BAHAMANI KINGDOM

• The Deccan region was a part of the provincial administration of the Delhi Sultanate.
• In order to establish a stable administration in the Deccan, Mohammad bin Tughlaqappointed amiran-i-sada/ Sada Amir, who were the administrative heads of hundred villages.
• From 1337 the conflict between the officers in Deccan and Delhi sultanate accelerated.
• This led to the establishment of an independent state in the Deccan in 1347with the capital at Gulbarga in Karnataka.

Political History:

• Alauddin Hassan Gangu Bahaman Shahwas the founder of Bahamani sultanate in the year 1347AD.
• Rivalry with Vijayanagar kingdom over the fertile region of Raichur doabstarted from his period, and continued till the last of Bahaman rule.
• He had frequent conflicts with Warangal state, reddy kingdoms of Rajhmundry and Kondavidu.
• Bahman Shah emerged victorious in all these expeditions and assumed the title Second Alexander on his coins.
• Mohammed, Isucceeded Bahman Shah.
• His attack on Warangal in 1363 brought him a large indemnity, including the important fortress of Golkonda and the treasured turquoise throne, which thereafter became the throne of the Bahmani kings.
• The next hundred years saw a number of Sultans one after another, by succession or usurpation.
• All of them fought with their southern neighbour, but without gaining much territory.
• In 1425 Warangal was subdued and their progress further eastwards was challenged by the Orissan rulers.
• In the year 1429 Ahmed Shah al wali shifted capital city from Gulbarga to Bidar.
• The rule of Mohammad III (1463–1482) is worthy of mention because of his lieutenant Mohammed Gawan, a great statesman.

Mohammad Gawan:

• The Bahmani kingdom reached its peak under the guidance of Prime minister Mahmmad Gawan.
• He was a Persian merchant.
• He was well-versed in Islamic theology, Persian, and Mathematics.
• He was also a poet and a prose-writer. 
• He was also a military genius.
• He waged successful wars against Vijayanagar, Orissa and the sea pirates on the Arabian sea.
• He built a Madarsa at Bidarin Persian architectural style.
• This madarasa was great learning centre with collection of 3000 manuscripts from all over the world.
• Gawan’s progress was not tolerated by native Muslim leaders.
• They made false allegations.
• They made Sultan to punish him with death sentence.
• After execution of Gawan Bahamani Sultanate started to decline.
• After few years Sultanate gradually broke up into five independent kingdoms: Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Berar, Golkonda and Bidar.

Administration:

• The kingdom was divided into four administrative units called ‘taraf’or provinces.
• These provinces were Daultabad, Bidar, Berar and Gulbarga
• Every province was under a tarafdarwho was also called a subedar
• Some land was converted into Khalisaland from the jurisdiction of the tarafdar. (Khalisa land was that piece of land which was used to run expenses of the king and the royal household).
• Nobles used to get their salary either in cash or in form of grant of land or ‘jagir’.

Military:

• Bahamani ruler depended for military support on his amirs
• There were two groups in the ranks of amirs:
• One was the Deccanis who were immigrant Muslims and had been staying for a long time in the Deccan region.
• The other group was Afaquis or Pardesis who had recently come from Central Asia, Iran and Iraq.
• Bahamanis were familiar with the use of gunpowderin warfare.

Literature:

• Persian, Arabic and Urdu literature flourished in this period.
• Mohammad Gawan wrote poems in Persian language. Riyaz-ul-Insha, Manazir-ul-insha are his works.
• A new dialect called “Dakhini urdu” became popular during this time.
• The famous sufi saint of Gulbarga, Khwaja Bande Nawaz Gesu Daraj wrote in this language.

Architecture:

• They followed Indo-Islamic style of architecture with some improvisation. Local materials were used to construct the buildings.
• The architecture was highly influenced by Persian architecture.
• Some features of this style are
  • Tall minarets
  • Strong arches
  • Huge domes
  • Spacious Hazaras
  • Crescent moon at the top of the building

VIJAYANAGAR KINGDOM

The Age of Vijaya Nagara (1336-1647) AD:

• In 1336, Vijayanagar kingdom was established by Harihara and Bukka, who were two brothers and served in the army of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. 
• They broke away from the Delhi Sultanateand established an independent state in Karnataka and established the capital city Vijayanagar on the banks of river Tungabhadra in 1336.
• Harihara and Bukka were helped and inspired by contemporary scholar and a saint Vidyaranyafor the establishment of their kingdom.

Sources:

Literary Sources:

• Rayavachakamby vishvanathasthanapati
• “The forgotten history of vijayanagar empire”by Robert seawell
• The Kannada and Telugu literature, like Manucharitram, Saluvabhyudayam, etc., patronized in the Vijayanagar court, give genealogical, political and social information.

Foreign Accounts:

• Nicholo de contivisited Vijayanagar durinh times of Devaraya 1 and gave details about his personality.
• Abdul Razzaqfrom Persia visited during Devaraya 2. He described the beauty of capital city Hampi.
• Domingo Paes andBarbosa visted during Krishnadevraya time.
• Nunizvisted during the times of achyuthdevaraya

Inscriptions:

• Bitragunta inscription is the major source for construction of family history of sangama dynasty.
• Srirangam copper plates of Devaraya II provide the genealogy and achievements of Vijayanagar rulers.
• Various copper plate inscriptions of krishnadevraya time.
• The Hampi ruins and other monuments of Vijayanagar provide information on the cultural contributions of the Vijayanagar rulers.

Political History:

• Vijayanagar was ruled by four different dynasties
• Sangama dynasty (1336-1486)
• Saluvadynasty(1486-1506)
• Tuluva dynasty(1506-1565)
• Aravidudynasty(1570-1647)

Sangam Dynasty:

• Harihara rayawas first ruler. Vijayanagar and Bahamani conflict started during his times.
• Bukaraya ascended throne after harihara.
• Bukka’s son kamparaya annexed Madurai.
• This episode was written by Gangadevi (wife of kamparaya) as Madhuravijayamin Sanskrit.
• He captured revatidweepa(Goa).
• He created Pansupari bazaar in Hampi
• Bukaraya was succeeded by harihara 2 and later Devaraya came to power
• Devaraya 1 was the first important king. He was the first to construct dam across river Tungabhadra
• Devarya 1was defeated by Bahaman sultan Feroz shah 1.
• The greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty was Deva Raya II.
• He inducted muslim archersinto army.
• He was first vijayanagara ruler to collect tributes from cylon.
• After his death, Sangama dynasty became weak.
• The last king virupaksharaya was dethroned by his commander Saluva Narsimharaya 1,and he stared Saluva dynastic rule.

Saluva Dynasty:

• Narasimha raya 2 was the greatest in saluva dynasty.
• Annamcharayalived during this time period.
• After the death of Narasimha 2, Narasa nayaka installed his son veeranarsimha on throne.
• Veeranarasimha started rule of Tuluva dynasty.

Conflict Between Vijayanagar &Bahamanis

• There were constant conflicts between the Vijayanagar and the Bahamani kingdoms over the control of Raichur doab which was the land between rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra.
• This area was fertile and rich in mineral resources.
• The famous diamond mines of Golconda were located in the eastern part of the doab region.
• The geography of both the kingdoms was such that expansion was possible only across Tungabhadra in the Deccan.
• It appears that the battles between the two were not conclusive and the status quo was maintained

Tuluva dynasty:

• After the death of Veeranarasimha , prime minister Thimmarasu installed Krishnadevaraya on throne.
• Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) was the greatest in this dynasty.
• He was a great commander and an efficient administrator.
• He fought a series of war with the independent kingdoms that came on the ruins of the Bahamani kingdom, maintained law and order and dealt with the Portuguese influence in the Deccan.
• He completely shattered the Adil Shahi forces of Bijapur first and attacked Gulbarga and set free three Bahamani princes who were imprisoned there.
• He helped them in recovering the throne of Gulbarga and Krishna Deva himself took the title of Yavanarajyasthapanacharya.
• He started his eastern campaign in 1513AD.
• Udayagiri was the first fort to be captured by Krishnadevaraya.
• He defeated Prataparudra Gajapati of Orissa.
• He married Gajapati princess Tukkadevi or Annapurnadevi.
• Raichur campaign in 1520 was his last campaign.
• He defeated Ismail Adil shah.
• Portugese governor Alfanso de Alburque concluded treaty with Krishnadevaraya.
• In 1510 Portugese captured Goa from Bijapur Sultan.
• He was a great patron of literature and art and he was known as Andhra Bhoja
• Eight eminent scholars known as Ashtadiggajas were at his royal court.
• Due the death of his son, Krishnadevaraya received nervous breakdown and passed away in 1529.
• After his death, Achyutadeva and Sadashivraya succeeded the throne.
• During the reign of Rama Raya, the Bahaman confederacy(combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golkonda and Bidar) defeated him (Ramaraya) at the Battle of Talaikote in 1565.
• Rama Raya was imprisoned and executed.
• The city of Vijayanagar was destroyed.
• This battle was generally considered to mark the end of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• However, the Vijayanagar kingdom existed under the Aravidu dynastyfor about another century.

Aravidu Dynasty:

• Thirumala, Sri Ranga and Venkata II were the important rulers of this dynasty.
• Venkata II was contemporary to Akbar.
• He shifted capital city.
• The last ruler of Vijayanagar kingdom was Sri Ranga III.
• Sri Ranga was defeated by Mir Jumla of Golconda in battle of Vandavasi in 1647.
• Vijyanagar empire came to an end with this.

Administration:

• They followed traditional monarchy.
• The king was the ultimate authority in the kingdom. He was also the supreme commander of the army.
• The king was assisted by a council of ministers in his day-to-day administration.
• One of the important characteristics of the Vijayanagar administration was the amaranayakaThis is similar to the iqta system of Delhi Sultanate.
• In this system, the commander of the Vijayanagar army was called the nayaka. Each nayaka was given an area for administration. The nayaka was responsible for expanding agricultural activities in his area
• He collected taxes in his areaand with this income maintained his army, horses, elephants and weapons of warfare that he had to supply to the raya or the Vijayanagar ruler
• The amara-nayakas sent tributeto the king annually and personally appeared in the royal court with gifts to express their loyalty.

Revenue:

• Land revenue was the major source of income to the state.
• Generally it was it was at the rate of one sixth of the total produce.

Society:

• People were found of luxurious life.
• Silk and cotton clothes were mainly used for dress. Perfumes, flowers and ornaments were used by the people. Paes mentions of the beautiful houses of the rich and the large number of their household servants.
• Prostitution was institutionalized.
• Devadasior temple dancer system became more popular.
• Practice of satifurther strengthened.
• Existence of four caste- Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras.

Religion:

• The Sangama rulers were chiefly Saivaites and Virupaksha was their family deity. But other dynasties were Vaishnavites.
• But all kings were tolerant towards other religions.
• Borbosa referred to the religious freedom enjoyed by everyone.
• Muslims were employed in the administration and they were freely allowed to build mosques and worship.
• Shunya sampadane– a collection of vachanas produced in this age. (Vachanas literally meaning sayings in kannada, these are poetic verses composed in kannada language, popularized by veershaiva movement led by Basavanna).

Literature:

• Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu language witnessed voluminous literature in Vijayanagar period.
• Few Sanskrit works are.
  • Gangadevi wrote- Madhuravijayam
  • Krishnadevarya wrote – ushaparinayan, jambavantikalyanam, madalasacharita.
  • Guru vidyaranya wrote—Raja kalanirnaya
• Literary works in Kannada.
  • Chamarasa wrote – prabhulingaleele
  • Kanakadas wrote – Ramadhanacharite, nala charite, mohantarangini
  • Kumaravyasa wrote – Karnataka katha manjari
  • Purandardas — keertanas
• Literary works in Telugu
  • Krishnadevaraya wrote – Amuktamalyada
  • Allasanipedanna wrote – Manucharita
  • Nandi timanna wrote – Parijathaparahana etc
• Ashtadiggajas– eight great poets of Telugu literature flourished in the court of Krishnadevaraya.

Architecture:

• They used the Dravidian style of architecture later added some unique features to it and it came to be called as Vijayanagara style.
• Preferred for its durability, local hard granite was the building material of choice, as it had been for the Badami Chalukyas.
• Vijayanagar temples are surrounded by strong enclosuresand characterized by ornate pillared kalyanamandapa (marriage halls);
• Tall raya gopurams(carved monumental towers at the entrance of the temple) built of wood, brick, and stucco in the Chola style; and
• Adorned with life-sized figures of gods and goddesses.
• This dravida style became popular during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya and is seen in South Indian temples constructed over the next two centuries.
• The courtly architecture of Vijayanagar is generally made of mortar mixed with stone rubble and often shows secular styles with Islamic-influenced arches, domes, and vaults.