The Battle of Talikota (or, Tellikota) (January 26, 1565) fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan sultanates, resulted in a rout for Vijayanagar, and ended the last great Hindu kingdom in South India. Talikota is situated in northern Karnataka, about 80 km to the southeast of the city of Bijapur. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Islamic conquest of South Asia. ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded April 27 - Cebu City is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. ... It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ... The Vijayanagara empire was based in the Deccan, in peninsular and southern India, from 1336 onwards. ... The Deccan Plateau is a vast plateau in India, encompassing most of Central and Southern India. ... Map of Somalia including the self-proclaimed boundary of Somaliland Northern Somali sultanates In the late Nineteenth Century, two sultanates emerged and ruled Northern Somalia, an area stretching as far west to Burco from Las Khorey. ... Indian war elephant, relief at Mathura, 2nd century BC War elephants were important, although not widespread, weapons in ancient military history. ... A small Civil War-era cannon on a carriage A cannon is any large tubular firearm designed to fire a heavy projectile over a considerable distance. ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded April 27 - Cebu City is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. ... The Vijayanagara empire was based in the Deccan, in peninsular and southern India, from 1336 onwards. ... The Deccan sultanates were five Muslim-ruled kingdoms–-Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, Bidar, and Berar of south-central India. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A map of South India, its rivers, regions and water bodies. ... It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ... Bijapur (Kannada: ವಿಜಾಪುರ) is a district headquarters of the Bijapur district in the state of Karnataka. ...

The throne of the Vijayanagara Empire had passed from Achyuta Raya, upon his death, to Rama Raya. Rama Raya was known to be very manipulative, and interfered in the affairs of the neighbouring Muslim sultanates. Though this tactic worked initially to his favor, Rama Raya took the game too far and finally the sultanates decided to band together and destroy the Hindu kingdom. The Emperor Sri Achyuta Raya was a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire of south India. ... ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم) is an adherent of Islam. ...

On January 26th, 1565 the Deccan sultanates of Ahmednagar, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur and Golconda who had formed a grand alliance, met the Vijayanagar army at Talikota, on the banks of the Krishna River, in present day Karnataka state. It was one of the few times in medieval Indian history that a joint strategy was employed. The sultanates were also aided by some minor Hindu kingdoms who held grudges against the Vijayanagara Empire. The Deccan kings had a grand total of 80,000 infantry and 30,000 cavalry. Vijayanagara, on the other hand, had a 140,000 foot soldiers, with another 10,000 on horseback. The armies also had large numbers of war elephants. The decisive battle was brief and bitter. Fighting in a rocky terrain, the invading troops launched a classic offensive strategy. First they softened up the primary lines of the Vijayanagar army using cannon fire. The concentrated artillery took its toll, and the massive frontal attack by the combined armies finished the job. The battle ended in a complete victory for the sultanates, with the raja being beheaded and put on display as a trophy. What followed was pillaging and the destruction of Vijayanagara. Ahmednagar is a city in the state of Maharashtra, India, on the left bank of the Sina river, about 100 km southeast of Pune. ... Berar is a former province of British India, located in central India. ... Bidar is a city in Karnataka state, India. ... Bijapur (Kannada: ವಿಜಾಪುರ) is a district headquarters of the Bijapur district in the state of Karnataka. ... Golconda is a ruined city and fortress 11 km west of the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh state, India. ... The Krishna River is one of the longest rivers of India (about 1300 km in length). ... It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers or marines who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units. ... Cavalry is also a common misspelling of the Biblical hill Calvary. ... Indian war elephant, relief at Mathura, 2nd century BC War elephants were important, although not widespread, weapons in ancient military history. ... A small Civil War-era cannon on a carriage A cannon is any large tubular firearm designed to fire a heavy projectile over a considerable distance. ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... Beheading. ... Vijayanagara (often written Vijayanagar, meaning the city of victory), in northern Karnataka, is the name of the now ruined capital city of the historic Vijayanagara empire in the Southern part of India. ...

The battle spelt the death knell for the large Hindu kingdoms in India, and it also ended the last great southern empire in India. However, even for the sultanates and Muslim rulers of the south, victory seemed pyrrhic, as they continued to engage in squabbling and fighting amongst themselves, which would ultimately result in their capitulation to the Mughals and later the British Empire. A Pyrrhic victory (pronounced pirric) is a victory which is won at too great a cost for the victor. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

References

• India Today Collector's edition of History

India Today is one of the Indias best-selling and most widely circulated weekly magazines, and is run by Aroon Purie. ...

External links

• The Fall of Hampi
• Hampi - A Guide To History And Tourism
• The Vijayanagar Empire - Vikram Aarella