4.1 Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE)

4.1 Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE)

• Founded in 1336 CE by two brothers, Harihara I and Bukka I (formerly officers in the Kakatiya/Hoysala administration; traditionally said to have been inspired/guided by the saint Vidyaranya, also known as Madhavacharya, a Shaivite scholar-saint).
• Established primarily as a bulwark of South Indian Hindu political power against the expanding Bahmani Sultanate (established by the Deccan Muslim nobility in 1347 CE) — the two states were in near-constant conflict for over two centuries.
• Capital: Vijayanagara (city of victory), on the banks of the Tungabhadra River (ruins at modern Hampi, Karnataka — UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Dynasties of Vijayanagara

Krishnadeva Raya (1509–1529 CE) — Greatest Vijayanagara Ruler

• Belonged to the Tuluva dynasty; considered the greatest ruler of Vijayanagara — reign marked the empire's political, economic, and cultural zenith.
• Military achievements: Defeated the Sultans of Bijapur, Golconda; successfully checked Bahmani/Deccan Sultanate expansion; captured Raichur (Battle of Raichur, 1520, against Bijapur); campaigns against Odisha's Gajapati rulers (captured Udayagiri, Kondavidu).
• Administration: Efficient, centralized administration; promoted irrigation and agriculture (built tanks, canals); encouraged foreign trade (Portuguese traders — horses, in particular).
• Patron of art, literature, and architecture:
  • Himself a scholar; wrote "Amuktamalyada" (Telugu, on statecraft, and a devotional Vaishnava text) and possibly Sanskrit works.
  • His court had the "Ashtadiggajas" — eight great Telugu poets (including Allasani Peddana, "Andhra Kavita Pitamaha").
  • Built the Vitthala Temple and Hazara Rama Temple at Hampi — masterpieces of Vijayanagara architecture, famous for elaborately carved pillars (including "musical pillars" at Vitthala Temple) and the iconic stone chariot.
  • Built new capital areas, temples, and gopurams (temple gateway towers) — Vijayanagara architecture is a distinct South Indian style combining Dravidian traditions with Islamic influences (e.g., use of certain arches/domes in secular buildings).
• Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes visited his court and left a detailed account describing the city's wealth and grandeur.

Vijayanagara Administration

• King was the supreme head; assisted by a council of ministers.
• Provincial administration: Empire divided into provinces called "Rajya" / "Mandalam", further into districts (Nadu) and villages.
• Nayaka/Nayankara system: Military chiefs (Nayakas) were granted land/territory (similar in some respects to the Iqta system) in return for maintaining troops and paying tribute — became increasingly autonomous over time, contributing to later fragmentation.
• Ayagar system: Village-level administration involving hereditary village servants (accountant, watchman, etc.) who were paid through land grants — a well-organized local administration.
• Strong emphasis on irrigation (tank/canal building) given the semi-arid Deccan terrain — critical for agricultural prosperity.
• Extensive maritime trade — horses imported from Arabia/Persia via Portuguese and other traders; exported spices, textiles.

Decline — Battle of Talikota (1565 CE)

• Under Rama Raya (regent/de facto ruler during the Aravidu period, technically minister to the nominal king Sadashiva Raya), Vijayanagara faced a combined confederacy of the four southern Deccan Sultanates — Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar (these were the successor states of the fragmented Bahmani Kingdom; Berar sometimes also counted).
• Battle of Talikota (also called Battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi), fought on 23 January 1565 CE, on the banks of the Krishna River.
• The Deccan Sultanate confederacy decisively defeated the Vijayanagara army; Rama Raya was captured and beheaded on the battlefield.
• The city of Vijayanagara was subsequently sacked, plundered, and largely destroyed by the victorious armies — the ruins at Hampi today are a result of this destruction.
• The empire survived in a reduced, fragmented form under the Aravidu dynasty for several more decades (shifting capitals to Penukonda, then Chandragiri) but never regained its former glory; effectively ended by the mid-17th century (c. 1646 CE), with feudatory Nayaka states (Madurai, Tanjore, Gingee) becoming independent.

Key Facts / Quick Revision Points — Vijayanagara

• Founded 1336 CE by Harihara I & Bukka I; guided by saint Vidyaranya.
• Capital: Vijayanagara (Hampi), on Tungabhadra River.
• Four dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu.
• Krishnadeva Raya (Tuluva, 1509–1529) — greatest ruler; wrote Amuktamalyada; Ashtadiggajas (Allasani Peddana); built Vitthala & Hazara Rama temples.
• Nayankara system — military land-grant/feudal system.
• Battle of Talikota (1565) — Vijayanagara defeated by Deccan Sultanate confederacy (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar); Rama Raya killed; city destroyed.
• Domingo Paes — Portuguese traveller, described Krishnadeva Raya's court.