| Conflict: | Siege of Kampili |
| Length: | 1000px |
| Width: | 270px |
| Date: | May 1327 A.D. |
| Place: | Hampi, Karnataka |
| Coordinates: | 15.3344°N 76.4622°W |
| Map Type: | Karnataka#India |
| Territory: | The territory of the Kampili kingdom was annexed to the Delhi Sultanate.
|
| Result: | Tughlaq victory[1] |
| Combatant1: | Delhi sultanate |
| Combatant2: | Kampili kingdom |
| Commander1: | Muhammad bin Tughluq[2] Malik Zada Khwaja Jahan[3] |
| Commander2: | Kampilideva[4] Kumara Rama[5] [6] [7] |
The siege of Kampili,[8] led by Muhammad bin Tughlaq, took place in the 14th century during his reign as the Sultan of Delhi. The expedition was part of Tughlaq's military campaigns to expand the Delhi Sultanate's territory. The Kampili kingdom, located in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, was a significant regional power. However, Tughlaq sought to assert his authority and extend his influence over the region. He dispatched Malik Zada to lead the Delhi Sultanate's forces in the siege, which ultimately led to the decline of the Kampili kingdom and its absorption into the Delhi Sultanate. This conquest marked a major victory for Tughlaq and significantly expanded the empire's control over the southern territories.
The small Kampili kingdom was situated in Hampi, Karnataka. It had flourished under the rule of Kampilideva, but its resources were greatly diminished by early invasions from the Delhi Sultanate, particularly during the reigns of Sultan Alauddin Khalji and Malik Kafur. However, the kingdom faced a major threat in 1327 A.D. at the hands of the Delhi Sultanate.
In 1327, Bahaudin Gurshasp, Muhammad bin Tughluq's first cousin and governor of Sagar, rebelled against the king and aimed for the Delhi throne. He attacked loyal chiefs, forcing them to seek refuge in Mando. Tughauq sent his Gujarat forces to defeat Bahaudin, who, despite his initial success, lost the battle due to the defection of his officer, Khizr Bahrani. Bahaudin fled to Sagar, then moved his family and wealth to Kampila, seeking protection from the Raya of Kampili. The shelter given to Bahaudin by its king offered Muhammad Tughluk a fine excuse to declare war on Kampili[9] [10] The siege of Kampili was part of Muhammad bin Tughlaq's larger military campaigns in the Deccan, aimed at consolidating control in the region. The conflict was characterized by intense fighting and strategic maneuvers as both sides sought to gain the upper hand.[11] [12] Overall, the siege of the Kampili under Muhammad bin Tughlaq was a significant episode in South Indian history, shaping the power dynamics and influence in the Deccan region during the 14th century.[13] [14]
Under the command of Malik Zada, the forces of the Delhi Sultanate were dispatched by the Emperor to advance against the Kampili kingdom. A fierce battle unfolded at Chitradurga, resulting in the ruthless slaying of numerous soldiers from the Kampili army.[15] Notably, the ruler of the Kampili kingdom, Kampilideva, along with his son Kumara Rama, fell at the hands of Malik Zada during this conflict.[16] [17] [18] Both were mercilessly slain,[19] [20] [21] [22] leading to the complete downfall of the Kampili kingdom.[23] [24]
The queen of the Kampili kingdom, along with thousands of women from the kingdom, committed mass suicide through the act of "Jauhar." This event holds significant historical importance in Indian history. Following the occupation of the Kampili by the Delhi forces, the Kampili kingdom was entirely vanquished.[25] [26]