DECLINE

DECLINE

After the death of Krishnadeva Raya, power passed into the hands of Rama Raja, son-in-law of Krishnadeva and an able man but ambitious and tactless. He took an active part in the politics of the Muslim states CY Bijapur and Ahmadnagar and supported the one against the other, changing sides as it suited his interests. This so irfcensed the Muslim rulers that they all, except for Berar, formed a confederacy a~inst Vijayanagar. They defeated the Vijayanagar forces at Bannihatti near Talikota in 1565. The Vijayanaga! empire thus came to an end.

Some places like Madurai, Thanjavur and Jingi came to be ruled by local chiefs or nayakas, while a new dynasty was set up at Penugonda. This was known as the Aravidu dynasty, founded by Rama Raja's brother, Thirumala. Venkata II (1585-1614) was the most important ruler of this dynasty.
He removed the capital to Chandragiri and maintained the empire intact. It was during his reign that the English and the Dutch began to establish themselves on the east coast of India.