Musunuri Nayakas

The Musunuri Nayakas were Telugu warrior chiefs who rose in the lower Godavari country after the fall of the Kakatiya kingdom of Warangal to the Delhi Sultanate. Around 1330 Musunuri Prolaya Nayaka established himself at Rekapalle, near Bhadrachalam, claiming the Kakatiya heritage.

His successor Kapaya Nayaka seized Warangal from the Delhi governor in 1336 and led the Andhra chieftains in expelling Sultanate rule from eastern Telangana. His power was soon worn down by the Bahmani Sultanate: he lost fort after fort, including Golconda.

In 1361 he surrendered the turquoise throne of Warangal to Mohammed Shah I under a treaty. In 1368 the rival Recherla Nayakas killed him in battle at Bhimavaram, and the Musunuri chiefship broke up as its allied Nayakas returned to their own towns.