<P> The Battle of Talikota (23 January 1565) was a watershed battle fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan sultanates . The battle took place at Talikota, today a town in northern Karnataka, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the southeast from the city of Bijapur . The treacherous defeat of Vijayanagara Empire, followed subsequent destruction and looting which became short lived before the successors of Rama Raya . </P> <P> The Muslim Sultanates to the north of Vijayanagara united and attacked Rama Raya's army, on 23 January 1565, in an engagement known as the Battle of Talikota . The armies clashed on the plains near the villages of Rakkasagi and Tangadigi (it is also known as the Battle of Rakkasa - Tangadi). </P> <P> The Vijayanagara army was winning the battle, state Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, but suddenly two Muslim generals of the Vijayanagara army switched sides and turned their loyalty to the united Sultanates . They captured Rama Raya and beheaded him on the spot, with Sultan Hussain on the Sultanates side joining them . The beheading of Rama Raya created confusion and havoc and in the still loyal portions of the Vijayanagara army, which were then completely routed . The Sultanates' army plundered Hampi and reduced it into ruins . </P> <P> According to Shastri, the greatest factor was the betrayal of the Vijaynagara Army by two Muslim commanders (Gilani Brothers). At the critical point of the war, Muslim officers in the Vijayanagara army launched a subversive attack . Suddenly Rama Raya found himself surprised when the two Muslim divisions in his ranks turned against him . </P>

The battle of talikota is significant in history because it resulted in
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