Venkatapati Deva Raya
Encyclopedia
Venkata II (r. 1586–1614 CE) the younger brother of Sriranga I became the ruler of Vijayanagara Empire
. His reign of three decades saw a revival of strength and prosperity of the empire. He dealt successfully with the Deccan sultans
of Bijapur and Golkonda
, the internal disorders, promoting economic revival in the country. He brought rebelling Nayaks of Tamil Nadu
and parts of present day Andhra Pradesh
under control.
and Bijapur Sultanates and captured some of the territories lost earlier by his predecessor. Kasturiranga Nayaka, a scion of Recherla Velama dynasty was sent to check the combined armies of the Sultanates. Hindu army led by Kasturiranga and his son Yachamanedu fought a series of battles with patriotic zeal and achieved the success. Muslim soldiers who escaped in these battles from the Vijayanagar army joined their main troops on the upper bank of river pennar. Historic accounts say that the strength of sultanates army was more than 120,000 and Turko-Afghan gunners were with them to fire their Artillery units. Kasturiranga led the imperial troops towards north and met the enemy directly on the upper bank of river Pennar.
The clash raged for 8 hours, artillery units of the sultanate army created havoc in the Vijaynagar ranks but Yachama kept the discipline among his forces and rigorously pressed the attack. By the end of the day, brave and wise generalship of Vijaynagar won the Battle of Pennar and more than 50,000 Golkonda and Bijapur troops were exterminated including the Sultans most able generals Rustam Khan and Khasim Khan. Imperial forces drove their enemies into the Golkonda territory but the quarrel among king's nobles prevented further attempts on Golkonda
. Several of his chieftains in his North now revolted against him, including some of Aliya Rama Raya
s descendents, but successfully subdued them.
During his imprisonment, Gingee was ruled by another one Venkata, who was sent against him by Venkatapathi Raya (Venkata II).
. Later Lingama Nayak of Vellore, was defeated and the Vellore Fort
came under direct control of Venkata II. Another expedition headed by Yachamanedu went right into the Madurai Nayak kingdom, putting those revolting Nayaks in order.
to Chandragiri
, which was further South near the Tirupathi hills. The indestructible Vellore Fort
was used as a major base and second capital.
and Gingee
regions sought permission to set up a factory in Pulicat
. The English
too started trading through the Dutch from Pulicat. Since 1586, Obayama, the favorite queen of Venkatapati Deva Raya, now operating from the new capital at Chandragiri, was bequeathed Pulicat to rule. She also gave aid to Portuguese Jesuits to build a residence at Pulicat.
, the son of his brother Rama as his successor. This was done to prevent one of his favorite queen Bayamma who practiced a fraud on the King by borrowing a baby of her Brahmin maid and calling it as her own. While Robert Swell’s book mentions that the infant was surreptitiously introduced into the palace by Bayamma born out from the marriage of a niece of Venkata I and a Brahman
boy, who had been and educated in the pretence that he was son of King Venkata.
Venkata II, knowing the controversial status of the so called heir apparent, appointed Sriranga II
, the son of his vice royal brother Rama as his successor.
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
. His reign of three decades saw a revival of strength and prosperity of the empire. He dealt successfully with the Deccan sultans
Deccan sultanates
The Deccan sultanates were five Muslim-ruled late medieval kingdoms—Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar—of south-central India. The Deccan sultanates were located on the Deccan Plateau, between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range. These kingdoms became independent during the breakup...
of Bijapur and Golkonda
Golkonda
Golkonda or Golla konda a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda , is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King...
, the internal disorders, promoting economic revival in the country. He brought rebelling Nayaks of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and parts of present day Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
under control.
Battles of Sultans
He instigated a war with the GolkondaGolkonda
Golkonda or Golla konda a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda , is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King...
and Bijapur Sultanates and captured some of the territories lost earlier by his predecessor. Kasturiranga Nayaka, a scion of Recherla Velama dynasty was sent to check the combined armies of the Sultanates. Hindu army led by Kasturiranga and his son Yachamanedu fought a series of battles with patriotic zeal and achieved the success. Muslim soldiers who escaped in these battles from the Vijayanagar army joined their main troops on the upper bank of river pennar. Historic accounts say that the strength of sultanates army was more than 120,000 and Turko-Afghan gunners were with them to fire their Artillery units. Kasturiranga led the imperial troops towards north and met the enemy directly on the upper bank of river Pennar.
The clash raged for 8 hours, artillery units of the sultanate army created havoc in the Vijaynagar ranks but Yachama kept the discipline among his forces and rigorously pressed the attack. By the end of the day, brave and wise generalship of Vijaynagar won the Battle of Pennar and more than 50,000 Golkonda and Bijapur troops were exterminated including the Sultans most able generals Rustam Khan and Khasim Khan. Imperial forces drove their enemies into the Golkonda territory but the quarrel among king's nobles prevented further attempts on Golkonda
Golkonda
Golkonda or Golla konda a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda , is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King...
. Several of his chieftains in his North now revolted against him, including some of Aliya Rama Raya
Aliya Rama Raya
Rama Raya , popularly known as "Aliya" Rama Raya, was the progenitor of the "Aravidu" dynasty of Vijayanagar Empire. This dynasty, the fourth and last to hold sway over the Vijayanagara Empire, is often not counted as a ruling dynasty of that empire, for reasons delineated below. Rama Raya...
s descendents, but successfully subdued them.
Nayak of Gingee
In 1586 the Nayak of Gingee, rebelled against Venkata II, who captured him and had him put in prison and was only freed when Raghunatha Nayak of Tanjore secured his release after helping Venkata II in his Penukonda campaign secured his release.During his imprisonment, Gingee was ruled by another one Venkata, who was sent against him by Venkatapathi Raya (Venkata II).
Nayak of Vellore
In 1601 another campaign led by his viceroy of Arcot and Chengelpet, Yachamanedu subdued a revolt headed by the Lingama Nayak.,the Nayak of VelloreVellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
. Later Lingama Nayak of Vellore, was defeated and the Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in Vellore city near Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The Fort was at one point of time the headquarters of the Vijayanagara Empire...
came under direct control of Venkata II. Another expedition headed by Yachamanedu went right into the Madurai Nayak kingdom, putting those revolting Nayaks in order.
Shifting the Capital
Around 1592 Venkata II shifted his capital from PenukondaPenukonda
Penukonda or Penu Konda is a small town in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 70 km away from Anantapur town.-Geography:Penukonda is located at...
to Chandragiri
Chandragiri
Chandragiri , is a suburb of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India. Recently it is included under Municipal Corporation limits of Tirupati...
, which was further South near the Tirupathi hills. The indestructible Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in Vellore city near Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The Fort was at one point of time the headquarters of the Vijayanagara Empire...
was used as a major base and second capital.
Revival
The Northern territories of his empire was brought into order by offering easy terms on taxes and reviving agricultural, which was frequently run over by the invading Sultans. Village administration was streamlined and judiciary was stringently enforced.Arrival of Dutch
In 1608 the Dutch who were already trading in the GolkondaGolkonda
Golkonda or Golla konda a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda , is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King...
and Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
regions sought permission to set up a factory in Pulicat
Pulicat
Pulicat is a historic seashore town in Thiruvallur District, of Tamil Nadu state, South India. It is about 60 km north of Chennai and 3 km from Elavur, on the barrier island of Sriharikota, which separates Pulicat Lake from the Bay of Bengal. Pulicat lake is a shallow salt water lagoon...
. The English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
too started trading through the Dutch from Pulicat. Since 1586, Obayama, the favorite queen of Venkatapati Deva Raya, now operating from the new capital at Chandragiri, was bequeathed Pulicat to rule. She also gave aid to Portuguese Jesuits to build a residence at Pulicat.
Successor
Venkata II, in spite of having several queens did not have a son, hence appointed Sriranga IISriranga II
Sriranga II was nominated in 1614 by King Venkata II to succeed him as king of the Vijayanagara Empire in Southern India...
, the son of his brother Rama as his successor. This was done to prevent one of his favorite queen Bayamma who practiced a fraud on the King by borrowing a baby of her Brahmin maid and calling it as her own. While Robert Swell’s book mentions that the infant was surreptitiously introduced into the palace by Bayamma born out from the marriage of a niece of Venkata I and a Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
boy, who had been and educated in the pretence that he was son of King Venkata.
Venkata II, knowing the controversial status of the so called heir apparent, appointed Sriranga II
Sriranga II
Sriranga II was nominated in 1614 by King Venkata II to succeed him as king of the Vijayanagara Empire in Southern India...
, the son of his vice royal brother Rama as his successor.