LEC 12:

VIJAYANAGARA
EMPIRE
Extent of the Empire
• The empire was founded by two brothers – Harihara and
Bukka
• They founded the first dynasty called Sangam dynasty
• They were the feudatories of Kakatiyas of Warranga
• Their mentor was Vidyaranya on whose name kingdom
was named
• It was by Harihara (1336-1356) followed by Bukka (1356-
1377 A.D)
• The third ruler was Harihara II, after him Sangama
dynasty decline due to absence of primogeniture
• it was taken over by another dynasty called Saluva
dynasty
• Suluva dynasty was founded by Narsimha Sauva
followed by Narsa
• The third dynasty ruled Vijayanagar was Taluva dynasty
founded Vira Narsimha
• The most important ruler was Krishna Dev Raya (1509-
1530)
• Krishna Dev Raya was the greatest ruler of Vijayanagara.
He conquered all his subordinates called vassals
• Conquered Raichur doab,Orissa and Bijapur
• He had friendly relations with Portuguese and allowed
the governor Albuquerque
• He was succeeded by Achyutaraya followed by
Sadashiva
• On behalf of Sadashiva, Ramaraya was ruling
• Ramaraya tried to break the kingdom of Bahman like
Bidar, Berar, Ahmednagar and Golconda against each
other
• Hwoever, the kingdoms of Bijapur, Ahmednagar,
Golconda and Bidar combined together against
Ramaraya and defeated him at the famous battle of
Talikotta also called as Battle of Banihatti or Rakshasa
Tangdi
• This battle set the decline of Vijayanagar empire
 Administration
• The rulers were Brahmanas but tolerant towards Muslims
• Absence of primogeniture
• Kingdom was advised by the council of ministers which
consisted of the great nobles of the kingdom
• The kingdom was divided into rajyas or mandalam
(provinces) below which were nadu (district), sthala
(sub-district) and grama (village)
• Chola tradition of village self-government were
considerably weakened under Vijayanagara rule
• Governors of provinces were royal princes first, but later
on vassal ruling families and nobles were also appointed
as governors
• Provincial governors had large autonomy, they held
their own courts, appointed their own officers and
maintained their own armies
• They issued their own coins but of smaller
denominations
• There was no regular term for a provincial governor.
It was depending on his ability and his strength
• They had right to impose new taxes or remit old
ones
• Each governor paid a fixed contribution in men and
money to the central government
• There were many areas which were under the
control of subordinate rulers, i.e. those who had
been defeated in war, but whose kingdoms had
been restored to them
• The king also granted amaram or territory with a
fixed revenue to military chiefs
• These chiefs, also called palaiyagar (palegar) or
nayaks who had to maintain a fixed number of foot
soldiers, horses and elephants for the service of the
state
• The nayaks or palegars also had to pay a sum of
money to the central exchequer
• They formed a very powerful section and
sometimes it was difficult for the government to
control them
• Many of the nayaks, such as those of Tanjore and
Madurai became independent from that time
Taxes
• According to inscription, the rate of taxes were as
follows:
• One-third of the produce of Kuruvai (a type of
rice)during winter
• One-fourth of sesame, ragi, horsegram, etc.
• One-sixth of millet and other crops cultivated on dry
land
• The rate varied according to the type of crops, soils,
method of irrigation, etc.
• In addition to the land tax, there were various other
taxes, such as property tax, tax on sale of produce,
profession taxes, military contribution (in time of
distress), tax on marriage
Society
• Position of women declined
• Child marriage, polygamy, sati system were popular
• Widow remarriage was prohibited
Foreign Travellers
1. Nunitz (Portuguese travellers): came in 1535-37 during
the rule of Achyutaraya
2. Nicolo De Conti (Italian): came in 1420-21 during the
role of Devaraya I
3. Abdur Razzaq (Persian): came in 1443 -44 during the
rule of Devaraya II
4. Nikitin (Russian)- came to Bahmani kingdom
5. Barbosa (Partuguese): came in 1500-1516, during the
rule of Krishnadeva Raya
6. Domingo Paes (Portuguese): came in 1522 during the
rule of Krishnadeva Raya
 Art and Culture
• They introduced all the features of
Dravidian style and introduced few new
prominent features.
• Indo-Islamic style of Bijapur, features are
influenced by -
• First such introduction was the concept
of very high enclosure walls and grand
and high Gopurams.
• Walls are highly decorated with
carvings and geometrical patterns
• Gopuram built on all the sides
• Larger enclosing walls (to protect from
enemies like Bahmani Kingdom)
• They introduced the concept of very
new shrine known as ‘Amman Shrine’. It
was dedicated to chief wife of main
deity.
• More than one Mandapa were built,
central mandapa is called Kalyan
Mandapa (marriage purpose)
• Secular concept of building, ex.
Virupaksha temple, Lotus Mahal, etc.,
Lepakshi temple
Nayaka School
• Built between 16th-18th C AD
• Called Madurai school –
architecturally similar to
Dravidian style, unique features
are:
• Presence of Prakarna or huge
corridors in portico around
Garbhagriha, along with roofed
ambulatory passageway
• Gopurams – some are largest.
Meenakshi temple has tallest
Gopuram in the world. Art has
reached to its climax by thus
time
• Temple structure was filled with
intricate carvings, ex.
Meenakshi temple, Madurai
 Important Regional Dynasties
Kashmir
• Sikandar (1389-1413): He was a reactionary ruler known as
Butshikan (destroyer of idols)
• During his rule the brahmanas of Kashmir fled from the village
• He also abolished Sati system
• Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-70)
• Known as Akbar
• He was the liberal, secular ruler who reversed the policies of
Sikandar
• He stopped destruction of Hindu temples, removed jiziyah
• He called back brahmins who fled the valley under previous rule
• He constructed roads and transport system in Kashmir
• He included law and order by fixing local responsibility from local
crime
• He reduced the burden of taxes on the people
• He was also a great scholar who knew Arabian, Hindi, Sanskrit, etc.
• He got Mahabharata and Rajtarangini written by Kalhana
translated into Persian
Jaunpur
• The city was founded by Firozshah Tughlaq in 1359
• A dynasty called sharqui was founded by Malik Sarvar in 1369
• Jaunour became a centre for learning and culture and came
to be known as ‘Shiraz of India’
• The famous Atala mosque at Jaunpur was built by Ibrahim
Shah, Lal Darwaza by Muhammad Shah and Jama Masjid by
Hussain Shah
Gujarat
• Gujarat was made part of Delhi Sultanate by Alauddin Khilji
• Zafar Khan, a governor of Gujarat founded the independent
kingdom of Gujarat in 1407, under the title of Sultan
Muzaffarshah, called Muzaffari dynasty
• The most important king of this dynasty was Muhammad
Begara
• Bahadur Shah was the next capable ruler who invaded
Mandu fort
• He fought with Humayun and got defeated in 1537
Bahmani Kingdom