Led by Tajuddin Firuz Shah, the Bahmani forces, supported by Velama chiefs and the Reddis, launched multiple attacks on the Vijayanagar empire ruled by Deva Raya I.

Despite his initial resistance, Deva Raya suffered heavy casualties, ultimately leading to the acceptance of the terms imposed by the Bahmanis, ending the war.

Following Deva Raya I's ascension, a Brahmin saint returning from pilgrimage in Banaras recounted his encounter with a goldsmith's daughter named Parthal in Mudgal Doab, praising her beauty, musical prowess, and other virtues.

However, Parthal, mindful of the recent succession turmoil in Vijayanagar and aware of the fate of girls who ventured to the kingdom that they never came back to their families, as well as the practice of Sati, declined Deva Raya's proposal.

Upon learning of Deva Raya's aggression, Firuz Shah personally led the Bahmani forces, bolstered by allies from the Reddi Kingdom and Velama chiefs who harbored grievances against Vijayanagar over territorial disputes.

The treaty, though humiliating for Deva Raya, marked the end of the conflict, with the marriage between Parthal, the daughter of the Goldsmith, and Hassan Khan, the son of Firuz Shah, cementing the agreement between the two powers.

The Bahmani Sultanate and Vijayanagara Empire, two prominent kingdoms in the Deccan during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, engaged in frequent military conflicts since their inception.

Following the initial Bahmani–Vijayanagar war, a period of three decades ensued marked by peace, between the two empires, largely due to the pacifist reign of Bahmani ruler Muhammad Shah II.

Their efforts proved successful, as Timur agreed to accept Firuz Shah's offer of nominal suzerainty and bestowed sovereignty over Malwa and Gujarat upon him.

From his end, Timur reciprocated by sending a royal robe, a Turki slave, and four Syrian horses of unparalleled quality, surpassing any previously witnessed in the Deccan region.

However, behind the scenes, they clandestinely sent a message to Harihara II, the reigning monarch of Vijayanagar, expressing their willingness to provide active military assistance whenever they are in trouble with the Bahmanis.

The siege lasted for two months, after which Narasingh laid down his arms and personally approached the Sultan at Ellichpur, pleading to accept tribute as his ancestors on the Gulbarga throne had done before him.

Deva Raya, along with his supporters, saw themselves as champions of Hindu civilization, with a dynamic system that unified the diverse elements of the south and aimed to push back against Muslim invasions.

Remarkably, Parthal displayed a proficiency in these arts that matched her physical beauty, leading the Brahmin to believe that the gods had crafted her to be perfect in every aspect.

Overjoyed by this stroke of good fortune, the parents eagerly presented the princely gifts of the Emperor to Parthal, congratulating her on her elevation from the humble caste of goldsmith to the esteemed position of the bride of the Vijayanagar ruler.

Declaring his intention to satisfy his desires by force, Deva Raya announced to the Brahmin and his court that he would seize the girl who had rejected his engagement necklace, even if she resided beyond the Tungabhadra River.

Their mission was to advance on Mudgal, kidnap the girl, and bring her back to his capital, thus violating the recently forged treaty between his father Harihara II and the Bahmani Sultan Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah.

Seeing an opportunity to settle scores with the Vijayanagar Empire, Firuz, along with his brother Ahmad Shah Wali, mustered a sizable army, which included Khan-I Khanan, Fazlullah Inju and Sarnaubat Siddu.

Concurrently, Firuz sought support from his Hindu allies, namely Anapota Velama of Warangal and the Reddies of the Krishna Delta, urging them to join forces in restraining the ambitions of Vijayanagar.

The Reddis, especially eager to reclaim their territories south of the Krishna and seek retribution against their adversary Deva Raya, found a charismatic leader in Peda Komati Vema, who ascended to the throne of Kondavidu in 1402.

It became evident that weakening, and potentially destroying, the Vijayanagar Empire required a gradual approach of encroachment and devastation, as the traditional method of a direct assault on the capital was not feasible.

[27] Fazlullah Inju, Firuz's prime minister tasked with besieging Bankapur, not only captured the fortress but also brought the surrounding region under obedience, extending the kingdom's influence to the Tungabhadra River.

To prevent Deva Raya from pursuing these expeditions, Firuz stationed the majority of his army near the capital, fortifying their camp in the Turkish fashion with a circle of gun carriages.

This strategic decision proved effective, as Deva Raya attempted multiple attacks on the Bahmani camp but was consistently repelled with significant losses in the open plain.

In the east, an army from Warangal crossed the Kistna, while downstream, the Reddis, led by Peda Komati Vema, proved formidable opponents for Vijayanagar troops in Deva Raya's absence.

His triumphant return coincided with Fazlullah's successes at Bankapur and in the western region, prompting Firuz to organize a grand celebration, complete with a splendid festival and the distribution of rewards to the entire army.

Around this time, an embassy from the Velama King arrived at the Bahmani camp to coordinate further military actions, leading to the allies devising a plan for future operations.

[32] The proposals presented to Vijayanagar included an indemnity of ten lakhs of hoons in gold (approximately five million dollars), the same amount agreed upon seven years prior.

They did not view the Bahmani Sultanate as simply an Indian kingdom engaged in political and economic interactions with Muslims and Hindus alike, but rather as the forefront of expanding Islam.

However, an understanding with Vijayanagar, solidified by a marriage bond that would further increase Hindu influence at court, and the possibility of eventual conflict with Muslim princes to the north instead of infidels, was nearly intolerable for the war faction.