Vijayanagara Empire Rulers: Quick Answer
The Vijayanagara empire was founded in 1336 by the brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya of the Sangama dynasty, with the blessing of the sage Vidyaranya. Its capital, Vijayanagara (Hampi), stood on the Tungabhadra river in Karnataka. Four dynasties ruled it (Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu), and its greatest king was Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) of the Tuluva dynasty. The empire was crushed at the Battle of Talikota in 1565.
Key takeaway: Remember the dynasty order with "S-S-T-A" (Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu), the founders (Harihara and Bukka, 1336), Krishnadevaraya's works and poets, the foreign travellers by reign, and Talikota (1565). These answer almost every SSC question on Vijayanagara.
Vijayanagara Empire Dynasties and Rulers List
| Dynasty | Period | Important rulers | Key facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sangama | 1336-1485 | Harihara I, Bukka Raya I, Harihara II, Deva Raya I, Deva Raya II | Founded the empire; Deva Raya II was the greatest Sangama ruler |
| Saluva | 1485-1505 | Saluva Narasimha | Took power from the weak last Sangama king |
| Tuluva | 1505-1570 | Vira Narasimha, Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529), Achyuta Deva Raya, Sadashiva Raya | Golden age under Krishnadevaraya; Aliya Rama Raya was the real power under Sadashiva Raya |
| Aravidu | 1570-17th century | Tirumala, Sriranga, Venkata II | Last dynasty; capital moved to Penukonda, then Chandragiri and Vellore |
Order trick: "Some Saints Took Ashes" → Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu.
Founders of the Vijayanagara Empire (1336)
- Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, two of the five Sangama brothers, had served the Kakatiyas and later the Kampili kingdom before founding their own state in 1336.
- The sage Vidyaranya (Madhava Vidyaranya) of the Sringeri matha is traditionally credited as their guide.
- The new capital, Vijayanagara ("city of victory"), was built on the south bank of the Tungabhadra; its ruins are at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
- The main rival was the Bahmani Sultanate (founded 1347 by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah), fighting mainly over the fertile Raichur doab between the Krishna and Tungabhadra.
Krishnadevaraya: Achievements for SSC
| Area | Fact |
|---|---|
| Reign | 1509-1529, Tuluva dynasty |
| Military | Defeated the Sultan of Bijapur and took Raichur (1520); defeated the Gajapati king Prataparudra of Odisha; good relations with the Portuguese |
| Literary work | Amuktamalyada (Telugu, on statecraft and the story of Andal) and Jambavati Kalyanam (Sanskrit) |
| Title | Andhra Bhoja |
| Court poets | The Ashtadiggajas (eight great Telugu poets), including Allasani Peddana (called Andhra Kavita Pitamaha) and Tenali Ramakrishna |
| Buildings | Additions to the Vitthala temple and Hazara Rama temple at Hampi; built the town of Nagalapuram after his mother |
| Contemporary | Babur, who called him the most powerful ruler of India in the Baburnama |
Foreign Travellers Who Visited Vijayanagara
| Traveller | Country | Visited during | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolo de Conti | Italy | Deva Raya I (c. 1420) | Described the city and its festivals |
| Abdur Razzaq | Persia (envoy of Timurid ruler Shah Rukh) | Deva Raya II (1443) | Praised the size and wealth of the capital |
| Afanasy Nikitin | Russia | Bahmani kingdom (1469-72) | Visited the Bahmani Sultanate, the rival state |
| Duarte Barbosa | Portugal | Krishnadevaraya | Wrote on trade and society |
| Domingo Paes | Portugal | Krishnadevaraya (c. 1520) | Described the city as large as Rome |
| Fernao Nuniz | Portugal | Achyuta Deva Raya (c. 1535) | Horse trader; wrote a history of the empire |
Trick: "Nice Apples Please Now" = Nicolo (Deva Raya I) → Abdur Razzaq (Deva Raya II) → Paes (Krishnadevaraya) → Nuniz (Achyuta).
Battle of Talikota (1565): End of Vijayanagara's Power
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 January 1565 |
| Other names | Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi (Banihatti) |
| Sides | Alliance of the Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar) vs Vijayanagara under Aliya Rama Raya |
| Not part of the alliance | Berar |
| Result | Rama Raya was killed; the capital Vijayanagara was plundered and abandoned |
| After | The Aravidu dynasty ruled a smaller kingdom from Penukonda and Chandragiri |
Vijayanagara Administration, Coins and Society
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nayankara system | Military chiefs (nayakas) got land (amaram) in return for keeping troops |
| Ayagar system | Village administration by 12 hereditary officials (ayagars) paid with tax-free land |
| Mandalam / Rajya | Province |
| Nadu, Sthala, Grama | District, sub-district and village |
| Varaha (pagoda) | Main gold coin |
| Pratapa, Fanam (Panam) | Smaller gold coins |
| Tar, Jital | Silver and copper coins |
| Mahanavami festival | Grand royal festival; the Mahanavami Dibba platform at Hampi |
Famous monuments at Hampi: Vitthala temple (with the stone chariot and musical pillars), Virupaksha temple (patron deity of the kings), Hazara Rama temple, Lotus Mahal and the Elephant Stables.
Vijayanagara Empire: PYQ-Style Practice Questions with Answers
1. Who founded the Vijayanagara empire? (a) Krishnadevaraya (b) Harihara and Bukka (c) Deva Raya I (d) Saluva Narasimha Answer: (b) Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, in 1336.
2. The capital of the Vijayanagara empire was located on the banks of the: (a) Krishna (b) Kaveri (c) Tungabhadra (d) Godavari Answer: (c) Tungabhadra.
3. Amuktamalyada was written by: (a) Allasani Peddana (b) Krishnadevaraya (c) Tenali Ramakrishna (d) Deva Raya II Answer: (b) Krishnadevaraya, in Telugu.
4. Krishnadevaraya belonged to which dynasty? (a) Sangama (b) Saluva (c) Tuluva (d) Aravidu Answer: (c) Tuluva.
5. The Battle of Talikota was fought in: (a) 1526 (b) 1556 (c) 1565 (d) 1576 Answer: (c) 1565.
6. Abdur Razzaq visited Vijayanagara during the reign of: (a) Harihara II (b) Deva Raya II (c) Krishnadevaraya (d) Achyuta Deva Raya Answer: (b) Deva Raya II, in 1443.
7. Which Portuguese traveller visited during Krishnadevaraya's reign? (a) Fernao Nuniz (b) Domingo Paes (c) Nicolo de Conti (d) Afanasy Nikitin Answer: (b) Domingo Paes.
8. The main gold coin of the Vijayanagara empire was called: (a) Tanka (b) Varaha (c) Dinara (d) Jital Answer: (b) Varaha (pagoda).
9. The Ashtadiggajas were associated with the court of: (a) Akbar (b) Krishnadevaraya (c) Raja Raja Chola (d) Shivaji Answer: (b) Krishnadevaraya.
10. Which Deccan Sultanate did NOT join the alliance at Talikota? (a) Bijapur (b) Golconda (c) Ahmadnagar (d) Berar Answer: (d) Berar.
11. The ruins of the Vijayanagara capital are found at: (a) Badami (b) Hampi (c) Halebidu (d) Aihole Answer: (b) Hampi, in Vijayanagara district, Karnataka.
12. The Ayagar system of the Vijayanagara empire refers to: (a) Army organisation (b) Village administration by 12 officials (c) Coinage (d) Temple management Answer: (b) Village administration by 12 hereditary officials.
Vijayanagara Empire FAQs
Who was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara empire?
Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) of the Tuluva dynasty, known for his conquests, his Telugu work Amuktamalyada and his court of eight poets, the Ashtadiggajas.
Which was the last dynasty of the Vijayanagara empire?
The Aravidu dynasty, which ruled from Penukonda and later Chandragiri after the defeat at Talikota.
Why did the Vijayanagara empire decline?
The crushing defeat at Talikota in 1565 by the combined Deccan Sultanates, internal power struggles, and the growing independence of the nayakas.
What is the Raichur doab?
The fertile land between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, fought over for two centuries by Vijayanagara and the Bahmani (later Bijapur) rulers.
Who was Tenali Ramakrishna?
A witty Telugu poet, one of the Ashtadiggajas at Krishnadevaraya's court, famous for his clever stories.
When was Hampi declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
In 1986, as the "Group of Monuments at Hampi".
Practice Next
- History mock tests: SSC CGL History Mock Test 01, SSC CGL History Mock Test 02, SSC CHSL History Mock Test 01, RRB NTPC History Mock Test 01.
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- Exam updates: SSC CGL 2026, RRB NTPC 2026.
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