Viranarasimha Raya

Vira Narasimha III
Emperor
Emperor of Vijayanagara
Reignc. 1505–26 July 1509[1]
PredecessorNarasimha Raya II
SuccessorKrishnadevaraya
Died26 July 1509
DynastyTuluva
FatherTuluva Narasa Nayaka
ReligionHinduism
Vijayanagara Empire
Ruling dynasties
Sangama dynasty
Harihara I1336–1356
Bukka Raya I1356–1377
Harihara Raya II1377–1404
Virupaksha Raya1404–1405
Bukka Raya II1405–1406
Deva Raya I1406–1422
Ramachandra Raya1422
Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya1422–1424
Deva Raya II1424–1446
Mallikarjuna Raya1446–1465
Virupaksha Raya II1465–1485
Praudha Raya1485
Saluva dynasty
Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya1485–1491
Thimma Bhupala1491
Narasimha Raya II1491–1505
Tuluva dynasty
Tuluva Narasa Nayaka1491–1503
Vira Narasimha Raya1503–1509
Krishna Deva Raya1509–1529
Achyuta Deva Raya1529–1542
Venkata I1542
Sadasiva Raya1542–1570
Aravidu dynasty
Rama Raya1542–1565
Tirumala Deva Raya1565–1572
Sriranga I1572–1586
Venkata II1586–1614
Sriranga II1614
Rama Deva Raya1617–1632
Venkata III1632–1642
Sriranga III1642–1646

Vira Narasimha Raya (or Vira Narasimha or Vira Narasimha III) (r. 1505–1509 CE) became the Emperor of Vijayanagara after the death of his predecessor Narasimha Raya II. He was the older half-brother of Krishnadevaraya.[2]

The assassination of their capable father, the Imperial Regent Tuluva Narasa Nayaka resulted in feudatories rising in rebellion everywhere. In his writings, Fernão Nunes noted that the whole world had risen in rebellion. At first, Immadi Narasa Nayaka, the eldest son of Saluva Narasa Nayaka became the Emperor and lasted on the throne for two years before being assassinated. Vira Narasimha Raya succeeded him in 1505 CE and spent all his years fighting rebel warlords.

The Turko-Persian Sultan Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur who assassinated the Regent Narasa Nayaka and 40 other imperial officers tried to extend his domains south of the Tungabhadra. The new Regent of Vijayanagara Empire was supported by Aliya Rama Raya of the Aravidu family and his son Thimma. With their help, Adil Shah was defeated and driven out. Adoni and Kurnool areas were annexed into Vijayanagara Empire. During this time, the governor of Ummathur rose again in revolt and Vira Narasimha Raya set out south to quell the rebellion, having placed his half-brother Krishnadevaraya as the emperor in absence. Portuguese Empire assisted Emperor Vira Narasimha's forces in this conflict, providing horses and artillery, in exchange seeking control of the port of Bhatkal. Concerted efforts by Vira Narasimha Raya to quell the rebellion in Ummatur had mixed results.

In 1509 CE, when on his death bed, legend has it that Vira Narasimha Raya requested his minister Saluva Timma (Timmarasa) to blind his younger brother Krishna Deva Raya so that his own eight-year-old son could be crowned the Emperor of Vijayanagara. Timmarasa however brought a pair of she-goat eyes to the Emperor and informed him that he had Krishna Deva Raya killed. However, there is no record to prove anything but a friendly relationship between the two half brothers and that the coronation of Krishna Deva Raya was a smooth one.

  1. ^ Srinivasan, C. R. (1979). Kanchipuram Through the Ages. Agam Kala Prakashan. p. 200. OCLC 5834894. Retrieved 25 July 2014.[ISBN missing]
  2. ^ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-93-80607-34-4.