[4] He modernized the Vijayanagara army by improving the cavalry, employed skilled archers of the Turkic clans and raised the fighting capacity of his bowmen and imported horses from Arabia and Persia.

[7] Throughout his reign, Deva Raya was continually at war with the Velamas of Golconda, the Bahmani Sultan of Gulbarga, the Reddis of Kondavidu, and the traditional rivals of Vijayanagara, the Gajaptis of Kalinga.

Deva Raya I was capable of managing the vast territory that he controlled by employing skilled archers of the Turkic clan and raised the fighting capacity of his bowmen.

The Hindu army destroyed many mosques and holy places belonging to the Islamic community, and committed great carnages on the civilian Muslim population.

Persian writer Ferishta narrates an interesting story, of the kings' love for a beautiful girl, a daughter of a goldsmith from Mudugal in the Raichur district.

Aroused by this provocation, the Bahamani Sultan Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah invaded Vijayanagara leading to defeat of Deva Raya I.

According to this account, Deva Raya I had to give as tribute, one of his daughters in marriage to the Sultan's prince,[3] several pearls and cash, Bankapura territory, fifty elephants, and 2,000 dancers.