Why did the kingdom of Vijayanagar fall in 1565?

The kingdom of Vijayanagar fell in 1565 primarily due to the formation of a powerful military alliance among neighboring Muslim sultanates—specifically Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar—which united against the empire.123

The empire’s decline was precipitated by the following factors:

• The Battle of Talikota: In 1565, the chief minister of Vijayanagar, Rama Raya, led the empire into this decisive confrontation. The battle was lost due to the combined strength of the allied sultanates, the effectiveness of their artillery, and the eventual capture and execution of Rama Raya.124
• Military and Political Miscalculations: While Rama Raya had successfully modernized the army and administration by adopting practices from neighboring Muslim states, his military successes and perceived arrogance eventually provoked the coalition of his rivals. The defeat was further exacerbated by the defection of two of his own Muslim generals during the battle.4
• Destruction of the Capital: Following the defeat at Talikota, the capital city of Vijayanagar was captured and systematically destroyed over five months, rendering it uninhabitable.2

Although the empire continued to exist for a time under the Aravidu dynasty from a new capital at Penukonda, the events of 1565 marked the end of its dominance.12