Brief history of Vijaynagar Empire ?

 The history of the Vijaynagar Empire constitutes a glorious chapter in the history of India.

The Vijaynagar kingdom constitutes four dynasties which were-

1. Sangama (1336–1485)
2. Saluva (1485–1503)
3. Tuluva (1503–1570)
4. Aravidu (1570–1646)

SANGAMA DYNASTY

Harihara and Bukka established the Vijayanagar Empire. Originally they were feudatories of the Kakatiyas of Warangal. They were in Kampili where they were imprisoned and converted to Islam by Muhammed Bin Tughlaq.

Later, they returned to Hinduism at the initiative of Saint Vidyaranya. They proclaimed their independence and founded a new city on the banks of river Tughbhadra. It was called Vidyanagar or Vijaynagar meaning the city of victory.

Deva Raya 2 was the greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty. He took the title of Gajbetegara which means the hunter of Elephants.

He was a great patron of literature, he himself authored Sobagine Sone, Amaruka, and Mahanatak Sudhanidhi. Persian traveller Abdur Razzak visited his empire.

SALUVA DYNASTY

This dynasty was founded by Saluva Narasimha and it ruled only for a short period of time.

Immadi Narasimha was ruler of vijayanagar when Vasco Da Gama landed in India.

TULUVA DYNASTY

It was founded by Vira Narasimha Raya in 1505 AD.

KRISHNA DEVA RAYA

He was the greatest of all vijayanagar rulers. Krishna Deva Raya was also known as Andhra pitamah, Abhinav Bhoj, Andhra Bhoj.

Battles fought by him-

1. Battle of Diwani
2. Bijapur
3. Against Gajapati ruler Pratap rudra

He patronized eight eminent scholars of Telugu who were known as Ashta diggaja.

1. Allasani Peddana
2. Tenali Rama
3. Pingali Suranna etc.

He constructed famous Hazara Rama temple and Vitthalaswamy temple.

Sada Shiva Raya

He was the last ruler of Tuluva Dyansty who puppet in the hands of his minister Aliya Rama Raya who was the de-facto king.

BATTLE OF TALAIKOTTA

It is also known as battle of bannihatti and rakshasa thangadi.

It was fought on 26 jan 1565 .The combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Golconda, Bidar, defeated the Vijayanagar Kingdom .

It was watershed moment in the history of south india. Vijaynagar was destroyed and Rama raya was executed.

ARAVIDU DYNASTY

After battle of talikotta , Vijaynagar empire existed for about another one century.

Aravidu Dynasty was founded by Thirumala.It’s last ruler was Sri Ranga 3 .The empire slowly shrunk and aravidu dynasty ended in 1646.

Thus one of greatest kingdoms in India became history.

Why did Babur fear the Vijayanagar Empire?

 Babur ruled North India somewhere between 1526–1530 period.

You need to note this period was under the rule in South India by none other than “Sri krishna devaraya” who was pinnacle of Vijaynagara Empire. One of the most powerful kings of Indian history.

Empire covered whole of South India except some parts of Karnataka and Telangana. Even Sri Lanka was tributary of the empire.

Even today ,go to parts of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh you will hear how well respected is “Sri Krishna Devaraya”.

Karnataka people often tell you ,under him , “Hampi was so rich ,gold and diamonds were sold in streets of the city “ Such a flourishing empire it was.

Let's take a look at the empire under him first and get back to our question.

He was a great leader and had faced Deccan sultanates with ease often referred to as “ Destroyer of Turks”.

Hampi was one of the largest and was the richest city in the entire world at its peak. When Vijaynagara Empire fell and power was broken subsequently in battle of talikota in 1565 , it took opponents somewhere around 6 to 12 months to loot and burn the city. You will be amazed to see how magnificent even the ruins are today , if you visit Hampi , a UNESCO World Heritage site. This city is a mirror for our culture and prosperity.

He was respectful to foreign visitors, able administrator , ruthless law maker, tolerant to every religion and was an excellent army general himself.

Coming to the query, you may see Babur , a barbarian who had well versed in war tactics ,proved in battle of Panipat against Lodhi.

But Sri Krishna Devaraya had the most effective army in South East Asia. Vijayanagar empire had an army strength of 7,00,000 and Babur had a mere 60,000. Though one can say , Babur had a strategy of defeating larger empires, but if ever he went to war with Sri Krishna Devaraya, it would have resulted in fall of his emerging kingdom.

Any attempt made of invading Vijayanagar empire, Babur’s Army would have been slaughtered and would have resulted in wiping out the Mughals even before it was well established and Delhi would have soon fallen into hands of winning kingdom.

So Babur was clever and played it safe.