Ankitchadha at 22:43, 5 March 2026

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{{Short description|Gajapati emperor from 1472 to 1476}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| type = Prince
| name = Hamvira Deva
| native_name =
| native_lang_name =
| title = Patrudu
| image =
| caption =
| succession = [[Gajapati Empire|Gajapati emperor]]
| reign = October 1472 – 1476
| coronation =
| predecessor = [[Purushottama Deva]]
| successor = [[Purushottama Deva]]
| full name =
| house = [[Suryavansha]]
| spouse =
| father = [[Kapilendra Deva]]
| mother = Parvati Devi
| issue = {{unbulleted list|Kumara Kapileshwara Mahapatra<ref name="b"/><ref name="j">{{cite book |title=The Journal of Orissan History |date=1991 |publisher=Orissa History Congress |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgFIAAAAMAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref><ref name="military"/><ref name="gajapati"/>|Narhari Patra<ref name="kc"/>}}
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| place of burial =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance =
| branch =
| rank =
| battles = [[Battle of Devarakonda]]}}
}}
'''Hamvira Deva''' was an [[Odia people|Odia]] prince of the [[Gajapati Empire]] in [[Medieval India|India]] and a Gajapati ruler for a brief period. He was the eldest son of [[Kapilendra Deva]], the founder of the Gajapati Empire. He played a vital role in the empire's military expansion, but was bypassed in the succession in favour of his younger half-brother, [[Purushottama Deva]].

==Life==
Hamvira Deva was the eldest son of emperor [[Kapilendra Deva]], founder of the [[Gajapati Empire]] and the supposed heir apparent.<ref name="military"/><ref name="muslim">{{cite book |last1=Haque |first1=Mohammed Anwarul |title=Muslim Administration in Orissa, 1568-1751 A.D. |date=1980 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Co8eAAAAMAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref> Hamvira Deva often carried out military campaigns against enemy kingdoms and expanded the empire greatly. He was governor of the southern provinces of the Gajapati Empire before 1464.<ref name= "b"/> He had a son named Kumara Kapileshwara who helped him on military campaigns and later became governor of the southern provinces of the empire.<ref name="b"/><ref name="gajapati"/><ref name="military"/> He also had a son named Narhari Patra who survived him and was captured by the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara]] army of [[Krishnadevaraya]] when they conquered the [[Kondaveedu Fort|Kodavidu]] fort in 1516 from the Gajapati emperor [[Prataprudra Deva]].<ref name="kc"/>

==Military career==
Hamvira carried out several successful military campaigns when he was governor of the southern provinces until 1464.

===Bahmanis===
In 1449, the [[Malwa Sultanate]] under [[Mahmud Khalji]] invaded the [[Bahmani Sultanate]] under Humayun Shah. He raided [[Bidar]] twice in the 1460s with the assistance of the [[Recherla Nayakas]] of [[Telangana]].<ref name= "r"/>

In 1481, [[Muhammad Shah III Lashkari|Muhammad III]] invaded and besieged the [[Kondaveedu Fort|Kondavidu fort]] which was commanded under Hamvira. This invasion took place after his [[Bahmani invasion of Orissa|invasion on Orissa]]. The Bahmanis defeated Hamvira and he was forced to surrender. Hamvira'a career ended in tragedy as this was the last military engagement of Hamvira.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Haque |first=Mohammed Anwarul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Co8eAAAAMAAJ |title=Muslim Administration in Orissa, 1568-1751 A.D. |date=1980 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |pages=39 |language=en}}</ref>

===Reddi Kingdom===
The [[Kondaveedu Fort|Kondavidu fort]], one of the strongest forts in [[South India]], was under the control of the [[Reddi Kingdom|Reddis]], who were vassals under the suzerainty of [[Deva Raya II]] of [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar]].

[[Deva Raya II]] was a capable ruler who defeated the first Gajapati invasion. [[Kapilendra Deva]] appointed prince Hamvira Deva to annex the southern kingdoms to his empire. [[Deva Raya II]]'s successor [[Mallikarjuna Raya]] was a weak monarch. Hamvira Deva took advantage of this and attacked [[Rajahmundry]] under Veerabhadra Reddi and conquered it in 1448. He appointed his cousin Raghudeva Narendra Mohapatra as its governor.<ref name="military">{{cite book |last1=Das |first1=H. C. |title=Military History of Kalinga |date=1986 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HPMeAAAAMAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref>

===Vijayanagara===
Hamvira attacked [[Kondaveedu Fort|Kondavidu fort]] in 1454 and successfully captured it, despite the [[Reddi Kingdom|Reddis]] being assisted in the battle by [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar]]. He then appointed Ganadeva Routray as the fort's governor.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sahu |first1=N. K. |title=A History of Orissa |date=1980 |publisher=Bharatiya Publishing House |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BxpDAAAAYAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref>

According to the Anantavaram grant, the forts of [[Chandragiri]], Padavidu, Valudularnpatti, Usavadi, [[Thiruvarur|Tiruvarur]] and Tiruchilapalli and the city of [[Kanchipuram|Kanchi]] fell to Hamvira. The conquered region was placed under the charge of Hamvira's son Kumara Kapileshwara Mahapatra.<ref name= "gajapati">{{Cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/127087/8/08_chapter%203.pdf|title=RELATIONS WITH THE GAJAPATHIS|website=shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in|access-date=6 September 2017}}</ref>

When [[Mallikarjuna Raya]] succeeded to the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara]] throne, [[Kapilendra Deva]] sought to take advantage of the weak ruler and sent Hamvira Deva along with support of the [[Bahmani Sultanate]] to the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara]] capital of [[Hampi]]. Sources differ on the outcome of this conflict, with the Anantavaram copper plates of the Gajapatis stating that Hamvira conquered [[Hampi]] and forced [[Mallikarjuna Raya]] to pay tribute. However, the ''Gangadasa-Vilasa Charitam'' authored by the Vijaynagara poet Gangadhar states that his patron [[Mallikarjuna Raya]] sallied from the capital during the siege and routed the combined forces of the [[Gajapati Empire|Gajapatis]] and [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmanis]].<ref name= "kc"/> Historian R. Subramanyam hence concludes that Hamvira defeated the Vijayanagara forces in a pitched battle but failed to break the stout defences of [[Hampi]] and retreated.<ref name= "r"/>

In 1460, [[Kapilendra Deva]]'s lieutenant Tumma Bhupala conquered the [[Udayagiri, Andhra Pradesh|Udaigiri fort]] from the [[Vijayanagara Empire]]. With [[Udayagiri, Andhra Pradesh|Udaigiri]] as a base, Hamvira helped his father to conquer the coastal districts of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] up to [[Thanjavur|Tanjore]] and [[South Arcot]].<ref name= "kc"/>

===Telangana===
{{Main|Battle of Devarakonda}}
[[File:The Lion Gate of Devarakonda Fort.jpg|thumb|Present day ruins of Devarakonda Fort.]]
The [[Recherla Nayakas|Velama]] chief of [[Devarakonda]] (in the present-day [[Telangana]] region), Gajaravo Tippa, requested [[Kapilendra Deva]] for help against the [[Bahmani Sultanate]]. The [[Recherla Nayakas|Velama]] chiefs of [[Telangana]] had angered the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmanis]] by supporting [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagar]], their archenemy, in a war against them and the Bahmanis severely devastated the Velama territory.<ref name= "gajapati"/>

In 1458, a battle ensued at Devarakonda in which Hamvira Deva defeated the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani]] forces under Sanjar Khan, the general of [[Sultan]] Humayun Shah. Subsequently, he took control of the [[Khammam Fort]] and placed the governor of [[Rajahmundry]] and his cousin, Raghudeva Narendra Mohapatra in its charge.

He attacked [[Warangal Fort]] under the command of [[Mahmud Gawan]], the Bahmani prime minister and conquered it after a siege lasting until February 1460.<ref name="kc"/><ref name= "r">{{cite book |title=The Sūryavaṁśi Gajapatis of Orissa {{!}} WorldCat.org |oclc=1945979 |language=en}}</ref>

==Struggle for the throne==
Being the most able<ref name="b"/> among [[Kapilendra Deva]]'s numerous children, he was supported by the ministers, courtiers and some Gajapati vassals, as known from the "Abhinava-Gita-Govinda".<ref name="cult">{{cite book |last1=Mishra |first1=Baba |title=Medieval Orissa and Cult of Jagannatha |date=1995 |publisher=Navrang |isbn=978-81-7013-128-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ipuAAAAMAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref>

However, he was bypassed in the succession order in favour of his younger half-brother [[Purushottama Deva]].<ref name="j"/><ref name="muslim"/> This reason for this decision of making a younger and unproven prince the successor made by his father [[Kapilendra Deva]] is debated.<ref name="j"/> Scholars theorize that Hamvira rebelled against his father, hence [[Purushottama Deva|Purushotamma]] became his favourite son and was appointed as successor by his father [[Kapilendra Deva]] on the banks of the [[Krishna River]].<ref name="b">{{cite book |last1=Tripathy |first1=Shyam Sunder |title=Buddhism and Other Religious Cults of South-east India |date=1988 |publisher=Sundeep Prakashan |isbn=978-81-85067-15-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OXbYAAAAMAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref><ref name="j"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Das |first1=H. C. |title=Cultural Development in Orissa |date=1985 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w80dAAAAMAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref> R. Subramanyam theorizes that during the last years of Kapilendra's reign a revolt led by his son Hamvira occurred in the [[Krishna River]] region. [[Kapilendra Deva|Kapilendra]] came to the banks of the [[Krishna River]] to quell the rebellion but his failing health prevented him from doing so. Before dying, he appointed [[Purushottama Deva|Purushotamma]] as his successor.<ref name= "r"/><ref name= "gajapati"/>

There is a legend that when, under divine guidance, [[Kapilendra Deva]] announced that he was naming [[Purushottama Deva|Purushottama]] as heir apparent, the eighteen older sons, including Hamvira Deva, threw spears at Purushottama in their fury, all of which missed.

Dissatisfied with [[Purushottama Deva|Purushottama]] becoming emperor, he declared himself king, ruling from the [[Udayagiri, Andhra Pradesh|Udaigiri Fort]]. [[Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya]], emperor of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]], took advantage of the Gajapati civil war and invaded [[Udayagiri, Andhra Pradesh|Udaigiri]] around 1469. Hamvira was forced to sue for peace and was captured.<ref name= "gajapati"/>

==Reign==
Due to his weak position after his defeat by [[Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya]], he sought and acquired the support of the [[Bahmani Sultanate]] in 1470.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ghosh |first1=G. K. |title=Orissa: The Dazzle from Within (art, Craft and Culture of Orissa) |date=1993 |publisher=Ashish |isbn=978-81-7024-593-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UjpuAAAAMAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref> [[Muhammad Shah III Lashkari|Muhammad Shah III]]'s general Malik Hussain Bheiry (also known as Nizam-ul-Mulk) helped Hamvira in capturing [[Kondapalli]] and [[Rajahmundry]]. Then their combined forces marched to the [[Gajapati Empire|Gajapati]] capital, [[Cuttack]], defeated [[Purushottama Deva|Purushottama]] in 1472 and Hamvira was crowned as the new king.<ref name= "muslim"/><ref name="andhra">{{cite book |title=Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society |date=1960 |publisher=Andhra Historical Research Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V-4VAQAAMAAJ&q=Hamvira+Deva |language=en}}</ref> In return for his aid, Hamvira ceded [[Rajahmundry]] and [[Kondaveedu Fort|Kondavidu]] to [[Muhammad Shah III Lashkari|Muhammad Shah III]].<ref name= "muslim"/> [[Purushottama Deva]] re-captured the throne from Hamvira in 1476 due to the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmanis]] being unable to provide support.<ref name= "gajapati"/>

Many scholars such as [[R. D. Banerji|R.D. Banerjee]] do not agree with this theory of Hamvira achieving kingship proposed by R Subrahmanyam. Historian [[Krishna Chandra Panigrahi|K.C. Panigrahi]] among others argues that if Hamvira had occupied the throne for even a short period, some evidence in the form of inscriptions or traditions would have been available.<ref name="kc">{{cite book |last1=PANIGRAHI |first1=KRISHNA CHANDRA |title=History of Orissa: (HINDU PERIOD) |date=5 January 2023 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-68586-798-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p0mkEAAAQBAJ&q=Hamvira |language=en}}</ref><ref name= "gajapati"/><ref name="r"/>

==Later life==
Not much is known about his later life.<ref name= "cult"/> [[Krishna Chandra Panigrahi|K.C. Panigrahi]] contemplates that he was likely to have been executed by the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani Sultan]] when his secret correspondence with his brother [[Purushottama Deva]] was discovered. He states that Hamvira's able son, Kumara Kapileshwara Mahapatra, might have died during a battle.<ref name="kc"/>

R. Subrahmanyam is of the opinion that [[Purushottama Deva]] and Hamvira reached a compromise. When Hamvira was defeated in 1476, he was allowed to go to [[Parlakhemundi|Khimidi]] where he ruled as a vassal of [[Purushottama Deva]] and established a line of vassal rulers.<ref name="r"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Gajapati Empire]]
[[Category:15th-century Indian monarchs]]

Hamvira Deva - Revision history

Ankitchadha at 22:43, 5 March 2026