Vijayanagara — Overview
Founders
Harihara I & Bukka
Earlier Association
Traditionally associated with Kampili; precise offices uncertain
Regions
Tamil, Karnataka, Telugu
Religion
Shaiva and Vaishnava patronage; KDR = Vaishnava devotee
Gold Coin
Varaha (Gold coin)
Literary Languages
Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit
Arch. Style
Dravida tradition
4 Dynasties
| Dynasty |
Founder |
Period |
Last Ruler |
| Sangama |
Harihara I |
1336–1485 CE |
Praudha Raya |
| 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
- Bukka I’s son Kumara Kampana led the Madurai campaign
- 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
- Sponsored a dam and irrigation works on the Tungabhadra
- Large-scale Muslim cavalry and archer recruitment is especially associated with Devaraya II
- Italian traveler Nicolo de Conti visited in 1420 CE
- Some chronicles report a marriage alliance with 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) — Defeat and Sack of Capital
- Also called Rakkasa-Tangadi war
- Date: 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–c.1491 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 Kavita Pitamaha — Peddana’s title, not KDR’s
- Abhinava Bhoja
- Yavana-rajya-sthapanacharya
🏗️ Constructions
- Hazara Rama Temple — older royal temple, not founded by KDR
- Vithala Swami Temple — expanded under KDR
- Nagalapuram suburb near Vijayanagara — established by KDR
- Chidambaram Temple — older temple patronized by KDR
-
Nagallapur city — in memory of mother Nagaladevi
- Anantaraja Sagara — commissioned by Bhaskara Bhavadura in 1367–69
📚 Works by KDR
- Amuktamalyada (Telugu) — devotional poem about Andal, with advice on kingship
-
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
- Mahamandaleshwara — older title for a high-ranking territorial lord
- Portuguese traveler Fernao Nuniz visited during his time
Bahmani Empire — Overview
Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah1347–1358 CE · Founder
- Personal name: Hasan; title: Zafar Khan
- Nickname: Hasan Gangu
- Titles: Amir-ul-Umara, Second Sikandar
- Capital: Gulbarga (renamed Ahsanabad)
Tajuddin Firoz Shah1397–1422
CE
- Fought Devaraya I of Vijayanagara; Saluva Narasimha lived much later
- Established city of Firozabad on Bhima River
- Associated with an astronomical observatory at Daulatabad; not a Jantar Mantar
- 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)
- Initially four principal tarafs: Gulbarga, Daulatabad, Berar and Bidar
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)
- Western coastal conquests included Dabhol and Goa; not one common exact year
- Divided empire into 8 provinces (tarafs)
Ibrahim Adil Shah I & IIBijapur
- Ibrahim I — promoted Dakhani in administration
- Ibrahim II — titles: Jagat Guru, Abla Baba
- Ibrahim II — composed Kitab-e-Nauras
🕌 Gol Gumbaz
- Built by Muhammad Adil Shah
🏙️ Hyderabad & Charminar
- Founder of Hyderabad: Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
- Built Charminar
- Bhagyanagar naming stories are disputed; Hyderabad stands on the Musi
5 Deccan Sultanates — After Bahmani
| State |
Founded |
Founder |
Dynasty |
Merged Into |
| Berar |
c.1490 CE |
Fatehullah Imad |
Imad Shahi |
Ahmadnagar (1574 CE) |
| Bijapur |
c.1490 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 |
Emergence was gradual; foundation dates vary |
Quli Qutb Shah |
Qutb Shahi |
Mughal Empire — Aurangzeb (1687 CE) |
| Bidar |
Emergence was gradual; foundation dates vary |
Amir Barid |
Barid Shahi |
Bijapur (1619 CE) |
Deccan States — Quick Memory
Which three sultanates emerged independently around 1490?
Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Berar
Which dynasty ruled Bidar after Bahmani decline?
Barid Shahi
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
- Monarchy supported by ministers and regional chiefs
- Hereditary rule — King/Emperor as chief
- Prime Minister: Mahapradhani → Head of Council of Ministers
- Dandanayaka — high officer with military and administrative duties
-
Amarnayaka — Military commander
Provincial Units — Names Varied by Region and Period
Illustrative regional territorial units
↓
Mandalam (large territorial unit)
↓
Valanadu / Kottam (regional subdivisions)
↓
Nadu (territorial subdivision)
↓
Melagram (village grouping; size not universally fixed)
↓
Village (Gram / Ur) — Smallest unit
Nayankara System
- Important institution of provincial administration
- Revenue assignments went to amara-nayakas to maintain troops
- Nayaka — maintained troops + controlled revenue from lands
- Amara-nayakas supplied troops to the ruler from assigned revenues
Ayangar System
- Village officers and service personnel; practices varied regionally
- Village administration system
- Managed by a group of 12 individuals
Architecture
- Vijayanagara architectural style: Dravida tradition
- KDR patronized and expanded older temples; their original foundation must be distinguished
⚠️ Exam Traps
Trap #1 — Vijayanagara Founders
Harihara I and Bukka founded Vijayanagara in 1336 CE. Traditions link them with Kampili, but their precise earlier offices are uncertain.
Trap #2 — Religion: Shaivism vs Vaishnavism
Vijayanagara rulers patronized both Shaiva and Vaishnava institutions. Krishna Deva Raya was a Vaishnava devotee who also supported Shaiva temples; the whole empire had no single fixed state sect.
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 Andhra Kavita Pitamaha, the “Grandfather of Telugu Poetry”. Krishna Deva Raya is associated with Andhra Bhoja; distinguish the poet’s title from the ruler’s.
Trap #5 — Bahmani Founder's Names
The same Bahmani founder was known as Hasan Gangu, held the title Zafar Khan, and ruled as Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah. Zafar Khan was a title, not a separate personal original name.
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 built Gol Gumbaz. Ibrahim II wrote Kitab-e-Nauras, while the administrative promotion of Dakhani is associated with Ibrahim I.
⚡ Quick Recall Cards
Vijayanagara — Basics
When was it founded?
1336 CE — Harihara I & Bukka
Gold coin?
Varaha (Gold coin)
Important literary languages?
Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit
Architectural style?
Dravida tradition
How many members formed the Ayangar system?
12 individuals
Sangama Dynasty Rulers
Title of Bukka I?
Vedamarga-Pratishthapaka
Who sponsored Tungabhadra irrigation works?
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 — Andal’s devotion, with advice on kingship
Sanskrit drama?
Jambavati Kalyanam
Which suburb did Krishna Deva Raya establish?
Nagalapuram, near Vijayanagara
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 personal name and title?
Hasan (Hasan Gangu); Zafar Khan was a title
Original capital?
Gulbarga (renamed Ahsanabad)
Where was the capital shifted?
Gulbarga → Bidar (Shihabuddin Ahmad Shah I)
Where was Firoz Shah Bahmani’s 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