Vijayanagara — Overview
Founders
Harihara I & Bukka
Earlier Role
Ministers under Kampili kingdom
Regions
Tamil, Karnataka, Telugu
Religion
Shaivism (KDR = Vaishnavism)
National Coin
Varaha (Gold coin)
Arch. Style
Provida Style
4 Dynasties
| Dynasty |
Founder |
Period |
Last Ruler |
| Sangama |
Harihara I |
1336–1485 CE |
Virupaksha II |
| Saluva |
Saluva Narasimha |
1485–1505 CE |
Immadi Narasimha |
| Tuluva |
Vir Narasimha |
1505–1570 CE |
Sadasiva Raya |
| Aravidu |
Tirumala |
Post-1570 CE |
Sriranga III |
Sangama Dynasty — Key Rulers
Harihara I1336–1356 CE · First
Ruler
- Divided kingdom into Desa, Sthala and Nadus
- Capital shifted: Anegondi → Vijayanagara
Bukka I1356–1377 CE
- Inscriptions call him Master of the Seas
- Madurai victory — by Kumara Kampana
- Title: Vedamarga-Pratishthapaka (Restorer of Vedic path)
- Patronized Sayana Acharya (renowned Vedic commentator)
- Patnulkar = Silk weavers from Gujarat
Harihara II1377–1406 CE
- Titles: Maharajadhiraja, Raj Parameshwar
- Chief Minister: Sayana (Vedic scholar)
Devaraya I1406–1422 CE
- Built Haridra Dam on Tungabhadra river
- Recruited Muslims into army
- Italian traveler Nicolo de Conti visited in 1420 CE
- Daughter married to Firoz Shah Bahmani
Devaraya II1422–1446 CE
- Title: Gajabetekara (Hunter of elephants), Immadi Dev Raya
- State protection — writer Shri Nath → Book: Haravilasam
- Persian traveler Abdur Razzaq visited during his reign
Foreign Travelers
| Traveler |
Origin |
Ruler's Time |
| Abdur Razzaq |
Persia |
Devaraya II |
| Nicolo Conti |
Italy |
Devaraya I (1420 CE) |
| Paes |
Portuguese |
Krishna Deva Raya |
| Barbosa |
Portuguese |
Krishna Deva Raya |
| Fernao Nuniz |
Portuguese |
Achyuta Deva Raya |
Battle of Talikota (1565 CE) — End of Empire
- Also called Rakkasa-Tangadi war
- Date: 23–25 January 1565
- Vijayanagara side: Ruler Sadasiva Raya, Minister Rama Raya — defeated
- Confederation of Deccan Sultanates: Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golkonda, Bidar — victorious
Saluva Dynasty
- Founder: Saluva Narasimha (1485–1490 CE)
- Encouraged Arab traders to import more horses
Aravidu Dynasty
- Founder: Tirumala (1570–1572 CE) — Title: "Restorer of Vijayanagara"
- Capital: Penukonda
- Last Emperor: Sriranga III
Krishna Deva Raya (1509–1529 CE) — Greatest Ruler
Relation
Younger brother of Vira Narasimha
Titles of Krishna Deva Raya
- Andhra Bhoja
- Andhra Pitamaha
- Abhinava Bhoja
- Yavanraj Sthanacharya
🏗️ Constructions
- Hazara Rama Temple
- Vithala Swami Temple
-
Hospet City — in memory of wife
- Chidambaram Temple
-
Nagallapur city — in memory of mother Nagaladevi
- Anantaraj Sagar Reservoir
📚 Works by KDR
-
Amuktamalyada (Telugu) — Polity
-
Jambavati Kalyanam (Sanskrit) — Drama
- Usha Parinayam
Ashtadiggajas — 8 Great Poets of KDR's Court
1Pingali SurannaRaghava Pandaveeyam
2Tenali RamakrishnaHumorist, court poet
3BhattumurtiHarischandra Nalopakhyanamu
4DhurjatiKalahasti Mahatmyam
5Nandi ThimmanaParijatapaharanam
6MadayyagariRajasekhara Charita
7Allasani PeddanaManucharita · "Grandfather of Telugu poetry"
8Ayyalaraju RamabhadruduSakala Katha Sara Sangraham
Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542 CE)
- Successor of Krishna Deva Raya
- Introduced new officer: Mahamandaleshwara
- Portuguese traveler Fernao Nuniz visited during his time
Bahmani Empire — Overview
Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah1347–1358 CE · Founder
- Original name: Zafar Khan
- Nickname: Hasan Gangu
- Titles: Amir-ul-Umara, Second Sikandar
- Capital: Gulbarga (renamed Ahsanabad)
Tajuddin Firoz Shah1397–1422
CE
- Defeated Narasimha Raya and Deva Raya I of Vijayanagara
- Established city of Firozabad on Bhima River
- Founded Jantar Mantar (astronomical observatory) at Daulatabad
- Developed ports of Chaul and Dabhol
Shihabuddin Ahmad Shah I1422–1436 CE
- Shifted capital: Gulbarga → Bidar
Other Rulers
| Ruler |
Period |
| Muhammad Shah I |
1358–1375 CE |
| Alauddin Ahmad II |
1436–1458 CE |
| Humayun Shah |
1458–1461 CE |
| Nizamuddin Ahmad III |
1461–1463 CE |
| Shamsuddin Muhammad III |
1463–1482 CE |
Provincial Divisions (Taraf / Subah)
- Gulbarga, Daulatabad, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur
8 Ministers of Bahmani Empire
| # |
Minister Title |
Role |
| 1 |
Wazir-e-Ashraf |
Foreign Minister |
| 2 |
Vakil-e-Sultan |
Deputy of the Sultan |
| 3 |
Wazir-e-Kul |
Prime Minister |
| 4 |
Amir-e-Jumla |
Finance Minister |
| 5 |
Nazir |
Deputy Finance Minister |
| 6 |
Sadr-e-Jahan |
Chief Justice |
| 7 |
Kotwal |
Chief of Law and Order |
| 8 |
Peshwa |
Assistant to the Deputy |
Prominent Deccan Figures
Mahmud GawanIranian · Bahmani
Minister
- Titles: Malik-ul-Tujjar (Chief Merchant), Khwaja-e-Jahan (Lord of the World)
- Conquered Dabhol and Goa in 1472 CE
- Divided empire into 8 provinces (tarafs)
Ibrahim Adil ShahBijapur
- Replaced Persian → Dakhani (Deccani) in administration
- Titles: Jagat Guru, Abla Baba
- Composed: Kitab-e-Nauras
🕌 Gol Gumbaz
- Built by Muhammad Adil Shah
🏙️ Hyderabad & Charminar
- Founder of Hyderabad: Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
- Built Charminar
- Other name: Bhagyanagar
5 Deccan Sultanates — After Bahmani
| State |
Founded |
Founder |
Dynasty |
Merged Into |
| Berar |
1484 CE |
Fatehullah Imad |
Imad Shahi |
Ahmadnagar (1574 CE) |
| Bijapur |
1489 CE |
Yusuf Adil Khan |
Adil Shahi |
Mughal Empire — Aurangzeb (1686 CE) |
| Ahmadnagar |
1490 CE |
Malik Ahmad |
Nizam Shahi |
Mughal Empire — Shah Jahan (1636 CE) |
| Golkonda |
1512 CE |
Quli Qutb Shah |
Qutb Shahi |
Mughal Empire — Aurangzeb (1687 CE) |
| Bidar |
1526 CE |
Amir Ali Barid |
Barid Shahi |
Bijapur (1619 CE) |
Deccan States — Quick Memory
Oldest Deccan state?
Berar (1484 CE)
Youngest / Last formed?
Bidar (1526 CE)
Bijapur founder?
Yusuf Adil Khan — Adil Shahi
Golkonda founder?
Quli Qutb Shah — Qutb Shahi
Which two states did Aurangzeb annex?
Bijapur (1686) + Golkonda (1687)
Which state did Shah Jahan annex?
Ahmadnagar (1636 CE)
Administrative System — Vijayanagara
- Based on Saptanga theory
- Hereditary rule — King/Emperor as chief
- Prime Minister: Mahapradhani → Head of Council of Ministers
-
Dandanayaka — special officer category
-
Amarnayaka — Military commander
Provincial Hierarchy
↓
Mandalam (Commissionery)
↓
Valanadu / Kottam (District)
↓
Nadu (Pargana / Tehsil)
↓
Melagram (group of 50 villages)
↓
Village (Gram / Ur) — Smallest unit
Nayankara System
- Important institution of provincial administration
- User of Amaran land: Senanayak
- Nayaka — maintained troops + controlled revenue from lands
- Most Nayankara provinces in Tamil Nadu
Ayangar System
- Replaced Chola local administration
- Village administration system
- Managed by a group of 12 individuals
Architecture
- Vijayanagara architectural style: Provida Style
- Key temples: Hazara Rama, Vithala Swami, Chidambaram — all by KDR
⚠️ Exam Traps
Trap #1 — Vijayanagara Founders
Harihara I and Bukka were joint founders of the Vijayanagara Empire. Both had earlier served as ministers in the Kampili kingdom and founded the empire in 1336 CE.
Trap #2 — Religion: Shaivism vs Vaishnavism
The state religion of Vijayanagara was Shaivism, while Krishna Deva Raya personally followed Vaishnavism. Keep the state religion and the ruler’s personal faith separate.
Trap #3 — Battle of Talikota — Who Fought?
The nominal Vijayanagara ruler was Sadasiva Raya, but actual power was held by his minister Rama Raya. The opposing confederacy comprised four sultanates—Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar—not a single Bahmani state.
Trap #4 — Allasani Peddana's Title
Allasani Peddana is called the “Grandfather of Telugu Poetry” or Andhra Kavita Pitamaha. Krishna Deva Raya is called Andhra Pitamaha. These titles refer to different people.
Trap #5 — Bahmani Founder's Names
The Bahmani founder had three names: Zafar Khan was his original name, Hasan Gangu his nickname, and Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah his regnal name. All three names refer to the same person.
Trap #6 — Capital Shift (Bahmani)
The first Bahmani capital was Gulbarga (Ahsanabad) under the founder Alauddin Hasan. Shihabuddin Ahmad Shah I later shifted the capital to Bidar. Match the capital shift with the correct ruler.
Trap #7 — Hyderabad & Charminar
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah founded Hyderabad and also built the Charminar. He belonged to the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda, not the Bahmani dynasty.
Trap #8 — Gol Gumbaz Builder
Muhammad Adil Shah of Bijapur built the Gol Gumbaz, not Ibrahim Adil Shah. Ibrahim wrote Kitab-e-Nauras and promoted the Dakhani language.
⚡ Quick Recall Cards
Vijayanagara — Basics
When was it founded?
1336 CE — Harihara I & Bukka
National coin?
Varaha (Gold coin)
Architectural style?
Provida Style
How many members formed the Ayangar system?
12 individuals
Sangama Dynasty Rulers
Title of Bukka I?
Vedamarga-Pratishthapaka + Master of the Seas
Who built the Haridra Dam?
Devaraya I — on the Tungabhadra River
When did Abdur Razzaq visit?
During Devaraya II’s reign (Persian traveller)
Title of Devaraya II?
Gajabetekara (Hunter of elephants)
Krishna Deva Raya
Telugu book?
Amuktamalyada (Polity)
Sanskrit drama?
Jambavati Kalyanam
For whom was Hospet built?
In memory of his wife
For whom was Nagallapur built?
In memory of his mother Nagaladevi
Grandfather of Telugu poetry?
Allasani Peddana (Ashtadiggaja #7)
Who was Tenali Ramakrishna?
Humorist court poet — Ashtadiggaja #2
Bahmani Empire
Founder’s original name?
Zafar Khan (Nickname: Hasan Gangu)
Original capital?
Gulbarga (renamed Ahsanabad)
Where was the capital shifted?
Gulbarga → Bidar (Shihabuddin Ahmad Shah I)
Where was the Jantar Mantar observatory?
Daulatabad — built by Tajuddin Firoz Shah
Titles of Mahmud Gawan?
Malik-ul-Tujjar + Khwaja-e-Jahan
Gol Gumbaz builder?
Muhammad Adil Shah (Bijapur)
Charminar + Hyderabad founder?
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
Battle of Talikota (1565)
Other name?
Rakkasa-Tangadi war
Vijayanagara side — ruler & minister?
Sadasiva Raya (ruler) + Rama Raya (minister)
4 sultanates in confederation?
Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golkonda, Bidar
Bahmani 8 Ministers — Key 3
Prime Minister?
Wazir-e-Kul
Finance Minister?
Amir-e-Jumla
Chief Justice?
Sadr-e-Jahan
Foreign Minister?
Wazir-e-Ashraf