1,415
edits
→Prelude
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
||
| Line 79: | Line 79: | ||
=== Repelling the Vijayanagar army from Tungabhadra=== | === Repelling the Vijayanagar army from Tungabhadra=== | ||
Upon hearing about the invasion of Vijayanagar, the Bahmani Governor of Mudgal named Faulad Khan, came to defend the Doab.{{sfn|Sherwani|1985|pp=160-161}} However, the Vijayanagar forces, who were numerically superior to the Bahmani Governor's army, defeated him and forced him to retreat. The Governor was able to collect reinforcements and set out again. The invaders, not realizing they were being followed by a defeated army, became careless. As a result, the Governor managed to surprise and completely defeat them, with the loss of over one-third of their number, before they could recross the Tungabhadra river.{{sfn|Watson|1964|pp=158-159}} | Upon hearing about the invasion of Vijayanagar, the Bahmani Governor of Mudgal named Faulad Khan, came to defend the Doab.{{sfn|Sherwani|1985|pp=160-161}} However, the Vijayanagar forces, who were numerically superior to the Bahmani Governor's army, defeated him and forced him to retreat. The Governor was able to collect reinforcements and set out again. The invaders, not realizing they were being followed by a defeated army, became careless. As a result, the Governor managed to surprise and completely defeat them, with the loss of over one-third of their number, before they could recross the Tungabhadra river.{{sfn|Watson|1964|pp=158-159}} | ||
== The War == | |||
Faulad Khan, following the successful repulsion of the Vijayanagar forces, dispatched a letter to [[Firozabad, Karnataka|Firozabad]], where Firuz Shah was located, detailing the incident.{{Sfn|Sherwani|1985|p=161}} War was, indeed, inevitable. For four years, Firuz had refrained from insisting on the payment of tribute outlined in the last peace settlement with Harihara II. However, he was not willing to tolerate invasion. Seeing an opportunity to settle scores with the Vijayanagar Empire, Firuz, along with his brother [[Ahmad Shah I Wali|Ahmad Shah Wali]], mustered a sizable army, which included Khan-I Khanan, Fazlullah Inju and Sarnaubat Siddu.{{Sfn|Sherwani|1985|p=161}} They marched to the Tungabhadra and crossed it unopposed. Concurrently, Firuz sought support from his Hindu allies, namely [[Recherla Nayakas|Anapota Velama]] of [[Warangal]] and the [[Reddi Kingdom|Reddies]] of the [[Krishna district|Krishna Delta]], urging them to join forces in restraining the ambitions of Vijayanagar. The Reddis, especially eager to reclaim their territories south of the Krishna and seek retribution against their adversary Deva Raya, found a charismatic leader in Peda Komati Vema, who ascended to the throne of [[Kondaveedu Fort|Kondavidu]] in 1402. Known for his prowess in warfare and scholarship, Peda Komati Vema emerged as one of the most distinguished Hindu rulers of his era, despite not being the most powerful.{{Sfn|Watson|1964|p=160}} | |||
[[File:Kondavid-drug. Signed 'W.R.'.jpg|thumb|Kondavidu fort of the Reddis]] | |||
=== First attack on Vijayanagar === | |||
[[File:Panaromic view of the natural fortification and landscape at Hampi.jpg|thumb|A fort at Vijayanagar]] | |||
Witnessing the approach of the Bahmani army, Deva Raya opted to retreat towards his capital. His actions led to unforeseen consequences, as now Firuz himself marched against him.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Rapson |first=Edward James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhJkPK1cJEQC |title=The Cambridge History of India: Turks and Afghans |date=1928 |publisher=Macmillan |pages=392–394 |language=en}}</ref> Upon entering the formidable capital, Firuz awaited the Bahmanis. In the hilly terrain and especially in the close-quarter combat in the suburbs of the grand city, the Bahmani troops lost their advantage stemming from their superior cavalry. Additionally, they found themselves in hostile territory, facing staunch resistance from defenders fueled by fanatical courage.{{Sfn|Watson|1964|p=161}} | |||
The Sultan launched an assault on the city and managed to secure control over the suburbs and some streets within the inner walls. However, as the fighting intensified with their advance, the elite troops of Vijayanagar, although locally recruited, fiercely opposed the Bahmani progression. This steadfast resistance forced Firuz to withdraw without successfully penetrating into the palace precincts.<ref name=":3" /> Firuz sustained a wound from an arrow, compelling him to retreat.{{Sfn|Sherwani|1985|p=161-162}} His forces withdrew for twenty-four miles, fortified their camp, and paused to allow their wounded soldiers to recuperate. Despite Deva Raya launching eighteen attacks on the Bahmani camp, he was defeated on every occasion.<ref name=":3" /> Deva Raya dispatched letters to the rulers of Malwa, Gujarat, and Khandesh, seeking their assistance. However, due to the sudden outbreak of war, they were unable to provide aid to Vijayanagar.{{Sfn|Sherwani|1985|p=161-162}} | |||
=== Council of the war === | |||
Following these events, Firuz convened a council of war to assess the general strategy of the struggle. It became evident that weakening, and potentially destroying, the Vijayanagar Empire required a gradual approach of encroachment and devastation, as the traditional method of a direct assault on the capital was not feasible. The objective was to confine Deva Raya within Vijayanagar without engaging in direct combat. He made a plan to defeat Vijayanagar by assigning duties to each of his contingents.{{Sfn|Watson|1964|p=161}} | |||
<Ol><li>The Bahmani forces needed to recapture their territories in the west.</li><li>The Reddis and Velamas should launch an invasion into the eastern rear of the Vijayanagar territories.</li><li>Ahmad Shah should launch an attack on south of the Vijayanagar with a force of 10,000.</li><li>Fazlullah Inju, his best general should make an attack at [[Bankapur]], to besiege the fort.{{Sfn|Watson|1964|p=161-162}}</li><li>Firuz will besiege [[Adoni]], leaving Khan-I Khanan, who proved his merit by fighting with Vijayanagar.{{Sfn|Sherwani|1985|p=161-162}}</li></Ol> | |||
=== Attacks on Vijayanagar=== | |||
[[File:Hall of The Nawab.JPG|thumb|Adoni fort]] | |||
Fazlullah Inju, Firuz's prime minister tasked with besieging Bankapur, not only captured the fortress but also brought the surrounding region under obedience, extending the kingdom's influence to the Tungabhadra River. This strategic move effectively established the river as the southern boundary of the kingdom.<ref name=":3" /> Bankapur, being a crucial fortress in the western region, controlled trade routes to the Arabian Sea, a vital source of wealth for both the Sultanate and Vijayanagar.{{Sfn|Watson|1964|p=162}} | |||
In the east, the Reddis had already crossed the Kistna River. To prevent Deva Raya from pursuing these expeditions, Firuz stationed the majority of his army near the capital, fortifying their camp in the Turkish fashion with a circle of gun carriages. This strategic decision proved effective, as Deva Raya attempted multiple attacks on the Bahmani camp but was consistently repelled with significant losses in the open plain.{{Sfn|Watson|1964|p=162}} | |||
This situation persisted for approximately four months. Deva Raya, after several sorties, realized the futility of trying to dislodge Firuz's army with the forces available in Vijayanagar. However, he anxiously awaited the arrival of armies from other provinces of the Empire, which his emissaries had been dispatched to summon. | |||
Deva Raya realized that what began as an attempt to abduct a girl from the Doab had escalated into a major war. Despite his impatience in Vijayanagar, he found the Empire's machinery unable to function rapidly or effectively enough. The news he received about the ongoing struggle was consistently disheartening. The frontier along the Tungabhadra and the Krishna, which he had hoped to advance, appeared to have collapsed entirely. In the west, Firuz's general, Fazlullah, captured the fortress of Bankapur, bringing valuable trade routes under Bahmani control. Meanwhile, the Sultan's brother, Ahmad, ravaged the prosperous towns and districts of the Kanarese country to the south of the city, the former territory of the [[Hoysala Kingdom]]. In the east, an army from Warangal crossed the Kistna, while downstream, the Reddis, led by Peda Komati Vema, proved formidable opponents for Vijayanagar troops in Deva Raya's absence. The Hindu allies of the Bahmanis systematically reclaimed disputed areas previously won for the Empire by Deva Raya's father's Viceroy in the east. After several significant victories, the allied armies converged and descended upon Udayagiri itself.{{Sfn|Watson|1964|pp=162-163}} | |||
Ahmad returned to the royal camp bearing a rich haul of gold and approximately 60,000 captives, both male and female. His triumphant return coincided with Fazlullah's successes at Bankapur and in the western region, prompting Firuz to organize a grand celebration, complete with a splendid festival and the distribution of rewards to the entire army. Around this time, an embassy from the Velama King arrived at the Bahmani camp to coordinate further military actions, leading to the allies devising a plan for future operations.{{sfn|Watson|1964|pp=162-163}} | |||
It was decided that Ahmad would be granted a period of rest from his exertions and would remain stationed outside Vijayanagar. Meanwhile, Firuz and Fazlullah would march to join forces with the Velama troops and lay siege to Adoni, a formidable fortress downstream to the east. Adoni, which had never been captured since falling into Vijayanagar hands, was perhaps one of the strongest fortresses in Deva Raya's possession, second only to the capital itself. Firuz took measures to ensure that refugees would carry news of these developments back to Vijayanagar.{{Sfn|Watson|1964|pp=162-163}} | |||
Deva Raya received alarming news that the Muslim Kings in the north were unwilling to offer him any assistance, as they were embroiled in their own conflict. Learning of Firuz's plan to march eastward, Deva Raya was filled with despair. Not only was his entire northern frontier collapsing, but he and his advisors also had to contemplate how long the recently incorporated southern territories would remain loyal under such circumstances. It appeared that there was no end in sight to the process of dismantling the Vijayanagar Empire. Consequently, Deva Raya dispatched some of his chiefs to inquire about the terms of peace with the Sultan.{{sfn|Watson|1964|pp=163-164}} | |||
Initially, Firuz adamantly refused to entertain any terms of peace. Eager to lead a successful campaign and bolster his reputation to match that of his brother and Fazlullah, he was resolute in his stance. However, Fazlullah, supported by more moderate advisers of the Sultan, pleaded with Firuz to pursue peace. Their arguments were compelling. It was crucial for Firuz to return to his own kingdom and resume governance. At that moment, Deva Raya appeared willing to accept almost any terms Firuz proposed. Yet, there remained uncertainty about the possibility of warfare erupting along the northern frontier of the Sultanate.{{sfn|Watson|1964|p=164}} | |||
==Reference== | ==Reference== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||