grants to him, ranging from 1749-50 to 1754-55, which are still kept at Pithápuram.1[1] His estates and jaghirs were apparently regranted to him in the first of these years by Nimat Ali, who was Nawab of Rajahmundry from 1749-50 to 1751-52. The gap between 1734, when he was defeated by the Musalmans, and 1749, when he was restored, is hard to fill, Anwar-ud-din had quieted the country, and the people were 'in enjoyment of peace of mind and freedom from predatory incursions.' Rustum Khán had been killed by his own son, Núr-ud-din, and the latter was beheaded by Anwar-ud-dín. But whether Venkata Krishna Ráya was allowed to return to his estate before 1749 and, if not, who ruled the property in the interim, is not clear.
The authorities do not say what happened to the estate while the French held the Northern Circars, but when the Vizianagram Rája induced the English to invade the country in 1758-59, the Pithápuram zamindar, like the other chiefs of this district, suspected that he wished to extend his dominions at their expense, and accordingly opposed the invasion. He apparently took no part in the battle of Condore ; but hearing that the English were advancing against Samalkot with the Vizianagram Rája he obtained the help of the Dutch of Cocanada to resist them. The MS. says that the Samalkot fort held out for three months, but then submitted. Very shortly afterwards, however, the French landed some troops at Cocanada and these were received into the fort at Samalkot, and were joined there by Jagapati Rázu, a relative and enemy of the Vizianagram Rája. This coalition fought an action at Undúr with the Vizianagram forces, but was defeated. Samalkot was re-taken by the English and the French were driven to Cocanada. All this must have taken place in 1759. The Rája of Pithápuram took refuge in Rághavapuram, but, on the death of the Vizianagram Rája soon afterwards of small-pox, he returned to Pithápuram.
Meanwhile the Nizam had again become possessed of the district, and about 1761 the zamindar was re-established in his property.
Who held the property during the next few years is not clear, and there seems to have been some fighting over the successions. In 1765 the then Rája, Kumára Mahipati, died, and his uncle Níládri succeeded. He seems to have been a man of character and to have taken a strong line in the disturbances of the preceding years.
- ↑ 1 Four of these bear the seal of the Mughal emperor Ahmad Sháh (1748-54) and one of Alamgir II (1754-59).
