Question

By 220 B.C. ___________ became independent and made Srikakulam his capital and started the Satavahana rule.
A. Yajna Sri Satakarni
B. Gautamiputra Satakarni.
C. Simukha
D. Pulumavi

Answer 1

Hint: He is remembered as the first king in a list of royals in a Satavahana inscription at Nanaghat. He was the founder of the Satavahana dynasty. He was succeeded by his brother Kanha.

Complete Answer:
The Satavahana kingdom primarily constituted Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. Sometimes, their rule also encompassed parts of Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Their capital cities differed at different times. Pratishthana and Amaravati were the capital of Satavahana Dynasty.

A. Yajna Sri Satakarni is also known as Gautamiputra Yajna Sri. He recovered some of the territory lost to Shakas under Vashishtiputra Satakarni. This option is incorrect.
B. Gautamiputra Satakarni is the other name of Yajna Sri Satakarni. This option is incorrect.
C. Satavahana dynasty referred to Andhra jati and was the first Deccan region dynasty to build an empire in the southern region. Their rule started in the first century BCE and lasted until the second century CE. Simuka Satavahana was the founder of the dynasty with the capital at Srikakulam. This option is correct.
D. Pulumavi was the last king of the Satavahana rule. This option is incorrect.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note: Srikakulam is known as poor man's Ooty.
- Agriculture was the backbone of the economy during the rule of Satavahana kings. They also relied on trade and output of various products within and outside India.
- They were the first aboriginal Indian rulers to grant their own coins with the portrayals of the rulers. This exercise was begun by Gautamiputra Satakarni who derived the exercise from the Western Satraps after vetoing them.
- The coin legends were in Prakrit language as they patronised Prakrit more than Sanskrit.