Dukes · Contested ground · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Rattas (Saundatti)

Ratta chiefs, Jain patrons, who hold the country between the Malaprabha and the Ghats (the Belagavi plateau) and change overlords with the weather.

Seat Saundatti (Sugandhavarti); on the likely course the fort at Belgaum (Venugrama) is built in 1204 by the chief called Bichi Raja (Jaya Raja) and the capital moves there in 1210 (Wikipedia; neither has happened on 1 January 1200). By about 1189, on the Veera Ballala II article, Bhillama V had failed to win recognition from Chalukya vassals such as the Rattas, the Kadambas of Banavasi and the Silaharas; in the 1190s they stand within the zone of Hoysala claims; the Seuna article calls them formerly Hoysala vassals who became Simhana's feudatories. We draw them contested, with the Hoysala claim stronger on 1 January 1200.

Who he is

Name
Kartavirya (probably the fourth of the name; from memory of Fleet's list, not verified)
Title
Mahamandaleshvara of the Ratta line of Saundatti (Sugandhavarti)
Since
not pinned
Born
not known
Family
Ratta (Rashtrakuta branch); Jain patrons
Confidence
low

Wikipedia's Ratta dynasty article gives no ruler for the 1190s. The Seuna article says the Rattas were Hoysala vassals who became Simhana's feudatories. The name for 1200 is from memory of Fleet and could be wrong.

What it holds

  • Saundatti (Sugandhavarti) and its Jain basadis
  • Venugrama (Belgaum): a market village with a Jain establishment in 1200; Kamal Basadi is inside the later fort
  • The country between the Malaprabha and the Ghats

Allies and rivals

Overlords: Hoysala (nominal, likelier in 1200) or Yadava (from the 1210s). Neighbours: the Silaharas of Kolhapur (north), the Kadambas of Goa (west), the Guttas and Kadambas of Hangal (south).

How things stand that morning

Between two kings, serving the nearer one.

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. 1204Belgaum fort is built by the Ratta chief Bichi Raja (Jaya Raja); the capital moves to Belgaum in 1210.Depends on: Ratta peace. Stopped by: A Hoysala or Yadava seizure.
  2. before 1238The Yadava general Bichana conquers the Rattas (Singhana II article).Depends on: Simhana's southern campaigns after 1212. Stopped by: Hoysala recovery.

Places of note

  • Venugrama (Belgaum): Future Ratta capital; a market village in 1200.

Where the sources disagree

  • Board 'saundatti-sugandhavarti' says they are 'beyond the Krishna line' and change overlords with the weather: agreed. The campaign board entry has them under Yadava (contested); we give the Hoysala claim as the likelier on 1 January 1200 and flag the doubt.
  • Board 'venugrama-belgaum' says the fort is of 1204 and the capital moves in 1210: matches Wikipedia.

Evidence: Wikipedia's Ratta dynasty, Veera Ballala II and Seuna articles (read); no Ratta ruler or dated inscription for 1190-1200 was readable.

"The campaign board" is OMNIA's working map. These notes record where its earlier claims were checked against the sources.

On the map: The extent of the Ratta country is from later evidence.

Sources and studies

  1. Wikipedia: Ratta dynasty (read this session)
  2. Wikipedia: Veera Ballala II (read this session)
  3. Wikipedia: Seuna (Yadava) dynasty (read this session)
  4. J. F. Fleet, Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts (1896), and Epigraphia Indica: from memory, not re-read

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.