Matla Ellamaraju

Matla Ellamaraju also known as Matla Ellama was an important leader of the Matli Chiefs and a military commander under the Vijayanagara Empire. He was the father of Matla Anantaraju and played a key role in supporting Emperor Venkatapati Raya. Ellamaraju helped suppress major rebellions in the Rayalaseema region including those led by Tirupatiraju of Pottapi and Krishnamraju of Nandyala who had risen against the emperor.

Military career Velugoti–Matli Chiefs War Death of Matla Tirumalaraju at Koduru The Kondaraju brothers Dasariraju, Kondaraju, Venkataraju, and Timmaraju were ruling Siddavatam-sima as amaranayakas under the Sriranga Deva Raya. They attacked a neighbouring chief Sari Obana and seized his land which forced Obana to seek help from Velugoti Kasturi Ranga. Kasturi Ranga came with his army and camped at Koduru in the Kamalapuram taluk. In response the Kondaraju brothers gathered many local chiefs and family heads including Matli Tirumala to support them. In 1579 A.D. a fierce battle was fought at Koduru and despite being outnumbered Kasturi Ranga won a decisive victory. Many leaders were killed in the fighting including Matli Tirumala and his cousin Matli Varadaraju Timmaya while little is known from records about Ellamaraju the father of Tirumala except that he was his parent.

Tirupatiraju's Rebellion Battle of Utukur After the death of Sriranga Deva Raya his younger brother Venkata II became the king. Many nobles did not accept his rule and some like the Kondaraju brothers defied his authority. Matla Ellamaraju and his sons who held the nayamkaram of villages such as Pondaluru, Penagaluru, and Ponnapalli in the Pottapi and Siddavatam regions supported Venkata II who was then ruling from Chandragiri and Penukonda. This support created hostility between the Matli Chiefs and the Kondaraju brothers. In response the Kondarajus seized the amaram villages belonging to the Matlis. Tirupatiraju one of the Kondaraju brothers and ruler of Siddavatam-sima also strengthened his defenses by fortifying the village of Utukur and placing soldiers there to guard his frontier against attacks from Chandragiri.

Issue According to the Pengaluru inscription dated 1571 A.D. it was commissioned by Matla Tirumalaraju the son of Matla Ellamaraju. The inscription also tells us about Ellamaraju's family. He had four sons named Varada, Tirumalaraju, Chinna Timma, and Matla Anantaraju.

Death Ellamaraju died soon after returning from this campaign and was succeeded briefly by his son Kona who was killed while facing a revolt of palegars after which his half-brother Matla Anantaraju took charge of the family and its territories.