijapuri, retired to Adoni, where he ruled independently till 1689. In that year, he surrendered to the Mughal general Anup Singh, maharaja of Bikaner. Siddi Masud is credited with improving the fort at Adoni, clearing the forest area in the vicinity of Adoni and establishing the townships of Imatiazgadh and Adilabad, and also constructing the fine Jamia Masjid. Art historian Mark Zebrowski notes in his book Deccani Painting that the capture of Adoni revealed that Siddi Masud had been an avid collector of painting, and a patron of the Kurnool school of painting.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, Adoni remained under governors appointed by the Nizams of Hyderabad. In 1760, it was held by Basalut Jung, who made it his capital. In 1786-7, Tipu Sultan besieged Adoni and after a month's siege, captured it. After his death and defeat at the hands of the English, Adoni was ceded to the English.

Under British rule South India was divided into several administrative districts; Adoni fell into the district of Bellary of Madras presidency. In 1867 AD, The Adoni Municipal Council was created, along with the Bellary Municipal Council. These were the only two municipal townships in the whole of Bellary district for a long time.

The city gained its present seat as part of the state of Andhra Pradesh in 1953, after the linguistic reorganization of states. On October 1, 1953, Bellary district of Madras State was divided on linguistic basis, and Adoni (along with Yemmiganur, Alur, Raayadurgam, D.Hirehaalu, Kanekallu, Bommanahaalu, and Gummagatta) were merged into Anantapuram and Kurnool district in what would later became the Andhra Pradesh state. While the city constantly shifted its governmental structure, it emerged as a trade hub as a product of its impressive bounties of grain and gold, along with cloth and textile production. Over the century, the city built up an entire industry of cotton mills, solidifying its place in the county’s modern trade economy. Today, Adoni is one of the biggest and commercial towns in Rayalaseema and also in Andhra Pradesh State.