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Timeline

The timeline places the Kakatiyas in the long history of Telangana. It then shows each Kakatiya reign and the events that can be dated.

Telangana’s ruling powers, from the Mauryas to the Nizams

The Kakatiyas held Telangana for about three centuries. This chart places them among the powers that came before and after them. Each bar spans the period the sources give, and a dashed bar marks dates the sources disagree on.

250 BCE025050075010001250150017502000 Mauryas (Asoka), Asoka, c. 273–232 BCE Mauryas (Asoka) Satavahanas, c. 221 BCE – 3rd century CE Satavahanas Ikshvakus, c. 210 – mid-4th century CE Ikshvakus Vakatakas, c. 250–550 CE Vakatakas Vishnukundins, c. 375–612 CE Vishnukundins Chalukyas of Badami, c. 550–750 CE Chalukyas of Badami Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, 640–1070 CE Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi Rashtrakutas, c. 753–973/975 CE Rashtrakutas Chalukyas of Vemulavada, c. 750s–973 CE Chalukyas of Vemulavada Western Chalukyas of Kalyani, 973 – 1157/1189 CE Western Chalukyas of Kalyani Kakatiyas, c. 1000–1323 CE Kakatiyas Delhi Sultanate (Tughluqs), 1323 – c. 1336 Delhi Sultanate (Tughluqs) Musunuri Nayaks, c. 1325–1369 Musunuri Nayaks Bahmani Sultanate, 1347–1527 Bahmani Sultanate Recherla Velamas, c. 1361–1475 Recherla Velamas Qutb Shahis, 1512–1687 Qutb Shahis Mughal Empire, 1687–1724 Mughal Empire Asaf Jahi Nizams, 1724–1948 Asaf Jahi Nizams
Bars are drawn from the earliest to the latest date the sources give. A dashed outline means the dates are less certain. Select a bar to read about that power.

The Kakatiya reigns

97510001025105010751100112511501175120012251250127513001325Beta Ic. 996–1051Prola Ic. 1052–1076Beta IIc. 1076–1108Durgarajac. 1108–1116Prola II1116–1157Rudra Deva1158–1195Mahadeva1196–1198/99Ganapati Deva1199–1262Rudrama Devi1262–1289Pratapa Rudra1289–1323
  • Widest extent of the empire
  • Reign of a queen
  • Ruler of the Warangal line

Milestones

Before the Kakatiyas

  1. 221 BCERuler: Simukha founds the Satavahana dynasty
  2. 566Inscription: Vishnukundin Tumulaguda copper plates
  3. 612Fall of Warangal: Vishnukundins overthrown
  4. 660Inscription: Earliest inscription in Telugu script, Amudalapadu
  5. 750Fall of Warangal: Rashtrakutas displace the Chalukyas of Badami
  6. 973Context: Rashtrakuta rule ends and the Chalukyas of Kalyani take over

The Kakatiya period

  1. 1052Ruler: Prola I succeeds Beta I
  2. 1157Context: Western Chalukya power at Kalyani collapses
  3. 1158Ruler: Rudra Deva succeeds Prola II
  4. 1163Monument: The Anumakonda inscription proclaims Rudra Deva’s sovereignty, and the Thousand Pillar Temple is consecrated
  5. 1199Ruler: Ganapati Deva ascends the throne
  6. 1213Monument: Ramappa Temple completed by Recherla Rudra
  7. 1262Ruler: Rudrama Devi succeeds as the only woman to rule the line
  8. 1294Context: Gona Vithala, a Kakatiya feudatory, fortifies Raichur
  9. 1303Context: Kakatiya forces repulse the first Khalji raid at Upparapalli
  10. 1309Context: Malik Kafur’s army sets out for Telangana
  11. 1310Fall of Warangal: Warangal is besieged and Pratapa Rudra pays tribute
  12. 1318Context: Khusrau Khan besieges Warangal, and Pratapa Rudra cedes five districts and pays tribute
  13. 1321Context: Ulugh Khan’s first siege of Warangal fails
  14. 1323Fall of Warangal: Pratapa Rudra is captured and Orugallu is renamed Sultanpur

After the fall of Warangal

  1. 1335Context: Plague strikes Muhammad bin Tughluq's army in Telangana, and Malik Maqbul becomes governor
  2. 1336Context: Kapaya Nayaka recaptures the fort (c. 1336)
  3. 1347Context: Kapaya Nayaka sends troops to Hasan, founder of the Bahmani kingdom
  4. 1357Inscription: Pillalamarri inscription records the reinstallation of Erakesvara under Kapaya Nayaka
  5. 1364Context: Kapaya Nayaka cedes Golconda to the Bahmanis (c. 1364–65)
  6. 1365Inscription: Rachakonda fort inscription of Anavota Nayaka
  7. 1369Ruler: The Velamas defeat and kill Kapaya Nayaka (c. 1367–69)
  8. 1422Fall of Warangal: The Bahmanis capture Warangal (1422 or 1424)
  9. 1459Context: The Bahmani army is defeated at Devarakonda by the garrison and an Orissa army
  10. 1460Context: Gajapati Kapilendra’s forces hold Warangal
  11. 1504Inscription: Shitab Khan takes Warangal and restores the goddess Kakati
  12. 1512Ruler: Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk founds the Qutb Shahi dynasty
  13. 1687Fall of Warangal: Aurangzeb takes Golconda and Warangal passes to the Mughals
  14. 1708Context: Papra plunders Warangal Fort (1708 or 1709)
  15. 1724Ruler: Asaf Jah becomes independent after the Battle of Shakarkhelda
  16. 1948Fall of Warangal: The Police Action ends Nizam rule, and Hyderabad joins the Indian Union
  17. 1965Inscription: Bayyaram tank inscription discovered

Before the Kakatiyas

  1. Mauryas (Asoka)

    Asoka, c. 273–232 BCE

    Telangana lay within Asoka’s dominions. The Satavahanas began as Mauryan feudatories.

    Seat: Pataliputra · Imperial Gazetteer 1909, Goel et al. 2022

  2. Satavahanas

    c. 221 BCE – 3rd century CE

    Telangana was the nucleus of their power. The Satavahanas built a large Deccan empire, and their trade reached Rome.

    Seat: Kotilingala, later Pratishthana (Paithan) · Goel et al. 2022, Imperial Gazetteer 1909

  3. Ikshvakus

    c. 210 – mid-4th century CE

    The Ikshvakus ruled the Krishna basin, including Phanigiri in Nalgonda. The Ikshvakus were patrons of the Buddhist centre at Phanigiri.

    Seat: Vijayapuri (Nagarjunakonda) · Epigraphia Telanganica 2023, Goel et al. 2022

  4. Vakatakas

    c. 250–550 CE

    The Vakatakas held the Godavari basin of northern Telangana. The Vakatakas were allies of the Guptas and were later absorbed by the Chalukyas.

    Seat: Vidarbha · Goel et al. 2022

  5. Vishnukundins

    c. 375–612 CE

    The Vishnukundins rose in Telangana itself. The Vishnukundins ruled from capitals in Telangana before they moved to coastal Andhra.

    Seat: Keesaragutta or Indrapalanagara · Goel et al. 2022, Epigraphia Telanganica 2023

  6. Chalukyas of Badami

    c. 550–750 CE

    The Chalukyas of Badami were overlords of Telangana. The earliest inscription in Telugu script, 660 CE, dates from their rule.

    Seat: Badami (Vatapi) · Goel et al. 2022, Epigraphia Telanganica 2023

  7. Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi

    640–1070 CE

    The Eastern Chalukyas ruled coastal Andhra from Vengi. A Kakatiya general of the Rashtrakutas helped one of their princes take the throne in about 956. The Eastern Chalukyas were rivals of the Rashtrakutas for Telangana.

    Seat: Vengi · Goel et al. 2022, Epigraphia Telanganica 2023

  8. Rashtrakutas

    c. 753–973/975 CE

    The Rashtrakutas were overlords. The early Kakatiyas were their commanders. Telangana passed from them to the Chalukyas of Kalyani.

    Seat: Manyakheta (Malkhed) · Goel et al. 2022, Epigraphia Telanganica 2023

  9. Chalukyas of Vemulavada

    c. 750s–973 CE

    The Chalukyas of Vemulavada were Rashtrakuta feudatories ruling in Telangana. The Chalukyas of Vemulavada ruled from a seat in Telangana.

    Seat: Vemulavada (Karimnagar) · Yazdani 1960, Epigraphia Telanganica 2023, Goel et al. 2022

  10. Western Chalukyas of Kalyani

    973 – 1157/1189 CE

    The Western Chalukyas were overlords of the early Kakatiyas. The decline of the Western Chalukyas let the Kakatiyas become sovereign.

    Seat: Kalyani · Goel et al. 2022, Imperial Gazetteer 1909, Epigraphia Telanganica 2023

After the fall of Warangal

  1. Delhi Sultanate (Tughluqs)

    1323 – c. 1336

    The Tughluqs ruled Warangal directly after its capture. The Tughluqs ended the Kakatiya kingdom.

    Seat: Sultanpur (Warangal renamed) · Elliot & Dowson III, Goel et al. 2022

  2. Musunuri Nayaks

    c. 1325–1369

    The Musunuri Nayaks recaptured Warangal from the Sultanate. The Musunuri Nayaks restored Telugu rule for a generation.

    Seat: Warangal · Epigraphia Telanganica 2023, Somasekhara Sarma 1948

  3. Bahmani Sultanate

    1347–1527

    The Bahmanis took tribute from Warangal and then annexed it (1422). The Bahmanis took Warangal in 1422 or 1424. Telugu Velama chiefs still held much of Telangana until about 1475.

    Seat: Gulbarga, later Bidar · Imperial Gazetteer 1909, District Census Handbook 1986

  4. Recherla Velamas

    c. 1361–1475

    The Recherla Velamas displaced the Musunuris and held much of Telangana. The Velamas were the main Telugu power of the period and were often allied with the Bahmanis.

    Seat: Rachakonda and Devarakonda · Epigraphia Telanganica 2023

  5. Qutb Shahis

    1512–1687

    The Qutb Shahis ruled Telangana from Golconda. Golconda became the political centre of Telangana in place of Warangal.

    Seat: Golconda · Imperial Gazetteer 1909, Epigraphia Telanganica 2023, District Census Handbook 1986

  6. Mughal Empire

    1687–1724

    Warangal was annexed with Golconda. Telangana became a Mughal province.

    Seat: Delhi, and the subah of Hyderabad · District Census Handbook 1986, Imperial Gazetteer 1909

  7. Asaf Jahi Nizams

    1724–1948

    Warangal became a district and subah headquarters. The Asaf Jahi state was the last state before the Indian Union.

    Seat: Hyderabad · Imperial Gazetteer 1909, District Census Handbook 1986, Epigraphia Telanganica 2023

Read about each ruler →