Successors of Krishnadevaraya:
Krishnadevaraya was succeeded by his step – brother Achyutha Raya (1529 – 1542 A. D.) who had to face internal disturbances and external aggressions.

In his wars with the Gajapati King and the Sultan of Golkanda, Achyutha was successful. But he failed to offer effective resistance to the advancing Sultan of Bijapur as a result of which he lost the forts of Raichur and Mudgal. However, he was able to quell the rebellions in the Kanchi area, Kerala and Ummattur.

After the death of Achyutha Raya in 1542 the succession became disputed. Aravidu Ramaraya, (popularly known as Aliya Ramaraya) the son – in – law of Krishnadevaraya showed his warlike qualities in ensuring Sadashiva’s succession and thereby his own ascendancy. From 1542 to 1550 he functioned as Regent.

But when Sadashiva came of age and tried to assert himself, Ramaraya imprisoned him and assuming all powers of the sovereign ruled the empire for next fifteen years (1551 – 1565) as its unquestioned master. He appointed his brothers, Tirumala and Venkatadri as minister and the commander of the army respectively.

Ramaraya strengthened his hands by removing from office many hereditary loyal servants and appointing his own men in their place. He also admitted many Muslims into his army, and placed them in responsible offices. He was fond of availing himself of every opportunity to interfere in the relations between the Muslim states of Deccan and playing them off one against the other, hoping to keep them weak and to increase his own power.

In the beginning Ramaraya joined with Ahmadnagar, Bidar and Golkanda and fought with Bijapur. But after 1558 he changed sides and joining Bijapur attacked the other powers.

The Battle of Talikota (1565):
The provocative doings of Aliya Ramaraya led to the organization of confederacy of the Sultans of Deccan for the overthrow of Vijayanagara, towards the close of 1564. Of the five Muslim states, Berar alone stood aloof. Hussain Nizam Shah I of Ahmadnagar became the leader of the coalition and played the most conspicuous role in the subsequent battle.

The battle of Talikota (also known as Battle of Rakkasatangadi) was fought in January 1565. Ramaraya and his two brothers Tirumala and Venkatadri took part in it. In spite of his old age, Ramaraya commanded the centre facing the Ahmadnagar forces. The right wing facing the Golkanda and Bidar forces was led by Venkatadri whereas the left wing confronting the Bijapur forces was led by Tirumala.

In the beginning it appeared as if Vijayanagara was going to win. But a sudden attack from the enemy side led to the imprisonment and killing of Ramaraya. Tirumala withdrew to Vijayanagara, from where he fled to Penugonda with vast treasures and emperor Sadashivaraya.

Significance:
There are two views regarding the significance of the battle. One view considers Talikota as the Waterloo of Vijayanagara Empire, which shattered that great empire into fragments, turned that splendid capital into a desolate wilderness and effected a revolutionary change in the history of Deccan. After the defeat of Ramaraya the enemy forces entered the Capital and went on plundering it for many months, reducing it to ruins.

But according to Prof. Sathianathaier, though the empire lost its magnificence and strength of the days of Krishnadevaraya, it continued to render to South India the great services, political and cultural, though not to the same extent. Therefore, he remarks, “Talikota was the climacteric, but not the grand climacteric, of the Vijayanagara Empire”.

The coalition of the Sultans of Deccan, formed on the eve of Rakkasatangadi was not very strong. After the battle there was no danger from Vijayanagara to keep them united. They quarreled among themselves with the result that they ultimately fell as easy prey to the Mughal aggression.

The destruction of the city of Vijayanagara and the decline of the imperial power adversely affected the Portuguese trade. When the city became deserted the traders had no market for their goods like horses, satins and velvets. As Sewell remarks “Goa rose and fell simultaneously with the rise and fall of the Vijayanagara Empire”.