Famous Battle seen of Talikota



The famous Malik Maidan Cannon used in the final battle of Talikota

The Battle of Talikota (or Tellikota) (January 26, 1565) was a watershed battle fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan sultanates, resulted in a rout of Vijayanagara, and ended the last great Hindu kingdom in South India. Talikota is situated in northern Karnataka, about 80 km to the southeast of the city of Bijapur.

Prelude
The throne of the Vijayanagara Empire had passed from Achyuta Raya, upon his death, to Rama Raya who according to many scholars interfered in the affairs of the neighbouring Muslim Sultanates. Though this tactic worked initially to his favor, it backfired later and finally the Sultanates decided to unite together and destroy the Hindu kingdom. However other scholars disagree that Rama Raya interfered with Sultanate affairs but rather used the disunity of the Sultans to the advantage of Vijayanagara. Later, inter-family marriages between Sultans solved many of their internal conflicts and they finally united against Vijayanagara empire, which was seen as the common enemy being a Hindu kingdom.[2]

The Battle
On January 26, 1565 the Deccan Sultanates of Ahmednagar, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur and Golconda who had formed a grand alliance, met the Vijayanagara army at Talikota between two villages called Rakkasa and Tangadi, on the alluvial banks of the Krishna River, in present day Karnataka state. It was one of the few times in medieval Indian history that a joint strategy was employed. The sultanates were also aided by some minor Hindu kingdoms who held grudges against the Vijayanagara Empire. The Deccan kings had a grand total of 80,000 infantry and 30,000 cavalry. Vijayanagara, on the other hand, had 140,000 foot soldiers, with another 10,000 on horseback. The armies also had large numbers of war elephants. The decisive battle was brief and bitter. Fighting in a rocky terrain, the invading troops launched a classic offensive strategy. First they softened up the primary lines of the Vijayanagara army using cannon fire. The concentrated artillery took its toll, and the massive frontal attack by the combined armies finished the job. The battle ended in a complete victory for the sultanates, with the raja being beheaded and put on display as a trophy. What followed was pillage and the plunder of Vijayanagara.

Aftermath
The battle spelt the death knell for the large Hindu kingdoms in India, and it also ended the last great southern empire in India. What followed was a victorious army along with hordes of robbers and jungle dwellers falling upon the great city, looting, robbing, murdering and pillaging the residents. With axes, crowbars, fire and sword the victorious armies went about the task of bringing to rubble the city of Vijayanagara which never recovered from the onslaught. The highly diminished Vijayanagara empire now tried to stage an unsuccessful comeback with its capital at Penukonda. Tirumala however could not lay claim over Vijayanagara as local support was to make the younger brother of Aliya Rama Raya, also called Tirumala the regent. It was another six years before Tirumala could claim regency over the former capital of Vijayanagara. During this time, anarchy had spread. Aliya Rama Rayas habit of nominating family relatives to key positions of the former kingdom instead of loyal officers became a reason for family feuds and rebellion. The Polygar (Palyagar) system (local chieftains) which had been so successful earlier was also a reason for break away factions. The Nayaks of Tamil speaking regions; Gingee, Madurai Nayaks and Tanjore Nayaks were flexing their freedom and in fact Tirumala Deva Raya had to tacitly accept the independence of these Nayakas in order to keep their friendship in an hour of impending invasions from Bijapur. Later, the Vijayanagara empire shifted capitals to Chandragiri and eventually to Vellore during which time the other feudatories, the Kingdom of Mysore, Nayakas of Keladi in Shimoga and Nayakas of Vellore also became independent. As a result of Vijayanagara empire's collapse, the political system of the southern areas disinte­grated. However, it left a residue of Telugu enclaves and local elites scattered over most of South India.[3] Kannada country lost its united identity for the coming four centuries, with the creation of smaller states such as the Kingdom of Mysore, Keladi Nayakas, Nayakas of Chitradurga, the latter two eventually merging with the Kingdom of Mysore.[4] For the Sultanates and Muslim rulers of the south, victory seemed temporary as they continued to engage in squabbling and fighting amongst themselves which ultimately resulted in their capitulation to the Mughals and later the British Empire. Some Kannada speaking regions became part of Hyderabad Karnataka ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad and Bombay Presidency governed by Maratha chieftains all of whom came under the British umbrella.

Causes of defeat
Historians have debated over the cause of the defeat with much enthusiasm.[5] Apart from epigraphal analysis, historians also have at their disposal writings of European travellers to the kingdom around the time of the war.

It has been suggested that while the Vijayanagara armies had relatively lesser number of cavalry on horseback and depended on commanders riding war elephants making them slower on battlefield, the Sultanate armies had many more swift Persian horses used by key sections of the army and commanders. This gave the them an edge.
It is also well known that all the three main commanders of the Vijayanagara army including Aliya Rama Raya were aging compared to the young commanders of the Sultanate armies.
While the Vijayanagara infantry depended on bows made of bamboo, the Sultanate armies used crossbows made of metal which were much more lethal in accuracy and distance. Also, the Vijayanagara army was overconfident and used 7 feet long spears and javelins while the Sultanate armies used 15 feet long spears while riding horse back. This gave them a clear advantage.

The Sultanate armies had a much better prepared artillery division manned by gunners from Turkestan, who were at that time considered the best at artillery warfare while Vijayanagara depended on European mercenaries who were not as well trained.
In spite of all these disadvantages, historians agree that the biggest reason for the defeat was the betrayal by some key Vijayanagara commanders. These commanders were defectors from the Adil Shahi kingdom and later employed by Aliya Rama Raya. The Gilani brothers are known to have fled the battlefield at a key juncture. This has been strongly supported by the writings of two European travellers, Frendricci and Frenchman Anquetil Du Perron who visited Vijayanagar in 1567 C.E.

References
Post Talikota Struggle and continuing battles of the Nayaks,Rayasa and the Muslim forces up to 17th Century
India Today Collector's edition of History
Wakiyate Mamlakate Bijapur by Basheeruddin Dehelvi.
Tareekhe Farishta by Kasim Farishta