About the Vijayanagar and Bahmani Kingdoms
In the 14th century, two great powers rose in the Deccan: the Vijayanagar Empire in the south, on the Tungabhadra river, and the Bahmani Kingdom in the north, in the Krishna-Godavari region. For about two hundred years these two kingdoms were bitter rivals, fighting mainly over the fertile Raichur Doab and the rich Krishna-Godavari delta. Their conflict is an important chapter of medieval Indian history and a favourite topic in examinations.
The Vijayanagar Empire (1336–1646)
Vijayanagar was founded in 1336 AD by the brothers Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty. They were guided by the sage Vidyaranya. The capital, Vijayanagar (Hampi), stood on the south bank of the Tungabhadra. The empire was ruled by four dynasties: the Sangama, the Saluva, the Tuluva and the Aravidu.
Devaraya II (1424–1446) was the greatest Sangama ruler; he recruited Muslims into his army and was called Gajabetekara (“elephant hunter”). The most famous ruler was Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) of the Tuluva dynasty. He conquered Raichur and Udayagiri and wrote the Telugu work Amuktamalyada. His court had the Ashtadiggajas (eight poets), the greatest being Allasani Peddana. He took the titles Andhra Bhoja, Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana and Mooru Rayara Ganda. Foreign travellers such as the Persian Abdur Razzaq and the Portuguese Domingo Paes and Nuniz visited Vijayanagar and praised its wealth.
The Vijayanagar empire came to an end after the Battle of Talikota (Rakshasa-Tangadi) in 1565 AD, in which the combined forces of the Deccan Sultanates defeated and killed the regent Ramaraya; the capital was sacked and abandoned. The last Aravidu rulers survived until about 1646 AD.
The Bahmani Kingdom (1347–1527)
The Bahmani Kingdom was founded in 1347 AD by Hasan Gangu (Alauddin Bahman Shah / Zafar Khan). Its first capital was Gulbarga, later shifted to Bidar. The most famous minister was Mahmud Gawan, prime minister of Muhammad Shah III; he built a great madrasa at Bidar and was later executed in 1481 due to court intrigue. After his death the kingdom broke up into five Deccan Sultanates: Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Berar, Bidar and Golconda.
Vijayanagar and Bahmani Conflict
- Cause: both wanted the fertile Raichur Doab (between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra) and the rich Krishna-Godavari delta.
- Nature: continuous wars for about two hundred years, usually ending in stalemate.
- Result: the Battle of Talikota (1565) finally broke Vijayanagar, while the Bahmani Kingdom itself had already split into five sultanates.
Administration and Culture
In Vijayanagar the king was assisted by a council of ministers. The ayagar system organised village administration, and military chiefs held land under the amaram or nayankara system. Land revenue was about one-sixth to one-fourth of the produce. The empire was a great centre of Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil literature. In architecture the Vijayanagar style is famous for the Vittala temple (with its stone chariot and musical pillars), the Virupaksha temple, the Hazara Rama temple, the Lotus Mahal, tall raya gopurams and the amman shrine. The Bahmani and Deccan Sultanates built the Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur), the Ibrahim Rauza, the Charminar (Golconda/Hyderabad) and the Bidar madrasa.
Timeline of the Deccan Kingdoms
- 1336 AD: Harihara and Bukka found the Vijayanagar Empire (Sangama dynasty).
- 1347 AD: Hasan Gangu founds the Bahmani Kingdom at Gulbarga.
- 1424–1446 AD: Reign of Devaraya II.
- 1481 AD: Execution of Mahmud Gawan; decline of the Bahmani Kingdom.
- 1509–1529 AD: Reign of Krishnadevaraya.
- 1527 AD: End of the Bahmani Kingdom (succeeded by five Deccan Sultanates).
- 1565 AD: Battle of Talikota; Vijayanagar defeated and its capital sacked.
- c. 1646 AD: End of Vijayanagar (Aravidu) rule.
Main Facts about Vijayanagar and Bahmani (Quick Revision Bullets)
- Founders of Vijayanagar: Harihara and Bukka (1336 AD).
- Spiritual guide of the founders: Vidyaranya.
- Vijayanagar capital: Hampi, on the Tungabhadra.
- Four dynasties of Vijayanagar: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu.
- Greatest Sangama ruler: Devaraya II.
- Greatest Vijayanagar ruler: Krishnadevaraya (Tuluva dynasty).
- Krishnadevaraya’s Telugu work: Amuktamalyada.
- Eight poets of Krishnadevaraya’s court: Ashtadiggajas.
- Persian ambassador at Vijayanagar: Abdur Razzaq.
- Portuguese travellers: Domingo Paes and Nuniz.
- Founder of the Bahmani Kingdom: Hasan Gangu (Alauddin Bahman Shah), 1347 AD.
- Bahmani capitals: Gulbarga and later Bidar.
- Famous Bahmani minister: Mahmud Gawan.
- Five Deccan Sultanates: Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Berar, Bidar and Golconda.
- Battle that ended Vijayanagar: Battle of Talikota (1565 AD).
- Vijayanagar regent killed at Talikota: Ramaraya.
Important Persons and Terms
- Harihara and Bukka: founders of the Vijayanagar Empire.
- Vidyaranya: sage who guided the founders.
- Devaraya II: greatest Sangama ruler; titled Gajabetekara.
- Krishnadevaraya: greatest Vijayanagar ruler; author of Amuktamalyada; patron of the Ashtadiggajas.
- Allasani Peddana: greatest of the Ashtadiggajas; called the father of Telugu poetry.
- Abdur Razzaq: Persian ambassador who described Vijayanagar.
- Hasan Gangu: founder of the Bahmani Kingdom.
- Mahmud Gawan: great Bahmani minister; built the Bidar madrasa.
- Ramaraya: Vijayanagar regent defeated and killed at Talikota.
Why Vijayanagar and Bahmani Matter for Exams
This topic is asked frequently. Common questions: Who founded the Vijayanagar Empire? (Harihara and Bukka.) Who was its greatest ruler? (Krishnadevaraya.) Who wrote Amuktamalyada? (Krishnadevaraya.) Who founded the Bahmani Kingdom? (Hasan Gangu, 1347.) Which battle ended Vijayanagar? (Battle of Talikota, 1565.) A common trap is to confuse the founder (Harihara) with the greatest ruler (Krishnadevaraya), or to think the Bahmani Kingdom survived after 1527 — in fact it split into five sultanates. Another trap is to attribute the founding of Vijayanagar to Krishnadevaraya.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Learn the founders and dates. Vijayanagar – Harihara and Bukka (1336); Bahmani – Hasan Gangu (1347).
- Focus on Krishnadevaraya. Amuktamalyada, the Ashtadiggajas and the titles.
- Remember the capitals. Vijayanagar – Hampi; Bahmani – Gulbarga and Bidar.
- Learn the end. The Battle of Talikota (1565) and the five Deccan Sultanates.
- Learn the architecture. Vittala temple, Virupaksha temple, Gol Gumbaz and Charminar.
Common Exam Traps
- Harihara and Bukka founded Vijayanagar; Krishnadevaraya was its greatest ruler.
- The Bahmani capital was first Gulbarga, later Bidar.
- Mahmud Gawan was an able minister, not a ruler.
- The Battle of Talikota was in 1565, not 1526.
- The Bahmani Kingdom split into five sultanates, not two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded the Vijayanagar Empire and who was its greatest ruler?
The Vijayanagar Empire was founded in 1336 AD by the brothers Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty, guided by the sage Vidyaranya. Its greatest ruler was Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) of the Tuluva dynasty.
Who founded the Bahmani Kingdom and what were its capitals?
The Bahmani Kingdom was founded in 1347 AD by Hasan Gangu (Alauddin Bahman Shah). Its first capital was Gulbarga, which was later shifted to Bidar.
What was the Battle of Talikota and when did it take place?
The Battle of Talikota (also called Rakshasa-Tangadi) took place in 1565 AD. The combined forces of the Deccan Sultanates defeated the Vijayanagar army and killed the regent Ramaraya. The capital Vijayanagar was sacked and abandoned, leading to the decline of the empire.
Who was Krishnadevaraya and what were his achievements?
Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) of the Tuluva dynasty was the greatest Vijayanagar ruler. He conquered Raichur and Udayagiri, wrote the Telugu work Amuktamalyada, patronised the Ashtadiggajas (eight poets) and took titles such as Andhra Bhoja and Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana.
What were the five Deccan Sultanates that arose from the Bahmani Kingdom?
After the decline of the Bahmani Kingdom, it broke up into five sultanates: Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Berar, Bidar and Golconda. These sultanates later combined against Vijayanagar at the Battle of Talikota in 1565.
Why did Vijayanagar and the Bahmani Kingdom fight each other?
The main causes were the desire to control the fertile Raichur Doab between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, and the rich Krishna-Godavari delta. The two powers fought continuously for about two hundred years, usually without a decisive result.