Sample Material of Our IAS Mains History Study Kit
Subject: History (Optional)
Topic: Vijayanagar & Bahamani Empire
Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign witnessed the rise of two independent states in the south, namely the Vijayanagar (A.D. 1336) and Bahamani (A.D. 1347) kingdoms.
Vijaynagar Empire (1336 - 1565)
Vijaynagar Kingdom and the city was founded by Harihar-l and Bukka-1 (sons of Sangama) who were feudatories of Kakatiyas and later became ministers in the court of Kampili. Harihar and Bukka were brought to the centre by Mohammed bin Tughlaq, converted to Islam and were sent to south again to control rebellion but on the instance of Vidyaranya, they established Vijaynagar Kingdom in 1336 AD. Vijaynagar’s arch rival were Bahmani Sultans with whom they fought over Tungabhadra doab(between Krishna & Tungabhadra), Krishna-Godavari delta (Raichur) and Marathwada.
Kapaya Nayaka availed of the situation, expelled the Muslim governor of Telengana, captured Warangal and assumed the titles of Andhradesadhisvara and Andhrasuratrana. The uprising now spread to the kingdom of Kampili, where the populace, possibly under the leadership of Somadevaraja, revolted against the Sultanate governor. Muhammad bin Tughlaq despatched the brothers Harihara and Bukka to the south. The two had been in his custody since he had overrun the kingdom of Kampili, and had been converted to Islam. The Sultan took oaths of loyalty from them before sending them to, tackle the situation in Kampili. The brothers were enthusiastically greeted by the local people and soon established peace in the region.
According to the Kapaluru and Bagepalli grants, in 1336 Harihara and Bukka laid the foundations of the city of Vijayanagar, on the inspiration of the great sage and scholar Vidyaranya. Harihara Bukka and their three other brothers were the sons of Sangama, and the dynasty they founded is known as the Sangama dynasty. Three other dynasties, the Saluva, Tuluva, and Aravidu, subsequently ruled over Vijayanagar. The first dynasty, known as the Sangama dynasty, exercised control till 1485. They were supplanted by the Saluvas, military commanders, who remained in power till 1503 when they were replaced by the Tuluvas. Krishnadeva Raya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.
Vijayanagar, by 1346, had succeeded in incorporating the entire Hoysala kingdom. Ibn Battuta has provided a chilling account of the massacre of Hindus by the fourth Sultan of Madura. In 1356, Harihara was succeeded by his brother, Bukka I. While he engaged the Bahamani Sultans in the north, his son, Kumara Kampana, successfully challenged the state of Madura, even killing one of its Sultans. He also reinstated the divine images in the Rajasimheswara temple at Kanchi and the Ranganathaswami temple at Srirangam. Finally, by 1377, the Sultanate of Madura was vanquished. The Vijayanagar Empire now extended over the whole of south India upto Rameshwaram and included Tamil lands as well as Kerala.
The northern expansion of Vijayanagar, however, was challenged by the Bahamani kingdom founded in 1347 by Alauddin Hasan Shah Bahman. an Afghan rebel officer of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. There were three areas of rivalry between the two kingdoms. The areas of contention were the Tungabhadra doab, the Krishna-Godavari basin and the Konkan area in the Maratha country. Bukka I captured the fort of Mudgal and excluding one man, put the entire garrison to sword. The furious Bahamani Sultan recaptured Mudgal, marched in pursuit of Bukka I, and ordered the massacre of the inhabitants around the city of Vijayanagar. It is said that this encounter resulted in the loss of half a million lives.
In 1377, Bukka I died and was succeeded by his son, Harihara II. Bukka I has been described as a vigorous warrior and statesman, who freed practically the whole of the south from foreign domination. He renovated temples and revived agraharas. He patronised number of scholars, the most eminent among them being Sayanacharya, whose voluminous commentaries on the Vedas are highly rated even today. Sayana’s brother, Madhava, was the Prime Minister of Vijayanagar.