Vijayanagara & Bahmani Kingdoms (1336–1646 AD)

1. The Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 AD)

Cue Words	Notes
Foundation & Capital	Founded in 1336 AD on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River by two brothers, Harihara I and Bukka I of the Sangama Dynasty, with guidance from sage Vidyaranya (head of Sringeri Matha) and scholar Sayana. Capital at Vijayanagara (Hampi, Karnataka - UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Four Dynasties	Sangama Dynasty (1336–1485 AD) Saluva Dynasty (1485–1505 AD) founded by Saluva Narasimha. Tuluva Dynasty (1505–1570 AD) founded by Vira Narasimha. Aravidu Dynasty (1570–1646 AD) founded by Tirumala Deva Raya.
Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529 AD)	Greatest ruler of Vijayanagara Empire (Tuluva Dynasty); known as Abhinava Bhoja, Andhra Bhoja, and Yavanaraja Sthapanacharya. Military Victories: Defeated Sultan of Bijapur (Yusuf Adil Khan) at Battle of Diwani (1509 AD); captured Raichur Doab (1520 AD); defeated Gajapati ruler Prataparudra of Odisha and married his daughter. Literary Patronage: Court adorned by Ashtadiggajas (8 eminent Telugu poets). Krishnadevaraya himself authored Telugu masterpiece Amuktamalyada (on statecraft and devotion of Andal) and Sanskrit drama Jambavati Kalyanam. Prime poet: Allasani Peddana (author of Manucharitam, titled Andhra Kavita Pitamaha); court jester: Tenali Ramakrishna. Foreign Visitors: Portuguese travelers Duarte Barbosa and Domingo Paes visited Hampi, praising the city's immense wealth, bazaars, and trade. Italian traveler Nicolo de Conti and Persian envoy Abdur Razzaq visited under Deva Raya II. Architecture: Built Hazara Rama Temple, Vithalaswamy Temple (featuring musical granite pillars and stone chariot), and new suburban city Nagalapuram.
Battle of Talikota / Rakshasi-Tangadi (1565 AD)	Decisive battle where joint alliance of 4 Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, Bidar) defeated Vijayanagara army commanded by Regent Rama Raya. Hampi was sacked, looted, and destroyed, leading to the collapse of the empire.
Nayankara & Ayagar Systems	Nayankara System: Military feudal organization. King assigned territories (Amaram) to military chiefs called Nayakas. In return, Nayakas maintained fixed army contingents for the king and paid annual tribute. Ayagar System: Village administration managed by a body of 12 village functionaries called Ayagars (accountant, watchman, headman, blacksmith, etc.) granted tax-free lands (Manyams).

2. The Bahmani Kingdom & Deccan Sultanates (1347–1527 AD)

Cue Words	Notes
Foundation & Expansion	Founded in 1347 AD by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (Hasan Gangu), an Afghan officer under Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Capital established at Gulbarga (later shifted to Bidar in 1424 AD by Ahmad Shah Wali).
Mahmud Gawan (1463–1481 AD)	Brilliant Prime Minister (Peshwa / Wazir) under Muhammad Shah III. Expanded empire from Arabian Sea to Bay of Bengal; captured Goa port from Vijayanagara. Built the grand Mahmud Gawan Madrasa at Bidar (three-story Islamic college with 3,000 manuscripts). Administrative reforms divided kingdom into 8 provinces (Tarafs) under Tarafdars. Executed due to court intrigue between Deccani and Afaqi (foreign noble) factions.
Five Deccan Sultanates	Following Gawan's death, Bahmani Kingdom disintegrated into 5 independent Deccan Sultanates (1490–1527 AD): Adil Shahi of Bijapur (1490 AD) founded by Yusuf Adil Shah. Built Gol Gumbaz (largest dome in India with whispering gallery). Nizam Shahi of Ahmednagar (1490 AD) founded by Malik Ahmad. Annexed by Shah Jahan (1636 AD). Famous ruler: Chand Bibi. Qutb Shahi of Golconda (1518 AD) founded by Quli Qutb Shah. Built Charminar (Hyderabad, 1591 AD) and Golconda Fort. Annexed by Aurangzeb (1687 AD). Imad Shahi of Berar (1490 AD) founded by Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk. Annexed by Ahmednagar (1574 AD). Barid Shahi of Bidar (1528 AD) founded by Ali Barid. Annexed by Bijapur (1619 AD).

→ 📉 Causes of Vijayanagara's Decline (Post-1565)

• Battle of Talikota (1565 AD): Immediate cause — joint Deccan Sultanate alliance (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, Bidar) crushed the Vijayanagara army; Hampi was sacked and never fully rebuilt as capital.
• Structural Weaknesses: Overgrown Nayankara system allowed provincial Nayakas to grow semi-independent, weakening central authority even before 1565; internal succession disputes across Saluva-Tuluva-Aravidu transitions.
• Aftermath: The Aravidu Dynasty (from 1570) ruled a much-diminished, fragmented kingdom from Penukonda and later Chandragiri/Vellore until its final extinction in 1646 AD, as Nayaka successor states (Madurai, Tanjore, Gingee) became de facto independent.