Get complete information on the life of Achyuta Raya & Sadasiva Raya

Krishna Deva Raya was succeeded by Achyuta Raya who ruled from 1530 to 1542. It appears that he was not altogether the craven that he is represented by Nuniz to have been. He took to task the rebellious viceroy of Madura. A similar action was taken against the Raja of Travancore for his having given shelter to the viceroy of Madura. However, he made a mistake in leaving things into the hands of two brothers-in-law known as Tirumala.

He also annoyed never viceroys. The result was that was a lot of trouble in the Vijayanagar Empire. Achyuta Raya was succeeded by his son Venkatadri or Venkata I, However, he ruled only for about 6 months. He was succeeded by Sadasiva Raya, a nephew of Achyuta.

Sadasiva Raya (1542-70):

Sadasiva Raya ruled from 1542 to 1570. He was merely a puppet in the hands of his minister Rama Raya. Rama Raya was a capable person and he was determined to restore the prestige of the Vijayanagar Empire by actively interfering in the quarrels among the rulers of the Deccan, by joining one alliance or the other and thereby weakening them. His efforts were successful for some time but ultimately they proved disastrous to the empire.

In 1543, Burhan Nizam Shah allied himself with Rama Raya and Qutub Shah of Golkunda and declared was upon Bijapur. Ali Adil Shah was able to come to terms with Burhan Nizam Shah by giving some territory through the cleverness of his minister Asad Khan. Asad Khan was also able to detach Vijayanagar from the alliance. After that, he marched against Golkunda and defeated Qutub Shah and wounded him.

When Ibrahim Adil Shah died in 1557. Husain Nizam Shah invaded Bijapur. When this happened. Ali Adil Shah formed an alliance with Golkunda and Vijayanagar, invaded Ahmadnagar and demanded the restoration of Kalyan and Sholapur. The ruler of Ahmadnagar rejected the demand and war started.

According to Ferishta, “The whole country was laid waste in such a manner that from Porundesh to Khiber and from Ahmadnagar to Daulatabad, not a mark of population was to be seen. The infidels of Beejanagar, who for many years had been wishing for such an event, left no cruelty unpracticed. They insulted the honour of the Mussalman women, destroyed the mosques and did not even respect the sacred Quaran.”

The conduct of Vijayanagar on this occasion brought the Muslim rulers together against her. They decided to sink their differences and formed a quadruple alliance against Vijayanagar. Ibrahim Qutub Shah of Golkunda played an important part in bringing about this alliance. Nizam Shah was persuaded to give his daughter, Chand Bibi, in marriage to Adil Shah.

The fort of Sholapur was given as dowry. Adil Shah himself gave his daughter in marriage to Sultan Murtaza, the eldest son of Nizam Shah. The Sultan of Berar was not invited to join the confederacy.