# Battle of Manvi (1493)

Battle of Manvi (1493) was fought between the Bijapur Sultanate led by Yusuf Adil Shah and Vijayanagara Empire led by Thimma Bhupala. In the year 1493 Yusuf Adil Shah with a force of 8,000 crossed the Krishna river and Thimma Bhupala crossed the Tungabhadra River both the armies clashed in a pitched battle at Manvi. The Adil Shahi forces soon overwhelmed the Vijayangara forces, the Hindu army sustained heavy losses, many of the Hindu chiefs were killed and the remaining fled from the battlefield. Yusuf Adil Shah then reduced Mudgal and Raichur Fort in his domain. The final outcome was a clear victory for Adil Shahis.

## Prelude

In 1493, Yusuf Adil Shah embarked on a campaign with a force of 8,000 cavalry and 200 elephants. When he reached the banks of the Krishna River, he paused for two months, officially citing illness but likely using the time to monitor the situation in Vijayanagar. During this period, Thimmaraja crossed the Tungabhadra River with his army to aid Raichur. He then shifted his focus toward Bijapur, intending to bring the fight into Yusuf Adil Shah's domain. Upon hearing this news, Yusuf Adil Shah, reportedly concerned, resolved to meet the advancing forces in open battle.

## Battle

Yusuf Adil Shah moved forward and established his camp close to Thimma Raja's army. To strengthen his position, he allocated the land among his officers and built fortifications around his camp to guard against surprise attacks. His forces included several prominent generals, such as Kamal Khan Deccani, Ghazanfar Beg, Mirza Jahangir, and Dawood Khan Lodi.
Thimma Raja was joined by Narasa Nayaka, Aravidu Bukka, and possibly his son, Rama. After several days of inactivity, both armies finally clashed on a Saturday in April 1493. At first, the Hindu forces had the upper hand. When the Bijapur troops lost 500 soldiers, they fell back in disarray. Misinterpreting this as a full retreat, Thimma Raja’s soldiers began to loot the battlefield. An officer from the Muslim army who had been captured managed to escape and informed his commander that the Hindu forces had scattered, leaving them open to an attack. Motivated by this information, Yusuf Adil Shah sent a message to Thimma Raja, suggesting peace and offering to recognize the Raya's authority over his territory. Interpreting this as a sign of surrender, the Hindu general and the Raya arrived at the meeting with 300 to 400 attendants, including notable nobles.
However, Yusuf Adil Shah executed a surprise attack with his entire army, which led to the wounding of the Raya and the deaths of seventy high-ranking officials. Prince Rama was able to escape but later died of the wounds. Shocked by the loss of their leaders, the Hindu troops fell back. Thimma Raja, unable to gather his full army in time, managed to assemble a force of 7,000 cavalry, a significant number of infantry, and 300 war elephants to face the advancing enemy.
Yusuf Adil Shah launched a rapid and powerful assault, forcing Thimma Raja to retreat. Consequently, Thimma Raja left behind 200 elephants and 1,000 horses, along with 60 lakh hoons, which were seized by the victors. Following this victory, Yusuf Adil Shah rewarded Roab Jung Bahadur Khan with 50 elephants and one lakh hoons, entrusting him with the mission of capturing the forts of Mudgal and Raichur. This task was accomplished successfully within 40 days, after which Adil Shah returned to his capital, significantly enriched and more powerful.

## Legacy

The Battle of Manvi was a significant turning point for the fractured leadership of Vijayanagara. Thimma Raja was initially hesitant to fully back the young ruler, who had been appointed by Narasa Nayaka, and only came around due to the increasing external threats facing the kingdom. He insisted on taking command of the forces and carried out independent military operations. While Narasa Nayaka eventually joined the campaign, it was clear that there was no true collaboration between the factions prior to the battle. Thimma Raja primarily led the campaign, with the Narasa faction contributing only a small and reluctant effort. Despite this setback, Vijayanagara did not learn from the experience and quickly fell back into its internal disputes.