International Journal of History

Author(s): Sanikommu Venkateswarlu and S Murali Mohan

Abstract: The medieval period concerned with for this study is Andhra comprising all parts of the present Andhra Pradesh state. The objective of this study is an explanation of the role of the chiefs and chieftains and the socio-historical relations in their appropriation of power in medieval Andhra with a view to situate the feudal chiefs in medieval Andhra in historical relations. It deals with the political and socio-cultural aspects of various social groups, with special reference to the feudal chiefs of the medieval period in Andhra under different ruling dynasties. This vacuum in power structure provided opportunities for numerous chieftains and principalities which were under the over lordship of these major supra-regional powers, to become independent The Samantha system, and the feudatory chiefs and the minor principalities which also played a prominent role in the political affairs during the medieval period in Andhra, they were treated as tax collecting authorities in the administration of the early Andhra kingdoms. In the process of developing the feudal characters in our socio-political spare these Samanthas became prominent in the administrative affairs. Besides the duties of collecting taxes, they were also entrusted with the duty of governing some small principalities in the dominions of their overlords. They also started maintaining some army. Generally, they were obedient to their overlords. Generally, the defeated king, instead of being pulled down was made a feudatory or royal official. These feudatories governed their principalities with the acceptance of their overlords. They levied taxes on the subjects in their administrative jurisdiction and paid some of the amount as a tribute to their overlords. These chiefs became prominent and played a significant role during the time of wars and were appointed as feudatories. The legitimization of political power by medieval feudal chiefs ability, to a large extent, is related to the inter-and-intra-sub regional process; has a linkage to the centripetal and centrifugal variables in the realm of respective ‘state (s)’ and the socio-cultural dynamics of the peasant, pastoral, and tribal communities in adapting to the new frontiers, power and authority of the ‘state’ in the medieval framework.

Pages: 113-119 | Views: 414 | Downloads: 90

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