Poosapati / Pusapati was the ruling clan of the Northern Andhra region, Vizianagaram.
History
[edit]West Entrance of the Vizianagaram fort in Andhra PradeshMain Entrance of Vizianagaram Fort
The Pusapati clan claims descent from Madhavavarma, who led a Rajput colony into the Krishna Valley in the late 6th century.[1] The members of the colony subsequently held important positions at the court of Golcanda.[1]
The Pusapati chieftain Sitaram Chandra Raju received the villages of Kumili and Gundredu from Raghunath Krishna Dev of the Jeypore Estate.[2] Viziaram Raju was appointed as an administrative minister of the Jeypore Estate by Ram Chandra Dev I[3] and succeeded his father as the head of the clan in 1710.[1] Viziaram Raju occupied a portion of the coastal territories of the Jeypore Estate under Vishwambhar Dev II[4] and moved the capital of the estate from Potnuru to Vizianagaram in 1712; he named the capital town after himself.[1] Viziaram Raju prompted the neighboring landowners (zamindars) to secede and gain independence from the Jeypore Estate.[3] In 1757, Viziaram Raju formed an alliance with Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau, which allowed him to seize the capital of the rival landowner of Bobbili.[1]
Following Viziaram Raju, the Pusapati clan was led first by Ananda Raju and next by Viziaram Raju II, who was largely controlled by his half-brother Sitarama Raju.[5] In 1761, Sitarama Raju attacked Parlakhemundi defeating its force and their Maratha allies further adding territory to the Vizianagaram Estate.[5] In 1768, Viziaram Raju II claimed the right to hold and cultivate (patta) Kasipuram, Nandapur, Madgol, etc. with the support of and marking the increasing involvement of the British East India Company; this resulted in the dissatisfied landowners rising against Vizianagaram.[6] As Viziaram Raju II was unable to make the requisite revenue collection payments, he was ordered to leave the district.[7] He defied the orders, which resulted in the Battle of Padmanabham against the East India Company Madras Presidency forces led by Colonel Prendergast wherein Viziaram Raju II was defeated and slain.[8]
Following the Battle of Padmanabham, Narayana Babu Raju was unable to quell the increasing revolts from the hill landowners, which ultimately led to further reductions of the Vizianagaram Estate.[8] The successive chieftains Viziaram Gajapati Raju and Ananda Raju proved to be capable leaders and brought in a period of flourishing for the Vizianagaram Estate.[8]
The Pusapatis obtained the title of Gajapati after the battle of Nandapur.[9]
Pusapati rulers
[edit]Coat of Arms of VijayanagaramBranches of the Sisodia Clan
Pusapati Lakshmi Narasimha Raju, Politician and Founder of Cooperative Central Bank and many Cooperative Sugar Factories in North Andhra Pradesh. A freedom fighter, A member of the combined Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly, and a Signatory to the Indian Constitution.
Pusapati Lakshmi Narasimha Raju (S/o Pusapati Lakshmi Narasimha Raju) Politician - two term member of legislative council in Andhra Pradesh, President of District Cooperative Bank, President of many Cooperative Sugar Factories, Secretary of MANSAS Educational Trust.
