Andhra Pradesh History

Andhra's history goes back almost 2000 years

The earliest mention of the Andhra appears in the Aitareya Brahmana (800 BC). It was called Dakshina Padh during those days. Andhras, Pulindas, Sabaras, and many other sects lived in Dakshina Padh. In the Mauryan age, one gets historical evidence of the Andhras as a political power in the Deccan. Megasthenese, who visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya (322-297 BC), mentioned that the Andhra country had 30 fortified towns and an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants.

Buddhist influence

The Buddhist religious books reveal that Andhras established their kingdoms in the Godavari belt at that time of Mauryan rule. Even Emperor Ashoka mentioned (13th rock edict) that the Andhras were his subordinates.  During the reign of 450 years, Buddhism flourished in the kingdom. The rulers were followers of Brahminism, but the women folk practiced Buddhism. It was during this period that Buddhism spread from these shores to China, The Far East and Sri Lanka. Traces of early Buddhist influence are still visible in several places.

The Satavahanas

The prosperous Satavahana Empire, which followed the Mauryas, covered the entire Deccan plateau by the 1st century AD. Salivahans took over from the Satavahanas. From the 7th to the 10th centuries the Chalukyas ruled the state. Chalukyas were followed by the rule of the Cholas, Kakatiyas, and the powerful Vijaynagar Empire. The Ikshvakus succeeded the Satavahanas and ruled the kingdom for 57 years.

The Pallavas extend their kingdom

The Pallavas annexed the area South of River Krishna and ruled till the end of 6th century. The Kakatiyas established themselves as rulers of a Telugu speaking people.  The splendid supremacy of the Kakatiyas came to end in the 14th century and for the first time Telugus came under a Muslim regime that brought with it a totally different set of customs, language and religion.

Mughals take over Andhra

Around 1347 AD, Allahuddin Hasan, who was looking after the interests of the Delhi Sultanate in South India, claiming as descendant of Bahman Shah of Persia, revolted against the Delhi Sultanate and declared himself ruler of the Deccan and Telangana area.  Qutub Shah, a descendant of a royal family of Hamdan in Persia, later took over the reins and ruled till 1548.

The Nizams

By the 16th century AD, the Qutb Shahi dynasty established its firm foothold in Hyderabad. The Nizams of Hyderabad continued their administration even during the French and British rule. Andhra Pradesh was constituted as a separate state on October 1, 1953, comprising the 11 districts of the erstwhile Madras state, and made Kurnool the capital. By November 1, 1956, the Telugu speaking areas including the Nizam's state of Hyderabad was amalgamated to form Andhra Pradesh.

Modern Andhra Pradesh

Aurangazeb, the last Mogul king to rule India, conquered the Deccan in 1687 and left his governors, the Nizams, to rule Andhra. The British and French took over from the Nizams. After Indian independence, Andhra became a part of Indian Union in 1947. The present AP State was formed in 1953 by merging part of the then Madras State (present Tamil Nadu) and the princely state of Hyderabad.

Return to Andhra Pradesh Guide