At the time of the Battle of Talikota in 1565, which ruling dynasty was in power in the Vijayanagar Empire?

Introduction / Context:
The Battle of Talikota, fought in 1565, was a turning point in the history of the Vijayanagar Empire in South India. A confederacy of Deccan Sultanates defeated the Vijayanagar forces, leading to the sack of the capital city. This question asks you to identify which dynasty was officially ruling the Vijayanagar state at that time. Understanding the sequence of Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and later dynasties helps build a clear picture of Vijayanagar political history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The battle mentioned is the Battle of Talikota (also written as Talikota or Rakshasa Tangadi) in 1565.
• The setting is the Vijayanagar Empire in South India.
• Several dynasties associated with Vijayanagar are listed: Sangama, Aravidu (written here as Aniridu), Tuluva and Saluva.
• The task is to identify which dynasty was ruling when the battle took place.

Concept / Approach:
Vijayanagar history is generally divided into four main ruling dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu. The empire was founded under the Sangama rulers in the 14th century. After them came the Saluva and then the Tuluva dynasty, to which Krishnadevaraya, the most celebrated Vijayanagar ruler, belonged. By around the mid 16th century, during and just before the Battle of Talikota, the official ruling house was still the Tuluva dynasty, although power was exercised by powerful regents from the Aravidu family. For exam purposes, the recognised answer is that the Tuluva dynasty was ruling at the time of the battle.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the sequence of dynasties: Sangama (founders), followed by Saluva, then Tuluva and finally Aravidu. Step 2: Note that Krishnadevaraya, who reigned in the early 16th century, was a Tuluva ruler. Step 3: Understand that the Battle of Talikota occurred in 1565, not long after the time of Krishnadevaraya and his successors. Step 4: Historical summaries of Vijayanagar generally state that at the time of Talikota, the Tuluva dynasty was still the ruling house. Step 5: Therefore, among the options given, the Tuluva dynasty is the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Popular history references and exam oriented books consistently mention that the Vijayanagar Empire at the time of Talikota was under the Tuluva line, even though effective authority was exercised by Aliya Rama Raya, who came from the Aravidu family and acted as a powerful regent. This nuance sometimes causes confusion, but the official royal house is still recorded as Tuluva in many standard lists, which is why exam keys accept Tuluva as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sangama dynasty: This was the original founding dynasty of Vijayanagar in the 14th century and had already been replaced long before 1565.
Aniridu (Aravidu) dynasty: Although the Aravidu family gained prominence around this time and later formed the last ruling dynasty, exam oriented histories usually regard the official line at the Battle of Talikota as Tuluva, not yet fully Aravidu.
Saluva dynasty: The Saluva rulers came between the Sangama and Tuluva lines and had lost power before the time of the battle.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse the de facto power of Aliya Rama Raya, who belonged to the Aravidu family, with the de jure ruling dynasty of the empire. This can lead to the mistaken selection of Aravidu as the answer. Others may mix up the chronological order of the dynasties or simply guess. To avoid errors, remember the basic sequence and associate Talikota with the later phase of the Tuluva period, shortly before the empire's decline.

Final Answer:
At the time of the Battle of Talikota in 1565, the Vijayanagar Empire was ruled by the Tuluva dynasty.