Sadashiv Raya was the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire at the time of the Battle of Talikota. Historians say that Sadashiv was a nominal ruler, the real power of this power was also in the hands of his minister Ram Rai. Sadashiv Raya tried to crush the Deccan sultanates completely by creating disputes during his rule, however later these sultanates came to know about this plan of Vijayanagara and they united to form an alliance. did. This alliance included Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar. Due to mutual enmity between Golconda and Berar, Berar did not join it.
Beginning of the war, Sultan Ali Adilshah of Bijapur demanded the return of forts like Raichur, Mudgal, Adoni etc. from Vijayanagar. Minister Ram Rai turned down this demand. After which, on 23 January 1565, the war between the combined forces and Vijayanagara started at Talikota (Rakshasi Tangli or Banni Hatti). The Vijayanagara army was badly defeated in the battle. 70 year old Ram Rai fought valiantly but was surrounded and brutally killed. Later the city of Vijayanagara was ruthlessly looted.
Why did this war happen?
The Battle of Bannihatti or Talikota marked the end of the glorious era of the Vijayanagara Empire in general. Historians say that the real reason for this war was the similar jealousy and hatred of the southern sultanates towards Vijayanagara. It was a kind of political war. Sewell was an eyewitness to this war. He has written about this war that he saw the beginning of the end of the third day. After the victory of the war, the Muslims stayed on the battlefield for rest and refreshment, after which when they reached the capital, Vijayanagara was continuously plundered for five months from that time onwards. They set fire to the magnificently decorated buildings of Vitthal Swami’s temple near the river and massacred them fiercely.
result of war
Vijayanagara state lost its prominence in South Indian politics after the Battle of Talikota. The Kingdom of Mysore, the Nayaks of Vellore and the Nayaks of Keladi in Shimoga declared their independence from Vijayanagara. However, these Deccan sultanates could not take advantage of this defeat of Vijayanagara and again engaged in fighting with each other as before and eventually succumbed to the invasion of the Mughals.
In this war, the army of Vijayanagara had less number of cavalry as compared to the Deccan sultanates. On the other hand, the weapons used by the Vijayanagara army were not more useful than the Deccan sultanates, the artillery of the Deccan sultanates proved to be better in front of them. Historians believe that the biggest reason for Vijayanagara’s defeat was the betrayal of the Gilani brothers, due to which the Vijayanagara army had to face defeat.
key points of the war
- This battle of Talikota is also known as the ‘Battle of the demonic Tangri’ and ‘The Battle of Bannihatti’.
- The opposing confederacy of the Vijayanagara Empire included Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar.
- To start the war, the leader of this federation ‘Ali Adilshah’ asked Ram Rai to return the fort of Raichur and ‘Mudgal’.
- When the demand was rejected, the combined army of the Sultans of the south attacked on 25 January 1565.
- In the initial moments of this war, the United Front was seen to be failing, but in the last moments, the Muslim combined army wreaked havoc on the Vijayanagara army with the use of cannons.
