Vijayanagara & Bahmani Kingdoms

Why This Chapter Matters

SSC and RRB exams love this chapter because it gives two rival kingdoms, a long line of dynasties, one famous battle, and a genuinely strong ruler (Krishnadevaraya) whose achievements are easy to frame as one-liners. Expect 2 to 4 questions from this chapter in a typical SSC CGL/CHSL or RRB NTPC GA section, usually on the founders of Vijayanagara, Krishnadevaraya's titles and works, the Battle of Talikota, and the five Deccan Sultanates that broke away from the Bahmani kingdom.

The sub-topics that repeat most are: who founded Vijayanagara and under whose guidance, the four ruling dynasties in order, Krishnadevaraya's court poets and his own book, the year and result of Talikota, and matching each Deccan Sultanate to its city and founder. The Amara-Nayaka system of Vijayanagara also gets asked as a "which system belongs to which kingdom" type question. Read the tables in this chapter twice; they carry most of the marks.

1. Political Background of the Deccan and South India

By the early 14th century, Muhammad bin Tughlaq's attempt to control the Deccan through Daulatabad had weakened Delhi's grip on the south. Two new powers rose out of this vacuum around the same decade: the Vijayanagara Empire in the far south (founded 1336) and the Bahmani Sultanate in the northern Deccan (founded 1347). For over two centuries these two kingdoms faced each other, sometimes at war, sometimes trading and exchanging craftsmen, until Vijayanagara's power was broken in 1565 and the Bahmani kingdom itself had already split into five smaller sultanates by 1527.

2. Founding of Vijayanagara

The empire was founded in 1336 CE by two brothers, Harihara I and Bukka I, on the south bank of the Tungabhadra river. Their capital city was Vijayanagara ("City of Victory"), near modern Hampi in Karnataka.

A widely taught tradition credits the sage Vidyaranya (also called Madhava Vidyaranya, head of the Sringeri Math) with guiding and blessing the brothers in founding the kingdom. SSC sometimes asks this pairing directly: Harihara and Bukka, guided by Vidyaranya.

Some traditions say the brothers had earlier served under the Kakatiya or Hoysala rulers and were later associated with the Delhi Sultanate administration in the Deccan before breaking away to found their own kingdom. Treat this as background; the founding year and the two founder names are what exams test directly.

3. The Four Dynasties of Vijayanagara

Vijayanagara was ruled by four dynasties in sequence. This sequence is a favourite "arrange in order" question.

Dynasty	Approx. Period	Notable Rulers
Sangama	1336–1485	Harihara I, Bukka I, Harihara II, Deva Raya I, Deva Raya II
Saluva	1485–1505	Saluva Narasimha
Tuluva	1505–1570	Vira Narasimha, Krishnadevaraya, Achyuta Raya, Sadashiva Raya
Aravidu	1570–1646	Tirumala, Sriranga, Venkata II (last major ruler); dynasty faded after Talikota's aftermath

Remember the order with the phrase "Sangama started, Saluva shortened, Tuluva peaked, Aravidu ended." Do not treat this as a historical quote; it is only a memory hook.

Deva Raya II of the Sangama dynasty is remembered for recruiting Muslim soldiers into his army and for encouraging the training of archers, a policy later credited with strengthening Vijayanagara's military.

4. Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529)

Krishnadevaraya, the greatest ruler of the Tuluva dynasty, is the single most-asked name from this chapter. He ruled from 1509 to 1529.

Key facts SSC asks about him:

• He defeated the Bahmani Sultanate's successor states, and won a major victory over the Sultan of Bijapur at the Battle of Raichur (1520).
• He extended Vijayanagara's control over Odisha (against the Gajapati rulers) and consolidated territory across the peninsula.
• He was a patron of the Ashtadiggajas, a group of eight celebrated Telugu poets at his court. The most famous of them, Allasani Peddana, is called "Andhra Kavita Pitamaha" (father of Telugu poetry).
• Krishnadevaraya himself wrote "Amuktamalyada", a Telugu work on statecraft and the story of the saint-poetess Andal. He also wrote Sanskrit works.
• The Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes visited his court and left a detailed description of the city of Vijayanagara, its markets, and royal ceremonies. Another Portuguese visitor, Duarte Barbosa, also recorded observations of the kingdom in this period.
• He built the Hazara Rama temple and the Vitthalaswami temple at Hampi, and added gopurams (gateway towers) to several south Indian temples.
• He maintained friendly relations with the Portuguese, who had established themselves at Goa in 1510 (captured by Afonso de Albuquerque), and used Portuguese traders to import horses for his cavalry.

After Krishnadevaraya's death in 1529, his successors Achyuta Raya and Sadashiva Raya ruled a weakening empire. Real power under Sadashiva Raya passed to the minister Rama Raya, whose aggressive diplomacy with the Deccan Sultanates eventually triggered the war that ended Vijayanagara's dominance.

5. The Battle of Talikota (1565)

The Battle of Talikota, fought in 1565, is the single most important date in this chapter.

• It is also called the Battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi in some sources, named after the villages near the battlefield on the Krishna river.
• On one side stood Vijayanagara, led by Rama Raya on behalf of the boy-king Sadashiva Raya. On the other side stood a rare combined force of four Deccan Sultanates: Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar, who had set aside their own rivalry to unite against Vijayanagara.
• The Sultanates won. Rama Raya was captured and executed on the battlefield.
• The victorious armies then sacked and destroyed the city of Vijayanagara over several months, looting and burning its temples and palaces. The city never recovered as a capital.
• The Aravidu dynasty continued to rule Vijayanagara as a much smaller, weaker kingdom from new capitals (Penukonda, later Chandragiri) after 1565, but the empire never regained its earlier power. It finally faded out in the 17th century.

Exam tip: SSC often frames this as "Which four kingdoms combined to defeat Vijayanagara in 1565?" Learn Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar as a set; the fifth Deccan Sultanate, Berar, did not take part in this battle.

6. Administration and the Amara-Nayaka System

Vijayanagara's administration is remembered mainly for one distinctive feature: the Amara-Nayaka system.

• Under this system, military chiefs called Nayakas were granted land revenue rights (similar in idea to the later Mughal jagir) in return for maintaining troops, horses, and elephants for the king, and for paying an annual tribute to the central treasury.
• The Nayakas also collected local taxes and were expected to keep order in their assigned territory. Over time, some Nayakas became powerful enough to act almost independently, especially in the outlying Tamil country, weakening central control in the empire's final phase.
• The king was assisted by a council of ministers; the position of Mahapradhana (chief minister) and Dandanayaka (military and judicial officer) appear in inscriptions.
• Village-level administration continued along older south Indian lines, with local assemblies handling irrigation, temple management, and dispute settlement.
• The empire ran a strong trade economy. The port city network on the west and east coasts carried on overseas trade, importing horses (mainly through Arab and Portuguese traders) and exporting spices, textiles, and precious stones.

7. Vijayanagara Culture, Art and Religion

• The Vijayanagara style of temple architecture is known for tall gopurams (gateway towers), pillared mandapas with carved horses and warriors, and large temple tanks. The Vitthalaswami temple at Hampi, with its famous stone chariot, and the Hazara Rama temple are the standard examples cited in exam material.
• The rulers were largely Vaishnavite in personal faith (especially worship of Vitthala and Rama) but patronised Shaiva and Jain institutions too, continuing south India's older tradition of religious tolerance at the state level.
• Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Sanskrit literature all flourished under royal patronage; Krishnadevaraya's court is the peak example with its eight Ashtadiggaja poets.
• Hampi today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its ruins (temples, the king's audience hall platform, the elephant stables, the stone chariot) are commonly used as picture-based questions in some state exams, though SSC/RRB tests this mostly through names, not images.

8. Founding of the Bahmani Sultanate

The Bahmani Sultanate was founded in 1347 CE by Alauddin Bahman Shah, originally a noble named Hasan Gangu who had served under Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He revolted against Tughlaq authority in the Deccan and declared himself an independent sultan, taking the capital at Gulbarga (Ahsanabad).

• Some sources use the title "Zafar Khan" for Hasan Gangu before he became sultan; SSC material usually just asks for the name Alauddin Bahman Shah and the year 1347.
• The capital later shifted from Gulbarga to Bidar under Ahmad Shah I Wali in the early 15th century.
• The Bahmani kingdom fought recurring wars with Vijayanagara over the fertile Raichur Doab, the land between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, a conflict that continued across generations of both dynasties.

9. Notable Bahmani Rulers

Ruler	Key Facts
Alauddin Bahman Shah	Founder, 1347, capital Gulbarga
Muhammad Shah I	Organised administration, fought Vijayanagara over Raichur Doab
Ahmad Shah I Wali	Shifted capital to Bidar
Mahmud Gawan	Not a ruler but the most famous prime minister (wazir), served under Muhammad Shah III; reorganised the provinces (increased number of provinces to improve control), built a famous madrasa (college) at Bidar, known for honesty and administrative skill; executed in 1481 after a court conspiracy, after which the kingdom declined rapidly

Mahmud Gawan is the second most-asked name in the Bahmani section after the founder. Remember: capable minister, Bidar madrasa, provincial reorganisation, executed 1481, kingdom weakened soon after.

10. Break-up of the Bahmani Sultanate into Five Deccan Sultanates

After Mahmud Gawan's execution, the Bahmani Sultanate fell apart quickly. By 1527, it had split into five independent Deccan Sultanates. This five-way split, and matching each sultanate to its capital and founding dynasty, is one of the most frequently asked match-the-pair questions from this chapter.

Sultanate	Capital	Founding Dynasty/Founder
Bijapur	Bijapur	Adil Shahi dynasty (founder Yusuf Adil Shah)
Ahmadnagar	Ahmadnagar	Nizam Shahi dynasty (founder Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah)
Golconda	Golconda (later Hyderabad)	Qutb Shahi dynasty (founder Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk)
Bidar	Bidar	Barid Shahi dynasty (founder Amir Ali Barid)
Berar	Ellichpur	Imad Shahi dynasty (founder Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk)

Memory hook: the five sultanates are often listed as "Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar, Berar" and their dynasties end in "Shahi" (Adil Shahi, Nizam Shahi, Qutb Shahi, Barid Shahi, Imad Shahi). Four of the five (all except Berar) combined against Vijayanagara at Talikota in 1565.

11. What Happened to the Deccan Sultanates Later

• Ahmadnagar was later famous for its resistance to Mughal expansion under the regency of Chand Bibi in the late 16th century, and was eventually annexed by the Mughals under Shah Jahan (with Malik Ambar as its capable earlier administrator/general resisting Mughal pressure).
• Bijapur and Golconda survived the longest among the five and were finally annexed by Aurangzeb in 1686 (Bijapur) and 1687 (Golconda). These annexations belong properly to the Mughal chapters of this book; only the closing dates are worth noting here as the endpoint of the Deccan Sultanates' story.
• Golconda is also remembered for its diamond mines (the region around Golconda, including Kollur, was a major historical source of diamonds, including stones later associated with famous gems).
• Culturally, the Deccan Sultanates developed a distinctive Indo-Islamic style seen in monuments like the Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur (built later, under Muhammad Adil Shah) and the Charminar at Hyderabad, built in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah of the Golconda kingdom.

12. Vijayanagara–Bahmani Relations: A Quick Recap

The two kingdoms were near-permanent rivals for control of the Krishna– Tungabhadra doab and the west coast horse trade, but this rivalry also carried cultural exchange: south Indian temple building techniques, Deccan textile trade, and shared use of imported war-horses moved across the border regardless of who held power on which side. The rivalry ended only when the Bahmani Sultanate itself dissolved into five smaller states by 1527, and it was these five states, not a revived single Bahmani power, that combined to defeat Vijayanagara at Talikota in 1565.

The story of the Deccan Sultanates continues into the Mughal period, where Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and finally Aurangzeb worked to bring Bijapur, Golconda and Ahmadnagar under Mughal control, a process covered in this book's Mughal chapters.

Quick Revision — One-Line Facts

• Vijayanagara Empire founded in 1336 by Harihara I and Bukka I.
• Sage Vidyaranya is traditionally credited with guiding the founders of Vijayanagara.
• Four Vijayanagara dynasties in order: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu.
• Krishnadevaraya (Tuluva dynasty) ruled 1509–1529, the empire's greatest ruler.
• Krishnadevaraya defeated Bijapur's sultan at the Battle of Raichur, 1520.
• Krishnadevaraya wrote "Amuktamalyada" in Telugu.
• The Ashtadiggajas were eight Telugu poets at Krishnadevaraya's court; Allasani Peddana was the most famous among them.
• Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveller, left a detailed account of Vijayanagara city under Krishnadevaraya.
• The Portuguese had established a base at Goa in 1510.
• Battle of Talikota (also called Rakshasi-Tangadi), 1565: Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda and Bidar together defeated Vijayanagara.
• Vijayanagara's forces at Talikota were led by Rama Raya, who was captured and executed.
• After 1565, the Aravidu dynasty ruled a much smaller Vijayanagara kingdom until it faded out in the 17th century.
• Vijayanagara's land-grant/military system for local chiefs was the Amara-Nayaka system.
• The Vitthalaswami temple (stone chariot) and Hazara Rama temple at Hampi are Krishnadevaraya-era monuments.
• Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Bahmani Sultanate founded in 1347 by Alauddin Bahman Shah (earlier known as Hasan Gangu).
• The first Bahmani capital was Gulbarga; it later shifted to Bidar under Ahmad Shah I Wali.
• Mahmud Gawan was the able Bahmani prime minister who built a madrasa at Bidar; he was executed in 1481.
• The Bahmani Sultanate split into five Deccan Sultanates by 1527.
• The five Deccan Sultanates: Bijapur (Adil Shahi), Ahmadnagar (Nizam Shahi), Golconda (Qutb Shahi), Bidar (Barid Shahi), Berar (Imad Shahi).
• Berar did not join the alliance at the Battle of Talikota.
• Chand Bibi led Ahmadnagar's resistance against Mughal expansion in the late 16th century.
• Aurangzeb annexed Bijapur in 1686 and Golconda in 1687.
• Golconda region was historically famous for its diamond mines.
• Charminar at Hyderabad was built in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah.
• Vijayanagara and Bahmani frequently fought over the Raichur Doab, the land between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.
• Vijayanagara rulers were largely Vaishnavite but patronised Shaiva and Jain institutions as well.

Memory Tables

Table A: Vijayanagara Dynasties and Key Rulers

Dynasty	Period	Key Ruler(s)	One Key Fact
Sangama	1336–1485	Harihara I, Bukka I, Deva Raya II	Founding dynasty; recruited Muslim archers under Deva Raya II
Saluva	1485–1505	Saluva Narasimha	Short transitional dynasty
Tuluva	1505–1570	Krishnadevaraya	Empire's peak; Battle of Raichur 1520; Talikota 1565 fell in this dynasty's later phase
Aravidu	1570–17th century	Tirumala, Venkata II	Ruled reduced kingdom after Talikota

Table B: Bahmani Sultanate to Five Deccan Sultanates

Stage	Name(s)	Year/Detail
Founding	Bahmani Sultanate, by Alauddin Bahman Shah	1347, capital Gulbarga
Capital shift	Bidar	Under Ahmad Shah I Wali
Peak administration	Mahmud Gawan (wazir)	Built Bidar madrasa; executed 1481
Break-up	Five Deccan Sultanates	Complete by 1527
Successor 1	Bijapur (Adil Shahi)	Founder Yusuf Adil Shah; annexed by Aurangzeb 1686
Successor 2	Ahmadnagar (Nizam Shahi)	Founder Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah; Chand Bibi's resistance
Successor 3	Golconda (Qutb Shahi)	Founder Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk; annexed by Aurangzeb 1687
Successor 4	Bidar (Barid Shahi)	Founder Amir Ali Barid
Successor 5	Berar (Imad Shahi)	Founder Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk; did not join Talikota alliance

Table C: Battle of Talikota, 1565, at a Glance

Element	Detail
Alternate name	Battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi
Vijayanagara commander	Rama Raya (executed after capture)
Winning alliance	Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar
Result	Vijayanagara city sacked; empire's power broken permanently
Ruling dynasty at the time	Tuluva (Sadashiva Raya, real power with Rama Raya)

Practice MCQs

Q1. Who were the founders of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 CE? (a) Krishnadevaraya and Achyuta Raya (b) Harihara I and Bukka I (c) Rama Raya and Tirumala (d) Yusuf Adil Shah and Malik Ahmad

Q2. Which sage is traditionally credited with guiding the founders of Vijayanagara? (a) Ramanuja (b) Vidyaranya (c) Basava (d) Madhvacharya

Q3. Arrange the following Vijayanagara dynasties in chronological order: 1. Tuluva 2. Sangama 3. Aravidu 4. Saluva (a) 2, 4, 1, 3 (b) 2, 1, 4, 3 (c) 4, 2, 1, 3 (d) 1, 2, 3, 4

Q4. Krishnadevaraya belonged to which dynasty? (a) Sangama (b) Saluva (c) Tuluva (d) Aravidu

Q5. In which battle did Krishnadevaraya defeat the Sultan of Bijapur in 1520? (a) Battle of Talikota (b) Battle of Raichur (c) Battle of Khanwa (d) Battle of Panipat

Q6. Which Telugu work was authored by Krishnadevaraya himself? (a) Amuktamalyada (b) Panchatantra (c) Rajatarangini (d) Kitab-ul-Hind

Q7. Which Portuguese traveller left a detailed account of Vijayanagara city during Krishnadevaraya's reign? (a) Marco Polo (b) Domingo Paes (c) Ibn Battuta (d) Francois Bernier

Q8. The Battle of Talikota (1565) was fought between Vijayanagara and which combination of kingdoms? (a) Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar (b) Bijapur, Golconda, Berar, Delhi Sultanate (c) Ahmadnagar, Bidar, Berar, Mughals (d) Golconda, Bidar, Delhi, Bengal

Q9. Who led the Vijayanagara forces at the Battle of Talikota and was executed after capture? (a) Sadashiva Raya (b) Rama Raya (c) Achyuta Raya (d) Venkata II

Q10. Which system of the Vijayanagara Empire involved granting land revenue rights to military chiefs in return for troops and tribute? (a) Iqta system (b) Mansabdari system (c) Amara-Nayaka system (d) Ryotwari system

Q11. Who founded the Bahmani Sultanate in 1347 CE? (a) Mahmud Gawan (b) Alauddin Bahman Shah (c) Yusuf Adil Shah (d) Malik Ambar

Q12. The Bahmani capital was shifted from Gulbarga to which city under Ahmad Shah I Wali? (a) Bidar (b) Golconda (c) Bijapur (d) Ellichpur

Q13. Which of the following statements about Mahmud Gawan is correct? (a) He founded the Bahmani Sultanate in 1347 (b) He was a capable Bahmani prime minister who built a madrasa at Bidar and was executed in 1481 (c) He founded the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda (d) He led the alliance that defeated Vijayanagara at Talikota

Q14. Match the Deccan Sultanate with its founding dynasty: 1. Bijapur, 2. Golconda, 3. Ahmadnagar, 4. Bidar — A. Nizam Shahi, B. Adil Shahi, C. Barid Shahi, D. Qutb Shahi (a) 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C (b) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D (c) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D (d) 1-D, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B

Q15. Which of the five Deccan Sultanates did NOT join the alliance against Vijayanagara at the Battle of Talikota? (a) Bidar (b) Golconda (c) Berar (d) Ahmadnagar

Answer Key

Q	Answer	One-line reason
Q1	(b)	Harihara I and Bukka I founded Vijayanagara in 1336.
Q2	(b)	Sage Vidyaranya is credited with guiding the founding brothers.
Q3	(a)	Correct order: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu.
Q4	(c)	Krishnadevaraya ruled as part of the Tuluva dynasty.
Q5	(b)	Krishnadevaraya defeated Bijapur's sultan at Raichur in 1520.
Q6	(a)	Amuktamalyada is Krishnadevaraya's own Telugu work.
Q7	(b)	Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveller, described Vijayanagara city.
Q8	(a)	Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda and Bidar combined against Vijayanagara.
Q9	(b)	Rama Raya led Vijayanagara's forces and was executed after capture.
Q10	(c)	The Amara-Nayaka system gave land and revenue rights to military chiefs.
Q11	(b)	Alauddin Bahman Shah founded the Bahmani Sultanate in 1347.
Q12	(a)	Ahmad Shah I Wali shifted the capital from Gulbarga to Bidar.
Q13	(b)	Mahmud Gawan was the able wazir, built Bidar's madrasa, executed in 1481.
Q14	(a)	Bijapur-Adil Shahi, Golconda-Qutb Shahi, Ahmadnagar-Nizam Shahi, Bidar-Barid Shahi.
Q15	(c)	Berar stayed out of the alliance at the Battle of Talikota.