Ancient and Medieval Indian Rulers

In the year 1420 or 1421 A.D. during the Vijayanagara Empire, Nicolo Conti, an European visitor visited India during the reign of Deva Raya II. It was during this time that the explorer Nicolo Conti and Persian chronicler Abdur Razzak arrived in South India. His visit must have taken place shortly after the accession of Deva Raya II.

The Kalinga king Prataparudra Gajapati was defeated by Sri Krishna devaraya. Krishnadevaraya planned for an invasion of mainland Kalinga-Utkal but the Gajapati Emperor, Prataparudra, privy of this plan had built up a strategy to rout the Vijayanagara army and along with it its king, Krishnadevaraya. The confrontation was to happen at the fort of Kalinganagar. But the wily Timmarasu secured the information by bribing a Telugu deserter, formerly under the service of the mighty Prataprudra deva. Prataprudra was driven to Cuttack, the capital of the Gajapati empire and eventually surrendered to Vijaynagar, giving his daughter Princess Annapurna Devi in marriage to Sri Krishna Deva Raya.

Sadasiva Raya was the Vijayanagara king at the time of the Battle of Talikota in 1565, though Aliya Rama Raya was the actual power behind the throne. The battle resulted in a catastrophic defeat for Vijayanagara. Sadasiva Raya was a puppet ruler with Aliya Rama Raya as the regent.

Venkatapati Raya II shifted the capital from Penugonda to Chandragiri for better security and strategic positioning. The move was necessary due to continuous threats from the Deccan Sultans. Chandragiri offered a more defensible location in the declining empire.

Harihara Raya I (Hakka) and his brother Bukka (Bukkaraya) founded the Vijayanagara empire in 1336 AD. Harihara Raya I became the first ruler. They were originally in the service of the Kakatiyas and later inspired by Vidyaranya to establish the kingdom.

Harihara Raya I annexed the Hoysala kingdom to the Vijayanagara empire during his reign. This expansion secured control over key territories in Karnataka. The Hoysala capital was at Dwarasamudra near modern Hassan.

Gangadevi's 'Madhuravijayam' describes the victory of prince Kampana (son of Bukkaraya) over the Sultan of Madurai. The work is a Sanskrit poem praising the Vijayanagara conquest of Madurai. Kampana defeated the Madurai Sultanate and expanded Vijayanagara's territory into Tamil Nadu.

Deva Raya II, also known as Praudhadevaraya, was famously titled Gajabetekara, which translates to Elephant Hunter. This title reflected his military prowess and his habit of hunting elephants.

Krishnadevaraya assumed the title Yavanarajya Pratishtapanacharya after he defeated the Deccan Sultans and restored the Bahamani prince to the throne of Bidar, thereby acting as a restorer of the Bahamani kingdom.

Harihara, also called Hakka, was the founder of the Vijayanagara empire. He was Bhavana Sangama’s eldest son and was the founder of the Sangama dynasty, the first among the four dynasties that ruled Vijayanagara.

The early life of Hakka and his brother Bukka is relatively unknown and most accounts are based on various theories.

The chronological order of the four dynasties of the Vijayanagara Empire is Sangama (1336-1485), Saluva (1485-1505), Tuluva (1505-1570), and Araveedu (1570-1650).

The Vijayanagara Empire was founded by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, who belonged to the Sangama dynasty, the first of the four dynasties to rule the empire.

Harihara I was given the title Vaidikamarga Sthapanacharya, meaning the establisher of the path of the Vedas, due to his patronage of Vedic scholarship and the completion of commentaries on the Vedas during his reign.

Krishnadevaraya assumed the title Yavanarajya Pratishtapanacharya after his military successes against the Deccan Sultans.