Vijayanagara Empire (AD 1336 – AD 1646)

Hariharan and Bukan founded Vijayanagara, one of the largest empires in South India, in 1336 AD. Hariharan and Bukan were revenue officers of the Kakatiya king Prataparudra Devan. They were assisted in the establishment of the empire by the ascetic Vidyaranya. The capital of the empire was Vijayanagara, now in Bellary district of Karnataka. The ruins of the Vijayanagara empire are located in Hampi, Karnataka. The Vijayanagara Empire reached its peak during the reign of Krishnadevaraya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529. Krishnadevaraya had a council of ministers known as the 'Ashtadiggajas'. Tenali Raman was also a member of his court. Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveler, visited Vijayanagara during Krishnadevaraya's reign. Vijayanagara was built on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire are located in Hampi, Karnataka. Krishnadevaraya was known as Abhinavabhojan and Andhra Bhojan. His work in Telugu is 'Amukta Malyata'. 'Varaham' is a gold coin issued by the rulers of Vijayanagara. The fall of Vijayanagara was due to the Battle of Talikotta in 1565 during the reign of Krishnadevaraya's son-in-law, Aliya Rama raya. The war was fought against a combined army of the Deccan Sultans. The last king of the nominal Vijayanagara Empire was Srirangaraya III (1642–46).