Towards the 16th century, a once glorious, prosperous and powerful VIJAYANAGARA empire had diminished into nothingness due to the greed and self-centeredness of just one man; Salakaraju Chinna Timmalayyadeva.
Krishna devaraya was a prolific king of the Vijayanagara EmpireRead previous blog~
Vijayanagara empire: dark chapter in history (PART 2)
VIJAYANAGARA empire of South India- PART 1
In order to escape Salakaraju's brutality, Vijayanagara's subjects and nobles who held the welfare of the state at heart leaned towards Aliya Rama Raya to get them out of this conundrum. It was really a case of being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The only rightful surviving heir to the throne; Sadasiva Raya (1542-1570) was a virtual prisoner in the hands of RamaRaya. Sadasiva was the son to (one of) the TULUVA dynasty brother; ie. Vira Narasimha/ Krishnadevaraya/ Achyutaya Deva Raya. RamaRaya ruled on behalf of Sadasiva Raya. Hence this article is mainly about RamaRaya and how he drew the curtains down on a once mighty VIJAYANAGARA empire.
| RamaRaya had carried out successful military campaigns for Krishna Deva Raya and was instrumental in taking control of the Deccan region (ie. Adoni and Kurnool) from the clutches of Adil Shahis of Bijapur. In another instance, the Nizam of Ahmednagar and Qutbshah of Golconda were pitched against the Bijapur Adilshahis~ taking advantage of the situation, RamaRaya secured the Raichur Doab region for Emperor Krishnadevaraya. |
So where did ALIYA RAMA RAYA go wrong?
Ignorant about Islamic mindset
Indian civilization has been overall altered by muslim tyrants who ruled mainly for the purpose of spreading Islam by trickery or force. Previous rulers had fought tooth and nail to hold back the muslim rulers that dominated the Deccan region. They upheld dharma and patronised intrinsic Indian religions such as Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. RamaRaya may have missed this point by a mile. Sources indicate that he even kept a Quran in his court to display his secular views.
Meddling in the internal affairs of the Deccan kingdoms
RamaRaya had been a commander with the Deccan Sultanate before marrying Krishna Deva Raya's daughter. Hence he commanded great influence with the muslim rulers of the Deccan which he may have overplayed~ when he got invited to settle their disputes. RamaRaya's confidence prompted him to dabble in divisive politics with the Deccan sultans. He also constantly switched sides thereby raising a question to his sense of integrity.
Replacing high-ranking faithful servants of the empire with his own
RamaRaya's personal ambitions superseded the overall welfare of the state causing him to replace loyal officials with his own choice of people.
Appointing two muslim commanders; known as the Gilani brothers into his army
The Gilani brothers earlier served the Adil Shahis of Bijapur. We shall see the outcome of this action as we move on...
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| A depiction of the glory of Vijayanagara |
While some argue that RamaRaya did his best in keeping the Deccan sultans engaged in a war with each other; an effort to deflect their attention from VIJAYANAGARA, history proved otherwise...
RamaRaya had no way to foresee that inter-marriages within the Sultanates would help ease the tension, and that these kings fed up with his meddling would actually join forces against him. It was now a matter of time for the moment of truth...
The Battle of Talikota~ by the banks of the river Krishna (23 Jan 1565)
The combined forces of the Deccan Sultanate comprising~
Ahmadnagar Sultanate
Bijapur Sultanate
Golconda Sultanate
Bidar Sultanate
Commanded by: Hussain Nizam Shah I, Ali Adil Shah I, Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali and Ali Barid Shah I.
V/Z
VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE
Commanded by: Aliya Rama Raya, his brother Tirumala Deva Raya, Venkatadri and Achutappa Nayak.
The Vijayanagara army was far greater in number it is said, but with inferior weaponry. Whereas the Deccan Sultanate camp was better-equipped~ Persian horses, expert Turkish gunmen, longer & fast-moving spears. As an example the Vijayanagara camp used locally-made bamboo bows compared to cross-bows of their opponents. Their opponents also had cannon power; Malik-ē-maidan translated as 'Lord of the battle plains' was a huge 14' long cannon that they possessed.
Aliya Rama Raya was a capable commander and experienced in dealing with the Deccan Sultanate. His brothers were by his side during previous expeditions.
This time it was different however; they were meeting a combined army!
Even so; given its vast numbers historians say the Vijayanagara camp had the upper hand.
Finally, facing the reality
As the Vijayanagara camp gained ground, the two Gilani brothers switched sides to join forces with the Deccan Sultanate camp. They captured RamaRaya and handed him over to Hussain Nizam Shah I- who beheaded RamaRaya brutally! Hussain then had his severed head stuffed with straw to put on display.
This incident shook the morale of the Vijayanagara camp. Venkatadri, his commander, was blinded and later killed. RamaRaya's brother, Tirumala Deva Raya along with the entire army deserted the camp and thus survived.
HAMPI- a desolate ruined city!
HAMPI, the capital city of the Vijayanagara empire was the worst to suffer at the hands of the invaders. Salakaraju had already crushed to dust the precious stones and laid to waste the elephants and horses in the stable. Tirumala Deva Raya along with Sadashiv Raya carried the major part of the remaining royal wealth and escaped to Penugonda, Andhra Pradesh.
The Deccan Sultanate army plundered whatever that was left. HAMPI still stands in ruins.
VIJAYANAGARA empire fragments
The vast empire got fragmented into several independent principalities. These were:
Kingdom of Mysore
Nayakars of Keladi
Thanjavur Nayak kingdom
Madurai Nayak kingdom
Nayakars of Chitradurga
Nayaks of Gingee
The VIJAYANAGARA banner under Aravidu dynasty struggle to forge through
Tirumala Deva Raya (r. 1565-1572) under the Aravidu dynasty banner attempted at reconstructing the Vijayanagara empire, from his new capital city~ PENUGONDA, Andhra Pradesh. He received stiff resistance from the Telegu Nayakars who lost respect for this clan after the break-up of Vijayanagara. In 1572 he renounced his throne and divided his kingdom between his three sons like it were a piece of property.
Shriranga Deva Raya (r. 1572-1586) Tirumala's eldest son was the next regent. During his lifetime, he was plagued by constant attacks from Bijapur and Golconda Sultanates, consequently losing much of the Raichur Doab region~ Adoni, Dharwad, Bankapur and Turkal were lost to Bijapur Adilshahis.
Venkatapati Raya (r. 1586-1614) Venkatapati ruled for 30 years; during which he brought some of the territories lost to Bijapur and Golconda Sultanates under the Vijayanagara banner. With the help of Kasturiranga Nayaka he fought and won a series of battles against the Deccan muslim rulers. The Battle of Pennar was similar in nature and scale to the Battle of Talikota, with~ the Deccan muslim sultanate camp on one side and Hindu Vijayanagara camp on the other. It is estimated that out of 1,20,000 troops of the Deccan camp, the Vijayanagara army exterminated nearly 50,000 of the Bijapur and Golconda troops. Such a great victory it was, for Venkatapati Raya.
Venkatapati Raya was also able to restrain some rebellious Nayaks of TamilNadu. In 1592 he made Chandragiri (nearby Tirupati, south Andhra) his new capital. In 1604 he once moved his base to Vellore fort.
Another sad episode...
Venkatapati, having no heir, appointed his nephew Sriranga II (r. 1614) to the throne. Sriranga II found himself in a dangerous situation due to Venkatapati's favorite queen Gobburi Obayamma.
Apparently Queen Obayamma had been raising a child (boy) that was born to the grand-niece of Achyutaya Deva Raya and a Brahmin boy as if it were her own hoping to make him king someday. This resulted in a coup~ Sriranga II and his family were imprisoned at Vellore fort by Obayamma's brother, Gobburi Jagga. After a drama of sorts that ensued at VELLORE FORT, Yachama Naidu, a loyal aide to king Venkatapati managed to rescue Rama Deva Raya, Sriranga II's young son. But was unable to rescue the new king and his family. They were ultimately murdered in the lust for power.
Yachama Naidu, a loyal aide to king Venkatapati, chased the Gobburi Jagga camp, but they managed to escape. This tragic murder of Sriranga II within just 4 months of his appointment, plus his family sent ripples throughout the kingdom.
What happened next was The Battle of Toppur* (1616-1617)~ between two factions of the Vijayanagara empire~
Yachama Naidu representing the Vijayanagara central forces
V/Z
Gobburi Jaggadeva Raya + Nayaks of Ginger + Nayaks of Madurai + Pandyas of Tirunelveli + Travancore + Portuguese
*Toppur or present-day Thogur is a village located nearby the Grand Anicut or Kallanai dam in TRICHY.
Yachama Naidu's well-disciplined army defeated the combined forces of Gobburi Jaggadeva Raya and thereupon installed Rama Deva Raya (r. 1617-1632), Sriranga II's son as next successor to the throne.
Since Rama Deva Raya did not have any heirs of his own, Venkata III (r. 1632- 1642), grandson of Aliya Rama Raya) ascended the throne. Throughout his reign Venkata III faced many challenges, but the worst being from his own treacherous nephew Sriranga III who got into an alliance with Bijapur Sultanate to attack the king. Venkata III escaped into the jungles of Chitoor, it is said that he died a broken man in Oct 1642.
Having no heirs either, Venkata III's opportunistic nephew Sriranga III (r. 1642-1652) ascended the throne, however he was disliked by the Nayakars for the way he treated his uncle. He also offered the site where Fort St. George stands today in Madras (now Chennai) to the British East India company in 1640~ another big blunder that could have well been avoided.
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| Present day CHENNAI |
In the Battle of Virinchipuram (1646-1652) that ensued between Sriranga III (and help from Mysore, Gingee and Tanjore Nayaks) on one side.
VZ
The Sultan of Golconda + other Deccan Sultanates that joined later
Due to it being a long war (1646-1652)- On the Vijayanagara side, Tanjore and Madurai Nayaks lost to the Muslim forces. Sriranga III was left with only the VELLORE FORT, which was also snatched away by the Golconda muslim rulers. Finally he was forced to spend his last year's in exile with help from the Mysore ruler and Shivappa Nayak of Ikkerri (Sivamoga).
Even without their king, the Brahmins (men and women) assembled at Tirupati to donate their wealth for the cause of Dharma. The Nayaks came to their help and inflicted heavy damage to the forces of Mustafa Khan, commander of the Golconda and Deccan Sultanates, who incurred heavy losses and was forced to retreat.
Curtains down and salute to the once mighty VIJAYANAGARA empire
Destined to be the last regent of the once great VIJAYANAGARA empire, Sriranga III died in 1681.
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| Flag of the erstwhile VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE |
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