Poosapati / Pusapati was the ruling clan of the KalingaVizianagaram. They were Kshatriyas of the Pericchedi ruling clan of Andhra.
History
The Pericchedi kings were ancestors of the Pusapati royal family who built Bezawada off the river Krishna by 626 AD and another capital in Kollipaka establishing themselves for nine centuries there. They were staunch patrons of Hindu Dharma in contrast to the Chalukyas, who initially were patrons of Jainism. The family name was changed to Pusapati after moving to the coastal region. They founded the city of Vizianagaram, and named it after Pusapati Vijay Rama Raju, spelled with a Z to differentiate it from the Vijayanagar Dynasty in Hampi. They obtained the title of Gajapathi in the 16th century, after vanquishing the Gajapatis in the battle of Nandapur, in the Northern Circars, and have used since then. In 1484 Pusapati Rachi Raju wrote Vasistha Gotra Kshatriya Sisa Malika. The Rajas allied themselves with the Gajapathi Emperor of Orissa against the Vijayanagar Empire initially but after being conquered by Krishnadevaraya they became their feudal allies. They, along with the other allies of Vijayanagar were conquered by Sultan Quli, the founder of the Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golkonda but by 1652 the 5thking of the subsequent Pusapati line was made Subahdar of the Northern Circars and they re-established themselves in the Vizagapatnam country. Emperor Aurangzeb has given them a two-edged sword 'pattaa kaththi' , which is still used in the coat-of-arms of the family. By 1713 they erected the fort at Vizianagaram where they have since resided. In 1827 Maharajah Vijay Rama Gajapati Raju III. had several honors conferred on him by the British Government. Lord Northbrook obtained for him the title of His Highness, and had his name enrolled among those of chiefs entitled to return visits from the Viceroy with a 13gun salute.
Poosapati / Pusapati rulers
Up to 1509 A.D. The Pusapatis were ruling in Vijayawada, They were referred to as descendants of Madhava Varma of Bezawada, as that is what Vijayawada was called at the time.
Pusapati Rachi Raju He was an ally of the Gajapathi King Rudra Deva, they were both defeated by the Vijayanagar EmperorKrishna Deva Raya. After his defeat, Krishna Deva Raya reinstated him. Krishna deva raya and Rachi Raju married the daughters of orissa king Gajapati pratapa Rudra deva. Krishna Devaraya left the gajapati's to rule back their kingdom to krishna river.
Pusapati Amala Raju
Pusapati Tama Bhupaludu
Pusapati Sita Rama Chandra Raju In 1687 A.D. when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered Golkonda, Sita Rama Chandra Raju obtained the Zulfikar that figures on the Pusapati flag from the emperor as a token of appreciation for having assisted him in his campaign.
*Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju II Died in the battle of Padmanabham against the British. Vijaya Rama Raju's brother Sita Rama Raju attacked Parlakamedi along with their Maratha allies and conquered it.
Sir Pusapati Vijayananda Gajapathi Raju also known as Maharajkumar of Vizianagram or Vizzy - Former Indian cricketer, Cricket administrator and Politician.
