CHAPTER II.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
Early History—Formed part of the kingdom of Kalinga—Antiquity of this—Its conquest by Asoka, 250 B.C.—A long gap in its history—The Ganga kings—Attacked by their neiglibours, tenth century—The later Gangas of Trikalinga—Anantavarman-Choda Ganga, 1078—Invaded by the Cholas, eleventh century—The Matsyas—Decline of the Gangas, 1431 —The Gajapatis of Orissa—Defeated by Krishna Deva of Vijayanagar, 1515—End of the dynasty, 1541. Muhammadan Period, 1568— Aurangzeb overthrows Golconda, 1587—The Subadar of the Deccan becomes independent, 1724—Cedes the Northern Circars to the French, 1753—Difficulties of the French thereafter—Bussy at length obtains possession, 1757—Forde's expedition against the French, 1758—The French expelled from the Circars-The Circars ceded to the English, 17G5. English Period—Foundation of Vizagapatam settlement, 1682—Its early progress—The cowle granted in 1685—The factory sacked by the Musalmans, 1689—Mr. Holcombe becomes Chief, 1692—Hidden treasure in Bobbili—Local disturbances, 1694—Extravagance at Vizagapatam—More local disturbances, 1697—Brighter prospects, 1698—Vizagapatam besieged, 1711—The defences strengthened—Waltair first occupied, 1727—Further strengthening of the defences, 1741-45—The place surrenders to Bussy, 1757—Is recovered and becomes the capital of the district, 1769—Growth of the power of the Vizianagram Raja—And of his diwan Sitarama Razu-Sepoy mutiny at Vizagapatam, 1780—Proposed cession of the Circars, 1781—Maladministration by the Vizianagram Raja—Dangerous growth of his power—Ordered to reduce his troops, 1788—Falls into heavy arrears with his peshkash, 1793—His estate is sequestrated—And he is ordered to leave the district, 1794—He resists this order—And is killed at Padmanabham—His son is given the estate—Which is greatly curtailed—The Permanent Settlement, 1802—Its unfortunate effects—Mr. Russell's Commission, 1833—Subsequent outbreaks.
So far, no traces have been discovered in Vizagapatam of the CHAP. II. Early History.1[1] prehistoric peoples whose burial places are so common in other districts.
The earliest extant accounts of the country speak of it as part of the famous kingdom of Kalinga, which (though its exact boundaries were vague and constantly changing) Formed part of the kingdom of Kalinga. stretched perhaps from the Mahanadi river on the north to the Godavari on the south.
The antiquity of this principality is amply established. It is referred to in Brahmanical and Buddhist literature assigned by Professors Macdonell and Rhys Davids to the fifth and sixth Antiquity of this.- ↑ 1 For assistance with this section I am very greatly indebted to Rai Bahadur V. Venkayya, M.A., Government Epigraphist.
