Political History of the Vijayanagara Empire (Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu Dynasties)
Medieval History › Vijayanagara Empire · Topic 4.2
Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama family, who built a state against the Delhi Sultanate and the sultan of Madurai. Four dynasties ruled in turn: the Sangamas, the Saluvas, the Tuluvas, whose Krishna Deva Raya was the greatest ruler, and the Aravidus, who ruled in a reduced state after Talikota in 1565.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Vijayanagara Empire
At a Glance
- Founded 1336, by Harihara and Bukka
- Dynasties Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu
- Greatest ruler of Sangamas Deva Raya II (1425 to 1446)
- Greatest ruler overall Krishna Deva Raya (1509 to 1530)
- Defeat Talikota, 1565
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Vijayanagara Empire
Where Does It Fit?
This is the second topic of the category on the Vijayanagara Empire. The previous topic gave the sources, and this topic tells the political story they record. The next topic covers Krishna Deva Raya in detail. Previous topic: Sources for Vijayanagara History (Foreign Travellers’ Accounts – Nicolo Conti, Domingo Paes, Abdur Razzaq).
How Was Vijayanagara Founded?
In short: Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 by the brothers Harihara and Bukka, who built a Hindu state in the south as the Delhi Sultanate lost control of the region.
Harihara and Bukka belonged to a family of five brothers. By legend they had been feudatories of the Kakatiyas and later ministers in the kingdom of Kampili. When Muhammad Tughlaq overran Kampili for sheltering a rebel, they were imprisoned, converted to Islam and sent to handle the rebellions. They then left their new master and faith and, at the urging of their guru Vidyaranya, were readmitted to Hinduism and set up their capital at Vijayanagara. Some modern scholars reject the conversion tradition and see them as Karnataka nayaks who rebelled against Turkish rule. The coronation of Harihara is placed in 1336.
The brothers fought the Hoysala ruler of Mysore and the sultan of Madurai. By 1346 the whole Hoysala kingdom had passed to Vijayanagara. Kinsmen governed the conquered areas, so the early kingdom was a kind of cooperative commonwealth. Bukka succeeded in 1356 and ruled to 1377; by then the sultanate of Madurai had been wiped out, and the empire included the whole of south India up to Rameshwaram.
Which Rulers Mattered in the Sangama Line?
| Ruler | Period | Main fact |
|---|---|---|
| Harihara I | From 1336 | Founder; took the Hoysala lands by 1346 |
| Bukka I | 1356 to 1377 | Wiped out the Madurai sultanate; fought the Bahmanis; stormed Mudkal in 1367 |
| Harihara II | 1377 to 1404 | Expanded to the eastern coast; took Belgaum and Goa from the Bahmanis; sent an expedition to north Sri Lanka |
| Deva Raya I | 1404 to 1422 | Lost to Firuz Shah Bahmani but later defeated him; annexed Reddi lands to the Krishna mouth; built dams on the Tungabhadra and Haridra |
| Deva Raya II | 1425 to 1446 | Greatest of the line; reorganised the army with Muslim cavalry; crossed the Tungabhadra in 1443 |
After Deva Raya II’s death in 1446 there was confusion, since the rule of primogeniture was not established. Civil wars followed, many feudatories became independent, ministers grew powerful and taxes rose. The Raya’s authority shrank to Karnataka and parts of western Andhra, and the throne was usurped by the minister Saluva, which ended the first dynasty.
How Did the Saluva and Tuluva Dynasties Follow?
Saluva restored law and order and founded a new dynasty, but it too ended soon. A new dynasty, called the Tuluva, was founded by Krishna Deva. Krishna Deva Raya (1509 to 1530) is regarded as the greatest ruler of this house, and by some historians as the greatest of all the Vijayanagara kings. He re-established order, forced Orissa to give back lands up to the Krishna, defeated Bijapur in 1520, and faced the growing Portuguese power. After his death in 1530 a struggle among his relations followed, since his sons were minors. Sadashiva Raya came to the throne in 1543 and ruled until 1567, but real power rested in a triumvirate led by Rama Raja. Krishna Deva Raya has his own topic below.
How Did the Empire End?
Rama Raja played off the Muslim powers against each other, stopped the supply of horses to Bijapur by a treaty with the Portuguese and defeated Bijapur, Golconda and Ahmadnagar. They joined and crushed Vijayanagara at Bannihatti near Talikota in 1565, where Rama Raja was captured and executed. The capital was looted and left in ruins. The kingdom lingered for almost a hundred years under the Aravidu dynasty, which moved its capital to Penukonda, but it kept losing territory and the raya no longer counted in south Indian politics. Nayaks such as those of Tanjore and Madurai became independent. The empire is usually said to have ended about 1646.
What Does the Political History Teach?
As an analytical point, Vijayanagara combined rapid expansion with a weak rule of succession. The empire was strongest under able kings like Deva Raya II and Krishna Deva Raya, who held nayaks and ministers in check, and weakest when power passed to ministers or regents. Its constant war with the Bahmani sultanates and later their successors, set out in Conflicts of Vijayanagara with the Bahmani Kingdom, drained its strength and ended in 1565.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Dynasty order Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu is a standard question
- Rulers Names and dates of the main kings are frequent
- Link Prepares the topics on Krishna Deva Raya and Talikota
What Came Next?
The next topic covers Krishna Deva Raya, the greatest Vijayanagara ruler, and his Tuluva dynasty. Next topic: Krishnadevaraya and the Tuluva Dynasty.
Key People and Terms
- Harihara and Bukka Founders
- Vidyaranya Guru of the founders
- Deva Raya II Greatest Sangama king
- Saluva Minister who founded the second dynasty
- Rama Raja Leader of the triumvirate
- Penukonda Capital of the Aravidu line
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka.
- Deva Raya II: 1425 to 1446.
- Krishna Deva Raya: 1509 to 1530.
- Sadashiva Raya: 1543 to 1567, under Rama Raja.
- Talikota: 1565.
Do Not Confuse With
- Sangama and Saluva First dynasty versus the usurping minister’s dynasty
- Bannihatti and Talikota Same battle of 1565
- Tuluva and Aravidu Dynasty of Krishna Deva versus the post-Talikota line
Memory Hook
Harihara and Bukka found, Deva Raya II builds, Saluva usurps, Krishna Deva peaks, Rama Raja falls.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for a summary of the empire’s rise and fall. These points add depth.
- Rise Expansion against Madurai and the Bahmanis
- Peak Krishna Deva Raya
- Fall Weak succession and the 1565 coalition
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Trace the rise and fall of the Vijayanagara Empire under its four dynasties.”
How to Answer
- Foundation Harihara, Bukka and Vidyaranya.
- Sangama Expansion under Deva Raya II.
- Tuluva Krishna Deva Raya.
- Fall Rama Raja and Talikota.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire?
Harihara and Bukka founded Vijayanagara in 1336, with the guidance of their guru Vidyaranya. They belonged to a family of five brothers and set up their capital at Vijayanagara after leaving the service of the Delhi Sultanate in the south.
Which dynasties ruled Vijayanagara?
Four dynasties ruled Vijayanagara in order: the Sangamas, the Saluvas, the Tuluvas and the Aravidus. Krishna Deva Raya belonged to the Tuluva line, and the Aravidus ruled from Penukonda after the defeat at Talikota, in a much reduced state that lingered for about a hundred years.
Who was the greatest Sangama ruler?
Deva Raya II (1425 to 1446) is considered the greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty. He reorganised the army with Muslim cavalrymen and crossed the Tungabhadra in 1443 to recover lost lands such as Mudkal and Bankapur, though in the end the two sides accepted the existing frontier.
Why did the first dynasty end?
After Deva Raya II died in 1446 there was no settled rule of primogeniture, so civil wars followed, feudatories became independent and ministers grew powerful. The minister Saluva then usurped the throne and began a new dynasty.
What happened to Vijayanagara after Talikota?
After the defeat at Talikota in 1565 the capital was looted and ruined. The empire lingered for almost a hundred years under the Aravidu dynasty, which moved the capital to Penukonda, while nayaks such as those of Tanjore and Madurai became independent.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka.
Vidyaranya was their guru.
2 Krishna Deva Raya belonged to the Saluva dynasty.
He belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.
3 Deva Raya II reorganised his army by enlisting Muslim cavalry.
He gave 2,000 of them jagirs.
4 The Battle of Talikota was fought in 1565.
It is also called Bannihatti.
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