Sangama Dynasty The Vijayanagara Empire

Sangama Dynasty:

Sangama Dynasty was one of the most famous dynasties in South India. The dynasty thrived for hundreds of years, leaving its landmarks in South India. The Brothers Harihara I and Bukka I founded the independent Hampi kingdom, the dynasty, and named it after their father, Sangama. Later the dynasty became famous as the Sangama dynasty.
In 1336 the two brothers formed a new kingdom of Hampi, and Harihara I was crowned the first king of the Sangama Dynasty. Harihara and Bukkaraya concentrated on expanding the empire and invaded the surrounding territories. At first, they occupied some parts of the Hoysala Kingdom and built forts for the defence of the Hampi Kingdom. They also brought reforms in the civil administration.

Great Kings of Sangama Dynasty:

After Harihar I, Bukka I ascended to the throne in 1356, administrating ideally and maintaining cordial relations with neighbouring kingdoms. After him, his son Harihara II became the king and extended the kingdom’s boundaries by conquering Mysore, Kanchi, Trichinopoly and Chingleput regions.
Later Harihara II and his son Bukka II tried to extend the kingdom to the boundaries of the Tungabhadra rivers. This attempt made contention between the Bahamani kingdom and Vijayanagar Emperor. During the war with Bahamani Sultan Firoz Shah Bahamani, Bukka II was defeated. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and tolerated all religious faiths. After him, Deva Raya I came to power. He continued the fight with the Bahamani Sultans. Later Veera Vijaya Bukka Raya came to power and reigned for a few months.

Deva Raya II came to power after Veera Vijaya Bukka Raya and brought reforms to the army. He recruited efficient generals and soldiers and concentrated on commerce to increase the economic levels of the kingdom. He appointed officers to look after overseas trade. Foreign travellers visited the Vijayanagara Kingdom and narrated the city’s greatness during his period. The foreign travellers were the Italian Niccolo de Conti and Abdur Razzaq, the Persian traveller. The kingdom’s boundaries also touched Ceylon shores during the Deva Raya II period.

Decline:

After Deva Raya II, all the successors became weak and failed to lead the army victoriously. So many foreign invasions and Bahamani Sultan attacks caused it to lose its glory. However, Narasimha, a powerful chieftain of Chandragiri, successfully defeated and captured Vijayanagara city and deposed the last ruler of the Sangama dynasty, ascending to the throne in 1486 AD. Like this, the Sangama Dynasty rule went to an End.