Jaitugi
| Jaitugi | |
|---|---|
| Yadava king | |
| Reign | c. 1191-1210 CE |
| Predecessor | Bhillama V |
| Successor | Simhana |
| Dynasty | Seuna (Yadava) |
| Father | Bhillama V |
Jaitugi (r. c. 1191-1210 CE), also known as Jaitrapala, was a ruler of the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty of Deccan region in India. He successfully invaded the Kakatiya kingdom, and forced them to accept the Yadava suzerainty.
Military career
Jaitugi was the son of his predecessor Bhillama V, who had suffered a defeat against the Hoysala king Ballala II. Taking advantage of weakened Yadava power, the Kakatiyas had invaded the eastern part of the Yadava kingdom. The Kakatiya general Mahadeva reached as far as the Yadava capital on at least one occasion. All three dynasties - the Yadavas, the Hoysalas and the Kakatiyas - were former feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The Yadavas considered themselves as true successors of the Chalukyas, and therefore, expected the Kakatiyas to recognize their suzerainty.[1]
Once the Yadava-Hoysala conflict subsided, and the Yadava power stabilized, Jaitugi launched a campaign against the Kakatiyas around 1194 CE. In the ensuing war, the Kakatiya king Rudra was killed somewhere after 1195 CE. He was succeeded by his brother Mahadeva, whose son Ganpati was taken prisoner by the Yadavas in one of the battles. Some years later, Mahadeva was also killed in a battle against the Yadavas. Jaitugi tried to bring the Kakatiya territories under his direct rule, but failed to do so. Therefore, around 1198 CE, he decided to release Ganapati and let him rule the Kakatiya kingdom as a Yadava feudatory.[2]
One inscription claims that Jaitugi defeated the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Malavas (the Paramaras), the Latas, and the Gurjaras. This claim is not supported by any historical evidence, and appears to be an empty boast. At best, it is possible that the Yadavas were victorious in some frontier skirmishes in the northern neighbouring regions of Malwa (or Malava) and Lata. The Yadava general Sahadeva may have raided Malwa while the Paramara king Subhatavarman was occupied in a conflict in the Lata region.[3]
Administration
The prime minister (maha-pradhana) of Jaitugi was Sankama, who was also a general.[3] Lakshmidhara, a son of the noted astrologer Bhaskara, was the chief court scholar (pandit) of Jaitugi. His feudatories included the Nikumbha brothers Soi-deva and Hemadi-deva, who ruled in Khandesh.[4]
Jaitugi was succeeded by his son Simhana.[5] It is is not clear when this succession took place. Jaitgui's last inscription is dated 1196 CE. Different records variously suggest that the first regnal year of his successor Simhana was 1200 CE, 1207 CE or 1210 CE. One inscription of Simhana is dated 1197 CE. But since Jaitugi is credited with appointment of Ganapati as a Kakatiya vassal around 1198 CE, it does not appear that Simhana was the king in 1197 CE. It is possible that Simhana was formally associated with his father's administration as the heir apparent (yuvaraja).[4]
References
- ↑ A. S. Altekar 1960, p. 528.
- ↑ A. S. Altekar 1960, p. 529.
- 1 2 A. S. Altekar 1960, p. 530.
- 1 2 A. S. Altekar 1960, p. 531.
- ↑ Farooqui Salma Ahmed 2011, p. 27.
Bibliography
- A. S. Altekar (1960). Ghulam Yazdani, ed. The Early History of the Deccan Parts. VIII: Yādavas of Seuṇadeśa. Oxford University Press. OCLC 59001459.
- Farooqui Salma Ahmed (2011). A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century. Pearson Education India. ISBN 978-81-317-3202-1.