Krishnadeva Rai was the greatest king of Tuluv Dynasty. He reigned from 1509 CE to 1529 CE. In his rule, Vijayanagar was at the peak of its power and grandeur. At this time the condition of the kingdom was not satisfactory. However, within ten years of his constant efforts, Krishnadeva Rai resolved all the problems. He was usually successful in his military compaigns.

He defeated the ruler of Bidar and Bijapur, Sultan Mahmud Shah and Yusuf Adil Shah. He freed the Bahmani ruler Sultan Mahmud Shah from Barid and put him on the throne, and assumed the title of Yavan Raj Sthapanacharya’. By 1520 CE, Krishnadeva Rai defeated all his enemies and proved his valour.

He established his supremacy in South India. He established friendly relations with the Portuguese. In his time, many Portuguese merchants and travellers came to Vijayanagar. He permitted the Portuguese to build a fort in Bhatkal.

Krishnadeva Rai was a great scholar of Telugu. Eight best scholars of Telugu lived in his court. In architecture, he founded a new city named Nagalpur and built temples named Hazara and Vitthalswami.