A FORGOTTEN EMPIRE by Robert Swell
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Page 1 of 190 VIJAYANAGAR A FORGOTTEN EMPIRE By Robert Swell Project Gutenberg File Converted into HTM pages by Nalanda Digital ibrary under Etext Conversion Project (ECP) Page 2 of 190 Vijayanagara Empire From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search ಜಯನಗರ ಾ ಾ ಜÎ జయనగర ామ°జమº Vijayanagara Empire ← ↓ ← 13361646 ← Extent of Vijayanagara Empire, 1446, 1520 CE Capital Vijayanagara Language(s) Kannada, Telugu Religion Hindu Government Monarchy King - 1,,6-1,56 )arihara .a a I - 1642-1646 0riranga III istory - Esta1lished 1,,6 - Earliest records 1,4, - 2isesta1lished 1646 Page , of 190 Preceded by Succeeded by )o sala M sore %ingdom Empire %eladi Na a3a %a3ati a Na a3s of d nast Tanjore Pand an Na a3s of %ingdom Madurai Na a3as of Chitradurga Page 4 of 190 The Vijayanagara Empire 5%annada: ಜಯನಗರ Vijayanagara Empire ಾ ಾ ಜÎ Vijayānagara Sāmrājya, Telugu: జయనగర ామ°జమº Vijayānagara Sāmrājyamu6 was a 0outh Indian empire 1ased in the 2eccan Plateau. Esta1lished in 1,,6 1 Sangama Dynasty )arihara I and his 1rother 9u33a .a a I, it lasted until 1646 although its power declined after a major militar defeat in 1565 )arihara .a a I 1,,6-1,56 1 the 2eccan sultanates. The empire is named after its capital cit 9u33a .a a I 1,56-1,77 of Vija anagara, whose impressive ruins surround modern )ampi, )arihara .a a II 1,77-1404 now a :orld )eritage 0ite in modern %arnata3a, India. The writings of medieval European travelers such as 2omingo Paes, Virupa3sha .a a 1404-1405 Fernao Nuniz and Niccol= 2a Conti and the literature in local 9u33a .a a II 1405-1406 vernaculars provide crucial information a1out its histor . Archaeological excavations at Vija anagara have revealed the 2eva .a a I 1406-1422 empire's power and wealth. .amachandra .a a 1422 The empire's legac includes man monuments spread over 0outh Vira Vija a 9u33a .a a 1422-1424 India, the 1est 3nown 1eing the group at )ampi. The previous 2eva .a a II 1424-1446 temple 1uilding traditions in 0outh India came together in the Malli3arjuna .a a 1446-1465 Vija anagara Architecture st le. The mingling of all faiths and vernaculars inspired architectural innovation of )indu temple Virupa3sha .a a II 1465-14E5 construction, first in the 2eccan and later in the 2ravidian idioms Praudha .a a 14E5 using the local granite. 0ecular ro al structures show the influence of the Northern 2eccan 0ultanate architecture. Efficient Saluva Dynasty administration and vigorous overseas trade 1rought new 0aluva Narasimha 2eva .a a 14E5-1491 technologies li3e water management s stems for irrigation. The empire's patronage ena1led fine arts and literature to reach new Thimma 9hupala 1491 heights in the languages of %annada, Telugu, Tamil and 0ans3rit, Narasimha .a a II 1491-1505 while Carnatic music evolved into its current form. The Vija anagara Empire created an epoch in 0outh Indian histor that Tuluva Dynasty transcended regionalism 1 promoting )induism as a unif ing Tuluva Narasa Na a3a 1491-150, factor. Viranarasimha .a a 150,-1509 %rishna 2eva .a a 1509-1529 Contents Ach uta 2eva .a a 1529-1542 [hideA 0adashiva .a a 1542-1570 Aravidu Dynasty 1 )istor 2 Bovernance Ali a .ama .a a 1542-1565 , Econom Tirumala 2eva .a a 1565-1572 4 Culture o 4.1 0ocial life 0riranga I 1572-15E6 o 4.2 .eligion Ven3ata II 15E6-1614 o 4., Citerature 0riranga II 1614-1614 o 4.4 Architecture o 4.5 Canguage .amadeva 1617-16,2 5 Notes Ven3ata III 16,2-1642 6 .eferences 0riranga III 1642-1646 Page 5 of 190 7 External lin3s *edit+ History Main articles: Origin of Vija anagara Empire, Ancient Cit of Vija anagara, 9attle of .aichur, and 9attle of Tali3ota 2iffering theories have 1een proposed regarding the Vija anagara empire's origins. 0ome claim that )arihara I and 9u33a .a a I, the founders of the empire, were Telugu %uru1a people first associated with the %a3ati a 3ingdom who too3 control of the northern parts of the )o sala Empire during its decline.[1A Other historians propose the were %annadigas and commanders in the arm of the )o sala Empire stationed in the Tunga1hadra region to ward off Muslim invasions from the Northern India.[2A[,A[4A[5A Irrespective of their origin, historians agree the founders were supported and inspired 1 Vid aran a, a saint at the 0ringeri monaster to fight the Muslim invasion of 0outh India.[6A[7A :ritings 1 foreign travelers during the late medieval era com1ined with recent excavations in the Vija anagara principalit have uncovered much-needed information a1out the empire's histor , fortifications, scientific developments and architectural innovations.[EA[9A 9efore the earl 14th centur rise of the Vija anagara empire, the )indu 3ingdoms of the 2eccan, the 0euna Gadavas of 2evagiri, the %a3ati a d nast of :arangal, the Pand a %ingdom of Madurai, and the tin 3ingdom of %ampili had 1een repeatedl invaded 1 Muslims from the north, and 1 1,,6 the had all 1een defeated 1 Alla-ud-din %hilji and Muhammad 1in TughluH, the 0ultans of 2elhi. The )o sala Empire was the sole remaining )indu 3ingdom in the path of the Muslim invasion.[10A After the death of )o sala Veera 9allala III during a 1attle against the 0ultan of Madurai in 1,4,, the )o sala empire merged with the growing Vija anagara empire. In the first two decades after the founding of the empire, )arihara I gained control over most of the area south of the Tunga1hadra river and earned the title of Purvapaschima Samudradhishavara 5Imaster of the eastern and western seasI6. 9 1,74 9u33a .a a I, successor to )arihara I, had defeated the chiefdom of Arcot, the .edd d nast of %ondavidu, the 0ultan of Madurai and gained control over Boa in the west and the Tunga1hadra- %rishna .iver doa1 in the north.[11A[12A The island of Can3a paid tri1utes and am1assadors were exchanged with the Ming 2 nast of China.[1,A[14A The original capital was in the principalit of Anegondi on the northern 1an3s of the Tunga1hadra .iver in toda 's %arnata3a. It was later moved to near1 Vija anagara on the river's southern 1an3s during the reign of 9u33a .a a I. :ith the Vija anagara %ingdom now imperial in stature, )arihara II, the second son of 9u33a .a a I, further consolidated the 3ingdom 1e ond the %rishna .iver and 1rought the whole of 0outh India under the Vija anagara um1rella.[15A The next ruler, 2eva .a a I, emerged successful against the Bajapatis of Orissa and undertoo3 important wor3s of fortification and irrigation.[16A 2eva .a a II 5called Gajabetekara6[17A succeeded to the throne in 1424 and was possi1l the most capa1le of the 0angama d nast rulers.[1EA )e Huelled re1elling feudal lords as well as the Jamorin of Calicut and Kuilon in the south. )e invaded the island of Can3a and 1ecame overlord of the 3ings of 9urma at Pegu and Tanasserim.[19A[20A[21A The empire declined in the late 15th centur until the serious attempts 1 commander 0aluva Narasimha 2eva .a a in 14E5 and 1 general Tuluva Narasa Na a3a in 1491 to reconsolidate the empire. After nearl two decades of conflict with re1ellious chieftains, the empire eventuall came under the rule of %rishnadevara a, the son of Tuluva Narasa Na a3a.[22A Page 6 of 190 In the following decades the Vija anagara empire dominated all of 0outhern India and fought off invasions from the five esta1lished 2eccan 0ultanates.[2,A[24A The empire reached its pea3 during the rule of %rishnadevara a when Vija anagara armies were consistentl victorious.[25A The empire annexed areas formerl under the 0ultanates in the northern 2eccan and the territories in the eastern 2eccan, including %alinga, while simultaneousl maintaining control over all its su1ordinates in the south.[26A Man important monuments were either completed or commissioned during the time of %rishnadevara a.[27A %rishnadevara a was followed 1 Ach uta .a a in 15,0 and in 1542 1 0adashiva .a a while the real power la with Ali a .ama .a a, the son-in-law of %rishnadevara a, whose relationship with the 2eccan 0ultans who allied against him has 1een de1ated.[2EA Virupa3sha temple, )ampi The sudden capture and 3illing of Ali a .ama .a a in 1565 at the 9attle of Tali3ota, against an alliance of the 2eccan sultanates, after a seemingl eas victor for the Vija anagara armies, created havoc and confusion in the Vija anagara ran3s, which were then completel routed. The 0ultanates' arm later plundered )ampi and reduced it to the ruinous state in which it remainsL it was never re-occupied. Tirumala .a a, the sole surviving commander, left Vija anagara for Penu3onda with vast amounts of treasure on the 1ac3 of 550 elephants.[29A The empire went into a slow decline regionall , although trade with the Portuguese continued, and the 9ritish were given a land grant for the esta1lishment of Madras.[,0A[,1A Tirumala 2eva .a a was succeeded 1 his son 0riranga I later followed 1 Ven3ata II who made Chandragiri his capital, repulsed the invasion of the 9ahmani 0ultanate and saved Penu3onda from 1eing captured.[,2A )is successor, .amadeva, too3 power and ruled till 16,2 after whose death, Ven3ata III 1ecame 3ing and ruled for a1out ten ears after which Vellore was made the capital. The empire was finall conHuered 1 the 0ultanates of 9ijapur and Bol3onda.[,2A The largest feudatories of the Vija anagar empire M the M sore %ingdom, %eladi Na a3a, Na a3s of Madurai, Na a3s of Tanjore, Na a3as of Chitradurga and Na a3 %ingdom of Bingee M declared independence and went on to have a significant impact on the histor of 0outh India in the coming centuries.