THE FORGOTTEN EMPEROR

VENKATAPATI RAYA II: THE LAST GREAT EMPEROR OF VIJAYANAGAR

In popular and scholarly thinking, it is assumed that the fall of the Vijayanagar empire was after the battle of Raksas Tangadi in January 1565 when the combined forces of the Deccan sultans killed Rama Raya and sacked Vijayanagar. However, this is not the full story. What many are not aware of is that the Empire continued in a shrunken form with its capital at Penukonda in Andhra country for nearly a century after. This is due to the courage of the kings Sriranga I and Venkata II. 

After the sack of Vijayanagara, Tirumala, the brother of Rama Raya, fled with the ruler Sadashiva who was a minor and set up his capital at Penukonda. Though there was a great shock among the allies and feudatories of the kingdom due to the sack of its capital, the prestige of the Empire was such that they continued to pay tribute and regard the Vijayanagar ruler as the Emperor of South India. Capitalizing on this respect, Tirumala and his son Sriranga managed to hold the invading sultans at bay and thus let the kingdom continue.

Venkatapati, the younger brother of Sriranga, who came to the throne at Penukonda in 1586 was the greatest ruler of the Aravidu dynasty of Vijayanagar. He managed to rein in his recalcitrant feudatories and also to defeat the sultans of Bijapur and Golconda. Immediately on coming to the throne, he secured the services of Achyutappa Nayaka of Tanjore. This was particularly fortunate as the Nayaka had a powerful army. Soon after his coronation, probably between 1587 and 1589, the sultan of Bijapur launched an invasion of Vijayanagar territory and laid siege to Penukonda. But the sultan had underestimated his opponent. Learning from the mistakes of his predecessors, Venkata had built a powerful army which was composed of primarily musketeers and cavalrymen unlike his ancestors who relied on archers and swordsmen. The musketeers who had been trained in marksmanship kept the enemy at bay while a message was sent to the Nayaka of Tanjore for reinforcements. Fresh troops with a large contingent of musketeers were sent under Raghunatha, the son of Achyuta. While Venkata engaged the enemy from front, Raghunatha launched an attack on its rear, throwing the sultan's forces into confusion. Ibrahim Adil Shah II had no option but to retreat from the siege. Most Indian kings would have been content at this. But Venkata saw an opportunity in his enemy's flight. He immediately rallied all his forces and combined them with the troops of Raghunatha. He then pursued the retreating opponent across Andhra into Karnataka thus capturing vast areas of territory from him. This shows considerable foresight and initiative on the part of the Vijayanagar king. It is significant that the Sultan of Bijapur never again entered into hostilities with him.

However, the Raya's last act proved to be the downfall of the empire. He bypassed his son and nominated his nephew as the new emperor. With this civil war broke out and once again exposed the kingdom to outside influences.