The Vijayanagara–Gajapati War[1] (1512–1516) was a major conflict between the Vijayanagara Empire under Emperor Krishnadevaraya and the Gajapati Kingdom of Odisha, led by Prataparudra Deva. The war began with Krishnadevaraya's determined campaign to capture the Udayagiri fort, held by Tirumala Routaraya, a key Gajapati commander. After several failed attempts, Krishnadevaraya personally led the assault and successfully captured the fort in 1514.[1]
| Vijayangara–Gajapati War | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Gajapati dynasty |
 Vijayanagara Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Prataprudra Deva  Virbhadra (POW) Tirumala Routaraya Naraharipatra (POW) Mullukhan (POW) Uddanda Khan (POW) Hachi-Raju (POW) Srinatha Raju (POW) Lakshmipathi (POW) Balachandra (POW) Prahareswara (POW) Bodajamma (POW) Bijili Khan (POW) |
Krishnadevaraya Timmarusu | ||||||||
He then turned his attention to Kondavidu, which was defended by Prince Virabhadra, son of Prataparudra Deva. Assisted by his general Timmarusu, Krishnadevaraya captured Kondavidu in 1515, taking Virabhadra as a prisoner. The war concluded with Prataparudra Deva suing for peace and marrying his daughter to Krishnadevaraya, symbolizing a political alliance between the two kingdoms.[2]
Background
editKrishnadevaraya ascended to the throne of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1509, during a period of intense rivalry with the Bahmani Sultanate in the Deccan region. These conflicts, known as the Bahmani–Vijayanagara Wars, were driven by territorial disputes and struggles for regional supremacy.[3] Historically, Bahmani forces conducted annual raids into Vijayanagara territories with little resistance.[4] However, Krishnadevaraya adopted a more aggressive military strategy upon his coronation, signaling a shift in the empire's approach to defending its territories.[5]
In 1509, when Bahmani forces led by Sultan Mahmud Shah II launched their customary invasion from Bidar, they were met with unexpected and decisive resistance from Krishnadevaraya's army. This successful defense marked a turning point in the ongoing conflict, as Krishnadevaraya's proactive campaigns not only repelled the invasion but also strengthened Vijayanagara’s dominance in the Deccan. These efforts significantly altered the balance of power between the two states and solidified Krishnadevaraya's legacy as a formidable ruler and military leader.[6][7]
Vijayangara–Gajapati Wars
editSiege of Udayagiri (1513-1514)
editKrishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara secured his northern borders before directing his forces eastward to lay siege to the formidable hill fortress of Udayagiri, located in present-day Nellore. The fortress was held by Tirumala Rautaraya on behalf of his nephew, King Pratapudra Gajapati of Orissa.[1] After several unsuccessful attempts, Krishnadeva personally took command, defeated a relief army led by Pratapudra, and captured the fortress through a storming assault between January 1513 and June 9, 1514.[2][8]
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Siege of Kondavidu (1515)
editIn early 1515, after a brief respite of just a few months, Krishna Deva Raya resumed military campaigns.[9] While Udayagiri had provided his kingdom with strategic advantages, he yearned for a more natural frontier. Driven by the desire for military renown and to cement his legacy in history, he commanded Saluva Timmarusu to prepare provisions and ensure the full payment of his forces. With these preparations complete, Krishna Deva Raya set out in 1515 to capture Kondaveedu, a key fort that had been lost in 1514.[1] By this time, Kondaveedu had become a significant stronghold and the capital of a province, with Prince Virabhadra, a son of Pratapa Rudra Gajapati, in charge. Upon learning that the King of Orissa was marching to its defense with a massive army of 1,300 elephants, 20,000 cavalry, and 500,000 infantry, Krishna Deva Raya left a small force to continue the siege of Kondaveedu and led his main army forward to confront the Gajapati forces.[2]
Battle of Meduru (1515)
editAfter advancing four leagues, the Vijayanagar army encountered the King of Gajapati was camped on the opposite bank of a river. The Raya, stationed on their side of the river, sent a message to Pratap Rudra, suggesting that to avoid unnecessary loss of life during the crossing, it would be better to either allow the Vijayanagar forces to cross unopposed or for the Orissa army to cross safely while the Vijayanagar forces withdrew two leagues. However, the King of Orissa did not respond, and the Vijayanagar army crossed the river despite opposition. This led to several skirmishes, resulting in many casualties.[9] Ultimately, the Vijayanagar forces successfully crossed and engaged in a major battle on the far bank, where the King of Orissa was defeated and forced to flee. Krishnadev Raya of Vijayanagar captured numerous horses and elephants from the Orissan forces before resuming the siege of Kondaveedu.[2]
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Capture of Kondavidu (1515)
editAfter Krishnadevraya's departure, nearly two months were spent besieging the walls of Kondaveedu. A fresh attack from the main body of his army made further defense untenable, and after a day and a half of resistance, the fort fell on June 23, 1515. Among the prisoners taken were Prince Virabhadra, Naraharipatra (son of Kumara Hammira Mahapatra), Mullukhan, Uddanda Khan of Raichur, Rachi-Raju of Pusapadu, Srinath Raju and Lakshmipathi Raju (sons of Rama Raju), Kesava Patra of Jamjala, Balachandra Mahapatra from the west, and other nobles and feudatory chiefs. The Oriya prince was sent to Vijayanagar for safekeeping. Saluva Timmarusu was appointed to command the captured fort, but as he wished to accompany the king, his brother Kondayya was left as his representative.[1]
The Vijayanagar army then moved to capture the remaining forts in the region. Vinukonda surrendered, and Mantri Bhaskara was left in charge. Bellamukonda was captured and handed over to Veerabhadrayya, while Nagarjunakonda was entrusted to Ayyalaya. With the capture of other forts such as Addanki, Ammanabolu, Tangedu, and Ketavaram, the conquest of the Kondaveedu province was completed, and the Vijayanagara frontier was restored to its former boundaries along the mouths of the Krishna River.[2][9]
Capture of Kondapalli (1516)
editAfter returning home, Krishnadevraya rested for only 5 or 6 months. However, inactivity was not in his nature. While his earlier military conquests had secured his empire, it is likely that Krishnadevraya felt that although victory was achieved on the battlefield, no formal peace had been made with his enemies, leaving his empire vulnerable. The king of Gajapati, ce again gathered his best soldiers at Kondapalli, just 5 miles north of Krishnadev Raya's territory, posed a renewed threat. To ensure the security of his empire, Krishnadevraya decided to launch another campaign to decisively defeat his adversary and secure the much-needed peace.[2]
Determined, Krishnadevraya departed from Vijayanagar in early 1516 A.D. Along the way, he visited Ahobilam to pay respects to Lord Narasimha, offering valuable jewels and a village to His service. He then continued his march, reaching Bezwada, which he captured, before encamping near Kondapalli. The siege of Kondapalli began with Krishna usual vigor and persistence. During this time, the Vijayanagar army captured several neighboring territories, including Rajamahendri, Anantagiri, Kanakagiri, and Sankaragiri, burning Vengi and plundering the delta tracts. After three months, Kondapalli fell. Among the prisoners taken were Prahareswara Patra, Bodajamma Mahapatra, Bijili Khan, and a son and wife of the Gajapati. Krishnadev Raya sent them to Vijayanagar by road and then proceeded westward into Golkonda territory, leaving garrisons to secure the newly captured regions.[9]
The Conquest of Kalinga (1516)
editAfter an incident, Krishnadevraya turned east and marched towards Simhadri via Jammiloya, where he waited for six months for the king of Orissa to meet him. During this time, he visited Srikakulam to pay homage to the deity Andhra-Madhusudana. Meanwhile, Pratapa Rudra, the Gajapati king, called a council of war with his key vassals, including sixteen prominent lords, who declared war on Krishnadevraya.[2]
As the battle preparations intensified, Krishnadev Raya's minister Timmarusu resorted to diplomacy. He sent agents with bribes and treasonous letters to the Gajapati nobles, encouraging them to betray their king.[9] Some letters were intentionally misdelivered, and when Pratapa Rudra discovered them, he fled to the Vindhya jungles, followed by his confused vassals. With the Gajapati forces in disarray, Krishnadevraya easily captured Cuttack, the enemy capital, and celebrated his victory by erecting a pillar of triumph.[10][11]
Aftermath
editPeace with Gajapatis
editIn 1516, Krishna Raya's expedition to Orissa aimed for military glory rather than plunder. He instructed his soldiers to avoid harming the city, ensuring that both the poor and the Gajapati's palaces were protected from pillage.[2] After securing local goodwill, Krishnadevraya sent a message to the fleeing King Pratap Rudra, offering to return the conquered territories if peace was made. Impressed by this generosity, Pratap Rudra returned to his capital.[9]
The peace negotiations were led by Timmarusu, who used his diplomatic skill to convince Pratap Rudra to give his daughter, Tukka, in marriage to Krishnadevraya.[10] The marriage was celebrated with great pomp, and Pratap Rudra also agreed to give Krishnadevraya the provinces south of the Krishna River as part of the dowry. In return, Krishnadevraya relinquished his newly conquered lands north of the river, signaling goodwill towards his father-in-law. This agreement ended their hostilities, securing peace between the two once-enemy kings. Krishnadevraya returned home with his bride in June 1516, accompanied by the Gajapati's ministers and attendants.[11]
See also
editReference
edit- ^ a b c d e Jaques, Tony (2006-11-30). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8,500 Battles from Antiquity through the Twenty-first Century [3 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 540–1049. ISBN 978-0-313-02799-4.540-1049&rft.pub=Bloomsbury Publishing USA&rft.date=2006-11-30&rft.isbn=978-0-313-02799-4&rft.aulast=Jaques&rft.aufirst=Tony&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=EbLOEAAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Vijayangara–Gajapati War" class="Z3988">
- ^ a b c d e f g h GOPAL, M. H. (1956). THE HISTORY OF VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE VOL.1. POPULAR PRAKASHAN,BOMBAY. pp. 123–132.123-132&rft.pub=POPULAR PRAKASHAN,BOMBAY&rft.date=1956&rft.aulast=GOPAL&rft.aufirst=M. H.&rft_id=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12385&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Vijayangara–Gajapati War" class="Z3988">
- ^ R. C. Majumdar, General Editor (1967). History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 06,The Delhi Sultanate. Public Resource. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 309–310.309-310&rft.pub=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan&rft.date=1967&rft.aulast=R. C. Majumdar&rft.aufirst=General Editor&rft_id=https://archive.org/details/delhisultanate00bhar&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Vijayangara–Gajapati War" class="Z3988">
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ Sarma, P. Sree Rama (1992). A History of Vijayanagar Empire. Prabhakar Publications. p. 79.
- ^ Stoker, Valerie (2016-09-30). Polemics and Patronage in the City of Victory: Vyasatirtha, Hindu Sectarianism, and the Sixteenth-Century Vijayanagara Court. Univ of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-96546-1.
- ^ Eaton, Richard M. (2005-11-17). A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761: Eight Indian Lives. Cambridge University Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-521-25484-7.
- ^ First Encyclopaedia of Islam: 1913-1936. BRILL. 1993. p. 128. ISBN 978-90-04-09796-4.
- ^ Deb, Achintya Kumar (1984). The Bhakti Movement in Orissa: A Comprehensive History. Kalyani Devi. p. 27.
- ^ a b c d e f Sarma, P. Sree Rama (1992). A History of Vijayanagar Empire. Prabhakar Publications. pp. 141–150.141-150&rft.pub=Prabhakar Publications&rft.date=1992&rft.aulast=Sarma&rft.aufirst=P. Sree Rama&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=TmhuAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Vijayangara–Gajapati War" class="Z3988">
- ^ a b Nanaiah, N. Saraswathi (1992). The Position of Women During Vijayanagara Period, 1336-1646. Printed at Southern Printers. p. 135.
- ^ a b Jayasree, K. (1991). Agrarian Economy in Andhra Under Vijayanagar. Navrang. p. 21. ISBN 978-81-7013-084-0.