Vizianagaram, Vizianagaram Princely State was ruled by Pusapati Kings & Gajapati Maharajas. Maharaja Vijayarama Gajapati Raju was a notable King. They are Suryavanshi Kshatriyas. Their ancestors are Udaipur Maharanas. Another important event in the history of the district is the war between the French and the English fought at Chandurthi in 1758 in which the French were defeated and the Northern Circars were made over to the British under a firmana from the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam in 1765 which were placed under the then existing Chief and Council at Vizagapatam.
Vizianagaram has a history of rebellions against the British with notable events like:
1) Battle of Bobbili, 1757
2) Battle of Chandurthi, 1758
3) The rebellion of Korra Malliah, a tribal chief of the Salur area against the British rule in 1900 which fiercely resisted the forces of the DM. Korra Malliah along with son was arrested and kept in Jail where he died subsequently.
People hailing from the area enthusiastically took part in various phases of the movement like a non-cooperation movement, civil disobedience movement, Quit India Movement etc. First part of the second division of Vizag district, then part of Srikakulam district carved out of it in 1948 and finally in 1979 the constitution of Vizianagaram district.