A set of rare copper plates dating back to the early 15th century, from the reign of Devaraya I of the Sangama Dynasty, has been unveiled in Bengaluru by Falcon Coins Gallery in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).<\/p>\n
| \n Ruler<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Key Details<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Harihara I (1336-1356)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n – Also known as \u2018Hakka\u2019 or \u2018Vira Harihara, \u2019<\/strong> he was the eldest son of Bhavana Sangama<\/strong> and belonged to the Kuruba clan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Ruled the northern regions of the Hoysala Empire<\/strong> after the death of Hoysala Veera Ballala III in 1343<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Built a fort at Barkuru<\/strong> on the western coast (Karnataka).<\/p>\n – Established the Nayankara system<\/strong>, where military officers (nayakas<\/strong>) were appointed as local governors responsible for estate management and troop mobilisation.<\/p>\n – Reorganised the administration<\/strong> with his minister Anantarasa Chikka Udaiya<\/strong>, dividing the empire into sthalas, nidus, and simas<\/strong>, with officials assigned for revenue collection and governance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Bukka Raya I (1356-1377)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n – Expanded the empire significantly by conquering the Kingdom of Arcot and the Reddis of Kondavidu<\/strong> in 1360.<\/p>\n – Shifted the capital from Anegondi to Vijayanagara<\/strong> for better defense.<\/p>\n – By 1371, he defeated the Sultanate of Madurai<\/strong>, extending his control to Rameshwaram<\/strong> with military support from his son Kumara Kampana<\/strong> (documented in the Sanskrit text Madura Vijayam<\/i>).<\/p>\n – Engaged in wars with the Bahmani Sultanate<\/strong>, particularly against Mohammed Shah I and Mujahid Shah Bahmani<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Patronised Telugu poet Nachana Soma<\/strong>, as well as Vidyaranya and Sayana<\/strong>, under whose influence commentaries on the Vedas<\/strong> were written.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Harihara II (1377-1406)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n – <\/strong>Expanded the empire towards the eastern seacoast<\/strong>, defeating the Reddis of Kondavidu<\/strong> and securing territory from Nellore to Kalinga<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Captured Belgaum and Goa<\/strong> from the Bahmani Sultanate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Earned titles such as Vaidikamarga Sthapanacharya<\/strong> and Vedamarga Pravartaka<\/strong> for his contributions to Hindu religious and literary traditions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Patronised Kannada poet Madhura<\/strong>, a Jaina scholar.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Deva Raya I (1406-1422)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n – <\/strong>Engaged in battles with the Velamas of Telangana, the Bahmani Sultan of Gulbarga, the Reddis of Kondavidu, and the Gajapatis of Kalinga<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Defeated Firoz Shah Bahmani<\/strong> in 1420, gaining control over the Krishna-Tungabhadra doab<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – A dam was constructed on the Tungabhadra River<\/strong> and another on the Haridra River<\/strong> to improve water supply.<\/p>\n – Modernised the Vijayanagara army<\/strong> by employing Turkic archers, improving the cavalry, and importing Arabian and Persian horses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – He maintained a secular approach in administration<\/strong>, integrating 10,000 Muslims into his army<\/strong>, becoming the first Vijayanagara king to do so<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Foreign Accounts<\/strong>: Italian traveler Nicolo Conti (1420)<\/strong> and Russian merchant Nikitin<\/strong> (author of Voyage to India<\/i>) visited during his reign.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Deva Raya II (1425-1446)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n – <\/strong>Regarded as the greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty<\/strong> and an ambitious warrior<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – Patronised Kannada poets<\/strong> such as Chamarasa and Kumara Vyasa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n – He encouraged Sanskrit and Telugu literary works<\/strong>, with poets like Gunda Dimdima and Kavisarvabhauma Srinatha (author of <\/strong>Haravilasam<\/strong><\/i>)<\/strong> at his court.<\/p>\n – Earned the title Gajabetegara<\/strong> (Hunter of Elephants).<\/p>\n – Persian chronicler Abdur Razzak<\/strong> described Vijayanagara as an empire stretching from Ceylon to Gulbarga and Orissa to Malabar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n Q1.<\/strong> What was the Sangama Dynasty? Q2. <\/strong>Who were the notable rulers of the Sangama Dynasty? |