2. After over ~120 years of Bahmani subjugation of Deccan plateau Rajas, the Bahmani Sultans had turned towards conquering the Konkan coast in 1447.
3. 1447: Alauddin Ahmed Shah Bahmani, the-then Bahmani Sultan, commissioned his commander Khalaf Hasan (title Malik-ut-Tujjar) to bring the Rajas of Konkan area under Bahmani control. He was sent with 7000 infantry & 3000 cavalry.
4. First, Malik-ut-Tujjar acquired Chakan fort after siege. He sent detachments to several areas of Konkan. Later, he himself proceeded to Konkan, through the south.
5. 1453: Raja of Khelna,Shankar Rao Shirke made a diplomatic play,by surrendering to Malik-ut-Tujjar on the condition that he invade his supposed-rival at Sangmeshwar.
Malik-ut-Tujjar tried converting him to Islam forcibly, but the Raja refused,unless his condition was fulfiled.
6. Due to the Raja's gloomy description to the Bahmani general of the dense Konkan jungles on the path to Sangmeshwar, many soldiers deserted the Bahmani army! Still the Raja gave him enough assurance to carry on the campaign to Sangmeshwar.
7. On the other hand, Raja Shankar Rao Shirke, also sent secret word to Raja of Sangmeshwar regarding the Bahmani army movement. Raja of Sangmeshwar deployed 30000 infantry, lancers & artillery.
The army was adept in mountain warfare which was to ensue.
8. On the 3rd day of marching to Sangmeshwar, the Bahmani general took ill due to dysentry & the army camped in the remote valley amidst tall mountains.
The time was ripe for the Hindu Rajas' intrigue to bear fruit!!
9. At the night-time, the army of Raja of Sangmeshwar fell upon the Bahmanis. Bahmani army was surrounded. The general, Malik-ut-Tujjar was put to de@th.
More than 7000 Bahmanis were ki11ed, including 500 Syeds from Medina, Karbala & Najaf. The remaining army fled towards Chakan
10. One can note the similarity of this lure & guerilla warfare in the episode of Shivaji Maharaj luring Adilshahi Afzal Khan to the dense jungles of Pratapgad.
History did repeat itself after ~200 years! (1453 -> 1659)
11. The two stalwart Rajas showed that the spirit of Konkan was not unsubdued. Thus, the Konkan tract still stood independent and mighty, as an inexorable fortress of Hindu resistance.
2. Keladi is located ~40 kms from Jog Falls, Shivamogga Dist, Karnataka.
Sadasiva Nayaka was a very trusted general of Vijayanagara Empire, who served in northern expeditions vs Deccan Sultanates, as well as proving loyalty whenever internal instability arose in the empire.
3. Shivappa Nayaka gave refuge to the last Vijayanagara king, Shriranga III after defeat in battle by Adilshah of Bijapur.
2. 1520: After the Battle of Raichur's victory, Raya demanded customary homage from Adilshah, after which Salabat Khan, the imprisoned Adilshahi general, would be released.
But the Adilshahi diplomat Asad Khan Lari got Salabat Khan killed treacherously!
3. 1521: On learning of the treachery, Krishnadevaraya marched into Adilshahi domains.
He delivered crushing defeats to Adilshah at Battles of Kembavi & Gobbur. He took Gulbarga too! The Raya wanted to march further into Adilshahi territory, but was advised against it.
2. 1509, Aug 17: Krishna Deva Raya was coronated on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami. He signalised it by building the Eastern Tower of Sri Virupaksha Temple.
At the time of coronation, Vijayanagara's political condition was not stable. Two aggressive Muslim Sultanates ...
3. ... had cropped up at the empire's northern frontier - Adilshahi (Bijapur) & Qutbshahi (Golconda). In addition, the Portuguese had landed in India ~11 yrs earlier in 1498.
1509: Mahmood Shah II, the Bahmani Sultan, had started a practice of 'annual j1had' in 1501.
2. Samudragupta was the son of Chandragupta I & Kumaradevi (Lichchavi Princess)
320 CE: Samudragupta is coronated after Chandragupta I nominated him as successor. The Allahabad inscription, which presents comprehensive details about reign of Samudragupta, describes it thus 👇
3. The Allahabad inscription describes first the complete subjugation of kings of the northern India, with his capital at Pataliputra.
In the first phase of Samudragupta's conquests, the territories of current UP, Bihar & some parts of West Bengal were annexed.
2. We now take a look at the decisive phase of the campaign:- *Capture of Vasai*
1737, Jun 9: An attempt was made to capture Vasai Fort in the initial phase. a company of 4000 Maratha soldiers attempted to scale Vasai Fort with ladders.
3. Unfortunately Portuguese soldiers got to know movement of Marathas, & they opened fire on them.
Marathas persisted in their efforts to scale the fort but the heavy Portuguese gun fire made impossible for the Marathas to scale the fort.