Vijayanagar
Indian History · विजयनगर
📋Quick Overview
The Vijayanagar Empire (1336–1646) and the Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1518) were two powerful kingdoms of medieval South India. Vijayanagar was founded by Harihara I and Bukka I on the banks of river Tungabhadra with its capital at Hampi (present-day Karnataka). The Bahmani kingdom was founded by Alauddin Bahman Shah (Hasan Gangu) with capital at Gulbarga, later shifted to Bidar. These two kingdoms were constant rivals. The Vijayanagar Empire reached its peak under Krishnadevaraya and was finally destroyed after the Battle of Talikota (Rakshasa-Tangadi) in 1565.
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Vijayanagar means 'City of Victory' — Hampi is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1986)
📖Vijayanagar Empire — Dynasties & Rulers
| Dynasty | Period | Founder | Key Rulers | Important Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sangama Dynasty | 1336–1485 | Harihara I & Bukka I | Devaraya II | Founded with guidance of sage Vidyaranya; Capital: Hampi |
| Saluva Dynasty | 1485–1505 | Saluva Narasimha | — | Shortest dynasty; ended Sangama rule |
| Tuluva Dynasty | 1505–1570 | Vira Narasimha | Krishnadevaraya | Golden Age under Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) |
| Aravidu Dynasty | 1570–1646 | Tirumala | — | Last dynasty; ruled after Battle of Talikota |
📝Krishnadevaraya — The Greatest Ruler
- •Ruled from 1509 to 1529 — belonged to the Tuluva dynasty
- •Title: 'Abhinava Bhoja' (new Bhoja) and 'Andhra Bhoja'
- •Wrote 'Amuktamalyada' in Telugu — a famous literary work
- •His court had 'Ashtadiggajas' — eight famous Telugu poets including Allasani Peddana
- •Defeated the Sultans of Bijapur and Golconda; captured Raichur and Gulbarga
- •Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes visited his court and praised him highly
- •Built the famous Vitthalswami and Hazara Rama temples at Hampi
📖Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1518)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founder | Alauddin Bahman Shah (Hasan Gangu) in 1347 |
| First Capital | Gulbarga (Ahsanabad) |
| Second Capital | Bidar (shifted by Ahmad Shah I) |
| Greatest Ruler | Muhammad Shah III — PM Mahmud Gawan built famous Madrasa at Bidar |
| Mahmud Gawan | Great minister — built Bidar Madrasa, expanded kingdom to maximum extent |
| Split into 5 kingdoms | Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, Berar, Bidar (by 1518) |
📖Battle of Talikota (1565)
- •Also called Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi — fought on 26 January 1565
- •Combined forces of Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar and Bidar vs Vijayanagar
- •Vijayanagar ruler Aliya Rama Raya was defeated and killed
- •Hampi was looted and destroyed — the city never recovered
- •Marked the effective end of the Vijayanagar Empire
📖Timeline
📖Vijayanagar vs Bahmani
📝Five Deccan Sultanates (from Bahmani split)
| Sultanate | Capital | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Adil Shahi | Bijapur | Gol Gumbaz (world's 2nd largest dome) |
| Qutb Shahi | Golconda | Built Hyderabad, Charminar |
| Nizam Shahi | Ahmednagar | Chand Bibi defended against Mughals |
| Imad Shahi | Berar | Smallest sultanate |
| Barid Shahi | Bidar | Replaced Bahmani at Bidar |