Revolt of Raja of Vizianagaram

Civil Uprisings: Revolt of the Raja of Vizianagaram (1794)

• In 1758, a treaty was made between the English and Ananda Gajapatiraju, the ruler of Vizianagaram, to jointly oust the French from the Northern Circars.
• The mission was successful, but the English went back on their word to honour the terms of the treaty.
• Ananda Gajapatiraju died before he could seriously tackle the English.

Conflict with the East India Company

• The East India Company demanded a tribute of three lakh rupees from Vizayaramaraju, the Raja of Vizianagaram, and asked him to disband his troops.
• This demand angered the raja as there were no dues to be paid to the Company.
• The raja, supported by his subjects, rose up in revolt.

Capture and Death of the Raja

• The English captured the raja in 1793 and ordered him to go into exile with a pension, but the raja refused.
• The raja died in a battle at Padmanabham (in modern Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh) in 1794.

Aftermath of the Vizianagaram Revolt

• Vizianagaram came under the Company’s rule.
• Later, the Company offered the estate to the deceased raja’s son and reduced the demand for presents.