209 / 822
LURE - THRU THE AGES
Eternal India
encyclopedia
VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE
1336-1565 A.D.
Overview
*
Founded by the Sangama brothers
Harihara and Bukka under the guid-
ance of their Guru Vidyaranya.
*
The establishment of the Vijay-
anagara Empire was significant, since
it was created at a time when the
whole of South India was feeling the
effects of the invasions of the Delhi
rulers.
*
Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu
dynasties ruled Vijayanagara Kingdom.
Advent
*
Persecution of Hindus by Delhi Sul-
tans and declining image of Hinduism
was the prime cause for the establish-
ment of Vijayanagar empire.
*
Vidyaranya, the head of the Sringeri
monastery, helped Harihara and Bukka
in establishing the Vijayanagara em-
pire as a bulwark against the- spread of
Muslim power in the south.
Chronology
Sangama Dynasty 1336-1485
*
Harihara
(1336-1354)
*
Bukkaraya
(Krishna Raya)
(1354-1377)
*
Harihara II
(1377-1404)
*
Bukka II
(1404-1406)
*
Devaraya I
(1406-1422)
*
Veeravijaya
(1422-1425)
*
Devaraya II
(1425-1447)
*
Mallikarjuna
(1447-1485)
*
Virupaksha
(1465-1485)
Saluva Dynasty 1485-1503
*
Narasimha I
(1485-1491)
*
Thirumala
(1491-1491)
*
Narasimha II
(1491-1503)
Tuluva Dynasty
1503-1565
*
Veera Narasimha
(1503- 1509)
*
Krishnadeva Raya
(1509- 1529)
*
Achutaraya
(1529- 1542)
*
Sadashivaraya
(.1542-1565)
Aravidu Dynasty
1570-1650
*
Ramaraya
(1542-1565)
*
Tirumala
(1565-1572)
*
Sriranga
(1572- 1586)
*
Venkata II
(1586- 1614)
*
Sri Ranga II
(1614)
*
Ramadeva raya
(1617-1632)
*
Venkata III
(1632-1642)
*
Sri Ranga III
(1642-1646)
WARS
*
Conflict between Bahmanisand Bukka I
over Krishna-Tungabhadradoab.
*
Devaraya II defeated the Bah-
manis in c. 1423. drove back
Gajapati (a Kalinga ruler), fought
two wars with Bahmanis (1435-
36 and 1443)
*
Defeat of Gajapati by Krish-
nadeva Raya (in 1509), killed
Yusuf Adil Shah (Bahmani
King), in 1510; conquered the
fort of Udayagiri from Gajapati
in 1513; victory of Shahi sul-
tans in the battle of Talikote
(1565) during the reign of
Ramaraya.
Krishnadeva
Raya
1509-1529
Krishnadeva
Raya
was
the
greatest of the Vijayanagara rul-
ers; the Kingdom attained the
height of its power during his
reign.
A
military
strategist,
shrewd administrator, great warrior,
scholar, poet, writer of excellence
and a patron of art, letters, scholars
and writers; wrote
'Amukta Malyada'
in Tel-
ugu language and
‘Jambavati Kalyana’,
a
Sanskrit play. He had in the court 8 great
scholars known as
Ashtadiggajas
. Domingo
Paes, the Portuguese traveller writer,
"He is
the most feared and perfect King,
............
He is a-
great ruler and a man of much justice but
subject to sudden fits of rage
.........
Vijayanagar
is the best provided city in the world.
..........
The
streets and markets are full of laden oxen
without count”.
Impact
*
The Battle of Talikote (1565) was decisive
and one of the major political events in
South Indian history; witnessed the break-
ing up of Vijayanagara empire and
political
disintegration. Though the empire contin-
ued it was no longer the political force that
it had been. The rulers of Golkonda and
Bijapur took its northern territories, other
feudatories like Keladi, Mysore, Tanjore,
Madurai, Jinji became independent. Kar-
nataka lost its political unity for a period
of
4 centuries after this fatal event.
Administration
*
Centralised administration with all its
branches carefully organised.
*
King was the supreme authority in civil,
military and judicial affairs; he was as-
sisted by a Council of Ministers.
*
The empire was subdivided into
rajya,
mandala
and
chavadi.
*
Gold, silver and copper coins used.
*
Land Revenue
'Sist',
was the principal
source of income;
Athavane
(Land dept.);
Kandachara
(Military dept.) controlled
by
Dandanayaka
(Commander-in-
Chief).
*
Hinduism revived during this period;
Sringeri and Tirupati received great
royal patronage.
Strengths
*
Able guidance of Hindu guru Vidyar-
anya to establish the empire.
*
The reign of Krishnadeva Raya
*
Construction of beautiful temples and
monuments.
*
All-round development.
Achievements
*
Only Hindu kingdom of South India.to
oppose the onslaught of Islam.
*
Filled the political vacuum in South
India created by the fall of Hoysalas,
Kakatiyas, Pandyas and other minor king-
doms.
Weakness
*
Inefficient rulers; constant feud among
the Royal family for power.
Decline
*
Ramaraya actively exploited the quar-
rels among the Deccan Sultanates sid-
ing with one against another. He was
successful for sometime, but in 1565, the
Sultanates with the exception of Berar,
united against Vijayanagar at the battle of
Talikote (1565) and destroyed it.