Venkatapati Raya | |
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Maharajadhiraja Maharaya Vira | |
![]() Statue of Venkatapati Raya | |
Emperor of Vijayanagara | |
Reign | c. 1585 – c. 1614 CE |
Predecessor | Sriranga Deva Raya |
Successor | Sriranga II |
Died | October 1614 (aged 67) Vellore Fort, Vellore, Vijayanagara Empire (present-day Tamil Nadu, India) |
Spouse | Bayamma |
Dynasty | Aravidu |
Father | Tirumala Deva Raya |
Mother | Vengalamba |
Religion | Hinduism |
Venkatapati Raya (or Venkata II, r. 1585–1614 CE) was the third Emperor of Vijayanagara from the Aravidu Dynasty. He succeeded his older brother, the Emperor Sriranga Deva Raya as the ruler of Vijayanagara Empire with bases in Penukonda, Chandragiri and Vellore. His reign of nearly three decades saw a revival in the strength and prosperity of the empire. He successfully dealt with the Turko-Persian Deccan sultans of Bijapur and Golkonda, the internal disorders, promoting economic revival in the realm. He subdued the rebelling Nayakas of Tamil Nadu and parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh.
He was the fourth and the youngest son of the Emperor Tirumala Deva Raya and his Queen-consort Vengalamba and was the younger brother of the Emperor Sriranga Deva Raya. He served as the governor of Chandragiri and the Viceroy of Tamil Country before ascending the imperial throne of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1585.
Vijayanagara Empire |
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Ruling dynasties |
In 1588, he instigated a war with the Turko-Persian Golkonda and Bijapur Sultanates and captured some of the territories lost earlier by his predecessor. [1] Kasturi Ranga Nayaka, a scion of Recherla Velama dynasty was sent to check the combined armies of the Sultanates. Hindu army led by Kasturi Ranga and his son Yachama Nayaka fought a series of battles with patriotic zeal and achieved success. Muslim soldiers who escaped in these battles from the Vijayanagara Army joined their main troops on the upper banks of the river Pennar. Historic accounts say that the strength of sultanates' army was more than 120,000 and Turko-Afghan gunners were with them to fire their Artillery units. Kasturi Ranga led the imperial troops north and met the enemy directly on the upper bank of river Pennar. [2]
The clash raged for eight hours, artillery units of the sultanate army created havoc in the Vijayanagara ranks but Yachama maintained discipline amongst his forces and rigorously pressed the attack. By the end of the day, the brave and wise generalship of Vijayanagara won the Battle of Pennar and more than 50,000 Turko-Persian Golkonda and Bijapur troops were exterminated including the sultanates' most able generals in Rustam Khan and Khasim Khan. Imperial forces drove their enemies into the Golkonda territory but the quarrel amongst the emperor's nobles prevented further attempts on Golkonda. Several of his feudatories in his North now revolted against him, including some of Aliya Rama Raya's descendants, but he successfully subdued them. [2]
In 1586, the Nayak of Gingee rebelled against the emperor Venkatapati, who then captured him and had him put in prison. He was only freed when Raghunatha, the Nayak of Tanjore secured his release in exchange for aiding the emperor in his Penukonda campaign.
During his imprisonment, Gingee was governed by an other Venkata, who was sent against him by the Emperor Venkatapathi Raya.
In 1601, another campaign led by his viceroy of Arcot and Chengelpet, Chennappa Nayaka subdued a revolt headed by Lingama Nayaka, the Nayak of Vellore. Later Lingama Nayaka of Vellore was defeated on the plains of Munnali, and the Vellore Fort was captured. [3] Vellore came under direct control of the Emperor Venkatapati Raya. Another expedition headed by Yachama Nayaka went right into the Madurai Nayak province and subdued the revolting Nayaks.
Chief of Nandyala Krishnamaraju revolted against Venkatapati Raya. Angered by this act the emperor sent an army under the command of matla ananta he defeated the krishnamaraju army in battle of nandela. [4]
Various chiefs of Vijaynagar Empire provinces revolted against the emperor. To restore order the emperor sent an army under Matla chief Ananta to subjugate the rebel chiefs of various provinces. Matala Ananta defeated and killed Ravelia Velikonda Venkatadri, defeated unknown rebel in battle of Jammalamadugu, and reduced the fort of Cuttack. He defeated the chief Kondaraju Venkatadri and captured from him the town of Chennur. [lower-alpha 1] [5] Gobburu chiefs rebelled against emperor velugoti chennaya defeated them at kalimili. [6] Velugoti Yachama Nayudu and his relative Singama Nayudu defeated Devaipupa Nayarlu at utramultur in the year 1601. [7] Yachama Nayudu defeated Mountain Chiefs at Tirupati and Captured Chengalpattu. [8] outside the fort of palembukota Yachama Nayudu defeated chief yatiraju. [9] Raghunatha nayak waged war against murasa people and successfully subjugated them. [10]
Around 1592, Venkatapati shifted the imperial capital south from Penukonda to Chandragiri near the Tirupati hills. After 1604, he shifted capital further south from Chandragiri to Vellore, which was used as a major base.
The northern territories of his empire were brought into order by offering easy terms on taxes and reviving agriculture, which was frequently run over by the invading Turko-Persian Sultans. Village administration was streamlined and judiciary was stringently enforced.
In 1608, the Dutch who were already trading in the Golkonda and Gingee regions sought permission to set up a factory in Pulicat. The English too started trading through the Dutch from Pulicat. Since 1586, Gobburi Obayama, the favorite queen-consort of Venkatapati Raya, now operating from the new capital at Chandragiri, was bequeathed Pulicat to rule. [11] She also gave aid to Portuguese Jesuits to build a residence at Pulicat.
Venkata II emerges from historical records as a figure of captivating beauty, immortalized in accounts that liken his features to celestial splendor. The Mangalampad grant elevates his allure to divine heights, comparing his cheeks to the luminous moon and suggesting that he surpassed the very essence of love in his radiance. Father Du Jarric's validation of Venkatapati Raya's physical charm further solidifies this image, highlighting his handsome countenance, accentuated by expressive eyes and well-proportioned stature. This description finds tangible embodiment in the statue adorning the Tirupati temple, where Venkata II's regal yet approachable presence stands as a testament to his enduring legacy, etched into the annals of history. [12]
Venkatapati, in spite of having several queens, did not have a son, hence appointed Sriranga II, the son of his older brother Rama as his successor. This was done to prevent one of his favorite queen Bayamma who practiced a fraud on the King by borrowing a baby of her Brahmin maid and calling it as her own. While Robert Swell's book mentions that the infant was surreptitiously introduced into the palace by Bayamma born out from the marriage of a niece of Venkata I (the son of Achyuta Deva Raya) and a Brahman boy, who had been and educated in the pretence that he was son of King Venkata.
Venkatapati Raya, knowing the controversial status of the so-called heir apparent, appointed Sriranga II, the son of his viceregal brother Rama, as his successor. However, Venkatapati Raya's death in October 1614 plunged the empire into a succession crisis that lasted four years. [13] Because of the crisis, some nayaka vassals ceased sending tribute to the emperor, and the Turko-Persian Bijapur and Golconda Sultanates encroached further on the Vijayanagara empire. Venkatapati Raya was succeeded by Sriranga II.
Rama Raya was a statesman of the Vijayanagara Empire, the son-in-law of Emperor Krishna Deva Raya and the progenitor of the Aravidu dynasty of Vijayanagara Empire, the fourth and last dynasty of the empire. As a regent, he was the de facto ruler of the empire from 1542 to 1565, although legally the emperor during this period was Sadasiva Raya, who was merely a puppet ruler. Rama Raya was killed at the Battle of Talikota, after which the Vijayanagara Empire got fragmented into several semi-independent principalities paying only nominal allegiance to the empire.
The Thanjavur Nayakdynasty were the rulers of Thanjavur in the 15th and 17th centuries. The Nayaks, who belonged to the Telugu-speaking Balija social group were originally appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagara Emperor in the 15th century, who divided the territory into Nayak kingdoms which were Madurai, Tanjore, Gingee and Kalahasthi. In the mid-15th century they became an independent kingdom, although they continued their alliance with the Vijayanagara Empire. The Thanjavur Nayaks were notable for their patronage of literature and the arts.
Pemmasani Nayaks were a ruling clan in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. They came into prominence during Vijayanagara Empire. After the Battle of Talikota in 1565 AD, the collapse of Vijayanagara Empire led to the emergence of Pemmasani Nayakas in the Rayalaseema region. They belonged to the Kamma social group.
Tuluva Narasa Nayaka was an Indian general a Bunt chieftain and later an Imperial Regent who founded the Tuluva dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire. He was the father of the Emperors Viranarasimha Raya, Krishnadevaraya and Achyuta Deva Raya.
Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in heart of the Vellore city, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India built by the Emperors of Vijayanagara. The fort was at one time the imperial capital of the Aravidu Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire. The fort is known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry.
Sriranga II was nominated in 1614 by Emperor Venkata II to succeed him as the Emperor of Vijayanagara. Sriranga was supported by a faction headed by Yachama Nayaka of Recherla Velama dynasty, one of the Venkata II's loyal viceroys and commanders and Nayak of Venkatagiri, but was not favored by a set of nobles headed by Gobburi Jagga Raya, brother of Venkata II's favourite Queen Obayamma.
Rama Deva Raya ascended the throne after a gruesome war in 1617 as the King of Vijayanagara Empire. In 1614 his father, Sriranga II the preceding King and his family were gruesomely murdered by rival factions headed by Jagga Raya, who was one of their kins. Rama Deva himself was smuggled out of the prison by Yachama Naidu, a faithful commander and the viceroy of earlier king Venkata II.
Sriranga III was the last ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, who came to power in 1642 following the death of his uncle Venkata III. He was also a great grandson of Aliya Rama Raya.
Sriranga Deva Raya was the second Emperor of Vijayanagara from the Aravidu Dynasty. He reigned the empire from the fortress of Penukonda. Sriranga succeeded his father, Emperor Tirumala Deva Raya. After the fall of Vijayanagara to Turko-Persian Sultanates of Deccan, he carried out the restoration of the empire from Penukonda. His reign was marred with repeated invasions and subsequent losses of territory to his Turko-Persian Muslim neighbours.
Venkata III was the grandson of Aliya Rama Raya. Venkata III belonged to a Telugu family and became the King of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1632 to 1642. His brothers-in-law were Damarla Venkatappa Nayaka and Damarla Ayyappa Nayaka, both sons of Damarla Chennapa Nayakadu.
The Madurai Nayaks were a Telugu dynasty who ruled most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital. The Madurai Nayaks had their origins in the Balija warrior clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh. The Nayak reign which lasted for over two centuries from around 1529 to 1736 was noted for its achievements in arts, cultural and administrative reforms, revitalization of temples previously ransacked by the Delhi Sultans, and the inauguration of a unique architectural style.
The Venkatagiri estate was an estate in the erstwhile Madras Presidency. It was located in the Nellore district of the present-day Andhra Pradesh. The town of Venkatagiri was the administrative headquarters.
The Nayaks of Gingee (Senji) were Telugu rulers of the Gingee principality of Tamil Nadu between 16th to 18th century CE. The Gingee Nayaks had their origins in the Balija warrior clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh. They were subordinates of the imperial Vijayanagara emperors, and were appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagar Emperor who divided the Tamil country into three Nayakships viz., Madurai, Tanjore and Gingee. Later, after the fall of the Vijayanagara's Tuluva dynasty, the Gingee rulers declared independence. While they ruled independently, they were sometimes at war with the Tanjore neighbors and the Vijayanagara overlords later based in Vellore and Chandragiri.
The Nayakas of Kalahasti were a line of rulers of Kalahasti and Vandavasi principalities. Members of the group include Damarla Chennapa Nayaka, after whom the city of Chennai is named. The Kalahasti Nayaks had their origins in the Velama warrior clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh. These Nayakas served as vassals of the late Vijayanagara Empire, then held by the Aravidu Dynasty and headquartered at Chandragiri and Vellore.
Gobburi Jagga Raya was a de facto King of Vijayanagara Empire on behalf adopted nephew named Chenga Raya, a rival claimant to the Vijaynagara thorne. He was the brother of Venkata II's favourite Queen Obayamma who was bequeathed the Pulicat region and belonged to the Gobburi family of Nayaks under the Vijayanagar Empire.
Damarla Chennapa Nayaka was a Nayaka ruler of Kalahasti and Vandavasi under the suzerainty of Vijayanagar emperor Venkatapati Raya. He was also the Dalavoy or the Commander-in-Chief of the emperor.
Kumara Krishnappa Nayak was a ruler of the Madurai Nayak dynasty. He was the successor of King Vishwanatha Nayak. He started ruling the country after his father's death in 1564. He made Tiruchirapalli as his capital.
This battle caused complete destruction of the already declining Vijayanagara Empire. It was a civil war fought by the claimants for the kingship of the Vijayanagara Empire. Jagga Raya challenged the Sriranga Authority on behalf of his nephew.
Pedda Koneti Nayak was a governor of Penukonda under the Vijayanagar Empire who later proclaimed his independence and founded the Penukonda Nayak kingdom. He reigned from 1635 to 1652.He ruled Penukonda, Rayadurgam and Kundurpi Forts.
The Deccani–Vijayanagar wars were a series of wars between 1495 to 1678 that pitted the rival powers of the Deccan Sultanates against the Vijayanagar Empire. Over the course of approximately 120 years, these two entities engaged in a series of wars and skirmishes that were marked by significant displays of military strength and strategic maneuvering.