Assertion (A): The battle of Talikota fought in 1565 dealt a catastrophic blow to the Vijayanagara Empire, leading to the sacking of its imperial capital Hampi by the confederacy of Deccan Sultanates. Reason (R): Ramaraya, the de facto ruler of Vijayanagara, pursued aggressive diplomatic maneuvers that deeply alienated the neighboring Muslim sultanates of Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, and Bidar, provoking a united military coalition against him. Which of the following is correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Both assertion and reason are true and correctly linked because Ramaraya's assertive diplomacy involving shifting alliances among the Deccan Sultanates generated intense hostility, culminating in the historic alliance that defeated Vijayanagara at Talikota in 1565. The catastrophic defeat resulted in the plunder and abandonment of Hampi, shifting the empire's political center southward towards Penukonda and Chandragiri. This battle marked a decisive turning point in medieval South Indian history.