Prataparudra (1295 AD to 1323 AD) was the grandson and successor of Queen Rudrama Devi. He was the last king of the Kakatiya Dynasty (9th century AD to 14th Century AD) in present Warangal in Telangana.
He faced a very critical situation when he ascended the throne because of repeated invasions from the Delhi Sultans.
Alauddin Khilji (1303 – 1309) and the Turkish rulers Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah (1318) and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1323) tried to annex the Kakatiya kingdom.
They more often than not succeeded in their objective, sometimes after long sieges.
Prataparudra had to agree to pay a huge tribute regularly, but often, taking advantage of the difficulties of the Sultans, exhibited slackness, necessitating fresh incursions.
Ultimately, Ghiyasuddin’s general Ulugh Khan succeeded in capturing Warangal and taking Prataparudra prisoner. While on his way to Delhi, Prataparudra either committed suicide or was slain by one of his followers at his instance, as he preferred death to dishonor at the Sultan’s court.
This was the ignominious end of the Kakatiya dynasty, which had resisted foreign invasions several times and had given a strong rule to a major part of Telangana for about four centuries.