It was in the early 1840s. Uncertainty loomed over Surpur, a small feudatory ruled by Nayaks (Bedas) under the suzerainty of the Nizam of Hyderabad. On the one hand, the province was in financial crisis owing to the huge amount of money paid to the Nizam government. On the other hand, the in-fighting for power had intensified following the death of Raja Krishnappa Nayak, the ruler of Surpur, in 1841.
When Raja Krishnappa Nayak died, his son Venkatappa Nayak was just seven. Though widow Rani Eshwaramma took over the reins, Raja Krishnappa Nayak’s younger brother Pidda Nayak was trying to capture power and the queen was struggling hard to retain power. It was at this turbulent time that the Nizam of Hyderabad appointed Philip Meadows Taylor as his political agent and sent him to Surpur.
