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Today is Jayanti of Sri Krishna Deva Raya, under whose reign Vijayanagara attained greatest heights. His reign was marked by military conquests, patronage of arts and culture and flourishing of literature, and regarded as the Empire's Golden Age.
His father Tuluva Narasa Nayaka, a former Bunt chieftain, who became the commander, and later rose to power, founding the Tuluva dynasty, was a formidable warrior, and ruler himself.
Much before Sri Krishna Deva Raya ascended the throne, however his elder brother Vira Narasimha Raya ruled for a brief period of 4 yrs between 1505 and 1509. Not really is known much about him except that he spent a good amount of his reign in fighting off rebellious chieftains.
One of his early challenges, was from the Bijapur Sultan, Yusuf Adil Khan, who tried to extend beyond the Tunghabhadra, however with the help of Aliya Rama Raya, who would later be Sri Krishna Deva Raya’s son in law, Adil Khan was beaten back and Adoni was captured.
The more tricky part was the revolt by chieftains of Ummatur, for which Narasimha Raya set out with an expedition, and received help from the Portugese in terms of artillery and horses, in quelling the revolt.
There is a back story of how Vira Narasimha Raya, on his deathbed, wanted, his 8 yr old son to be next ruler, and asked the faithful minister Timmarasu, to put his brother Krishna Deva Raya to death.
And then Timmarasu, killed a goat, showed it’s eyes to Narasimha Raya, who was overcome by remorse, and apparently he was relieved when told that Krishna Deva Raya was alive. However it seems to be more a folk tale with no real historical evidence for it.
Sri Krishna Deva Raya ascended the throne in 1509, as per most historical accounts, it was believed to be on Krishnashtami day as per the Hindu calendar., which also accounts for his name in a way.
He was the mightiest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, with a well built personality, who kept himself fit through rigorous physical exercise. A strong muscular body that he developed through use of Indian clubs, an expert swordsman, a fine horse rider.
He was also one of the finest warriors on battlefield leading from the front, plunging straight into enemy ranks with a dare devilry and recklessness that put his life in risk. He was known for his statesman like nature, his gentleness, wisdom, his sense of justice.
It was also to his credit that during his reign he was assisted by some of the finest men around him, be it the wise minister Timmarasu who was his adviser and guide or the gallant military commander Ramalinga Nayaka of the Pemmasani clan of Gandikota.
Sri Krishna Deva Raya, initially subdued most of the rebellious local chieftains like the Ummatur ruler, Ganga Raju who was defeated on the banks of the Kaveri, and the Velamas of Bhuvanagiri.
He also had a tactical, strategic partnership with the Portuguese, who were then establishing themselves on the West Coast, who would play a crucial role in the Battle of Raichur later on.
At the same time Sri Krishna Deva Raya, ascended the throne in 1509, on the West Coast, Albuquerque was appointed the Governor overlooking the Portuguese settlements.
The Portugese had earlier assisted Krishna Deva Raya’s brother Vira Narasimha in his campaign against Yusufl Adil Khan, and they had got the important port of Bhaktal on West Coast in return.
Albuqurque assured Sri Krishna Deva Raya, assistance with Arab and Persian horses, as well as artillery in his battle against their common enemy, the Bahmani Sultans. In March 1510, Albuquerque successfully managed to capture Goa from the Bijapur sultan , Adil Shah.
However Adil Shah struck back after 2 months, and were able to recapture Goa, forcing Albuquerque to flee not before inflicting heavy casualties on the Muslims there though.
However in November with Bijapur facing it’s own civil strife, Albuquerque managed to re take Goa once again, and defeated Rasool Khan, the Governor of Goa.
Krishnadeva Raya, congratulated Albuquerque on his success in Goa, and also gave permission to the Portugese to build a fort at Bhatkal, which was one of the critical trading posts.
t was more of a strategic tie up, the Portuguese had those fine Arab, Persian horses, which he needed in his campaign against the Bahmanis, as well as artillery.Also friendly relations with Portuguese gave Vijayanagara access to Bhatkal, which helped in the trade.
During this time, Duarte Barbosa, a cousin of Ferdinand Magellan, visited Hampi and gave his own accounts of the capital. Bhatkal became the chief port for Vijayanagara, and while they exported iron, spices, drugs, they in turn imported horses and pearls.
Another benefit of his alliance with the Portuguese was their assistance in improving water supply to Vijayanagara through a network of aqueducts and canals.
One of his greatest challenges was the Gajapati kingdom that lay to the east of Vijayanagara, and covered Odisha, parts of Telangana, and the entire Coastal Andhra, with whom they had a constant conflict from long.
The success against the Ummatur Rajah, who had long been a thorn in the flesh of Vijayanagara, gave Sri Krishna Deva Raya, the necessary impetus and motivation to strike against the Gajapatis.
. Udayagiri( now in Nellore district) was the first fort to be attacked, located on a steep hill, was inaccessible from all other sides. The only way it could be reached was through a thick jungle trail on the eastern side, and a pathway on the western side.
Around 1513, Sri Krishna Deva Raya, led a long siege against Udayagiri, that lasted for 18 months, forcing the Gajapati army to surrender after reducing them to starvation and cutting off the food stocks.
In commemoration of his victory at Udayagiri, Sri Krishna Deva Raya offered prayers at Tirumala Balaji temple, along with his wives, Tirumala Devi and Chinamma Devi, there is a statue of the emperor there to date.
After Udayagiri, Sri Krishna Deva Raya, then proceeded to another hill fort of Kondavidu( now in Guntur district), under the Gajapatis, and laid siege to it for two months. Launching a concerted assault, on the fort, Sri Krishna Deva Raya led from the front.
Encountering fierce resistance from Virabhadra, the son of the Gajapati ruler Pratapa Rudra Deva. The Vijayanagara army initially suffered reverses from the stout defense put up by the Gajapatis for a long time.
However Krishna Deva Raya’s wise minister Timmarasu, managed to find a secret way to the fort’s eastern gate, and a surprise attack was launched during night time. Kondavidu fell to the Vijayanagar Army around 1515.
Another hill fort, Kondapalli( now in Krishna dt) under Gajapati rule, was attacked, and a siege was carried out. However, with Pratapa Rudra engaged in repulsing an attack by the Bengal Sultan, Allaudin Hussan Shah, it proved to be some what easy to capture.
Rajahmundry too was soon captured back from the Gajapatis, and then in 1519, Pratapa Rudra had to suffer a defeat at hands of Krishna Deva Raya, and surrendered. He in turn gave his daughter Annapurna Devi in marriage to Sri Krishna Deva Raya, and thus an alliance was formed.
One of the main aspects of the Vijayanagara Empire history, was the regular conflicts with the Bahmani rulers, primarily over the Raichur-Tungabhadra Doab region. It was a conflict, that often kept going back and forth between these 2 kingdoms.
The frequent conflicts with the Bahmani Sultans, had not just devastated large parts of the Doab area, but also resulted in wholesale massacres and destruction of temples too.
ven though the Bahmani empire had split up now into Bijapur, Golkonda, Bidar, Berar and Ahmednagar, the annual raid and loot tactics by the Bahmanis continued. The first thing Sri Krishnadeva Raya, did on ascending the throne was to put a stop to the regular loot and raid.
. The raiding Bahmani army of Bijapur was decisively routed at the Battle of Diwani and Krishna Deva Raya, went in hot pursuit of the Bahmani Sultan,Yusuf Adil Shah. The retreating Sultan was defeated and killed at Kovilkonda, it was a crushing blow for the Bijapur forces
fter Bijapur fell, Sri Krishna Deva Raya turned his attention to the other Bahmani kingdoms. His next target was Gulbarga, where the Bahmani Sultan, Mahmud Shah, was overthrown and imprisoned by his minister Qasim Barid.
Krishnadeva Raya, defeated Barid, freed Mahmud Shah, restored the throne to him, and proceeded to capture Bidar too. The other main rivalry Krishnadeva Raya had was with the Golkonda sultan, Quli Qutub Shah, the founder of the Qutub Shahi dynasty, and his contemporary.
While Sri Krishnadeva Raya was engaged in his campaigns against the Gajapatis, Quli Qutub Shah, occupied the forts of Warangal, Khammam, Rajahmundry, and conquered most of Coastal Andhra, right up to Machilipatnam.
However Sri Krishna Deva Raya’s able Prime minister, Timmarasu, managed to defeat Quli Qutub Shah, and regain most of the territories. By 1512, Sri Krishna Deva Raya controlled most of the territories to the North of Karnataka.
Also the Bahmani sultans, annual raid and loot came to an end, with the crushing defeats inflicted on them.However, Sri Krishna Deva Raya, wanted to put an end to this constant feud once for all, and turned his attention to the strategic fort of Raichur.
The Battle of Raichur is a separate thread by itself, however can check this in more detail. https://historyunderyourfeet.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/sri-krishna-deva-raya-battle-of-raichur/
Under Sri Krishna Deva Raya’s the Bahmanis were given their most decisive defeat everywhere, and for some time, none of them even dared to challenge him, such was the fear his name struck.
Also Sri Krishna Deva Raya's reign was called the Golden Age of Telugu Literature, though Kannada, Sanskrit writers too equally flourished during this time.
. Krishna Deva Raya himself was a polyglot, fluent in Telugu, Kannada, Tuluva. He was praised as “Narasimha Krishna Deva Raya” at whose name the Turks quivered and elephants ran away, by one of his poets Mukku Timanna.
The emperor, himself was a renowned writer, who wrote Madalasa Charita, Satyavadu Parinaya, Rasamanjari and Jambavati Kalyana all in Sanskrit. Apparently there is a very interesting anecdote, related to Sri Krishna Deva Raya’s Amukta Malyada, the work he wrote in Telugu.
During the Kalinga campaign in 1516, having conquered Kondavidu, Kondapalli, he came to know of the glory of Andhra Maha Vishnu, and his temple located at Srikakulam in Krishna dt( not to be confused with the district called Srikakulam).
The Andhra Maha Vishnu was a legendary warrior of ancient times, whom many believed to be embodiment or Amsa of Lord Vishnu himself, and they built a temple in his honor at Srikakulam.
Andhra Vishnu came to me in my dream. His body was a radiant black, blacker than the rain cloud. His eyes wise and sparkling, put the lotus to shame. He was clothed in the best golden silk, finer still than the down on his eagle’s wings.
Andhra Vishnu ordered Sri Krishna Deva Raya in his dream to write the story of his wedding with Andal, his devotee at Sri Rangam in Telugu.
telugadElayanna, dESambu telugEnu
telugu vallaBhunDa telugokanDa
yella nRpulu golva nerugavE bAsADi
dESa BhAShalandu telugu lessa
telugu vallaBhunDa telugokanDa
yella nRpulu golva nerugavE bAsADi
dESa BhAShalandu telugu lessa
If you ask me why in Telugu, I am the Telugu Ruler of the Telugu Land, All the kings serving under you being Telugu, you shall know that Telugu is the greatest of all the languages here
What it meant was that since he would be ruling over a large part of Andhra region, where his subjects and feudatories would be speaking in Telugu, it would be better if he wrote the work in Telugu itself.
And this is how Sri Krishna Deva Raya, came to write Amukta Malyada, his magnum opus, detailing the separation and pinging by Andal, also considered one of the 12 Alwars, for her lover, Lord Vishnu.
Again the literature, art during Sri Krishna Deva Raya's reign is a separate topic by itself, you can check this out, for more details. https://historyunderyourfeet.wordpress.com/2014/09/20/krishnadeva-raya-golden-age-of-literature/
Sri Krishna Deva Raya, was called as the Andhra Bhoja, after the great emperor who was also a great writer. A great ruler, who could wield the pen and the sword, equally well. One of the greatest Hindu monarchs of all time. #Naman
Old Telugu song describing the greatness of Hampi and Sri Krishna Deva Raya here.
