Kampana's invasion of Madurai

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Part of Battles involving the Vijayanagara Empire

Date	1365–1370
Location	Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India 9°55′31″N 78°07′11″E / 9.9252°N 78.1198°E / 9.9252; 78.1198
Result	Vijayanagara empire victory
Territorial changes	Madurai Sultanate seizes to exist.

Belligerents

Vijayanagara Empire

Madurai Sultanate

Commanders and leaders

Kumara Kampana
Gopana
Suva Mangu

Qurbat Hasan †

Casualties and losses

Unknown

Heavy

class=notpageimage| Madurai Battle field Location

Kumara Kampana, son of Bukka I of the Vijayanagara Empire, led a series of campaigns that overthrew Muslim rule in southern India, culminating in the conquest of Madurai around 1370 CE. His victories restored stability, revived religious practices, and extended Vijayanagara's influence to the southern ocean. Kampana's achievements, including the restoration of the Ranganatha temple and the liberation of Ma'bar, are immortalized in the Sanskrit epic Madhura Vijayam by his wife, Ganga Devi.

Prelude

Ibn Battuta, the Moorish traveler, visited Madurai in 1342 CE and documented the early history of the Madurai Sultanate. Jalaluddin Ahsan Khan, the founder of the Sultanate, was assassinated in 1340 CE after a five-year reign. He was succeeded by Ala-ud-din Udaiji, who ruled for approximately a year before being killed. Udaiji's son-in-law, Qutb-ud-din, briefly held power but was murdered after just forty days. The throne subsequently passed to Ghiyas-ud-din Dhamaghani (1341–43 CE), under whom Ibn Battuta visited Madurai.

During Ghiyas-ud-din’s reign, the Hoysala king Veera Ballala III launched an invasion, defeating the Sultanate’s forces at the battle of Kannanur and besieging Kobban fort for six months. However, Ghiyas-ud-din launched a surprise counterattack, capturing and executing Veera Ballala III in 1342 CE. Ibn Battuta, witnessing the event noted the Sultan's harsh rule. Around this time, an epidemic swept through Madurai, claiming the Sultan’s life. His nephew, Nasir-ud-din, succeeded him in 1343–44 CE, shortly before Ibn Battuta left the region.

The later history of the Sultanate is poorly documented, with a gap in coinage between 1343 and 1356 CE suggesting instability. Historian Afif records that during Sultan Feroz Shah’s rule in Delhi, a firman sent to Ma’bar found it without a ruler. The local population reportedly chose Qurbat Hasan Kangu as king, but he was considered an ineffective leader. Meanwhile, the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 CE marked the beginning of resistance against Muslim rule in the Deccan and southern India, eventually leading to the decline of the Madurai Sultanate.

Background

During Bukka's reign, a defining achievement was the overthrow of the Madurai Sultanate by his son, Kumara Kampana. After securing peace following the siege of Vijayanagara, Bukka resumed his plans for the conquest of South India, motivated by several pressing concerns. The region, once under the Hoysala Kingdom, had fallen into disorder due to internecine conflicts among local chiefs, endangering life and property. Additionally, the Sultanate of Madurai posed a significant threat to Hindu culture, with desecrated temples and disrupted religious institutions calling for a savior. Bukka sought to fulfill Ballala's uncompleted mission of reconquest and restoration.

Acting on Bukka’s directives, Kampana, as the viceroy of the southern territories, launched a series of campaigns to expand Vijayanagara’s dominion. With the support of distinguished generals like Gopana and Suva Mangu (identified as Mangappa Dandanatha, an ancestor of Saluva Narasinga), he first subdued the Sambuvarayas of North and South Arcot, securing their allegiance for the larger campaign.

Kampana then advanced into Tondamandala, ruled by Sambava Raya (also known as Champa Raya). Establishing his base at Virinchipuram, he besieged and captured Sambava Raya’s stronghold after defeating him in a duel. Following this victory, Kampana marched to Kanchi, where he supported local temples with significant benefactions and stationed a garrison to maintain order. He advanced further south to launch an invasion against the Madurai Sultanate.

Conquest of Madurai

Kumara Kampana, the son of Bukka I, the second ruler of the Vijayanagara empire, led a series of successful campaigns that resulted in the gradual overthrow of Muslim rule across southern India. His conquest of Rajagambhira Rajya, the territory of the Sambuvarayas, around 1362 CE marked the beginning of his southern expeditions. After this victory, Kampana moved further south and restored the image of God Ranganatha to its temple in Srirangam, which had been removed for safety during the Muslim incursions.

Kampana’s campaigns reached their peak with his invasion of Madurai, where he decisively defeated the Sultan, bringing an end to nearly fifty years of Muslim rule in the region. This campaign not only extended Vijayanagara's influence over southern India but also brought stability, restored religious practices, and revitalized cultural institutions, leaving a lasting legacy on the region’s history.

The Sanskrit epic Madhura Vijayam written by his wife Ganga Devi, recounts that Kampana was inspired by a divine vision while in Kanchipuram. In the vision, the goddess of the Pandya country lamented the suffering of the land under Muslim rule and granted him a sword symbolizing Pandyan sovereignty. This event, which took place between 1365 and 1370 CE, marked the liberation of Ma'bar from Muslim control.

After the fall of Madurai, Kampana continued his march south to Ramnad and Rameswaram, where he restored temples and ensured their proper worship. By 1371 CE, his conquests had extended to the southern ocean. Despite a failed appeal for help from the defeated Muslims to Delhi, Kampana solidified Vijayanagara's dominance over the region.

Aftermath

Kampana spent the next two years organizing the administration in the south, ensuring stability, before returning to Mulbagal in 1373 CE to conclude his campaigns. His efforts not only ended Muslim rule in the south but also restored Hindu religious practices and consolidated Vijayanagara’s control over the region. Kampana passed away in 1374 CE, leaving behind a lasting legacy immortalized in the Madhura Vijayam.

The conquest of southern India stands as one of the greatest achievements in the history of the Vijayanagara Empire, elevating what was once a small principality to the status of an empire. Bukka I marked this remarkable achievement by adopting the titles of "King of Kings" and "Lord of Three Seas." In addition, he sent an embassy to the Emperor of China, Tai-tsu, further solidifying his empire's stature. The capital, previously known as Vidyanagara, was renamed Vijayanagara, meaning "City of Victory," in commemoration of Bukka's extraordinary conquests.

experienced a flourishing of religious and literary activities. Under the patronage of King Bukka I and with his encouragement, Vidyaranya embarked on extraordinary efforts to revive religious learning, transcending religious boundaries. He invited scholars from across the land, providing them with resources and support to work on diverse subjects such as logic, grammar, astronomy, philosophy, and Vedic theology.

Procession of Vidyaranya c.15th Century.

The volume of scholarly work produced under his guidance became renowned throughout India. Notable works from this period include Sarvadarsana Sangraha, Sankara Digvijaya, Parasara Madhaveeya, Manusmruti Vyākhyāna, Jaimineeya-Dhaluvritti, Vinarana Prameya, Vedanta Panchadashi, Desopanishad Deepika, Vyavahāra Mādhava and various stotras. Vidyaranya's brother, Sayanacharya, was an equally distinguished scholar, contributing over 113 works.

Among his notable contributions are Subhāshita Sudhānidhi, Alankāra Sudhānidhi, Kaivalyopanishad Deepikā, Dattaka Meemāmsa Pancharudriyātaka and Panineeya-Shikshā-Shāshya. Bhojanatha also made significant contributions with works like Maha Ganapathi Stotra, Rāmollāsa, Tripura Vijaya, Sringdra Manjari, Vashama-Mala and Govinda Sataka. Additionally, Vidyaranya and Sayanacharya oversaw the commentaries on all four Vedas, the Brahmanas, and many other sacred texts.

References

^ Sastri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta (1976). A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Oxford University Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-19-560686-7.
Devakunjari, D. (1979). Madurai Through the Ages: From the Earliest Times to 1801 A.D. Society for Archaeological, Historical, and Epigraphical Research. p. 162.
Devakunjari, D. (1979). Madurai Through the Ages: From the Earliest Times to 1801 A.D. Society for Archaeological, Historical, and Epigraphical Research. pp. 162–163.
Devakunjari, D. (1979). Madurai Through the Ages: From the Earliest Times to 1801 A.D. Society for Archaeological, Historical, and Epigraphical Research. p. 163.
^ Sharma, M. H. Rāma (1978). The History of the Vijayanagar Empire: Beginnings and expansion, 1308-1569. Popular Prakashan. p. 31.
^ Kalidos, Raju (1976). History and Culture of the Tamils: From Prehistoric Times to the President's Rule. Vijay Publications. pp. 214–217.
Devakunjari, D. (1979). Madurai Through the Ages: From the Earliest Times to 1801 A.D. Society for Archaeological, Historical, and Epigraphical Research. p. 164.
Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical Atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 146, map XIV.2 (b). ISBN 0226742210.
Devakunjari, D. (1979). Madurai Through the Ages: From the Earliest Times to 1801 A.D. Society for Archaeological, Historical, and Epigraphical Research. p. 164.
^ Sharma, M. H. Rāma (1978). The History of the Vijayanagar Empire: Beginnings and expansion, 1308-1569. Popular Prakashan. p. 32.

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