Rise of Vijayanagar after Talikota: Transfer of Capital to Penukonda

During the reign of the Tuluva emperor, Sadashiva Raya (r: 1542-1570), Aliya Rama Raya, the ambitious son-in-law of Krishnadeva Raya, virtually governed the kingdom. In 1565, Rama Raya was defeated by the combined forces of the four Deccan Sultans - Ali Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur, Ibrahim Qutub Shah, the Sultan of Golconda, Hussein Nizam Shah, the Sultan of Ahmednagar, and Ali Barid Shah, the Sultan of Bidar - in a fierce battle, known as the battle of Talikota.

Although he lost one eye, Rama's brother Tirumala managed to escape the battle. When he learned of Rama Raya's execution, Tirumala quickly returned to the capital. Accompanied by his family, relatives, his brothers' families, troops, treasury, valuables, and the captive sovereign Sadashiva, he departed for Penukonda. Some accounts suggest that Rama's other brother Venkatadri also survived the battle and sought refuge in a distant fortress, possibly Chandragiri.


Diogo do Couto, a Portuguese historian, observed that even after the inhabitants had fled with their treasures, the city of Vijayanagar (Hampi) was raided by neighboring village tribes who looted vast riches. Couto pointed out that the Portuguese in India suffered significant losses following the defeat of Rama Raya. The Goan people engaged in highly profitable commerce with Vijayanagar, trading horses, velvets, brocades, and other goods for precious stones and fine cloths. This trade resulted in doubling of money and gold pagodas, with over two million in gold flowing into Goa for use in ships bound for Portugal and for purchasing goods from China.


After ten days of pillaging on the battle field, the Sultans advanced towards Vijayanagar, where they encamped for five to six months. During this time, Ali Adil Shah captured the significant forts of Raichur and Mudgal.

The brief unity among the Sultans that led to the victory at the battle of Talikota did not last long. Disputes arose over the division of plunder and territory, prevented any further conquests of the kingdom. After seizing a significant amount of loot, the allies chose to return to their respective kingdoms.

Tirumala Returns to Vijayanagar

Tirumala declared himself regent of the empire. After the Sultans left, he returned to Vijayanagar and attempted to re-establish the destroyed city. He even induced the Portuguese to recommence their horse trade. Caesar Frederick, a Venetian merchant visited Vijayanagar in 1567, two years after it was sacked. He had come from Goa alongside two other merchants who brought 300 Arabian horses for Tirumala.

Tirumala had asked the merchants in Goa to bring him horses, offering good payment. The two merchants who were with Frederick brought their horses to Vijayanagar. Tirumala had promised a generous reward to any merchant who provided horses, even those that were taken at the battle of Talikota. Seeing that many horses were being brought to him through this method, he treated the merchants with kindness until they could no longer provide any. Yet, once he received their horses, Tirumala refused to pay the merchants and sent them away empty-handed.


Frederick spent seven months in Vijayanagar. He described the city as follows: The city of Vijayanagar is not altogether destroyed, but the houses were empty, inhabited only by tigers and other wild animals. The city has a circumference of twenty-four miles and within the walls were certain mountains. The houses are simple, constructed of earth, with the exception of the three palaces of the tyrant brothers and the pagodas (idol houses), which were constructed with lime and fine marble.

Despite the deserted appearance of the city, it was remarkably safe from thieves. Portuguese merchants felt secure enough to sleep in the streets or under porches due to the intense heat, yet they never experienced any harm during the night.

Frederick's account of Tirumala's palace highlighted the fact that not all significant buildings in the city were destroyed by the Deccan Sultans.

I have seen many kings courts, and yet have I seen none in greatness like to this of Vijayanagar, I say for the order of his palace, for it has nine gates or ports. First when you go into the palace where the king did lodge, there are five great ports or gates: these are kept with captains and soldiers; then within these there are four lesser gates, which are kept with porters. Without the first gate there is a little porch, where there is a captain with five and twenty soldiers, that keep watch and ward night and day; and within that another with the like guard, where through they come to a very fair court, and at the end of that court there is another porch as the first, with the like guard, and within that another court. And in this wise are the first five gates guarded and kept with captains: and then the lesser gates within are kept with a guard of porters: which gates stand open the greatest part of the night, because the custom of the Gentiles is to do their business, and make their feasts in the night, rather than by day.

Frederick even witnessed many Hindu women committing Sati, where a widow immolates herself on her husband's funeral pyre. He adds, "Beside these, there is an infinite number of beastly qualities among them which I have no desire to write."

AI Image of Hampi Ruins

Relocation of the Royal Court to Penukonda

Tirumala spent nearly two years in Vijayanagar, attempting to bring back the old glory of the capital city. Being failed in that attempt, in 1567, Tirumala shifted the capital to Penukonda, and governed the kingdom in Sadashiva's name. This marked the beginning of the last dynasty of Vijayanagara rulers, known as the Aravidu dynasty.

Caesar Frederick states, "In 1567, for the ill success that the people of Vijayanagar had, in that their city was sacked by the four kings, the king with his court went to dwell in a castle eight days journey up in the land from Vijayanagar, called Penukonda."

The remnants of the once magnificent capital can still be seen at Hampi. As the city was abandoned by Tirumala, it gradually fell to ruins.