Rulers of Vijayanagar Empire: Conquests, and Cultural Legacy

Introduction

The Vijayanagara Empire saw several significant rulers who shaped its history and influence. Beginning with Harihara I, who established the empire, to Krishnadeva Raya, known for his military prowess and patronage of arts, each ruler left a lasting legacy. Their reigns witnessed both territorial expansion and cultural flourishing, making them pivotal figures in South Indian history.

Key Rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire

1. Sangama Dynasty

Harihara (1336-56)

• Defeat of the Hoysala Ruler: Defeated the Hoysala ruler of Mysore and executed him.
• Succession of Bukka: His brother, Bukka (1356-77) succeeded him.
• Foundation of a New City: He founded a new city on the South bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong. [UPSC 2015]  

Harihara II (1377-1404)

• Acquisition of Belgaum and Goa: Took control over Belgaum and Goa from the Bahamani kingdom.
• Expedition to Northern Sri Lanka: Sent an expedition to northern Sri Lanka.

Deva Raya I (1404-1422) 

• Defeat by Firuz Shah Bahmani: He was defeated by the Bahmani ruler Firuz Shah. 
• Alliance with Warangal: Later, he entered into an alliance with Warangal, which changed the balance of power in the Deccan and defeated Firuz Shah Bahmani and annexed the entire Reddi territory up to the mouth of Krishna River.
• Dam and Water Management: He constructed a dam across the Tungabhadra and Hiradra rivers and used canals to counter the shortage of water.
• Nicolo Conti: visited Vijaynagar in 1420

Devaraya II (1422–46)

• Defeat of Gajapati Rulers of Odisha: Greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty.
  • He defeated the Gajapati rulers of Odisha.
• Recruitment of Trained Muslim Cavalry: According to Ferishta (Court HistorIan of Deccan Sultans), he recruited trained Muslim cavalry and gave archery training to his soldiers.
• Visit of Abdur Razaak: Abdur Razaak visited Zamorin of Kochi and the Vijayanagar court during his reign.
• Attempt to Recover Territories: Tried to cross Tungabhadra in 1443 to recover areas like Mudkal, Bankapur, etc., from the Bahamani sultans, but in the end, the two sides had to agree to the existing frontiers.
• Tribute from Kings of Sri Lanka and Tennasserim: According to Nuniz, the kings of Sri Lanka and Tennasserim (Malay and Burma) paid tribute to him.
• Civil Wars for the Throne: Primogeniture was not established in Vijayanagar, which led to a series of civil wars for the throne after his death.

2. Saluva Dynasty

Saluva Narasimha

• Establishment: He established the short-lived Saluva dynasty in 1485. Saluvas were military commanders.
• Viranarsimha: his elder son, started the Tuluva dynasty in 1505.

3. Tuluva Dynasty

Krishna Deva Raya (1509–29) 

• Military Achievements and Reputation: Greatest among all the Vijayanagara rulers, he was the younger brother of Vira Narasimha and built upon the strong military foundation laid by his father and elder brother. 
  • He was also known as Andhra Bhoj.
• Expansion of Territory: Fought battle on two fronts, Bahmani Sultans (traditional enemy) and the Gajapati rulers of Orissa.
  • Acquired the Raichur Doab (1512), subdued rulers of Orissa (1514), and defeated the Sultan of Bijapur (1520).
  • Inscriptions describe his seizure of many Gajapati forts like in Udayagiri.
• Establishment of Pillar of Victory: He put up a pillar of victory at Simhachalam (Visakhapatnam).

• Campaigns Against Bahmani:

• • • Maritime Expansion: Established authority along the Malabar and Konkan coasts with the help of the Portuguese.
    • Fort Construction: The Portuguese gained permission to construct a fort in Bhatkal (Karnataka).
    • Patronage of Temples and Architecture: He made generous contributions to temples like Srisailam, Tirupati, Kalahasti, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Chidambaram. 
      • He added towering gopuras to these temples.
  • Architecture: 
    • Establishment of Nagalapuram: Founded a suburban township near Vijayanagar called Nagalapuram, named after his mother.
    • Architectural Contributions: He added gopurams to some important temples like Vijay Mahal and Vittala Swamy Temple.
    • Foreign visitors: Domingo Paes, Fernao Nuniz and Duarte Barbosa praised Krishnadevaraya’s character and the opulence of Vijayanagara City. 

• Cultural and Literary Patronage: He was a gifted scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit. His works include:

• • • • Renowned Telugu poem Amuktamalyada (the story of Andal and a treatise stating the instance of Lord Vishnu in his dream).
      • Madalasa Charita, Satyavedu Parinaya, Rasamanjari, Jambavati Kalyanam  (Sanskrit),
      • Krishna Deva Rayana Dinachari (Kannada)
    • Ashtadiggajas: He patronised Ashtadiggajas, the eight celebrated poets of Telugu.
      • Allasani Peddana (also known as  Andhrakavita Pitamaga), works include: Manucharitam and Harikathasaram;
      • Madayyagari Mallana, Nandi Thimmana, Dhurjati, Rambhadra, Pingali Surana, Ramarajabhushanudu.
      • Tenali Ramakrishna (Court jester and poet): work includes Panduranga Mahatyam.
      • He also patronised Chatu Vittalanatha  (Kannada poet; his work Bhagavatha); Tamil poet Haridasa; Vyasatirtha (His disciple was Purandara dasa ).
  • Interfaith Diplomacy: In spite of religious differences, Krishnadeva Raya supported some claimants to power in the Sultanates and took pride in the title “establisher of the Yavana kingdom”
    • Yavana: is a Sanskrit word used for the Greeks and other peoples who entered the subcontinent from the northwest.

• Taxation System of Krishna Deva:

• • Tax Rate: on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land. 
  • Industry Tax: Private owners of workshops paid an industry tax. [UPSC 2016]

Achyuta Deva Raya

• • Ascension to the Throne: After Krishnadevaraya’s death, his brother Achyutadevaraya took the throne. 
    • The support of the powerful Chellappa (also known as Saluva Nayak), helped him to retain a dominant position.

• By 1542, Sadasivaraya succeeded him.

Sadasiva Raya   (1543-67)

• Real power laid in the hands of his minister Rama Raya, who got support from kinsmen (of Aravidu clan) by appointing them as Nayak of strategic localities.

Rama Raya

• Rama Raya was a great warrior and strategist
• Manipulating Bahmani Powers: He played off the Bahmani Muslim powers against one another. 
• Commercial Treaty with the Portuguese: He entered into a commercial treaty with the Portuguese whereby the supply of horses to the Bijapur ruler was stopped.
• Conflict and Alliance with Bijapur: He fought with the Bijapur ruler. 
  • However, later he allied with Bijapur against Golkonda and Ahmadnagar, all of which eventually led to the Battle of Talikota 1565.

Aravidu Dynasty

• Origin and Founder: Tirumala Deva Raya founded the Aravidu Dynasty, the last Hindu dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• Rama Raya’s Influence: Rama Raya, the brother of Tirumala Deva Raya, was a skilled regent during the previous dynasty’s rule.
• Impact of Rama Raya’s Death: Rama Raya’s demise in the Battle of Talikota in 1565 marked a turning point, leading to the downfall of Vijayanagar due to attacks by the Deccan Muslim states.
• Claimed Lineage and Region: The Aravidu family asserted their Kshatriya status and hailed from the Andhra region.
  • They claimed descent from the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja Narendra, tracing their lineage to the Atreya gotra.
• Post-Empire Era: Following the empire’s collapse, the Aravidu dynasty persisted as the Rajas of Anegundi, although they held nominal political power.
• Legacy and Reverence: Despite their diminished political role, the descendants of the Aravidu dynasty are esteemed for their historical lineage and association with the Vijayanagar Empire.

Conclusion

The succession of rulers in the Vijayanagara Empire, from Harihara I to Sadasiva Raya, marked a period of remarkable achievements and challenges. Krishnadeva Raya’s reign, in particular, stands out for its military conquests and cultural advancements. Despite facing internal strife and external threats, these rulers played crucial roles in shaping the empire’s destiny, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire generations.

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