The Vijayanagara Empire was established in 1336 by the Sangama Dynasty (Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I) in the Deccan after rebellions against the Tughluqs. 

Dynasties :

There were Four dynasties that ruled Vijayanagara: Sangama dynasty, Saluva dynasty, Tuluva dynasty and Aravidu dynasty from 1336 AD to 1672: 

1 . Sangama (1336 -1485) :

• Harihara I and Bukka originally served under the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal but later declared their independence and established the Vijayanagara Empire (City of Victory) on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River.  
   
• Sangama was the first dynasty to rule the Vijayanagara Empire. 
   
• The founders of the Vijayanagara Empire, Harihara I and Bukka, belonged to this dynasty. 
   
• Guru of this dynasty was Guru Vidyaranya. 

2. Saluva (1485-1505) :

• The Saluva Dynasty was the second dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.
   
• This dynasty was founded by Narasimha Deva Raya.
   
• They ruled almost all of southern India. 

3. Tuluva (1505-1570) :

• Tuluva was the third dynasty that ruled the Vijayanagara Empire. 
   
• This dynasty was founded by Tuluva Narasa Nayaka. 
   
• The most famous king of the Vijayanagara Empire, Krishna Deva Raya, belonged to this dynasty. 

 4. Aravidu (1570-1646) :

• Aravidu was the fourth and last Hindu dynasty that ruled the Vijayanagara kingdom in southern India. 
   
• This dynasty was founded by Tirumala.

Important Rulers :

1. Proudadevaraya (Devaraya II) :

• The most prominent king of the Sangama dynasty. 
   
• In his reign Vijayanagara spread from Gulbarga to Sri Lanka and from Telangana to Kerala. Various titles bestowed on him :
    
• Elephant hunter 
   
• Dakshinapathada Chakravarthi 

2. Krishna Devaraya (1509-1529 AD) : 

• The most famous king of the Vijayanagara kingdom 
   
• Krishna Devaraya belongs to the Tuluva dynasty. He is also known as Andhra Bhoja 
   
• He also took the title Yavana Rajya Pratistapanacharya. Famous Accomplishments :
   
• Waged war in the Kingdom of Bahamas and kept it under control. 
   
• His empire stretched from the  Krishna River in the north to the Cauvery River in the south; the Arabian Sea in the west to the Bay of Bengal in the east.    
   
• He had a warm relationship with the Portuguese. 
   
• Author of Amuktamalyada (Telugu political play) and Jambavati Kalyanam (Sanskrit drama). He built the Hazara Rama Temple and the Vittalaswami Temple. 
   
• He built a new city called Nagalapuram in memory of his queen Nagaladevi. 
   
• Patrons, Scholars, and Poets from Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Tamil. 
   
• He had 8 eminent scholars ‘Ashtadiggajas’ in his royal court.
   

ASHTADIGGAJAS:

1. Allasani Peddana –> the author of Manucharitram, he was also known as Andhra Kavitapitamaha
2. Nandi Thimmana –> the author of Parijathapaharanam
3. Madayyagari Mallana
4. Dhurjati
5. Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu
6. Pingali Suranna
7. Ramarajabhushanudu
8. Tenali Ramakrishna

Society :

Allasani Peddana in his book Manucharitam mentions the four castes that existed in  Vijayanagara society i.e

Viprulu or Brahmins : They are traditionally teachers and priests. Some of them also performed military and administrative functions. 

Rajulu / Rachavaru : They were associated with the ruling dynasty. Both rulers and generals were actually Sudras but were called Rachavaru because of their position.  As in other parts of southern India, the Kshatriya Varna seems to be absent. 
 

Matikaratalu or Vaishyas : They were the same merchants who engaged in trade and commerce. 

Nalavajativaru / Sudras : They were mainly farmers, but some of them practised various other trades. They were not separated even though they were considered inferior. 

Untouchability : It was prominent and various classes such as Kambalattars, Dombaris, Jogis, and Maravars were treated as untouchables. 

Slavery : It existed.
 

Administration:

The king has absolute authority in executive, judicial and legislative matters. 

Administrative Units are divided into: 

Mandalams : Mandalam means main province. Mandaleshwar or Nayaka was responsible to govern the Mandalam. It had considerable autonomy. It had the right to mint small-denomination coins and the right to levy new taxes or waive old ones. 

Nadus : Districts

Sthalas : Sub-districts

Grams : Villages

Sources of Income : Land revenue, tributes and donations from vassals and feudal lords, duties in ports, and taxes on various professions. 
 

Nayankar System :   High-ranking army officers were known as Nayaks/Poligars. Instead of their services, they were allotted land called Amaram. Manyams were tax-free land. A group of 12 officials known as iyengars ran the affairs of the village.