by Lian Slayford-Wei

Created on: May 24, 2009   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

A History of the Vijayanagara Kingdom

The kingdom of Vijayanagara, located at modern day Hampi, is situated on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River in Bellary district, Karnataka. This site served as the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from the mid-fourteenth century CE to 1565 CE.

The ruins of the city of Vijayanagara are spread over a broad area of about 25 square kilometres from the village of Hampi in the north to Kamalapuram in the south. The outer lines of its fortifications and the built-up areas, however, include a much larger area, from Anegondi in the north to modern Hospet in the south (Verghese, p.417).

Archaeological evidence has revealed that this area was under the control of various dynasties that ruled Karnataka successively prior to the Vijayanagara Empire, including the early Western Chalukyas, the Later-Chalukyas, the Hoysalas and the Kampili chiefs.

The foundation of Vijayanagara is generally attributed to Hukka and Bukka, known as the Sangama brothers. The Empire emerged at a time of significant disintegration in the south Indian political setting. Invasions from the north had destabilized many established power houses, and former important states and empires in the region had mainly collapsed, leaving a political situation subjugated by numerous small, chiefly centres and small kingdoms. At this time, Vijayanagara was an unimportant area with little political power. However, the Sangama brothers began a series of southward invasions and within a short time, the Vijayanagara Empire claimed authority over much of India south of the Tungabhadra.

Hampi was selected as the seat of power by the founders of the Vijayanagara kingdom due to its strategic location as well as military considerations. To the north and west, the hillocks and rocky outcrops offered natural protection and these were later 'woven' into the fortifications.

It was not only this natural protection from enemies that this site was chosen to be the seat of their power; there was a mythic association that held great appeal. A variety of foundation myths propose that the site was alleged to have powerful divine or cosmic protection. The most popular is the story of the 'hare and the hounds'. According to this legend, Hukka (1336-56 CE) and Bukka (1356-77 CE) (the first king of the Sangama dynasty and his brother, who was probably the first ruler to establish his capital at Vijayanagara) were out hunting in the Hampi region when the hare that was being pursued

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>