Vijayanagara Kingdom

 Vijayanagara Kingdom 1336 – 1580 AD 

An aerial view of the Meenakshi Temple from the top of the southern gopuram, looking north. The temple was rebuilt by the Nayaks of Vijayanagar Empire.

image source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayanagara_Empire

The Sangamas 1336 – 1485 AD 

The kingdom was founded in 1336 AD in response to the Tughlaq authority in South India 

Vijayanagara Kingdom and the city was founded by Harihara I and Bukka sons of Sangamas 

Harihara and Bukka were originally the feudatories of the Kakatiyas 

They were brought to the center by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq converted to Islam and were sent to South to control the rebellion but motivated by a Bhakti Saint Vidyaranya they reconverted into Hindu 

They established the Vijayanagara kingdom in 1336 AD

Harihara I 1336-56 AD

Conflict with the Bahmani kingdom for supremacy over three areas 

Raichur doab between Krishna and Tugabhadra (Krishna – Godavari Delta and Marathwada)

Bukka I 1356-79 AD

Renamed the city of Vidyanagar as Vijayanagara 

The royal Ambassadors from Malabar and Ceylon adorned his court 

Restored peace between the warring Vaishnavas and the Jains 

Devraya – I 1406 – 22 

He constructed a dam across the Tungavhadra to bring the canal into the city Italina traveler Nicolo Conti visited the kingdom during his reign 

Srinatha was his court poet who wrote Haravilasam 

There was a Pearl Hall in his palace where he honored the men of eminence 

Devraya –II 1423-46 AD 

  • He was the greatest Sangama ruler 
  • The Commanders believed that he was an incarnation of Indra 
  • He wrote Mahanataka Suddhanidhi 
  • He took the tittle Ganga Betekara i.e. the elephant hunter 
  • Persian Ambassador Abdul Razzaq the envoy of Shahrukh visited his court 
  • The Sangama dynasty was replaced by Saluva dynasty which lasted for two decades 
  • The king was a scholar in Kannada and Sanskrit 

The Saluvas 1486 – 1505 AD 

Saluva Narsimha was the founder of the dynasty native of the Kalyam region. 1486-91 AD

Tirumal and Immadi Narasimha 1491-1505 AD 

Ruled under the regency of Narsa Nayak 

Vasco Da Gama came to India during the reign of Immadi in AD 1498 

A new dynasty called the Tuluva dynasty was founded by Vir Narasimah 

The Tuluvas 1505 – 1570 AD 

Vira Narsimha 1505 – 09 AD

He killed Imadi of Saluva dynasty and estavlished the Tuluva dynasty 

He was the son of Narsa Nayaka 

Krishnadevaraya 1509-29 AD

  • He was the greatest ruler of the dynasty 
  • He period was known as Golden Age of Telugu literature 
  • He was a warrior an administration and a patron of art and literature 
  • He defeated the Gajapati ruler of Orissa and took the title Yavanaraja Sthapnachya 
  • His political idea are contained in the Telugu book Amuktamalayada 
  • He also wrote Sanskriti drama Jambavati Kalyanama 
  • As a great patron of literature was known as Abhinava Bhoja, Andhra Pitamaha and Andhra Bhoja. 
  • Sri Vyasatirtha was his guru.
  • He was a contemporary to Babur 

Achyuta Raya 1529-42 AD

Succeeded Krishnadevaraya 

Portuguese traveler Fernao Nuriz came during his reign 

Sadasiva 1543-76 AD was the last ruler of the dynasty

Battle of Talikota 1565 AD

Between the alliance of Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golkonda and Bidar at one side and Sadasiva on the other side 

Sadasiva was defeated 

Caesar Frederick the Portuguese traveler visited his court 1567-68 AD

The Aravidus 1570 – 1650 AD

The dynasty was founded by Thirumala, brother of Rama Ray 

He shifted the capital to Penugonda and divided the empire into three linguistic sections.

Vijayanagara Architecture 

Important temples at Hampi, Varadraja and Ekambarnatha temples at Kanchipuram, and Parvati temples at Chidambaram 

The stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata were inscribed on the walls of the temples 

Vibrant combination of Chalukyan, Hoysalan, Pandyan, and Cholan styles 

Vijayanagara Society 

Only empire in Medieval India which employed women in the services 

Women even went to battles 

Vijayanagara Trade 

Accounts of Nuniz and Paes indicate a dependence on foreign trade for maintenance of the two most important vases of the Vijayanagara Empire the cavalry and its fire arms 

Vijayanagara Coins 

They issued gold coins called Varahas or Pagodas 

Theses help us know that they were the worshipper’s of Vishnu 

Bahmani Kingdom 

The Bahmani kingdom of Deccan was founded by Hasan Gangu, whose original name was Ismail Mukh. 

The capital was Gulbarga 

Hasan Gangu took the title of Alauddin Hasan 

Bahaman Shah 1347-58 AD

He became the first king of Bahmani in 1347 AD

At the time of his death his dominion had four provinces Gulbarga, Daulatavad, Berar and Bidar 

Mahmud Shah I 1358-75 AD

He is son of Bahaman Shah, established a council consisting of eighr ministers and decentralized his provincial administration 

He fought with Vijayanagara 

He was succeeded by his son Ala-ud-din Mujahid Shah 

Firoz Shah 1397-1422 AD

  • He was the most remarkable figure in the bahmani Kingdom 
  • He was determine to make Deccan the cultural cemtre of India 
  • He inducted Hindus in his administration to large extent 
  • He built an observatory at Daulatabad 
  • He founded the city of Firozabad on the bank of river Bhima 
  • Firoz defeated Devaraya I 
  • Firoz Shah was succeded by his brother Ahmed Shah I 1422-36 AD
  • He shifted his capital from Gulbarga to Bidar 
  • Ahmed Shah is known as Wali or saint due to his association with Gisudiraz 
  • Ahmed Shah was succeeded by his son Alauddin – II 1436-58 AD and Humayun 

Humayun 1458-61 AD

He was so cruel that he got the title of Zalim 

Humayun was succeeded by his son Nizam Shah 1461-63 and then by Muhammad Shah – II 1463-82 AD 

Mahmud Gawan was the Prime Minister of Muhammad.

After Gawan’s execution by the discontented noble the Bahmani kingdom started declining 

The last ruler of Bahmani kingdom was Kalim Ullah Shah 1524-27 AD

After the breakup of Bahmani kingdom five Muslim separate states were formed 

  • Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar 
  • Adshahis of Bijapur 1490-1686 AD
  • Imad Shahis of Berar 1490-1574 AD
  • Qutub Shahis of Golconda 1518 -1687 AD
  • Barid Shahis of Bidar 1528 – 1619 AD