The Battle of Raichur: The Beginning of the End
The fertile land of Raichur between Krishna and Tungabhadra River witnessed numerous battles on its land mostly fought between the kings of Vijayanagara and Muslim Rulers from Gulbarga & Bijapur.
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The fertile land of Raichur between Krishna and Tungabhadra River witnessed numerous battles on its land mostly fought between the kings of Vijayanagara and Muslim Rulers from Gulbarga & Bijapur.
#Thread
Out of the many battles fought, the battle of Raichur between Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara and Ismail Adil Shah of Bijapur marks the turning point in the history of South India. It is believed that Battle of Raichur was the nail in coffin leading to ruining of Vijayanagar.
Portuguese chronicler, Fernão Nunes’s records on Battle of Raichur sheds light on the causes, military, and aftermath of the war. The fort of Raichur was handed down to Vijayanagar empire at the fall of Kakatiya dynasty. The fort was captured by Bahmani’s 1323 CE.
Sri Krishnadevaraya had his eyes on Raichur since his coronation & in the year 1520 Krishnadevaraya sent Seyed Maraikar, a Muslim in his service to Goa with a large sum of money to buy horses. Maraikar instead went to Adil Khan with the money and offered his services.
Krishnadevaraya made a demand that Maraikar be returned along with the money which was duly refused. During the period of peace Krishnadevaraya made extensive preparations for a grand attack on Raichur doab. He marched with the army of 50000 scouts headed by Kamma Nayaka who led
the battalion in front with 30,000 infantry which included armed soldiers, lancers, musketeers, archers, horses, and elephants.
Portuguese also aided King Krishnadevaraya and participated in Riachur war with their battalion led by Christovao de Figueiredo.
Portuguese also aided King Krishnadevaraya and participated in Riachur war with their battalion led by Christovao de Figueiredo.
Nunes described the atmosphere in the camp of Raya:
“--where the supplies were so great that you could find everything that you wanted, where you saw the goldsmiths and artisans at work as if in a city, where you will find all kinds of precious stones offered for sale, and where
“--where the supplies were so great that you could find everything that you wanted, where you saw the goldsmiths and artisans at work as if in a city, where you will find all kinds of precious stones offered for sale, and where
no one who did not understand the meaning of what he saw would ever dream that a war was going on, but would think that he was in a prosperous city”.
The army upon nearing the fort of Raichur pitched the camp on the eastern side of that citadel and began the siege.
The army upon nearing the fort of Raichur pitched the camp on the eastern side of that citadel and began the siege.
After an interval Raya received intelligence of the arrival of Adil Shah on the north side of the Krishna, with an army of 140,000 horse and foot.
On May 19th or 20th in the year 1520 CE the forces became engaged. Raya’s army faced bombardment & the 1st line was forced retreat.
On May 19th or 20th in the year 1520 CE the forces became engaged. Raya’s army faced bombardment & the 1st line was forced retreat.
Krishnadevaraya, who commanded the 2nd line, rallied the troops, ordered a forward movement of the whole of his remaining divisions, and charged the now disordered ranks of the Muslims. This resulted in complete success and the Sultan’s army got scattered and fled.
Krishnadevaraya then crossed the river & seized the Shah's camp, while the Shah escaped with the help of Asad Khan. Raya then captured the fortress of Raichur & sent for Adil Shah that if he would come to him, do obeisance, and kiss his foot, his lands would be restored to him.
The submission never took place. Krishnadevaraya was brutal towards Bahamani Generals of Raichur as they had violated human rights by killing many people belonging to Hindu community.
The victory caused other Sultans in Deccan to form a coalition & consider a combination by the
The victory caused other Sultans in Deccan to form a coalition & consider a combination by the
aid of which the Vijayanagar Empire was finally overthrown.
The rulers of the Aravidu dynasty were weak and incompetent thus leading to fall of Vijayanagar in The Battle of Talikota in January 1565 AD. It is a watershed moment in South Indian medieval history,
The rulers of the Aravidu dynasty were weak and incompetent thus leading to fall of Vijayanagar in The Battle of Talikota in January 1565 AD. It is a watershed moment in South Indian medieval history,
but the fall of Vijayanagar had been set in motion four-and-a-half decades earlier at the Battle of Raichur (1520). The adage of having won the battle but lost the war stands true when it comes to the decline of India’s most glorious empire at the time.
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Information Sources: raichuronline[dot]in, Military History, bl[dot]uk Wiki and evolveback[dot]com
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