Vijayanagara Empire

Domingo Paes describes a king in these words: ‘Of medium height, and of fair complexion and good figure, rather fat than thin; he has on his face signs of smallpox’. Identify the king from the options given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”Krishnadeva Raya” option2=”Ram Raya” option3=”Devaraya II” option4=”Devaraya I” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is Krishnadeva Raya.

The description provided is from the account of Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveller who visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529). Paes provided vivid descriptions of the king’s appearance, court, and the empire’s prosperity.

Krishnadeva Raya was the most famous ruler of the Tuluva dynasty of Vijayanagara. His reign is considered the zenith of the empire. Domingo Paes and another Portuguese traveler, Duarte Barbosa, provide valuable historical accounts of this period, describing the grandeur of the city and the efficiency of the administration.

Vijayanagara rulers claimed that they were ruling on behalf of

[amp_mcq option1=”Lord Murugan” option2=”Lord Venkateshwara” option3=”Shri Virupaksha” option4=”Shri Vallabha” correct=”option3″]

The correct answer is Shri Virupaksha.

Vijayanagara rulers claimed to rule on behalf of the deity Shri Virupaksha. The Virupaksha Temple in Hampi was central to the empire’s identity, and the rulers performed worship and ceremonies associating themselves with the divine authority vested in Virupaksha.

The Vijayanagara Empire (14th-17th centuries) was a major power in South India. Its rulers fostered a close relationship with religious institutions, particularly the Virupaksha temple, which was the patron deity of the capital city, Vijayanagara (modern Hampi). This practice of ruling on behalf of a deity was common in South Indian kingdoms, lending legitimacy and religious sanction to the rulers’ authority.

Consider the following statements regarding the royal center in Vijaya- nagara Empire :

• 1. The royal center was located in the south-western part of the settlement
• 2. It included over 60 temples
• 3. About 30 building complexes at the site have been identified as palaces

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”1, 2 and 3″ option4=”1 and 2 only” correct=”option3″]

Statement 1: Archaeological studies of Vijayanagara (Hampi) confirm that the Royal Centre was indeed located in the south-western part of the urban core of the city. This area contained important ceremonial structures, palaces, and temples associated with the rulers. So, statement 1 is correct.
Statement 2: The Royal Centre area contains numerous structures, including temples. While pinpointing an exact number can be complex depending on the definition of the area, archaeological surveys indicate a significant concentration of temples, and ‘over 60 temples’ within or closely associated with the royal centre is consistent with archaeological findings. So, statement 2 is correct.
Statement 3: Archaeological excavations and surveys have identified various building complexes within the Royal Centre as residential or palatial structures. Sources and site maps often list approximately 30 or more such complexes identified as palaces, audience halls, or residential buildings of importance. So, statement 3 is correct.
Since all three statements align with archaeological descriptions of the Vijayanagara Royal Centre, all are correct.

The Vijayanagara Royal Centre was located in the south-western part of the city and contained a large number of temples and building complexes identified as palaces.

The Royal Centre was the political and ceremonial heart of the Vijayanagara capital, contrasting with the Sacred Centre located towards the north, which housed the Virupaksha Temple and other major religious structures.

Who among the following laid the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire?

[amp_mcq option1=”Harihara and Bukka” option2=”Krishnadeva Raya” option3=”Rama Raya” option4=”Virupaksha Raya” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is A) Harihara and Bukka.

The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 CE by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, two brothers from the Sangama dynasty. They served under the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal and later shifted allegiance to the Kampili kingdom before establishing their own kingdom.

The empire was founded on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River. Harihara I was the first ruler of the empire. Krishnadeva Raya was a famous later ruler, considered one of the greatest emperors of Vijayanagara (Tuluva dynasty). Rama Raya was involved in the Battle of Talikota which led to the decline of the empire.

The ruins of Vijayanagara (Hampi) were brought to public light in the year 1800 by the following British surveyor and engineer :

[amp_mcq option1=”James Prinsep” option2=”Colin Mackenzie” option3=”James Rennell” option4=”Charles Metcalfe” correct=”option2″]

The correct option is B) Colin Mackenzie.

Colin Mackenzie, an engineer and surveyor serving in the British East India Company, conducted the first survey of the ruins of Vijayanagara (modern-day Hampi) in 1800, bringing them to wider attention.

Mackenzie was a collector of historical artifacts and information. He prepared maps and documented the site, and his initial findings laid the groundwork for future archaeological work at Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Who among the following travellers was from Italy and visited Vijayanagar Kingdom in the fifteenth century?

[amp_mcq option1=”Nikitin” option2=”Fa-Hien” option3=”Bernier” option4=”Nicolo Conti” correct=”option4″]

The traveller from Italy who visited the Vijayanagar Kingdom in the fifteenth century was D) Nicolo Conti.

Nicolo Conti was an Italian merchant and explorer who travelled extensively in Asia during the early 15th century. He visited the Vijayanagar Empire (likely during the reign of Devaraya I) around 1420-1421 CE and left valuable accounts of the city and the empire.

– Afanasy Nikitin was a Russian merchant who travelled to India in the late 15th century (1468-1474), primarily visiting the Bahmani Kingdom.
– Fa-Hien was a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who visited India during the Gupta Empire (early 5th century CE).
– Francois Bernier was a French physician and traveler who visited India during the 17th century, serving in the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

The Vijayanagara Empire received its death blow at the battle of:

[amp_mcq option1=”Talikota in 1565″ option2=”Panipat in 1661″ option3=”Talikota in 1665″ option4=”Raichur in 1510″ correct=”option1″]

The correct option is A) Talikota in 1565.

The Vijayanagara Empire suffered a decisive defeat in the Battle of Talikota (also known as the Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi) in 1565 against a confederacy of Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, and Bidar). This battle led to the sacking of the capital city Vijayanagara and marked the beginning of the decline and eventual collapse of the empire.

– Option B (Panipat in 1661): The Battles of Panipat were fought in 1526, 1556, and 1761, and are primarily associated with the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, and the Marathas, not the Vijayanagara Empire. 1661 is not a date of a major Panipat battle.
– Option C (Talikota in 1665): The year is incorrect; the battle was in 1565.
– Option D (Raichur in 1510): The Battle of Raichur (1520, not 1510) was a major victory for Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara against the Sultan of Bijapur, representing a peak of the empire’s power, not its death blow.