The fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the most significant events in South Indian history, has been a subject of extensive analysis. While the combined armies of the Deccan Sultanates were responsible for the physical destruction of the city of Vijayanagara in the Battle of Talikota in 1565, the seeds of this catastrophic event were sown by the ambitious and adventurous policies of Aliya Rama Raya, the regent of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Vijayanagara Empire’s Origin
Harihara I, also called Hakka and Vira Harihara I, was the founder of the Vijayanagara Empire, which he ruled from 1336 to 1356 CE. He and his successors formed the Sangama dynasty, the first of four dynasties to rule the empire. Hakka was the eldest son of Bhavana Sangama, the chieftain of a cowherd pastoralist community, Yadava people of Golla descent who claimed Gadaria or (Kuruba Gowda) descent.
It is to be noted that the empire prospered till it remained in the hand of down to earth rulers from this pastoral community and rapidly declined after the Aravidus who boasted of their Kshatriyas lineage to the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja Narendra usurped the sovereignty of Vijayanagar.
A Complex Relationship with the Sultanates
Historical records, including those found in NCERT’s Class 12 history curriculum, highlight that the relations between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan Sultanates were complex and multifaceted, marked by periods of both hostility and cooperation.
Contrary to what might be expected, religious differences did not always dictate the interactions between these powers. Krishnadeva Raya, one of Vijayanagara’s greatest rulers, is a prime example of this intricate relationship.
He mediated to resolved disputes and supported certain claimants to power within the Sultanates, earning the title “establisher of the Yavana kingdom” due to his influence and interventions.
This intricate web of alliances and rivalries was not unique to the Vijayanagara rulers. The Sultan of Bijapur, for instance, played a crucial role in settling succession disputes in Vijayanagara after the death of Krishnadeva Raya.
There are also a cases of marital alliances between Vijayanagar and Bahmani sultanate. According to noted historian Satish Chandra “when Sultan Firoz Shah Bahmani arrived as a bridegroom near the gates of Vijayanagara, the king Deva Rai personally welcomed him with a show of great splendor.”
“The royal palace was situated at a distance of ten kilometers from the city gates and this whole stretch was rolled with costly carpets knitted with gold, velvet, satin, and other expensive materials.”
“The two monarchs then rode on horseback together from the center of the city square accompanied by their relatives. Prominent persons joined the cavalcade, marching on foot before the two kings.”
These interactions underscore a mutual interest in maintaining regional stability, often transcending religious lines.
The Rise of Aliya Rama Raya
Aliya Rama Raya, who became the de facto ruler of Vijayanagara in the mid-16th century, pursued a more audacious and ultimately perilous policy.
Aliya Rama Rama belonged to the Aravidu family who claimed to be Kshatriyas and were based in Andhra region. They claimed to belong to the Atreya gotra and traced their lineage to the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja Narendra.
Unlike his predecessors, Rama Raya attempted to exploit the rivalries among the Deccan Sultanates to his advantage. His strategy involved playing one Sultan against another, a tactic that initially seemed to enhance Vijayanagara’s power and influence in the region.
However, this policy was fraught with risks. By constantly shifting alliances and betraying trusts, Rama Raya sowed seeds of distrust and enmity among the Sultanates.
His political maneuvers created an unstable and volatile situation, where the Sultanates increasingly viewed Vijayanagara as a common threat rather than a potential ally or neutral power.
The Decisive Battle of Talikota
The turning point came with the formation of an unprecedented alliance among the Deccan Sultanates—Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar.
United by their shared animosity towards Rama Raya’s machinations, these Sultanates put aside their differences to confront a common enemy. The resulting Battle of Talikota in January 1565 was catastrophic for Vijayanagara.
The allied forces of the Sultanates decisively defeated the Vijayanagara army, capturing and killing Aliya Rama Raya. The victorious armies then proceeded to sack and destroy the city of Vijayanagara, bringing an abrupt end to its grandeur and marking the decline of one of South India’s most powerful empires.
Conclusion
The destruction of Vijayanagara was not merely the outcome of a single battle but the culmination of a series of strategic missteps by Aliya Rama Raya. His adventurous policy of manipulating Sultanate rivalries, while initially successful, ultimately led to a united front against him. This alliance, driven by shared grievances and the perceived threat posed by Rama Raya’s tactics, proved to be the decisive factor in the fall of Vijayanagara.
Understanding the downfall of the Vijayanagara Empire requires a nuanced view of the political dynamics of the time. The empire’s relations with the Deccan Sultanates were characterized by a blend of cooperation and conflict, and it was Rama Raya’s failure to navigate this delicate balance that precipitated the empire’s destruction.
