Gajapati kingdom
Also called: Gajapatis, Gajapati dynasty · Topic: Vijayanagara and the Deccan · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 2 "Reshaping India's Political Map"; Class 12, Ch 3 "An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara"
Meaning
The Gajapatis were a powerful dynasty of Orissa (Odisha), set up in 1435. In popular tradition, Gajapati means "lord of elephants". The Gajapatis fought Vijayanagara and the Deccan Sultanates for control of fertile river valleys and for the money earned from overseas trade. They were one of the three main powers of the Deccan region in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Example
Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara defeated and subdued Orissa in 1514. This was one of the big victories of his reign (1509–29).
Don't confuse with
- Ashvapati and narapati: in popular tradition, the Deccan Sultans were called ashvapati (lord of horses), and the Vijayanagara rayas were called narapati (lord of men). Only the Orissa rulers were called gajapati.
Related concepts
- Vijayanagara Empire
- Harihara and Bukka
- Vidyaranya
- Bahmani Sultanate
- Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah
- Afaqis and Dakhnis
- Mahmud Gawan
- Bahmani madrasa, Bidar
- Deccan sultanates
- Adil Shahi dynasty