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Chapter: 07. Rise Of The Vijayanagar And Bahmani Kingdoms
Overview of the Kingdoms: Vijayanagar vs. Bahmani
Points of Comparison
Vijayanagar Kingdom
Bahmani Kingdom
Founders
Harihara I and Bukka Raya I
Alauddin Hassan (Alauddin Bahman Shah)
Year of Establishment
1336 CE
1347 CE
Geographical Location & Boundaries
South India, extending from the river Tungabhadra to Cape Comorin
Northern Deccan, extending from the Arabian Sea in the west to the Bay of Bengal in the east, with the river Krishna as its southern boundary
Duration of Rule
Approximately 230 years
Approximately 2 centuries (200 years)
Number of Rulers
16 kings
18 kings
Greatest Ruler / Leader
Krishnadeva Raya
Mahmud Gawan (Wazir/Prime Minister)
Capital Cities / Key Centers
Developed around Hampi (a holy place or tirth)
Gulbarga and Bidar
Core Conflict Area
Raichur Doab (annexed by Krishnadeva Raya)
Raichur Doab (constantly disputed battleground)
Religious Affiliation & Policy
Staunch Hindus, but highly tolerant; employed Muslims in the army and administration without discrimination
Patronized Islam; built mosques, madrasas, and libraries to promote Islamic studies
Court / Patronized Languages
Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam
Persian and Arabic
Key Architectural Marvels
Vithalaswami Temple, Hazar Rama Temple, and Virupaksha Temple
Jami Masjid (Gulbarga), Faizabad palaces/forts, Chand Minar (Daulatabad), and Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur)
Cause of Disintegration / End
Crushing defeat by an alliance of five Deccan sultanates in the Battle of Talikota (1565 CE)
Disintegrated by 1527 CE into five independent kingdoms due to internal noble conflicts after the execution of Mahmud Gawan
Prominent Leaders: Krishnadeva Raya vs. Mahmud Gawan
Points of Comparison
Krishnadeva Raya
Mahmud Gawan
Title / Role
King (Ruler)
Wazir (Prime Minister)
Associated Kingdom
Vijayanagar Kingdom
Bahmani Kingdom
Military Contributions
Brilliant general; won outstanding victories, extended boundaries, and annexed the fertile Raichur Doab
Competent general; extended kingdom boundaries and recaptured the port of Goa from Vijayanagar
Economic & Agricultural Policies
Encouraged foreign trade with the Portuguese; imposed custom duties; built dams and canals for irrigation
Promoted agriculture, leading the kingdom to economic prosperity
Literary Pursuits & Patronage
Fine Telugu poet and Sanskrit scholar; maintained a magnificent court for poets and learned men
Learned man; built a madrasa (college) in Bidar and donated his private collection of 3,000 books
Personal Lifestyle
Built magnificent temples and mansions; lived in a splendid court
Led a spartan lifestyle; slept on a mat, ate out of earthen vessels, and used wealth to help the poor
End of Reign / Legacy
Faded away after his reign due to weak and incompetent successors
Beheaded on the orders of the sultan due to a conspiracy by Deccani nobles; his death signaled the end of the Bahmani kingdom
Administrative Hierarchy in the Vijayanagar Kingdom
Administrative Level
Officer / Head in Charge
Key Administrative Features
Central Government
The King (assisted by a council of ministers chosen by him)
Absolute ruler whose will was law; worshipped by the people as God’s representative on earth
Provincial Government (Rajya or Mandalam)
Governor
The empire was divided into six provinces; governors were responsible for the administration of their respective province
District (Nadu)
Officials
Subdivisions of the provinces; managed by designated officials
Village (Grama)
Hereditary Officers
Bottom rung of the administrative ladder; the old feudal system was revived, and posts were hereditary
Internal Factions: Deccani Nobles vs. Pardesi Nobles
Points of Comparison
Deccani Nobles
Pardesi Nobles
Identity / Origin
Local nobles of the Deccan
Foreign nobles in the Bahmani kingdom
Key Historical Figure
Not mentioned in text
Mahmud Gawan was regarded as a Pardesi
Political Actions
Conspired against Mahmud Gawan and secured his execution
Target of local conspiracies; lost their prominent leader (Gawan) to execution
Role in Kingdom’s Fate
Controlled weak sultans; took over kingdom affairs after Gawan’s death, leading to disintegration by 1527 CE
Weakened and fragmented after the execution of Mahmud Gawan
Foreign Chroniclers: Domingo Paes vs. Abdur Razzaq
Points of Comparison
Domingo Paes
Abdur Razzaq
Country of Origin
Portugal
Persia
Century of Visit
16th century CE
15th century CE
Key Historical Work
Chronicle of the Kings of Vijayanagar
Not mentioned in text
Major Observations / Focus
Provided detailed accounts of the irrigation system, factories, towns, markets, and traded goods
Awed by the grandeur and splendour of the Vijayanagar kingdom; noted that everyone wore jewellery and precious gems were sold openly
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