Mediaeval History of Odisha
Mediaeval History of Odisha
• The Ganga dynasty was established in Odisha after the decline of Somavamsi dynasty in 10th century.
• The Ganga dynasty was a Hindu power on the Indian sub-continent. They are also known as Eastern Gangas. The founder of this dynasty was Kamarnava and their capital was Kalinganagara.
Mediaeval-History-of-Odisha
• Ganga dynasty ruled the whole of the modern-day Indian state of Odisha during the period of 1038-1435 AD.
• Anantavarman Vajrahasta V in 1038 AD strongly established Ganga dynasty in Odisha by the end of the 12th century AD.
Anantavarman Chodagangadeva (1078-1147) is credited with having ruled over the region extending from the Ganga to the Godavari.
• Vaishnavism received royal Patronage during the Ganga dynasty and Vaishnavite temple were built at Mukhlingam, Shri Kurmam, Simhachalam and Puri.
• Important rulers of Ganga dynasty were Chodagangadeva (1077-1147 AD), Rajaraja II (1170-1190 AD), Anangabhimadeva III (1211-1238 AD) and Narsimhadeva I (1238-1264 AD).
• Bhanudeva IV (1414-1435 AD) was the last Ganga king.
• The Ganga dynasty ruled about four hundred years and constitutes a golden era in the period of medieval Odishan history.
• World famous Sun temple at Konark was built by Narsimhadeva I and Jagannath temple was built by Anangabhima Deva III during the Ganga dynasty.
• Nagara style of temples were built during Ganga period that had Shikharas, Amlaka, Mandap. Examples of Nagara style are Lingaraj temple, Mukteswara temple and Parasurameswara temple.
• The king was the central figure in the administrative set-up of the Ganga dynasty.
• The Ganga kings were assisted by several officials in his administration like Mantri, Purohita, Yuvaraja, Sandhivigrahika, Senapati, Dauvarika, etc.
• Hastivarman shifted his capital from Dantapur to Kalinganagara.
• Ganga empire was divided into several provinces as Visayas and provinces were divided into political divisions as Panchali and Bhoga.
• A variety of taxes like bheta, voda, paridarsana, etc. were collected during the rule of Ganga dynasty.
• Gajapatis were a medieval Hindu dynasty that ruled over Kalinga from 1434-1541 AD.
• The Gajapati dynasty was founded by Kapilendra Deva. He was also known as Kapilendra Routray or Sri Kapilendra Deva.
• Under the rule of Kapilendra Deva, Odisha became a vast empire from the lower Ganga in the North to the Kaveri in the South.
• Purushottam Deva (1467-1497 AD) and Prataparudra Deva (1497-1540 AD) were the important rulers of Gajapati dynasty.
• The famous Vaishnav saint of Bengal Sri Chaitanya, came to Odisha during the reign of Prataparudra Deva.
• Kakharua Deva was the last ruler of Gajapati dynasty. He was killed by Govinda Vidyadhara (his minister) in 1541.
• In 1512, during the rule of Prataparudra Deva, Krishnadeva Raya attacked and captured the Udayagiri fort.
• Quli Qutb Shah, a general of Sultan Mahmud Shah of Bahamani kingdom invaded the Southern province of Odisha in 1522 AD.
• Prataparudra Deva defeated Quli Qutb Shah and drove him back to Golconda. On this occasion, he built the temple of Mangalagiri on the bank of river Krishna.
• The Ghunta, Mana and Bati were different units of land in Gajapati dynasty.
• The revenue officers during the Gajapati dynasty in the South were called Nayakas or Naidus.
• The Gajapati empire was divided into several provinces, known as Dandapata or Rajya.
• Gajapati Provinces were divided into Simas which were further sub-divided into sthalas or mathas that consisted of some village.
• During the Kapilendra Deva period, Sarala Dasa, the Odia poet, wrote the Mahabharata in the Odia language.
• The Bhoi dynasty was founded by Govinda Vidyadhara in 1541. He signed Treaty with Sultan of Golconda.
• Important rulers of Bhoi dynasty were Govinda Vidyadhara. Raghubhanja Chhotray, Chakrapratap. Narasimha Jena and Raghuram Jena.
• Mukunda Deva, a minister of Chakra Pratap killed two Bhoi kings and declared himself the ruler in 1560.
• Bhoi dynasty ruled Odisha for about 170 years in Khurda. Sulaiman Khan Karrani attacked Khurda pin 1568 AD in which Mukunda Deva was killed. Thus, Odisha came under the Muslim control.
• In 1568, Odisha came under the control of Sulaiman Khan Karrani of Karrani dynasty, who was the Sultan of. Bengal.
• Sulaiman Khan Karrani was the first to establish Muslim rule in Odisha. He transferred his capital from Gaur to Tandah.
• Sulaiman Khan Karrani appointed Lodi Khan and Qutlu Khan Lohani as governors of Odisha and Puri, respectively.
• In 1575, Daud Khan Karrani fought the Battle of Tukarol against Mughals in which he was defeated.
• In 1576, at the Battle of Rajmahal Daud Khan Karrani was defeated and executed. Thus, Odisha went in the hands of the Mughals.
• Mughal rule in Odisha begins with the arrival of Raja Mansingh, Akbar’s Rajput General.
• Mansingh, the Governor of Bihar attacked Nasir Khan and defeated him on 18th April, 1592.
• By 1593, Odisha came under the Mughal empire and was a part of Bengal Subah.
• During the Akbar’s rule, Odisha was divided into five sarkars, Jaleswar (including Midnapore), Bhadrak, Cuttack, Chika Khol and Raj Mahendru Dandapat.
• Under Jahangir’s reign, Quasim Khan (1606 AD), Kalyan Mal (1611 AD), Mukarram Khan (1617 AD), Ahmed Beg (1621) became the Governor of Odisha.
• In 1628 when, Shahjahan became the Mughal emperor, he appointed Muhammad Baqar Khan as the Governor of Odisha. During his rule, the administration seat was at Cuttack.
• Khan-i-Duran was appointed as the Governor of Odisha under Aurangzeb (1660-1667).
• Muhammad Taqi Khan became the Deputy Governor of Odisha in 1727, Taqi Khan built a Qadam Rasul at Balasore and he also attacked the Jagannath temple at Puri.
• Alivardi Khan defeated Sarfaraz Khan in the Battle of Giria and Odisha came under the control of Alivardi Khan.
• Murshid Quli Khan separated Midnapore from the Subah of Odisha and he made revenue settlement in Six Sarkars.
• The Maratha administration of Odisha effectively began from the year 1751 AD Raghuji Bhonsle I became the new master of the territory.
• The Maratha rule started with the Peace Treaty of 1751. The Marathas divided Odisha into two broad political divisions: The Mughalbandi and Garhjat.
• Sheo Bhatt Sathe was the first Maratha Subahdar in Odisha and he collected Chauth from the Nawab of Bengal.
• Marathas introduced the Pilgrimage tax for the first time in the state, which was charged from the visiting tourists. tourists.
