Battle of Talikota
Around the Villages of Rakshāsi and Tengadi near Talikota in present day Karnataka
What happened
Aliya Rama Raya, the powerful regent of the Vijayanagara Empire, fought an alliance of four Deccan sultanates: Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar. Rama Raya had pushed hard to control land in the Deccan and angered the neighbouring sultanates, so they joined together against him. Their armies met near Talikota, in what is now Karnataka, India. Vijayanagara's army was defeated and Rama Raya was lost in the battle, and the sultanates' armies went on to plunder the empire's capital at Vijayanagara, today's Hampi.
Why it matters
Result: Deccan Sultanates alliance victory Sacking of Vijayanagara Complete decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. Leaders: Ali Adil Shah I / Ali Barid Shah I against Aliya Rama Raya / Tirumala Deva Raya. Why it matters: The battle ended the power of the Vijayanagara Empire in southern India. The royal centre of its capital was never rebuilt, and Bijapur gained the most power.
What came next
Rama Raya's brother Tirumala moved the capital to Penukonda and founded the Aravidu dynasty. The empire slowly broke apart and ended in 1646.
Did you know?
The ruins of the old capital at Hampi are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Timeline
- 1336 CEBrothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I found the Vijayanagara Empire.
- 23 January 1565 CEThe Deccan sultanates defeat Vijayanagara near Talikota.
- After 1565 CEPenukonda becomes the new capital.
- 1646 CEThe last remnants of the empire come to an end.