Question

3 marks
Q4. Write a short note on administrative divisions of the Vijyanagar Empire. Who were
Harihara and Bukka?
(2+1)
marks​

Answer 1

I hope the following information helps the student

Answer:

The Vijayanagar administration system was centralized, elaborate and just. The history of the rise and fall of Vijayanagar Empire is primarily a history of constant wars and conflicts.

It was natural that the administration of such a state would essentially be guided by military purposes and systems. Surprisingly the rulers of Vijayanagar Empire could not only keep the administration free from this military impact but also made it a liberal, perfect, tolerant and benevolent one.

The administrative system of Vijayanagar was a centralized one. The entire Vijayanagar empire was divided into two sets governments – the central and the provincial.

The central administrative system of Vijayanagar Kingdom is discussed below:

Powers of the king: The king of Vijayanagar kingdom was at the top of the administration. He had unlimited power. He was responsible for the overall administration of the state. He was the commander-in-chief of the army, the highest administrator and the chief justice. Yet, he was not a tyrant. Rather, he was a benevolent despot.

Focus on welfare of subjects: The aim of the Vijayanagar administration was to do the welfare of his subjects. Krishnadevaraya (also Krishna Deva Raya) was the most important king of Vijayanagar Empire. He believed in the principle that a crowned king should always rule with an eye towards dharma.

Council of ministers: To assist the king in the affairs of administration of Vijayanagar empire, there was a council of ministers which consisted of .possibly six or eight ministers. They were appointed by the king who could dismiss them also and they held office during the pleasure of the king.

The ministers were chosen from all the three castes of the society:

Brahmins,

Kshatriyas and

Vishayas.

The office of the ministers was hereditary though it was not followed always. Apart from the posts of the ministers there were other officials like chief Treasurer, officer-in-charge of jewels, officer-in-charge of commerce, the prefect of the police, and the master of the horse and so on. The household department the king of Vijayanagar was also well-organized. The nobles, priest’s astrologers, musicians, scholars and poets used to throng the royal court. The ruler used to spend a huge sum on the splendor of the court. It was so gorgeous that the foreign diplomats and travelers considered it an object of wonder.

The provincial administration system of the kingdom has been discussed below:

Six Provinces: The whole of Vijayanagar Empire was divided into six provinces. The administration of each province was under a governor. They were either a member of the royal family or an influential noble.Governor: The governor was the key authority for the province and used to exercise civil, military and judicial powers. He used to furnish the account of the income and expenditure of his province to the Central Government. If the Central Government of Vijayanagar Kingdom needed his help, he would have to send military assistance whenever he was asked to do it. The governor had absolute power in the province although he was under the authority of the kings of Vijayanagar empire and controlled by the latter.

Districts : Again the provinces were divided into number of districts. These districts were each again divided into number of smaller units.

Self-sufficient villages: The lowest unit of administration of Vijayanagar Empire was the villages. Each of these villages was self-sufficient. There was a village assembly in every village which practically functioned like the modern village panchayats. This village assembly carried on the administration of the village. There were the village accountants, village weights men, the village watchmen and the village officers who were all hereditary officers. There was a village officer-in­-charge of forced labour. They were paid by grants of land or a portion of agricultural produce. There was also a special officer through whom the central Vijayanagara government maintained contact with the village. He practically supervised the administration of the village.

Explanation:

Answer 2

The Vijayanagara Empire (also called Karnata Empire,[3] and the Kingdom of Bisnegar by the Portuguese) was based in the Deccan Plateau region in South India. It was established in 1336 by the brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of Sangama Dynasty,[4][5][6] members of a pastoralist cowherd community that claimed Yadava lineage.[7][8][9] The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts by the southern powers to ward off Islamic invasions by the end of the 13th century. At its peak it had subjugated almost all of South India's ruling families and the Sultans of the Deccan region thus becoming a notable power.[10] It lasted until 1646, although its power declined after a major military defeat in the Battle of Talikota in 1565 by the combined armies of the Deccan sultanates. The empire is named after its capital city of Vijayanagara, whose ruins surround present day Hampi, now a World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India.[11] The writings of medieval European travelers such as Domingo Paes, Fernão Nunes, and Niccolò Da Conti, and the literature in local languages provide crucial information about its history. Archaeological excavations at Vijayanagara have revealed the empire's power and wealth.