Conflicts of Vijayanagara with the Bahmani Kingdom
Medieval History › Vijayanagara Empire · Topic 4.7
Vijayanagara and the Bahmani kingdom fought for over two centuries over the Tungabhadra doab, the Krishna-Godavari delta and the Konkan with Goa. The wars were cruel, with massacres and enslavement, and a treaty of 1367 agreed to spare unarmed people. Neither side won for good until the Deccan sultans joined to crush Vijayanagara at Talikota in 1565.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Vijayanagara Empire
At a Glance
- Disputed regions Tungabhadra doab, Krishna-Godavari delta, Konkan
- Early flashpoint Mudkal, 1367
- Key fighters Bukka I, Harihara II, Deva Raya I and II
- Allies Warangal and Orissa
- End Deccan sultans’ victory at Talikota, 1565
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Vijayanagara Empire
Where Does It Fit?
This is the seventh topic of the category on the Vijayanagara Empire. The previous topic described its economy, which explains why the doab and ports mattered, and this topic follows the wars. The next topic covers the Battle of Talikota and the decline. Previous topic: Economic Condition of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Why Did They Fight?
In short: Vijayanagara and the Bahmanis fought over three rich regions, and the wars lasted as long as the two kingdoms did.
| Region | Why it mattered |
|---|---|
| Tungabhadra doab | About 30,000 square miles between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra; wealthy; earlier disputed by the Chalukyas and Cholas, and then by the Yadavas and Hoysalas |
| Krishna-Godavari delta | Fertile land and numerous ports that controlled foreign trade of the region |
| Konkan and the Marathwada country | A narrow fertile strip including Goa, the outlet for local products and the entry for imported horses |
Good horses were not bred in India, so the import of horses from Goa mattered greatly to the southern states.
How Did the Wars Unfold?
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1367 | Bukka I took Mudkal and killed its garrison; the Bahmani sultan swore vengeance, crossed the Tungabhadra and won with better artillery and cavalry; the war ended in a treaty restoring the old position and agreeing to spare unarmed people |
| 1377 to 1404 | Harihara II expanded east; took Belgaum and Goa from the Bahmanis and sent a force to north Sri Lanka |
| Early 1400s | Deva Raya I was beaten by Firuz Shah Bahmani, paid ten lakh huns with pearls and elephants, and married a daughter to the sultan, giving Bankapur as dowry |
| 1419 | Deva Raya I, allied with Warangal, inflicted a shattering defeat on Firuz Shah, who abdicated |
| 1443 | Deva Raya II crossed the Tungabhadra to recover Mudkal and Bankapur; three hard battles ended in an agreement to keep the existing frontier |
| 1520 | Krishna Deva Raya defeated the Bijapur ruler after taking Raichur and Mudkal |
The Bahmani kingdom also allied with the ruler of Warangal for more than fifty years, which stopped Vijayanagara from overrunning the doab. This alliance broke when Warangal sided with Vijayanagara, and Ahmad Shah I of the Bahmanis then killed the ruler of Warangal and annexed most of his land.
How Cruel Were the Wars?
Both sides sacked and burnt towns and villages, imprisoned and sold men, women and children into slavery, and committed other barbarities. The sultan in 1367 vowed to slaughter a hundred thousand Hindus in revenge for the killing at Mudkal. The treaty that followed said that in future wars unarmed and helpless inhabitants should not be slaughtered. It was not fully kept, but it helped make warfare in south India somewhat more humane. The wars devastated the disputed areas and caused loss of life and property.
Deva Raya I’s marriage alliance, which included a magnificent welcome for Firuz Shah, did not bring peace. Earlier, the ruler of Kherla had also given his daughter to Firuz to make peace, and these marriages could not by themselves settle the question of the Krishna-Godavari basin.
What Did the Conflicts Show?
The medieval writers describe the battles in great detail, but they were not of much historical importance, since the position of the two sides stayed more or less the same, with fortune swinging from one to the other. As an analytical point, the conflicts were not simple Hindu-Muslim wars. Alliances crossed religious lines, with Warangal helping the Bahmanis against Vijayanagara and later switching, and Vijayanagara employing Muslim cavalry. Political and strategic goals and control of trade and ports mattered more. The long rivalry also weakened both and let Orissa and the Portuguese gain, as described in Bahmani Kingdom of the Deccan.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Three regions The doab, the delta and the Konkan are standard points
- Not religious A common Mains argument about medieval south India
- Link Leads to Talikota
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Battle of Talikota of 1565 and the decline of Vijayanagara. Next topic: Battle of Talikota (1565) and the Decline of Vijayanagara.
Key People and Terms
- Mudkal Fortress in the Tungabhadra doab
- Tungabhadra doab Region between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra
- Konkan Coastal strip with Goa
- Warangal Telugu kingdom, a shifting ally
- Hun Gold coin
- Firuz Shah Bahmani Sultan who fought Deva Raya I
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Three regions: doab, delta, Konkan.
- 1367: Mudkal and the first use of artillery.
- Treaty to spare unarmed people.
- 1419: Deva Raya I beat Firuz Shah.
- 1443: Deva Raya II crossed the Tungabhadra.
Do Not Confuse With
- Deva Raya I and Deva Raya II Dam builder who married his daughter to Firuz versus the army reformer
- Bukka I and Harihara II Mudkal in 1367 versus Goa and Belgaum
- Warangal and Orissa Both neighbours that joined the wars
Memory Hook
Doab, delta and Goa; Mudkal’s slaughter, guns, a treaty for the unarmed, then forty more years of war.
Mains Angle
Questions on this rivalry ask about its causes and character. These points add depth.
- Cause Wealth and trade of three regions
- Nature Crossed religious lines
- Result Mutual exhaustion
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Why did Vijayanagara and the Bahmani kingdom fight for two centuries? Was it a religious war?”
How to Answer
- Regions Doab, delta and Konkan.
- Wars 1367 to 1520.
- Alliances Warangal and Muslim cavalry.
- Verdict Political and economic.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the main areas of conflict between Vijayanagara and the Bahmanis?
The main areas were the Tungabhadra doab, the Krishna-Godavari delta and the Konkan with the port of Goa. These regions were rich, controlled trade and, in the case of Goa, the import of horses, so both sides fought for them for centuries.
What happened at Mudkal in 1367?
Bukka I of Vijayanagara took the fortress of Mudkal and slaughtered the garrison except one man. The Bahmani sultan vowed vengeance and crossed the Tungabhadra, won with superior artillery and cavalry, and a treaty later agreed that unarmed people should not be killed.
Did Vijayanagara and the Bahmanis intermarry?
Yes. Deva Raya I gave his daughter to Firuz Shah Bahmani with Bankapur as dowry, and the ruler of Kherla had also married a daughter to Firuz. These political marriages did not bring lasting peace.
Why was Warangal important?
Warangal was a Telugu kingdom whose changing alliance affected the balance. Its alliance with the Bahmanis for over fifty years held back Vijayanagara, but when it went over to Deva Raya I, Vijayanagara won, and Ahmad Shah later annexed it.
Were the wars religious?
No. Alliances crossed religious lines, with Warangal siding with each at different times and Vijayanagara employing Muslim cavalry. The main causes were political and strategic aims and control of trade and ports, as the wars between the two ran on regardless of faith.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Bukka I assaulted the fortress of Mudkal in 1367.
The Bahmani sultan then crossed the Tungabhadra.
2 The Bahmani-Vijayanagara conflict ended with a clear victory for one side for good.
Fortune swung from side to side until Talikota.
3 Deva Raya I married his daughter to Firuz Shah Bahmani.
Bankapur was given as dowry.
4 Goa was an outlet for the import of horses.
That is why the Konkan was contested.
Related Topics
Browse the full Medieval History index