Highlight the contribution of Krishnadeva Raya in the expansion of Vijayanagara empire.

Krishnadeva Raya (1509 -29) belonged to the Tuluva dynasty and was one of its most famous rulers. Expansion and consolidation policies were an integral part of Krishnadeva Raya’s rule and following are some examples which contributed towards the expansion of the Vijayanagara empire.

• One of his most famous expansion and consolidation occurred in 1512 when he acquired the land between the Tungabhadra and the Krishna rivers which is known as the Raichur Doab.

• He also subdued the rulers of Odisha in 1514 and also defeated the Sultan of Bijapur in 1520. This caused many smaller kingdoms to give their allegiance to him.

• He founded Nagalapuram - a suburban township near Vijayanagara, which was named after his mother.

He strengthened the central authority and strictly controlled the Nayakas or military chiefs who in turn had control over forts and armed supporters. In spite of the military preparedness, the kingdom flourished as he was able to maintain peace and prosperity in the region.