Boya (caste)

Sri Kambhampati Satyanarayana opined that the Boyas were "Bhogikulu" which means they used to occupy and enjoy lands with their bravery.

They organise drives for pig, hunt bears in some parts in a fearless manner, and are regular attendants at the village gymnasium (garidi mane) [6] According to the Raya Vachakam, King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire, along with his minister Appaji, took the help of the incomparable Boya Doralu and 11 other princely states in archery to defeat the enemies.

In the course of time, Boya Palegars became the rulers of the forts of Rayadurgam in Karnataka and Kalyandurg in Andhra Pradesh and made them vassals of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Earlier colonial scholars thought it simply meant an "inhabitant of," but more recent scholarship suggests otherwise, meaning the recipients could have been from the Boya community.

Nandi speculated these land grants were given because of the Boyas' predominance in what is today Southern Andhra Pradesh, a frontier region vulnerable to Pallava attacks.

After the death of Vishnuvardhana V, the Boyas rose up against the Chalukyas and quickly captured Vengi, in modern-day Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Pandranga successfully retook Vengi and conquered 12 Boya estates, and to prevent a recurrence, was made governor of the whole region.

[8] Many of the Poligars whom Sir Thomas Munro found in virtual possession of the country when it was added to the Company belonged to this caste, and their irregular levies, and also a large proportion of Haidar's formidable force, were of the same breed.

Chitradurga fort built during the reign of Madakari Nayaka