Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri (12th–13th Century)
Medieval History › Early Medieval Period · Topic 1.14
The Yadavas, also called the Seunas, rose from Chalukya feudatories to rulers of the northern Deccan from Devagiri (Daulatabad). Bhillama V declared independence about 1187, Singhana II made them the strongest Deccan power, and Ramachandra lost the kingdom to the armies of Alauddin Khalji, which annexed it by 1317.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Early Medieval Period
At a Glance
- Also called Seunas
- Capital Devagiri (Daulatabad)
- Independence Bhillama V, about 1187
- Greatest king Singhana II
- End Khalji conquest, annexed by 1317
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Early Medieval Period
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fourteenth topic of the category on the early medieval period. The previous topic covered the Cheras of Kerala, and this topic covers the last great Deccan kingdom before the Delhi Sultanate reached the south. The next topic looks at the economic and political ties of south India with Southeast Asia. Previous topic: Chera Dynasty of South India (9th–12th Century).
Who Were the Yadavas of Devagiri?
In short: the Yadava dynasty, also called the Seunas, was a Deccan power with its capital at Devagiri, which rose from feudatory status in the twelfth century and fell to the Delhi Sultanate by 1317.
The earliest known Yadava ruler is Dridhaprahara, about 860 to 880. The family first served the Pulakeshin II (609 to 642) Kalyani branch 973 to…">Western Chalukyas, and earlier the Rashtrakutas, as feudatories. About 1187 Bhillama V took Kalyani, the old Chalukya capital, declared himself sovereign and founded the Yadava capital at Devagiri. The Hoysala king Ballala II defeated his army at Soratur in the late 1180s, which fixed the Yadava-Hoysala border along the Malaprabha and Krishna rivers. The Yadavas replaced the later Chalukyas in the Maharashtra area, as the Kakatiyas did in the Telugu country.
Which Yadava Kings Matter?
| Ruler | Approximate reign | Main fact |
|---|---|---|
| Bhillama V | About 1187 to 1191 | Declared independence; founded Devagiri |
| Singhana II | About 1200 or 1210 to 1246 | Greatest ruler; realm from the Narmada to the Tungabhadra; fought Hoysalas, Paramaras and others |
| Krishna | About 1246 to 1261 | Successor of Singhana |
| Mahadeva | About 1261 to 1270 | Campaign against the Kakatiyas |
| Ramachandra | About 1271 to 1308 or 1311 | Raided by Alauddin Khalji; became tributary of Delhi |
| Singhana III | Until 1313 | Rose against the Khaljis and was killed |
| Harapaladeva | Until 1317 | Last ruler; the kingdom was annexed |
Singhana II is regarded as the greatest Yadava king. He subdued smaller feudatories and fought the Hoysalas, the Paramaras, the Shilaharas and the Chaulukyas.
How Did the Delhi Sultans Defeat the Yadavas?
Alauddin Khalji, while governor of Kara, gathered a vast treasure by invading Devagiri in 1296, according to the standard account, and Ramachandra agreed to pay yearly tribute. The tribute fell into arrears, and Ramachandra had also helped the ousted Gujarat ruler Rai Karan, which gave Alauddin a fresh cause for war. In 1306-07 Alauddin sent his slave general Malik Kafur against Devagiri. Ramachandra surrendered, was treated honourably and taken to Delhi, and was restored to his kingdom with the title Rai Rayan. He received a gift of one lakh tankas, a golden canopy symbolising rule, and a district of Gujarat, and one of his daughters married Alauddin.
The alliance helped Alauddin’s campaigns in the south, since Devagiri served as the base for the expeditions against Warangal and the far south between 1309 and 1311. Malik Kafur took Devagiri again in 1313 after Singhana III rose against the Khaljis, and Harapaladeva, the last ruler, was a tributary until the kingdom was annexed in 1317. The small southern states weakened themselves by constant war and were destroyed by the sultans of Delhi in the early fourteenth century.
What Is the Timeline of the Yadavas and the Khaljis?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| About 860 to 880 | Dridhaprahara, the earliest known Yadava ruler |
| About 1187 | Bhillama V takes Kalyani and declares independence |
| Late 1180s | Ballala II of the Hoysalas defeats Bhillama V at Soratur |
| 1296 | Alauddin raids Devagiri and takes tribute |
| 1306 to 1307 | Malik Kafur forces Ramachandra to surrender; he is restored as Rai Rayan |
| 1313 | Singhana III is killed when Malik Kafur retakes Devagiri |
| 1317 | The kingdom is annexed |
What Was the Yadava Contribution to Literature and Learning?
The Yadavas were among the first major dynasties to use Marathi officially. Hemadri, a minister and court poet, compiled the Sanskrit work Chaturvarga Chintamani and promoted Marathi. Dnyaneshwar wrote the Marathi commentary Dnyaneshwari about 1290, and Mukundaraja wrote the philosophical treatises Paramamrita and Vivekasindhu. Kannada remained a court language for some time, and Kannada works were written under Bhillama V and Singhana II. Singhana II set up a college of astronomy to study the works of Bhaskaracharya. Sharngadeva wrote the music treatise Sangita Ratnakara in his reign.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Deccan link Shows how the Delhi Sultanate crossed the Narmada
- Marathi Early official use of Marathi
- Chronology Often tested with the Khalji campaigns
What Came Next?
The next topic looks at the maritime and trade links between South India and Southeast Asia. Next topic: South Indian Contact and Trade with South-East Asia.
Key People and Terms
- Bhillama V Declared independence about 1187
- Singhana II Greatest Yadava ruler
- Hemadri Minister and author of Chaturvarga Chintamani
- Dnyaneshwar Marathi commentator of the Gita
- Rai Rayan Title given to Ramachandra
- Malik Kafur Khalji general in the Deccan
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Capital Devagiri; independence about 1187.
- Singhana II: greatest king; Narmada to Tungabhadra.
- Ramachandra was given the title Rai Rayan.
- Hemadri: Chaturvarga Chintamani.
- Annexed by 1317.
Do Not Confuse With
- Yadavas of Devagiri and Hoysalas Northern Deccan versus the Mysore plateau
- Yadavas and Kakatiyas Maratha region versus Telangana
- Singhana II and Singhana III Greatest king versus the last rebel
Memory Hook
Bhillama declares, Singhana expands, Ramachandra yields, Hemadri writes, Kafur ends.
Mains Angle
Questions on the Yadavas link regional history with the Delhi Sultanate. These points add depth.
- Rise Chalukya feudatory to sovereign
- Fall Khalji raids and tribute
- Culture Marathi and Sanskrit scholarship
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Trace the rise and fall of the Yadava kingdom of Devagiri and its place in the history of the Deccan.”
How to Answer
- Rise Bhillama V and Devagiri.
- Peak Singhana II.
- Fall Alauddin and Malik Kafur.
- Culture Hemadri and Marathi.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded the Yadava kingdom of Devagiri?
Bhillama V is regarded as the founder of the sovereign Yadava kingdom. Around 1187 he took Kalyani from the Western Chalukyas, declared himself an independent ruler and made Devagiri, now Daulatabad, the capital of the dynasty.
Who was the greatest Yadava ruler?
Singhana II was the greatest Yadava ruler. His realm stretched from the Narmada to the Tungabhadra, and he fought the Hoysalas, Paramaras, Shilaharas and Chaulukyas, and set up a college of astronomy for the study of Bhaskaracharya's works.
How did Alauddin Khalji defeat the Yadavas?
Alauddin raided Devagiri in 1296 and obtained tribute, and in 1306-07 Malik Kafur forced Ramachandra to surrender. Ramachandra was restored with the title Rai Rayan, and later campaigns removed the dynasty, which was annexed by 1317.
Who was Hemadri?
Hemadri was a minister and court poet of the Yadavas who compiled the Sanskrit encyclopedic work Chaturvarga Chintamani and promoted Marathi in the court. His work shows the Sanskrit and Marathi scholarship of the Yadava court.
What role did the Yadavas play in Marathi literature?
The Yadavas were among the first major dynasties to use Marathi officially. Dnyaneshwar composed his commentary, the Dnyaneshwari, about 1290, and Mukundaraja wrote philosophical works in Marathi, which made Devagiri an early centre of Marathi writing.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Devagiri was the capital of the Yadava dynasty.
It is now Daulatabad.
2 Alauddin Khalji gave Ramachandra the title Rai Rayan.
After the campaign of Malik Kafur in 1306-07.
3 The Yadavas ruled from Warangal.
Warangal was the Kakatiya capital.
4 Hemadri wrote the Chaturvarga Chintamani.
He was a Yadava minister.
Related Topics
Browse the full Medieval History index