Vizianagaram Empire:

Vizianagaram Empire:

This area was ruled by different Hindu Emperors of Kalinga (Ancient Orissa) up to the mediaeval period. After the fall of centralized Gajapati empire of Orissa the region was governed by the Golkonda rulers. The ancestors of Maharajas of Vizianagaram belong to the tribal belt of Orissa.

Rulers of this princely state belong to the Pusapati family. The village Pooshpadu in Nandigama Taluq was built by Amala Raju. The village later came to be known as Pusapadu. Therefore, the Kshatriyas living there came to be known as Pusapati.

The Maharaja of Vizianagram was the title held by the rulers of the princely state of Vizianagram, now in Andhra Pradesh, India.

The prominent people who have held this title include :

Pusapati Amala Raju                          (Founder)
Pusapati Rachi Raju
Pusapati Tama Bhupaludu
Pusapati Peda Vijayarama Raju
Pasupati Ananda Raju
Pusapati Chinna Vijayarama Raju     (1760–1794)
Pusapati Narayana Babu Raju          (1794–1845)
Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju   (1845–1879)
Pusapati Ananda Gajapati Raju        (1879–1897)
Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju   (1897–1922)
Pusapati Alaka Narayana Gajapati Raju (1922–1937)
Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju   (1945–1995)
Pusapati Ananda Gajapati Raju        (1950- )

Vijayananda Gajapathi Raju, better known as Vizzy, a politician and former cricket captain of India, was the Maharajkumar (prince) of Vizianagram, being the second son of Maharaja Vijayarama Gajapati Raju IV (1897–1922).