Battle of Padmanabham

Expansion of the East India Company
Date 10 July 1794 Location Padmanabham (now Visakhapatnam districts) Result Vizianagaram comes under Company rule
Belligerents
Vizianagaram	East India Company
Commanders and leaders
Chinna Vijayaramaraju	Colonel Pendargast
Casualties and losses
Severe loss of soldiers, including a Chinna Vijayaramaraju.

The Battle of Padmanabha occurred in Padmanabham, Visakhapatnam district (modern Andhra Pradesh, India), on 10 July 1794. This battle fought by Zamindar of Vijayanagar against Colonel Pendargast, on behalf of the British Governor of Madras, Sir Charles Oakly. Chinna Vijayaramaraju died in the war.

As a consequence of the war, Vizianagaram entirely came under British rule.

The causes of war

By 1768, the tribal areas such as Parlakimidi, Ganjam, Mohiri, Gunsuru, and Pratapagiri were ruled by 20 Zamindars. They owned 34 forts and maintained approximately 35,000 armed troops. Many of these jamindars revolted against the English East India Company. Some of the castles were located in the hills of the manyam. Therefore, the defeated rebel Zamindars were retreated into the Hill fortress

After the death of Ananda Gajapatiraju, Vijayaramaraju became Rajah of the Vizianagaram Zamindari. He was a boy. So Sitaramaraju was appointed divan, the son of his stepmother. When Rajah came to younger age, he removed Sitaramaraju from Diwani. Diwan was angered by this action, he formed an alliance with the English.

The British attempted to increase payment of peskas from Vijayanagara Zamindar and to reduce the strength of his army and ordered to pay his dues of 8,50,000 peskas. Although Rajah proved that he had no dues, the British had captured Vijayanagara on 2 August 1793. So British ordered that Vijayaramaraju go to exile in Masulipatnam with the pension of Rs 1200 per month. However, Vijayaramaraju refused the orders and he went to Padmanabham located between the Bhimunipatnam and Vizianagaram. The British troops defeated Vizianagaram army and Chinavijayaramaraju died due to bullet injury in the battle.

Aftermath

After the death of Vijayaramaraju, his son Narayanababu found shelter in Makkuva village. The konda doras and sardars supported him. In the end, he compromised with the British, and agreed to pay 5 million peskas.

After the British occupied Vijayanagara ville, they returned Zamindari to Zaminari. They renewed the zamindars lands and deprived them of their unique venture. By 1802, they implemented the permanent tax system in zamindaris.

References

• ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ సమగ్రచరిత్ర, పి.వి.కె.ప్రసాదరావు, ఎమెస్కో, విజయవాడ, 2007.