1. Vijayanagara Empire - Political History & Rulers

Meaning of Vijayanagara

City of Victory

Capital of Vijayanagara Empire

Hampi

River on whose banks Hampi is situated

Tungabhadra River

Origin of the name Hampi

Derived from the local mother goddess Pampadevi

Person who brought the ruins of Hampi to light in 1800

Colin Mackenzie (first Surveyor General of India)

Year Hampi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site

1986

Person who took the first detailed photographs of Hampi's archaeological remains

Alexander Greenlaw

Person who began the conservation of Hampi's archaeological remains

John Marshall

Contemporary name used for the Vijayanagara empire

Karnataka Samrajyamu

Title used by early Vijayanagara rulers

Hindu Suratrana

Alternative term used for Vijayanagara kings

Raya

Alternative term used for Vijayanagara kings meaning Lord of men

Narapati

Alternative term used for Odisha rulers meaning Lord of elephants

Gajapati

Alternative term used for Bahmani rulers meaning Lord of horses

Ashvapati

Term used for local communities of merchants

Kudirai Chettis

Ruler of Delhi Sultanate when Vijayanagara was established

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq

Period of the Sangama Dynasty

1336 AD - 1485 AD

Founders of the Sangama Dynasty

Harihara and Bukka

Period of the Saluva Dynasty

1485 AD - 1505 AD

Founder of the Saluva Dynasty

Saluva Narasimha

Period of the Tuluva Dynasty

1505 AD - 1570 AD

Founder of the Tuluva Dynasty

Veer Narashimha / Narasa Nayaka

Period of the Aravidu Dynasty

1570 AD - 1650 AD

Founder of the Aravidu Dynasty

Tirumala

Original roles of Harihara and Bukka

Feudatories of Kakatiyas and later ministers in the court of Kampili

Title taken by Harihara I

Karnataka Vidhya Vilas

Ruler credited with renaming Vidyanagar to Vijayanagara

Bukka

Successors to Harihara and Bukka

Deva Raya I and Deva Raya II

Deva Raya I reign period

1406 AD - 1422 AD

Bahmani ruler who initially defeated Deva Raya I

Firuz Shah Bahmani

Terms of peace treaty between Deva Raya I and Firuz Shah Bahmani

Deva Raya I gave his daughter in marriage and lost the territory of Bankapur as dowry

Outcome of subsequent battle between Deva Raya I and Firuz Shah Bahmani

Deva Raya I successfully defeated Firuz Shah Bahmani

Canal developed during Deva Raya I's reign

The Hiriya Canal (drew water from Tungabhadra river to supply the Sacred Centre and Urban Core)

Deva Raya II reign period

1425 AD - 1446 AD

Deva Raya II's military action in 1443

Crossed the Tungabhadra river to try and recover Mudgal and Bankapur

Water infrastructure built by Deva Raya II

Kamalapuram Tank

Portuguese traveller who noted kings of Ceylon, Pulicat, Pegu, and Tenasserim paid tribute to Deva Raya II

Fernao Nuniz

Saluva Narasimha reign period

1485 AD - 1491 AD

Veera Narasimha (Narasa Nayaka) reign period

1505 AD - 1509 AD

Chief Minister of Veera Narasimha who placed Krishna Deva Raya on the throne

Saluva Timma

Krishna Deva Raya reign period

1509 AD - 1529 AD

General historical consensus on Krishna Deva Raya

Considered the greatest king of the Vijayanagara Empire

Title meaning Restorer of the Yavana/Bidar Kingdom taken by Krishna Deva Raya

Yavanaraja Sthapnacharya

Titles taken by Krishna Deva Raya denoting regional prominence

Abhinava Bhoja, Andhra Pitamaha / Andhra Pratimah (Grandfather of Andhra)

Architectural structures built by Krishna Deva Raya

Vijaya Mahal (House of Victory), Hazara Rama Temple, and Vitthal Swami Temple (dedicated to Lord Vishnu)

Suburban township founded by Krishna Deva Raya

Nagalapuram (named after his mother)

Languages in which Krishna Deva Raya was a gifted scholar

Telugu and Sanskrit

Krishna Deva Raya's Telugu work on statecraft

Amuktamalyada

Krishna Deva Raya's Sanskrit drama

Jambavati Kalyanam

Term for the 8 great poets adorning Krishna Deva Raya's court

Ashtadiggajas

Names of the Ashtadiggajas

Tenali Ramakrishna, Allasani Peddana, Madayyagari Mallana, Nandi Thimmana, Pingali Surana, Ramarajabhushanudu, Dhurjati, Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu

Permission granted to Portuguese Governor Albuquerque in 1510

To build a fort at Bhatkal (port)

Krishna Deva Raya's early military victory

Defeated the rulers of Odisha (Gajapatis)

Ruler defeated by Krishna Deva Raya in 1520 AD to restore the Raichur Doab

Ismail Adil Shah (Bijapur)

Location of the Raichur Doab

Region between Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers

Successor to Krishna Deva Raya

His brother, Achyuta Deva Raya

Successor upon Achyuta Deva Raya's death in 1542

His nephew, Sadashiva Raya

Caretaker/regent who held real power during Sadashiva Raya's reign

Aliya Rama Raya (Krishna Deva Raya's son-in-law)

Reason Deccan Sultanates attacked Vijayanagara

Interference by Aliya Rama Raya in their internal affairs

Year of the Battle of Talikota

1565

Alternative names for the Battle of Talikota

Battle of Rakshasi Tangadi or Battle of Bannihatti

Combined armies that attacked Vijayanagara in the Battle of Talikota

Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golconda

Capitals shifted to after the Battle of Talikota

Penukonda and later Chandragiri

Last ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire

Sri Ranga III (Aravidu Dynasty)