→ Founded: 1336 AD by Harihara I and Bukka I — brothers of Sangama family; with guidance of sage Vidyaranya (Madhavacharya) who inspired them to resist Delhi Sultanate expansion
→ Name "Vijayanagara": Sanskrit for "City of Victory"; capital on south bank of Tungabhadra River (present Hampi, Karnataka)
→ Context: Established after Muhammad bin Tughlaq conquered Deccan (1327); Harihara and Bukka were formerly commanders/chieftains under Hoysalas who became converts to Islam under Tughlaq but reconverted with Vidyaranya's help
→ Purpose: Protect South India from Islamic invasions from north; last bastion of Hindu resistance; fought constant wars with Bahmani Sultanate (Deccan) over Raichur Doab (fertile land between Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers)
Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 AD)
Four Dynasties · South India's Last Great Hindu Empire · Hampi | UPSC GS Paper I — Medieval History
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📋 Four Dynasties: Sangama → Saluva → Tuluva → Aravidu (Mnemonic: 'Some Stubborn Tigers Attack')
Founding & Background
Four Dynasties — Key Rulers
| Dynasty | Period | Key Rulers & Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Sangama Dynasty | 1336–1485 | Harihara I (founder, 1336–56), Bukka I (1356–77); Deva Raya I (1406–22) — built canal from Tungabhadra; Deva Raya II (1424–46) — greatest Sangama king — called 'Gajabetekara' (elephant hunter); expanded empire; received embassy from Egypt; Persian ambassador Abdur Razzak described Vijayanagara as magnificent city |
| Saluva Dynasty | 1485–1505 | Saluva Narasimha (1485–91) — usurped power from weak Sangama rulers; effective but short dynasty; Immadi Narasimha was last Saluva |
| Tuluva Dynasty | 1505–1570 | Greatest Vijayanagara dynasty; Vira Narasimha (1505–09); Krishnadevaraya (1509–29) — supreme ruler; Achyuta Raya (1529–42); Sadashiva Raya (nominal, 1542–67); Aliya Rama Raya was regent until Battle of Talikota (1565) |
| Aravidu Dynasty | 1570–1646 | Last dynasty; capital moved to Penukonda then Chandragiri after Hampi sacked; Sriranga I, II, III; empire gradually crumbled under constant Deccan Sultanate pressure; ended ~1646 |
Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) — Greatest Vijayanagara King
→ Conquests: Took Raichur Doab (1520) from Bidar Sultanate; defeated Bijapur, Golconda; extended empire to Orissa in east; reputed to have never lost a battle
→ Relations with Portuguese: Friendly; allowed Portuguese trading posts at Goa; bought horses through Portuguese (horses from Arabia); Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes left detailed account of the empire's prosperity
→ Literary Patron: Known as 'Andhra Bhoja' (Bhoja being the greatest patron of learning); wrote Telugu classic Amuktamalyada (Gift of a Garland) — a poem about the Alvar saint Andal; also wrote Jambavati Kalyanam (Sanskrit) and Ushaparinayam
→ Ashtadiggajas: Eight famous Telugu poets in his court — most important: Allasani Peddana ('Andhra Kavita Pitamaha' — grandfather of Telugu poetry); others: Nandi Thimmana, Mukku Timmana, Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu
→ Administration: Renowned for justice; administered himself through capable officers; kept direct contact with the people
→ Titles: Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana (Lord of Kannada kingdom), Andhra Bhoja, Gobrahmana Pratipalacharya
Administration & Economy
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| King | Absolute monarchs; titled 'Maharajadhiraja'; religious title of protection for all religions; described as 'Raja Rajadhiraja' in inscriptions |
| Central Government | Council of ministers (Pradhana); departments headed by officials; military commander-in-chief = Dandanayaka/Senapati |
| Nayankara System | Key feature: King granted land (nayankara/amaram) to military chiefs (nayakas) who maintained troops; similar to Iqta/Jagir; nayakas collected revenue and provided military service |
| Ayacut System | Land irrigation grants; major water engineering projects; tanks, canals, check dams to support agriculture |
| Trade | Very prosperous; Portuguese described Vijayanagara as richest city in world (early 16th c.); cotton textiles, spices, horses major trade items; thriving ports — Pulicat, Calicut, Mangalore |
| Revenue | Land revenue = Sist (fixed assessment); also collected in Bengal via Mughal style; multiple taxes but overall prosperity maintained |
| Women | Women occupied important positions; female wrestlers, guards for the king; women studied literature and arts; queens had own establishments |
Hampi — Capital City & Architecture
→ Location: On south bank of Tungabhadra River; present-day Bellary district, Karnataka
→ UNESCO: Group of Monuments at Hampi — World Heritage Site since 1986; ~500+ monuments
→ Virupaksha Temple: Dedicated to Virupaksha (Shiva); still functional; used as base temple during entire Vijayanagara period
→ Vittala Temple: Most famous; Musical Pillars (each column produces different musical notes when struck — called 'sruti pillars'); famous stone chariot (actually a shrine); 64 pillars
→ Hazara Rama Temple: Has narrative panels of Ramayana carved all around — for royal family use
→ Lotus Mahal: Beautiful palace; blend of Indo-Islamic architecture; delicate lotus-shaped ornamental features
→ Elephant Stables: 11 chambers for royal elephants; impressive domes; Indo-Islamic style
→ Architecture Style: Vijayanagara style = development of Dravidian style; gopurams become even taller; mandapas (pillared halls) with elaborate horse/rider brackets; sculpted friezes of elephants as base
Battle of Talikota (1565) — The Catastrophic End
→ Date: January 23, 1565 AD (also called Battle of Rakkasa-Tangadi)
→ Cause: Alliance of four Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar) united against Vijayanagara — alarmed by empire's growing power
→ How Fought: Vijayanagara forces under Rama Raya (regent for Sadashiva Raya); outnumbered; Rama Raya's Muslim contingent commanders deserted mid-battle; Rama Raya captured and executed
→ Aftermath: Deccan Sultanates sacked Hampi for months; magnificent city completely destroyed; never rebuilt; capital moved south (Penukonda, Chandragiri)
→ Significance: End of Vijayanagara's political dominance; symbolised the breaking of the last great South Indian Hindu empire by combined Deccan Muslim force; remnant Aravidu dynasty survived until ~1646 but insignificant
Foreign Travellers' Accounts
| Traveller | Nationality & Period | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolo de Conti | Italian, ~1420 | Visited during Deva Raya I's reign; described the city's grandeur and festivals |
| Abdur Razzak | Persian, 1443 | Visited during Deva Raya II; described Vijayanagara as a city "such that eye has not seen nor ear heard of any place resembling it"; detailed market descriptions |
| Athanasius Nikitin | Russian, ~1470 | Described Vijayanagara region; mentioned horse trade from Persia |
| Duarte Barbosa | Portuguese, ~1518 | Described Vijayanagara's spice trade and port activities |
| Domingo Paes | Portuguese, ~1520 | Visited during Krishnadevaraya; described the Mahanavami festival (9-day celebration); called it "the best provided city in the world"; described diamond and jewel markets |
| Fernao Nuniz | Portuguese, ~1535 | Described the empire's military might; detailed account of Krishnadevaraya's administration |
Society, Culture & Religion
→ Religion: Kings patronized Hinduism but tolerated all faiths; built temples for Shaiva, Vaishnava, and Jain traditions; used the title 'Hindu Raya Suratrana' (Sultan among Hindu Kings)
→ Music & Dance: Natyashastra traditions maintained; Bharatanatyam flourished; court musicians patronized; Purandaradasa (Father of Carnatic music, 1484–1564) lived during the Vijayanagara period
→ Literature: Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit all patronized; Srinatha (Telugu poet); Kumara Vyasa (Kannada Mahabharata); Krishnadevaraya wrote in Telugu and Sanskrit
→ Society: Devadasi system existed; sati practiced in warrior families; widow remarriage restricted; women wrestlers and bodyguards existed; foreign travellers noted women in administration
→ Festivals: Mahanavami (Dasara) — 9-day royal festival; grand processions, wrestling, animal fights described by Paes; Deepavali celebrations
Bahmani Sultanate — The Rival
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Founding | Founded by Alauddin Bahman Shah (1347) after rebellion against Muhammad bin Tughlaq |
| Capital | Gulbarga, later shifted to Bidar |
| Key Ruler | Firuz Shah Bahmani — patron of learning; Mahmud Gawan was his famous prime minister; built Mahmud Gawan Madrasa at Bidar |
| Breakup | Split into five Deccan Sultanates (~1490–1527): Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar, Berar |
| Conflict | Constant wars with Vijayanagara over Raichur Doab (fertile land between Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers) |
| Monuments | Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur) — second largest dome in the world; Charminar (Golconda / Hyderabad) |
Quick Revision — UPSC Focus
→ Founders: Harihara I & Bukka I (1336) with guidance of Vidyaranya (Madhavacharya)
→ Greatest king: Krishnadevaraya (Tuluva dynasty, 1509–29); wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu
→ Ashtadiggajas: Eight Telugu poets in Krishnadevaraya's court; Allasani Peddana = leader
→ Portuguese: Domingo Paes described city as "greatest city in world"
→ Hampi UNESCO: Group of Monuments at Hampi — WHS 1986
→ Vittala Temple: Musical Pillars + Stone Chariot
→ Nayankara System: Land grants to military chiefs in exchange for troops
→ Battle of Talikota 1565: Four Deccan Sultanate alliance destroyed Vijayanagara; Rama Raya killed
→ Abdur Razzak: Persian ambassador; described Vijayanagara under Deva Raya II as magnificent
→ Raichur Doab: Fertile land contested between Vijayanagara and Bahmani Sultanate
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