Zamindar - Southern India

Southern India

The governors of the Vijayanagara Empire, who were under the direct control of central government ruled the provinces and feudatory kings. The feudatory kings were called “Nayakas” and paid tribute to the emperor who ruled the kingdoms. The Vijayanagara Empire was destroyed in the Tallikota war of 1565 AD, when Muslim states (Golconda, Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Bidar) came together against the empire. Various tributary kingdoms that were under Vijayanagara Empire came under the control of Sultans of Golconda and Bijapur. These Golconda and Bijapur Sultans employed subservient people from Balija, Velama, Kamma and Reddy shudras castes as kings (instead of the Kshatriya kings whom they perceived as a threat, due to their royal lineage & ambitious tendencies to fight for rule) as the rulers of various kingdoms and had them to pay the tribute and collected revenue. Thus many more of these kingdoms/provinces, also known as Samsthanamus or Zamindaris, came into existence.

The Golconda Empire came under the control of the Mughal Dynasty in 1686 and became to be known as the Deccan Suba. The rule of the Mughal Dynasty didn’t last long. Nizamul Ul Mulk Asaf Jah, as the governor of the Deccan, controlled the present state of Andhra Pradesh and parts of Maharastra and Karnataka. In the beginning the French had influence over Hyderabad, however Salabat Jang, who came to power after his father, realized that the French were losing ground to British and so realigned himself with the English. In 1761, the East India Company helped Nizam Ali Khan to depose his brother Salabat Jang and helped him occupy the Deccan Suba. The East India Company then took Andhra regions for lease from Nizam Ali. Later, by accords of 1768 and 1779 these Andhra regions came under complete control of East India Company, whereas Telagana states remained under Nizam. In 1802, the British government under a Permanent Revenue Settlement agreement restored the ruling powers and rights of kings of Andhra regions. During this time, rich and influential people to become rulers (Zamindars) to the city-states (Zamindaris). In the beginning, the British allowed old kingdoms to have armies with the condition that they would support the British Empire during the war. However, this right was abolished and these kings were reduced to the level of Zamindars. These feudal kingdoms/zamindaris were abolished after the formation of the Indian Union, a democratic Republic. In general, Telugu rulers belong to local Telugu castes/tribes. However, there are a few exceptions. Peddapuram was ruled by Vatsavayi dynasty, which was from a Kshatriya family. Revidi and Golugonda was ruled by Bhupathiraju dynasty, another Kshatriya family.

One more famous Zamindari is near to bobbili is vavilavalasa in madras presidency its famous also big is ruled by Rajha Inuganty Narayanarao.

Brahmin Dynasties ruled Polavaramu and Lakkavaramu. The rest of the kingdoms/zamindaris were ruled by powerful local non-Aryan tribes/castes. These kingdoms have supported Telugu poets and Telugu literature.