Indian history · Kings and empires
Krishnadevaraya and the Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646): Harihara and Bukka, Hampi, Ashtadiggajas, Foreign Travellers and the Battle of Talikota — Exam Notes
For over two centuries the Vijayanagara Empire dominated south India from its splendid capital at Hampi on the Tungabhadra. Its greatest ruler, Krishnadevaraya, was a soldier, poet and patron of temples whose court dazzled Portuguese visitors. This guide covers the empire's founding, its rulers, its administration and the battle that ended its glory.
Founding (1336)
The empire was founded in 1336 by two brothers, Harihara I and Bukka I of the Sangama family, on the banks of the Tungabhadra. Tradition says they had served the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal and the Kampili chief, were taken to Delhi by Muhammad bin Tughlaq's forces, and were sent back to restore order — after which they declared independence. The sage Vidyaranya of the Sringeri math is traditionally credited with inspiring them.
The capital, Vijayanagara ("City of Victory"), stood at present-day Hampi in Karnataka.
The four dynasties
| Dynasty | Period | Notable ruler |
|---|---|---|
| Sangama | 1336–1485 | Harihara I, Bukka I, Deva Raya II |
| Saluva | 1485–1505 | Saluva Narasimha |
| Tuluva | 1505–1570 | Krishnadevaraya, Achyuta Deva Raya, Sadashiva Raya |
| Aravidu | 1570–1646 | Tirumala, Venkata II (capital moved to Penukonda and Chandragiri) |
Deva Raya II (1424–1446) recruited Muslim cavalry and archers into his army, and is called Gajabetekara ("hunter of elephants").
Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529)
Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty is the most celebrated Vijayanagara ruler.
Military achievements
- He defeated the Bahmani successor states and the Sultan of Bijapur, capturing the fortress of Raichur in 1520 — the doab between the Tungabhadra and Krishna had long been contested.
- He defeated the Gajapati king Prataparudra of Odisha, regained Udayagiri and Kondavidu, and married his daughter.
- He kept friendly relations with the Portuguese, who supplied him with Arabian and Persian horses through Goa and helped against Bijapur.
Poet and patron
- He wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu, a poem on the Tamil saint Andal, which also contains advice on statecraft. In Sanskrit he wrote Jambavati Kalyanam.
- His court had eight great Telugu poets, the Ashtadiggajas, led by Allasani Peddana (called Andhra Kavitapitamaha). Tenali Ramakrishna, famous for his wit, is traditionally counted among them.
- He held the titles Andhra Bhoja and Abhinava Bhoja.
Temples
He built or extended great structures at Hampi, including the Vitthala temple (with its famous stone chariot and musical pillars) and the Hazara Rama temple, and added towering gopurams (gateways) — the tall entrance towers known as raya gopurams. He also built the Krishna temple at Hampi to celebrate his Udayagiri victory.
Administration
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Nayankara system | Military chiefs (nayakas or amaranayakas) received territories (amaram) to collect revenue, in return for maintaining troops for the king and paying tribute |
| Ayagar system | Village affairs were run by twelve hereditary officials (ayagars), paid with tax-free land |
| Provinces | Called rajyas or mandalams, governed by princes or nobles |
| Revenue | Land tax was the main source; tax on property, trade and professions |
| Army | Large cavalry, infantry and elephants; imported horses were vital |
The nayakas later became powerful local rulers, such as the Nayakas of Madurai, Thanjavur and Ikkeri.
What foreign travellers saw
| Traveller | From | Visited during |
|---|---|---|
| Ibn Battuta | Morocco | Early years (Harihara I) |
| Nicolo Conti | Italy (Venice) | Deva Raya I (c. 1420) |
| Abdur Razzaq | Persia (envoy of Shah Rukh) | Deva Raya II (1443) |
| Afanasy Nikitin | Russia | Visited the Bahmani kingdom (1469–72) |
| Domingo Paes | Portugal | Krishnadevaraya (c. 1520) |
| Fernao Nuniz | Portugal | Achyuta Deva Raya (c. 1535) |
| Duarte Barbosa | Portugal | Krishnadevaraya |
Domingo Paes described Vijayanagara as being as large as Rome and "the best provided city in the world", with busy markets selling precious stones. Abdur Razzaq wrote that the city had seven lines of fortification.
Rivalry with the Bahmanis
The Bahmani Sultanate, founded in 1347 by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah in the Deccan, was the empire's main rival. The contest was mainly over the fertile Raichur doab. The Bahmani kingdom later split into five sultanates — Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, Berar and Bidar.
The Battle of Talikota (1565)
In January 1565, four of the Deccan sultanates — Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar and Bidar — united against Vijayanagara, then effectively ruled by the regent Aliya Rama Raya. The battle took place near Talikota, at the villages of Rakkasagi–Tangadagi (it is also called the Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi). Rama Raya was captured and killed, and the army fled.
The victors sacked Vijayanagara for months, leaving the ruins seen at Hampi today. The Aravidu dynasty ruled on from Penukonda and later Chandragiri until about 1646.
Hampi today
The Group of Monuments at Hampi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Highlights include the Virupaksha temple, the Vitthala temple and stone chariot, the Lotus Mahal, the Elephant Stables, the Mahanavami Dibba (royal platform for Dussehra celebrations) and the stepped tank. The stone chariot appears on the back of the ₹50 note (2018 series).
Key points to remember
- Founded 1336 by Harihara and Bukka (Sangama); capital Hampi on the Tungabhadra.
- Four dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu.
- Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) — Raichur 1520; Amuktamalyada (Telugu); Ashtadiggajas; Vitthala temple.
- Nayankara and ayagar systems.
- Travellers: Conti, Abdur Razzaq, Paes, Nuniz.
- Talikota, 1565 — Rama Raya defeated by four Deccan sultanates.
Practice questions
Q1. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by:
- (a) Krishnadevaraya and Achyuta Raya
- (b) Harihara and Bukka
- (c) Deva Raya I and Deva Raya II
- (d) Saluva Narasimha and Narasa Nayaka
Show answer
Answer: (b) Harihara and Bukka — Harihara I and Bukka I of the Sangama family founded it.
Q2. Krishnadevaraya belonged to which dynasty?
- (a) Sangama
- (b) Saluva
- (c) Tuluva
- (d) Aravidu
Show answer
Answer: (c) Tuluva — He was the greatest ruler of the Tuluva dynasty.
Q3. 'Amuktamalyada' was written by Krishnadevaraya in:
- (a) Kannada
- (b) Tamil
- (c) Telugu
- (d) Sanskrit
Show answer
Answer: (c) Telugu — It is a Telugu poem about the saint Andal.
Q4. Which Portuguese traveller visited Vijayanagara during Krishnadevaraya's reign?
- (a) Nicolo Conti
- (b) Domingo Paes
- (c) Abdur Razzaq
- (d) Afanasy Nikitin
Show answer
Answer: (b) Domingo Paes — Domingo Paes visited around 1520.
Q5. The Battle of Talikota was fought in:
- (a) 1526
- (b) 1556
- (c) 1565
- (d) 1576
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1565 — It was fought in January 1565.
Q6. The ayagar system in Vijayanagara refers to:
- (a) Military chiefs holding land
- (b) Twelve hereditary village officials
- (c) Temple trustees
- (d) Foreign trading guilds
Show answer
Answer: (b) Twelve hereditary village officials — Ayagars were village functionaries paid with tax-free land.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the Ashtadiggajas?
The eight great Telugu poets at Krishnadevaraya's court, led by Allasani Peddana.
Why was the Raichur doab important?
It was a fertile region between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, long fought over by Vijayanagara and the Bahmanis.
When did Hampi become a World Heritage Site?
In 1986.
Official sources
- UNESCO — Group of Monuments at Hampi
- Archaeological Survey of India
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — India: the Vijayanagar empire
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