The Vijayanagara Empire was a medieval Indian empire that covered much of the region of South India, controlling the lands of the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, and some parts of Telangana and Maharashtra.
The history of Vijayanagar Empire constitutes an important chapter in the history of India. Four dynasties – Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu – ruled Vijayanagar from A.D. 1336 to 1672.
Sources for the study of Vijayanagara Empire
The sources for the study of Vijayanagar are varied such as literary, archaeological and numismatics.
Literary sources
Krishnadevaraya’s Amukthamalyada, Gangadevi’s Maduravijayam and Allasani Peddanna’s Manucharitam are some of the indigenous literature of this period.
Foreign traveler’s accounts
Many foreign travelers visited the Vijayanagar Empire and their accounts are also valuable. The Moroccan traveler, Ibn Battuta, Venetian traveler Nicolo de Conti, Persian traveler Abdur Razzak and the Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes were among them who left valuable accounts on the socio-economic conditions of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Copper plate inscriptions
The copper plate inscriptions such as the Srirangam copper plates of Devaraya II provide the genealogy and achievements of Vijayanagar rulers.
Archaeological sources
The Hampi ruins and other monuments of Vijayanagar provide information on the cultural contributions of the Vijayanagar rulers.
Numismatics
The numerous coins issued by the Vijayanagar rulers contain figures and legends explaining their tittles
and achievements.
Political History of Vijayanagara Empire
Four dynasties – Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu – ruled Vijayanagar from A.D. 1336 to 1672.
Sangama dynasty
Vijayanagar was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty. They originally served under the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal.
Then they went to Kampili where they were imprisoned and converted to Islam. Later, they returned to the Hindu fold at the initiative of the saint Vidyaranya. They also proclaimed their independence and founded a new city on the south bank of the Tungabhadra river. It was called Vijayanagar meaning city of victory.
The decline of the Hoysala kingdom enabled Harihara and Bukka to expand their newly founded kingdom. By 1346, they brought the whole of the Hoysala kingdom under their control.
The struggle between Vijayanagar and Sultanate of Madurai lasted for about four decades. Kumarakampana’s expedition to Madurai was described in the Maduravijayam. He destroyed the Madurai Sultans and as a result, the Vijayanagar Empire comprised the whole of South India up to Rameswaram.
The conflict between Vijayanagar Empire and the Bahmani kingdom lasted for many years. The dispute over Raichur Doab, the region between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra and also over the fertile areas of Krishna-Godavari delta led to this long- drawn conflict.
The greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty was Deva Raya II. But he could not win any clear victory over the Bahmani Sultans. After his death, Sangama dynasty became weak.
Saluva dynasty
The next dynasty, Saluva dynasty founded by Saluva Narasimha reigned only for a brief period (1486-1509).
Saluva Narasimha was the first king of the dynasty ruling from 1486–1491.
Three kings ruled from 1486 to 1509 after which the Tuluva Dynasty claimed the throne
Tuluva dynasty
The Tuluva dynasty was founded by Vira Narasimha. Tuluva was the third Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Krishna Deva Raya – the greatest of Vijayanagar rulers , belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.
After his death, Achutadeva and Venkata succeeded the throne. During the reign of Rama Raya, the combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golkonda and Bidar defeated him at the Battle of Talaikotta in 1565. This battle is also known as Raksasa Thangadi. Rama Raya was imprisoned and executed. The city of Vijayanagar was destroyed.
Battle of Talaikotta was generally considered to mark the end of the Vijayanagar Empire. However, the Vijayanagar kingdom existed under the Aravidu dynasty for about another century.
Aravidu dynasty
Thirumala, Sri Ranga and Venkata II were the important rulers of this dynasty. The last ruler of Vijayanagar kingdom was Sri Ranga III.
External link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayanagara_Empire
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES 1 . Consider the following statements: UPSC 2004
1 . Narasimha Saluva ended the Sangama dynasty and seized the throne for himself and started the Saluva dynasty.
2 . Vira Narasimha deposed the last Saluva ruler and seized the throne for himself.
3 . Vira Narasimha was succeeded by his younger brother, Krishnadeva Raya.
4 . Krishnadeva Raya was succeeded by his half-brother, Achyuta Raya.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4
(d) ■ Sangama dynasty was founded by Harihara-I. ■ Saluva dynasty was founded by Narasimha Saluva by defeating Dev Raya-II of Sangama dynasty. ■ Taluva dynasty was founded by Vira Narasimha and was succeeded by Krishnadeva Raya and Achyuta Raya.
QUES 2 . Consider the following: UPSC 2003
Assertion (A): Saluva Narasimha put an end to the old dynasty and assumed the royal title.
Reason (R): He wanted to save the kingdom from further degeneration and disintegration.
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(c) He assumed the royal title not to save the kingdom but due to his greed for power.
QUES 3 . Consider the following : CDS 2005
Assertion (A): Vira Narasimha deposed the last Saluva ruler of Vijayanagar and seized the throne for himself.
Reason (R): Vira Narasimha wanted to save the kingdom from disintegration due to the revolts of feudatories which could not be controlled by the Saluva ruler.
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanations of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(c)
QUES 4 . When the First Battle of Panipat was fought, who was the ruler of Vijayanagar in the southern India ? IES 2006
(a) Narasimha Saluva
(b) Vira Narasimha
(c) Krishna Deva Raya
(d) Sadasiva Raya
(c) ■ Krishna Deva Raya ruled from 1509 to1530. ■ The first Battle of Panipat, on 20 April 1526, was fought between the invading forces of Babur and the Lodi dynasty.
QUES 5 . When Babur invaded India who was the ruler of Vijayanagara empire in south India ? CAPF 2008
(a) Saluva Narasimha
(b) Devaraya II
(c) Krishna Deva Raya
(d) Sadasiva Raya
(c) Krishna Deva Raya ruled from 1509 to1530. On account of his precarious position in Central Asia , Babur, after crossing the Indus, invaded India for five times. The first real expedition took place in 1519 when he captured Bhera. His fifth expedition to India was the Battle of Panipat in April 1526.
