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Vijayanagar Empire
The Vijayanagar empire emerged in fourteenth century
India
and lasted a fairly remarkable three hundred years.
It was a formidable Hindu kingdom which ruled Andhra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
and parts of Kerala in southern India. It also governed the territories of
Mysore, Trichinopally, Kanara, Pondicherry, Chingalpet and Kanchivaram. To its south was the Hindu
Zamorin of Kerala, while to
the north was the Bahamani
sultanate of the Deccan. The empire's now-ruined capital city of Vijayanagara can be found in the Bellary District of northern Karnataka.
Two brothers, Harihara (Hakka) I and Bukka Raya, laid
the foundations of the Vijaynagar capital and of the empire. Vijayanagara
was on the south bank of the River Tungabhadra near the fortress of Anegudi.
Also known as the Sangama brothers, these two adventurers consolidated their power and then
expanded it, first under Harihara I and then Bukka Raya, which made the
capital more defensible and secure. It is said that a sage named Madhav
Vidyaranya and his brother Sayana were the inspirational source for this
empire, and its rulers were strict worshipers of the Hindu gods, but also
tolerant towards the other religions.
(Information by Madhu Nimkar.) |
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Sangama Dynasty
AD 1336 - 1485
Harihara I and Bukka established the Vijaynagar
kingdom when the
Tughlaqs
of Delhi lost power in the Deccan, at the same time as a patchwork of minor
kingdoms emerged around it. The emperors of the Sangama dynasty were
great patrons of art and culture, and under them the region influenced
development in music, literature and architecture. Many temples were built
in their southern Indian territories and the economy of the region
flourished, with several coins being introduced during the empire's
existence.
Harihara was the eldest son of Bhavana Sangama,
who belonged to the Kuruba (or Kurumas, Dhangaras in the southern Indian states).
Some scholars prefer the idea that he was from the
Yadava clan.
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1336 - 1356 |
Harihara Raya I / Hakka |
Co-founder of the empire. |
1339 - 1343 |
It has been concluded from inscriptions that Harihara is administering the
northern parts of Karnataka at Gutti, in Ananthpur district, in 1339,
which is the northern section of the Hoysala kingdom. Upon the death
of Hoysala Veera Ballala III, Harihara takes full control of the entirety of
the kingdom's territory. |
1356 - 1377 |
Bukka Raya I |
Brother. Co-founder of the empire. |
1360 |
The kingdom prospers and continues to expand under Bukka Raya, as he
conquers most of the kingdoms of southern
India.
He defeats the Shambuvaraya
kingdom of Arcot and the Reddis
of Kondavidu by 1360 and the region around Penukonda is annexed. He also
moves the capital of the empire to Vijayanagara (now more popularly known as
Hampi), on the south side of the river, which is more secure and defensible
than the previous capitol at Anegondi.
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Vijayanagara, capital of the empire, and more popularly known as
Hampi
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1371 |
Bukka Raya defeats the sultanate of
Madurai and extends his territory into the south, reaching all the way
to Rameswaram. |
1374 |
By this point, Bukka Raya has gained the upper hand over the
Bahamanis for control of the
Tungabhadra-Krishna doab. He also takes control of
Goa and the kingdom of
Orya and forces the Jaffna kingdom of Ceylon
and Malabar to pay tribute to him. |
1377 - 1404 |
Harihara Raya II |
Continued to expand the empire. |
1404 |
Harihara's death leads to a fight for the throne by his sons: Deva Raya I,
Bukka Raya II, and Virupaksha Raya. Virupaksha Raya rules for just a few
months before being murdered by his sons and then succeeded by Bukka Raya
II. He then rules for just two years before being succeeded by Deva Raya I.
Virupaksha's poor reign is marked by the loss of a lot of the kingdom's
territory to the Mohammedans, locations such as
Goa, Chaul, and Dabhol. |
1404 - 1405 |
Virupaksha Raya |
Son. Ruled for a few months. Murdered by his sons. |
1405 - 1406 |
Bukka Raya II |
Brother. Overthrown by Deva Raya I. |
1406 - 1422 |
Deva Raya I |
Brother. |
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Deva Raya's reign is marked by continual attacks by the Velamas of Telangana,
the Bahamani sultan, the Reddis
of Kondavidu, and the Gajapatis of Orya. |
1422 |
Ramachandra Raya |
Son. |
1422 - 1424 |
Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya |
Brother. |
1424 - 1446 |
Deva Raya II |
Son. |
1427 |
Unlike his father, Deva Raya II is a forceful and powerful ruler. He defeats
the Gajapatis of Orya three times in 1427,
1436 and 1441. |
1432 - 1436 |
Deva Raya succeeds in conquering
Kondavidu in 1432, and repels invasions by Ahmad Shah I of the
Bahamanis while holding Mudgal
fort in 1436. He later restores the Reddis in Kondavidu. |
1446 - 1465 |
Mallikarjuna Raya |
Son. Generally weak and corrupt. Deposed. |
1450 |
The Bahamani kingdom has
taken over much of the Vijayanagar empire by this point. The
Portuguese have also recently arrived in southern
India,
seizing many of the ports on the western coast that the Vijayanagar empire
has until recently controlled. |
1454 - 1463 |
The Gajapatis conquer
Rajamahendri in 1454, and Udayagiri and Chandragiri in 1463. |
1465 - 1485 |
Virupaksha Raya II |
Nephew and usurper. Murdered by his son. |
1465 - 1470 |
Virupaksha Raya seizes the throne from his failed cousin, but faced by
constantly rebellious nobles and officials he is unable to halt the decline
of the dynasty. He loses the Konkan coast (including
Goa, Chaul, and Dabul) by 1470 to
Mahamud Gawan, the prime minister of the
Bahamani kingdom, when he
is sent to conquer the area by Sultan Mohammed Shah III. |
1476 |
Virupaksha Raya is defeated by
Purshottam Deva of
Orissa, at Kanchipuram, which is under Vijaynagar control. The
victorious Oryan king marries Virupaksha Raya's daughter, Padmavati. |
1485 |
Praudha Raya |
Son. Fled in the face of a coup. |
1485 |
Despite his attempt to secure control of the empire after murdering his
father, Praudha Raya fails to halt its decline. Seeing that the only way to
save the empire is to mount a military coup, the king's general, Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya, takes control, founding
the Saluva dynasty. |
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Saluva Dynasty
AD 1485 - 1505
After murdering his father in 1485,
Praudharaya himself was not able to rebuild the kingdom, but fortunately an
able general in Saluva Narasimha came forward to take control and help to
prevent its demise. This change of power marked the end of the
Sangama dynasty and the beginning of
the Saluva dynasty.
By tradition the Saluvas were natives of the
Kalyani region of northern Karnataka. The Gorantla inscription traces their
origins to this region from the time of the
Western Chalukyas and
Kalachuris
of Karnataka. The term 'Saluva' is known to lexicographers as 'hawk'. They
later spread onto the east coast of modern Andhra Pradesh, perhaps by
migration or during the Vijayanagar conquests of the fourteenth century. The
earliest known Saluva from inscriptional evidence in the Vijayanagar era was
Mangaldeva, the great-grandfather of Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya. Mangaldeva
played an important role in the victories of Vijaynagar king, Bukka Raya I,
against the sultanate of
Madurai.
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1485 - 1491 |
Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya |
Former general. Founder of the dynasty. |
1491 |
Despite taking firm hold of the reigns of power, Saluva Narasimha faces
continual rebellions and uprisings, and between 1489-1491 he loses Udayagiri
to the Gajapatis, while
the chiefs of Ummattur in the Mysore region, the Saluvas of Hadavalli and
the Santharas of Karkala from the coastal Karnataka region, Srirangapatna
and the Sambetas of Peranipadu in Cuddapah still remained threats to the
empire. |
1491 |
Thimma Bhupala |
Son. Murdered. |
1491 |
Saluva Narasimha's death in 1491 leaves his underage sons as his successors,
so a trusted general and minister, Narasa Nayaka, of the
Tuluva family, is appointed regent.
Almost immediately, Thimma Bhupala is murdered by an army commander during a
period of political unrest in the empire. |
1491 - 1503 |
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Tuluva Narasa Nayaka |
General and regent. |
1491 - 1505 |
Narasimha Raya II |
Brother of Thimma Bhupala. |
1503 - 1505 |
Narasimha Raya, also known as Immadi Narasimha or Dhamma Tammaraya, has
spent the entirety of his 'reign' in confinement at Penukonda, while Tuluva Narasa Nayaka
holds true power. On the general's death, his son takes over as regent, and
has to face several rebellions by regional lords who think their time for
independence has come. When Narasimha Raya is murdered at Penukonda,
Viranarasimha Raya is able to proclaim himself king in name as well as fact,
founding the Tuluva dynasty. |
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Tuluva Dynasty
AD 1505 - 1570
The dynasty was effectively founded when General Tuluva Narasa Nayaka
became regent to the two young sons of the previous emperor in 1491. The
sons were kept under firm control, with the younger of them even being kept
in confinement for his entire reign, before he was murdered. That murder
allowed the general's son, Viranarasimha Raya, to declare himself king,
although he spent his entire reign putting down rebellions throughout the
empire.
The Tuluva gained their name from their homeland, the
Tulu-speaking region of 'Tulunud'. Narasa Nayaka belonged to the Bunt
community, the upper class matrilineal Hindu community belonging to the
Nagavanshi Kshatriya, a warrior order found mainly in southern coastal
Karnataka. Under their control, the Vijaynagar empire reached the height of
its power.
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1505 - 1509 |
Viranarasimha Raya |
Former regent. |
1509 - 1529 |
Krishna Deva Raya |
Half-brother. |
1529 - 1541 |
Achyuta Deva Raya |
Brother. |
1541 |
The halcyon days of empire under Krishna Deva Raya have faded under his
successor. Feudatories and enemies make Achyuta Deva Raya's reign a
difficult one. In addition, Achyuta Raya has to contend with the powerful
Aliya Rama Raya, who is competing with him for the throne. Upon the king's
death, the succession is disputed between his son and the now all-powerful
Aliya Rama Raya.
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One of Krishna Deva Raya's first acts was to begin construction
of the Vitalla Temple in Hampi, although it was never completed
or consecrated
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1541 |
Venkatadri |
Son. Ruled for six months. |
1542 - 1570 |
Sadashiva Raya |
Cousin. A minor and puppet in the hands of Aliya Rama
Raya. |
1542 - 1565 |
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Aliya Rama Raya |
Son-in-law of Krishna Deva Raya and regent. |
1543 |
Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk of Golconda
is defeated by Timmarusu, the king's minister, and is subsequently
assassinated by his own son. |
1565 |
The Vijayanagar
empire is defeated at the Battle of Talikota by an alliance of
Deccan
sultanates; Ahmednagar,
Berar,
Bidar,
Bijapur,
Golconda. The sultan of
Bijapur takes the Raichur Doab as his prize. The empire's authority is
terminally weakened by this defeat, especially thanks to the death in battle
of its powerful, if uncrowned, ruler, Aliya Rama Raya. Faced with total
defeat, his brother empties the royal treasury and flees towards Penukonda,
along with the crown prince. Shortly afterwards, the Nayakas of Madurai and Gingee assume a
level of independence, although they still recognise the Vijaynagar emperor
as their master. |
1565 - 1570 |
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Tirumala Deva Raya |
Brother of Aliya Rama Raya and regent. |
1567 |
Tirumala faces a renewed attack by the sultan of
Bijapur,
but this time is victorious, even to the extent that he regains some
territory. At some point afterwards, he also tactfully approves the new
status of the southern Nayaks, although Madurai and Gingee only
grudgingly agree. The rulers of Tanjore and Mysore still pay their own
annual tribute. |
1570 |
The death of Sadashiva Raya allows Tirumala to proclaim his own dynasty, the
Aravidu. |
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Aravidu Dynasty
AD 1570 - 1646
This was the fourth and last Hindu dynasty
which ruled over the Vijaynagar empire in southern
India.
Aliya Rama Raya had been the regent for the
Tuluva dynasty's last king, but following the destruction of the empire
in 1565, his brother, Tirumala, had to rebuild it from a new base at
Penukonda. He was soon able to declare the foundation of his own dynasty,
the Aravidu. Unfortunately, the empire would never again be the power it had
once been.
|
1570 - 1572 |
Tirumala Deva Raya |
Former regent. 'Reviver of the Decadent Karnataka Empire'. |
1570 - 1572 |
Tirumala splits his territory between his three sons: Sriranga I in
Penukonda in charge of Telugu country, Rama in Sritrangapatna in charge of
Kannada country, and Venkatapathi (later to be Venkata II) in Chandragiri in
charge of Tamil country. Penukonda is the capital of the reborn empire. The
king abdicates in 1572 after feeling himself to be too old to rule, and
retires to pursue a religious life until his death in 1578. |
1570 - 1572 |
Sriranga |
Son. Governor of Telugu at Penukonda. King in 1572. |
1570 |
Rama |
Brother. Governor of Kannada at Sritrangapatna. |
1570 |
Venkatapathi |
Brother. Governor of Tamil at Chandragiri. King in 1586. |
1572 - 1586 |
Sriranga I / Sriranga Deva Raya |
Succeeded his father. |
1572 |
Sriranga does much to restore the empire, but he also suffers continual
attacks by his Muslim neighbours, especially by the sultan of
Bijapur,
and some loss of territory is suffered. he dies without an heir, and is
succeeded by his youngest brother, who oversees a more secure and prosperous
reign from his new capital at Chandragiri. |
1586 - 1614 |
Venkata II / Venkatapati Deva Raya |
Formerly Venkatapathi. |
1614 |
Sriranga II |
Son of Rama. Venkata's heir but rejected by the nobles at
court. |
1614 - 1617 |
Sriranga II and his family are gruesomely murdered by rival factions at
court, headed by Jagga Raya, a relative of the royal line. The king's son,
Ramadeva, is smuggled out of prison by Yachamanedu, a faithful commander and
viceroy under the reign of Venkata II. After a bloody three-year war,
Ramadeva ascends the throne in 1617. |
1617 - 1632 |
Ramadeva / Vira Rama Deva Raya |
Son. |
1632 - 1642 |
Venkata III / Peda Venkata Raya |
Grandson of Aliya Rama Raya. |
1642 - 1646 |
Sriranga III / Sriranga Raya |
Nephew. |
1646 |
After years of attacks and being repulsed, the Vijaynagar empire is finally
conquered by the sultanates of
Bijapur and
Golconda.
Many of the empire's largest vassal states immediately declare independence,
so the territorial gains made by the sultanates are limited. Those vassals, Mysore, Keladi Nayaka, and the
Nayaks and Nayakas of Chitradurga, Gingee, Madurai, and Tanjore, all
become powerful states in southern
India. |
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