Component-I (A) – Personal details: Military conquests: 1 Component-I (B) – Description of module: Subject Name Indian Culture Paper Name Outlines of Indian History Module Name/Title The Vijayanagara Empire Module Id I C / OIH / 24 Pre-requisites Political history of medieval South India To understand the history of Vijayanagara Objectives empire, important rulers, achievements and their contribution to Indian Culture Vijayanagara / Sangama/ Saluva/ Tuluva/ Keywords Srikrishnadevaraya E-text (Quadrant-I) 1. Introduction The foundation of the empire of Vijayanagara in 1336 CE constitutes a great event in South India in particular and the history of India in general. The decline of the Sultanate of Delhi as an all-India power which started during the later part of the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq gave birth to two mighty states in South India – the Bahmani kingdom of Gulbarga and the empire of Vijayanagara. They came into existence almost simultaneously. The empire of Vijayanagara was founded by Harihara and Bukka, two of the five sons of Sangama. The Vijayanagara empire was aimed at protecting and promoting the Hindu dharma. It also indirectly prevented the extension of the influence of the Bahmani Kingdom and it’s off shoots in the north, where the power of the Delhi Sultanate had been already considerably weakened, by keeping them constantly engaged in the south. 2. Origin : The background of the Sangamas is shrouded in obscurity. According to the description contained in the works of Rajakalanirnaya and Vidhyaranyakalagnana, the Vijayanagara empire was founded by Harihara I and Bukka I. There are two traditions connecting them with Andhra as well as Karnataka. The scholars even now differ to which area the Sangama brothers Harihara I and Bukka I were belonged. They were at first in the service of the Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra II. But after the Muslim conquest of the Kakatiya kingdom in 1323, they went to the kingdom of Kampili in modern Karnataka and became ministers there. When Bahauddin Gurshap, a cousin of Muhammad bin Tughlaq revolted and took refuge with the Raya of Kampili, the Sultan attacked Kampili and annexed it to the Sultanate. During the course of this war, Harihara and Bukka were made prisoners of war, converted to Islam and taken to Delhi. In 1335, when Tughlaq possessions in the south were in a state of general turmoil, the Sultan released them and sent as commanders of the Tughlaq troops to restore order in the south. This information is known from Nuniz. After establishing their sway over Kampili first for the Sultan, the two Sangama brothers returned to the Hindu fold at the initiative of Saint Vidyaranya and his brother Sayana, the famous commentator on the Vedas. They proclaimed their independence and laid foundation of the city and kingdom of Vijayanagara on the southern bank of the river Tughbhadra facing the fortress of Anegondi on the Northern bank. As against the Telugu origin some scholars argue that they were of Karnataka origin. Father Heras is of the opinion that the foundation of the city of Anegondi, which formed the cradle of 2 the Vijayanagara empire, was laid by Viraballala III, the Hoyasala king and Harihara who was near relative of the family of Hoyasalas, who was a frontier officer with head quarters there. Therefore, in view of him, Harihara founded the kingdom of Vijayanagara on 18th April 1336, probably enjoying the position of Mahamandleswara under king Hoyasala Ballala III. Thus the Hoyasala theory was attributed to the origin and foundation of the Vijayanagara empire. Whatever may have been their origins, they could establish themselves as masters in Kampila and its vicinity in 1336 and extended their authority over the parts of South Karnataka and Southern Andhra. Four dynasties ruled over Vijayanagara empire in succession. They were – • Sangama dynasty (1336 – 1485) • Saluva dynasty (1485 – 1505) • Tuluva dynasty (1503 – 1570) • Aravidu dynasty (1570 – 1675) 3. The Sangama dynasty (1336 – 1485): 3.1 Harihara I (1336 – 1356): Harihara I was one of the founders and also the first king of the Vijayanagara. The kingdom of Vijayanagara soon expanded into an empire largely through the efforts of Harihara I and Bukka I. In the first instance, the infant Vijayanagara kingdom had to contend with Hoyasala ruler of Mysore and the Sultan of Madurai. The Sultan of Madurai was ambitious and had defeated Hoyasala ruler and executed him in barbarous manner. The dissolution of the Hoyasala kingdom enabled Harihara and Bukka to expand their principality. By 1346 whole of Hoyasala kingdom passed into the hands of Vijayanagara rulers. To celebrate the conquests the kings and their families visited Sringeri, to offer homage to Vidyaranya, the head of Matha. 3.2 Establishment of Bahmani Kingdom : In the next year the Bahmani kingdom was established, posing new threat to the rising kingdom. The Bahmani kingdom arose out of one of the many revolts that broke in the Tughlaq empire. Hasan Gangu alias Zafar Khan proclaimed independence in 1347, and founded the Bahmani kingdom with the capital at Gulbarga in Karnataka. After coronation Hasan Gangu assumed title of Alauddin Bahmani Shah (1347 – 1358). Bahmani Shah attacked Vijayanagara twice in 1349 and 1354. Hindu sources claim that Harihara I defeated Alauddin, whereas latter styled himself as second Alexander in his coins. The fact however remains that Alauddin’s kingdom extended from Goa in west to Bhuvanagiri east. This was the beginning of the conflict between the Bahmani kingdom and Vijayanagara empire for political dominance of the south and their mutual rivalry ruined them in the long run. 3.3 Bukka I (1356 – 1377): Harihara was succeeded by his brother Bukka I who took up the task of strengthening and expanding the kingdom. Two important political events happened during his reign. The first one is the Vijayanagara-Bahmani conflict. He fought with the Bahmani sultan Muhammad Shah I and signed a treaty with him, which made him virtual master of the Krishna Tungabhadra Doab. The reign of Bukka I is famous for the Madura campaign undertaken to overthrow the Madura Sultanate by his son Kumara Kampana in 1371. The details of the campaign are very well recorded in the historical work Maduravijayamu written by Kampana’s wife Gangadevi. In the field of foreign affairs the most notable act of Bukka I was to send an embassy to China. This is recorded in the annals of Ming dynasty. 3.4 Harihara II (1377 – 1404): 3 Bukka I, was succeeded by his son Harihara II, consolidated the new kingdom. He continued to wage wars against Bahmanis and the Reddi dynasty. He extended his dominions by the conquest of Kanara, Mysore, Trichinopoly and Kanchi. He waged a war with the Bahmanis for the possession of the Raichur Doab, situated between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers which formed a bone of contention between the two kingdoms. The ports on the west- coast like Goa, Chaul, Dabhol were also captured from the Bahmanis. 3.5 Devaraya I (1406 – 1422): The accession of Devaraya I is an important event in the Sangama dynasty. The Bahmani ruler Tajuddin Firoz Shah was the contemporary of Devaraya I. He was the greatest of the Bahmani Sultans. Both fought a war and ultimately Firoz scored victory. Devaraya I, at a later date, inflicted a crushing defeat on Firoz Shah and annexed the entire territory upto the mouth of the Krishna River. Devaraya undertook a number of schemes for the welfare of the people. Towards the close of Devaraya I reign, the Italian traveler Nicolo-de-conti visited Vijayanagara and gave a picturesque description of the city of Vijayanagara. Devaraya I, was succeeded by his son Ramachandra, ruled for six months only. He was succeeded by his brother Vijaya I. He was a weak ruler, took no interest in the affairs of government and left it to the care of his son and co-regent, Devaraya II. 3.6 Devaraya II (1423 – 1446): Devaraya II was the greatest sovereign of the Sangama dynasty. He was called Immadi Devaraya and also Proudha Devaraya or the great Devaraya by his subjects. The inscriptions speak of his title Gajabetakara i.e. the elephant hunter. Devaraya II waged many wars, secured victories and occupied vast regions. • By 1424 Devaraya annexed the Kondavidu country which had been weak and disorganized after the death of Peda Komati Vema Reddi. • Devaraya II also defeated the Gajapatis of Orissa. • He also carried his arms into Kerala, subjugating the ruler of Quilon and other chieftains. The Zamorin of Kozhikode (Calicut) was allowed to remain independent. • Alauddin II was the Bahmani Sultan and in the initial stages the Vijayanagara forces were beaten very badly by the Bahmani forces. In order to strengthen his army, he inducted more Muslims in his army and asked all his Hindu soldiers and officers to learn the Art of Archery from them. Devaraya II fought three battles against the Bahmanis, but in the end the two parties agreed to the existing boundaries. Thus neither gained advantage over the other. • Nuniz, a Portuguese writer of 16th century, tell us that the kings of Quilon, Srilanka, Pulicat, Pegu and Tenesserin (Modern Burma and Malaya) paid tribute to Devaraya II. • The Persian traveler Abdur Razzak, who had travelled widely in and outside India, visited Vijayanagara in the reign of Devaraya II. He gives glorious account of the country. According to him, the Vijayanagara empire extended from Srilanka to Gulbarga and from Orissa to Mabar. Devaraya II was a great builder and a patron of poets. He himself was an accomplished scholar in Sanskrit. He is credited with the authorship of two Sanskrit works, Mahanataka Sudhanidhi and a commentary on the Brahmasutras of Badarayana.