Battle of Raichur
Raichur, between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, Karnataka, India
What happened
Emperor Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara fought Sultan Ismail Adil Shah of Bijapur. Vijayanagara and Bijapur had long disputed the fertile land around the fortress of Raichur. Adil Shah crossed the Krishna River to relieve the besieged fort. Vijayanagara's first attack stalled under cannon fire, but Krishnadevaraya rallied his troops, the Bijapur army retreated, and the Raichur garrison later surrendered.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It weakened Bijapur's power and led other Deccan sultans to ally against Vijayanagara. According to historian Richard Eaton, the victory may have made Vijayanagara overconfident about its military methods.
What came next
Krishnadevaraya occupied Bijapur for a time. He died in 1530 and was succeeded by Achyuta Deva Raya.
Did you know?
Krishnadevaraya demanded that Adil Shah come and kiss his foot to get his lands back; it never happened, and a historian's essay on the battle is titled 'Kiss My Foot, Said the King'.
Timeline
- 1284Raichur Fort is built by a Kakatiya king.
- 1323The Bahmanis capture Raichur Fort.
- 19 May 1520Vijayanagara wins at Raichur.
- 1530Krishnadevaraya dies.