Bahmani–Vijayanagara War (1503)

Bahmani–Vijayanagara War (1503)
Part of Bahmani–Vijayanagar Wars
Deccan Sultanates and Bahamani Sultanate
Date 1503 Location Krishna River, Raichur, Vijayanagara Result Bahmani–Deccani victory
Belligerents
Bahmani Sultanate Berar Sultanate Golconda Sultanate Bijapur Sultanate Ahmadnagar Sultanate	Vijayanagara empire
Commanders and leaders
Mahmood Shah Bahmani Yusuf Adil Shah Imad-ul-Mulk Quli Qutb Shah Wali Ahmad Nizam Shah Sabaji Maratha Fatullah Khan Yusuf Khan	Narasimha Raya II

Bahmani–Vijayanagara War (1503) was fought between Muhammad Shah III Lashkari with the Deccan Sultanates against the Vijaynagara king Narasimha Raya II.

Background

Narasimha's father, also named Narasimha, had begun life as an army general serving the Sangama dynasty, which was the dynasty that had founded the Empire in the 13th century. The Sangama dynasty had been gradually weakening over time for a variety of reasons, and in 1485, the senior Narasimha had usurped the throne after capturing the capital and driving out his former overlord, Sangama Praudha Raya. The actual military campaign for this purpose had been carried out by his loyal subordinate, Tuluva Narasa Nayaka.

The senior Narasimha was crowned Emperor and became known as Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya. He died in 1491, only six years after usurping the throne, and left behind two young sons as his heirs. On his deathbed, he entrusted the young boys to the care of his trusted subordinate, Tuluva Narasa Nayaka. The elder son, Thimma Bhupala, was assassinated within a few weeks after his father's death by an army commander loyal to the old Sangama dynasty. This brought the second son, Narasimha, to the throne.

War

The changes at Vijayanagar soon echoed in the Deccan. The Bahmani nobles, long distracted by disputes with their monarch and among themselves, joined forces once more to seize the moment. In 1502, Sultan Mahmud Shah marched against Vijayanagar, moving first to Hutgi, where he gathered the strength of his kingdom. He was joined by Yusuf Adil Shah of Bijapur, Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk of Berar, Ahmad Nizam al-Mulk of Gawil, Malik Dinar of Gulbarga, and Quli Qutb al-Mulk of Telangana, the last of whom brought thirty elephants, 3,000 cavalry, and 10,000 infantry. With preparations complete, Malik Ain al-Mulk was dispatched ahead through Gulbarga, while the Sultan advanced at a slower pace to Raichur, which was placed under siege. Sources such as Firishta note that the Vijayanagara forces secured peace by ceding the forts of Raichur and Mudgal and by paying tribute. These strongholds were entrusted to Yusuf Adil Shah, after which Mahmud Shah withdrew without pursuing further conflict.