Deva Raya

Who was Deva Raya?

Deva Raya I was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from the Sangama Dynasty. After Harihara II died there was a dispute between his sons for the throne of the Vijayanagara Empire in which Deva Raya I eventually come out as victor.

Throughout his reign, Deva Raya was continually fighting against the Velamas of Telangana, the Bahmani Sultan of Gulbarga, and the Reddis of Kondavidu and the Gajaptis of Kalinga. Even so, Deva Raya was capable of managing the vast amount of territory that he controlled.

Like his grandfather Harihara I, Deva Raya I patronised the Jain Kannada poet Madhura. During his rule, a dispute over property between the Shanka Jainalya of Gadag district and the Somesvara temple trust within the palace was settled amicably.

An account of Persian writer Ferishta narrates how the king fell in love with a beautiful girl, Pertal from Mudugal in Raichur district, with the relationship leading to a war with the Bahmani Sultan and the eventual defeat of Deva Raya I, the Sultan marrying Deva Raya's daughter and getting Pertal married to his son Hasan Khan.

After his death, Deva Raya was to be succeeded by his sons Ramachandra Raya and Vijaya Raya.

European traveller Nicolo Conti travelled to Vijayanagara during this time and described the city being 60 miles in diameter.