Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c20: Chapter - XI
Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c20
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Chapter - XI
c20.1
Some Observations So far we have discussed the forts in the capitals of important kingdoms in the region against the existing political background therein, a critical analysis of their architecture, the probable guide lines provided by and correspondence with the models given in the 'śilpa śastras; and the development of fort architecture in relation to the local conditions and advancement in techniques and methods of war. From the above survey tentatively some observations are made regarding the defence architecture.
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(1) The North Karnāṭaka right from the period of Aśoka Maurya till the end of Vijayanagara empire had been continuously politically active. What is more really noteworthy is that in the history of Karnāṭaka region in particular, this part had been the scene of vigorous political activities since the capital cities of kingdoms and empires as well as the Head quarters of Mahāmaṇḍalēśwaras were founded right from the time of the beginning of the Christian era till the 16th century and even thereafter. Consequently numerous forts were built not only in the capital cities but also in such Headquarters.
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But among these forts, those in the capitals, it is reasonable to expect, would be in a most strategic positions and representing the most highly developed architecture of the class of the times, that it is so illustrated by the extant forts in the ancient capital cities. In this regard three principal aspects were found to be taken into consideration.
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i) Natural strategy
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ii) Economic resources and
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iii) Political security in relation to the contemporary existing conditions
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(2) Now, Banavāsi, Bādāmi and Maḷkhēḍ in particular were already well known places in the Deccan from the period of the beginning of the christian era. Further, the first two are known to have been of commercial importance according to Ptolemy. They, therefore, were economically flourishing as already described above. It is therefore but natural that such places were selected as capitals by respective dynasties. Further, in the respective kingdoms political authorities could be exercised all over their kingdoms because of their more or less central locations.
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(3) Regarding Kalyāṇa and Vijayanagara (Hampi) not much of their early history is known in order to ascertain reasons the rulers had to make them their capitals.
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The study reveals that environmental conditions had decidedly their impact on the materials used for the constructions and configuration of the forts. At the same time the builders had to keep in mind the current methods, the technique of warfare and the weaponry. In this regard the fort in Badami raised along the steep sided edge of a hill plateau is a good instance.
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Moreover, North Karṇaṭaka we have examined above, has varied climatic conditions and naturally topography provides, therefore, varities of forts such as the brick-mud forts in thickly forested areas, example Banavāsi, hill fort Bādāmi, the forts in the open fields Kalyāṇa, Bijāpur in the Maidān area. The distinctive features of the forts, therefore, in each of these types are to some extent in response to the various ecological conditions.
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But these forts belong to different periods ranging from about 1st century B.C. to 16th century A.D. Some distinctive features are, therefore, definitely due to advancement in the techniques of war and the weapons used.
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In the light of the above two important factors, we find three distinct stages. In the early stage the forts were provided generally with two gates of simple plan and there are hardly any indications of the forts having bastions at regular intervals. The exploitation of the natural strategy in the location of the forts implies that the mechanism of war was simple, but for the spying and the weapons included swords, spears, bow and arrows etc. The army though of the traditional type i.e. Chaturangabala, probably on both the sides was not numerically very big.
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In the next stage, from the Bādāmi Chālukyas to Kalyāṇa Chālukyas period, we find that the forts had to be guarded very effectively as implied by the use of complicated plans in the fort, gate-ways and the provision of bastions in the regular intervals and of the wall-walk. In fact from about 10th century, there should have been a very great advancement in the variety of weapons and some weapons could be used successfully even from a distance. This is indicated by the invariable occurrence of battlements at the front top edge of the forts. These battlements as explained above protected the guarding soldiers while fighting their enemies. All these indicate that the usually army was very large and well equipped.
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The late medieval forts in Kalyāṇa, Bijāpur etc. represet a highly advanced stage and perhaps the last stage in the history of the development of the traditional fort architecture. The forts are located in the plain open fields, even then certain condusive topographical features were considered carefully, fully exploited such as the contours, the drainage system etc. The very location of the forts in the open fields clearly indicates that the military strength in number and variety and the weaponry must have been very large and with superior training in the use of arms and could be deployed at the same time at any points. Relatively, the fort is provided with many complicated gates some being actually trap gates and the gates are designed in such a way to have some times more than one barbican, all flanked by guard rooms. They were provided with mighty gates with enormous thickness studded with fatal spikes on the exterior side. Besides, at strategic points on the bastions were heavy revolving guns which could shoot over considerable distance over a wide area. Also many architectural devices such as magazines for storing gun powder, room for storing weapons etc. appear for the first time. Besides, we notice that within the fort was regularly a citadel separated from the remaining part of the fort area equally well built. Even with regard to the constructions of the forts, we notice that the use of tenacious lime mortar, lest the fort should succumb to the firing of the guns from outside as far as possible. What is implied therefore, in the selection of open fields is more the development of the self strength in the army than the dependence on the naturally defensive character of the forts.
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Those developments are definitely in response to the introduction of guns in warfare and many mechanical devices.
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However, in the face of the highly advanced technical skill and a highly developed Muslim fort at Bijapur, the Vijayanagara fort continues to be of traditional pattern, lacking many of the intricacies noticed in the Muslim forts. But as explained above, the builders were certainly aware of the technical developments in all respects and the very site marked with chain of mighty hill ranges and ups and downs connected by series of fort walls had been naturally strong enough to defend against the use of powerful guns etc. and the soldiers were definitely provided with all the contemporary ammunition and there was indigenous production of the necessary gun-powder etc.
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Thus, on the whole the study of these principal forts is of two fold significance.
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1. Implication of the gradual development of the war techniques and weaponry, and
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2. Relatively the distinct suitable changes in the fort architecture.
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Also, we find that the written mannuals on forts had been of considerable use in designing the plans and their respective parts of the forts.
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There were also civilian forts though rare, essentially for the immediate protection of the towns as illustrated by the fort in Sannati. There were more enclosure walls to control the sudden external attacks by bandits, animals etc., since such centres were known for their wealth.