Akkanna and Madanna were two brothers, who were the loyal supporters of the Qutb Shahi kings of Golconda situated near Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. They are counted among the ministers, who assisted their kings in the history of Saudi India.
Akkanna and Madanna were the simple courtiers in their early life and later rose to the higher posts in Golconda due to their ability. They became very popular with the common people as well as with the king. Akkanna got the position of the commander-in-chief of the Golconda army. Whereas Madanna became the prime minister of the Qutb Shahi kingdom in 1674 AD during the rule of Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last ruler of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. After him, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb captured Golconda in 1687 AD.
Madanna was a brilliant leader so when the Mughals took over, he tried to strengthen the fort of Golconda. He also made good relationship with Shivaji, the Maratha ruler by entering into a sort of treaty of friendship with him, thus preventing the latter from further attacks on Golconda and also to prevent attacks from the Mughals. His aim was to prevent the Mughal domination and make Golconda independent again.
Both Akkanna and Madanna streamlined the army of the Qutb Shahi kings and they made regular drills compulsory. They made strict discipline in the army to fight against the strong Mughal force, the new fighting strategies such as guerilla tactics were introduced. The innovations in the army by Akkanna and Madanna showed a brilliant result. In 1677 AD, the Golconda army came face to face with the Mughal soldiers and strangely the Mughals were defeated for the time. They also brought out new developments in the civil administration to provide better governance to the Qutb Shahi kingdom.
The Mughals realised after this defeat that they couldn`t capture Golconda till these two brothers were alive. So, along with few other people who were jealous of Madanna the Mughals prepared a plot to kill him. This wicked plan was successful and Madanna was killed in 1686. After his death the severed head of this brave and loyal minister was brought to Aurangzeb. The Golconda lost its most intelligent and capable minister and the kingdom soon fell to the Mughals.
It is believed that Bhadrachala Ramadas, the famous devotee of Rama and music composer is believed to have been the nephew of these two brothers Akkanna and Madanna.
