Before the rise of the vast and powerful Vijayanagara Empire, there lived a kingdom for a short period of time in the early 14th century in the Deccan region. The name of this kingdom was Kampili kingdom.

It had been declared as an independent kingdom around 1280 AD by the Hoysala king, Nayaka III (1280-1300).

The lineage of kings in the Kampili kingdom is quite short owing to its rulers having to face constant conflicts from external forces. The first ruler of this kingdom was Nayaka III himself. He has been attacked by the Yadava king Ramachandra, but the latter was successfully defeated. His son, Kampiladeva (1300-1327) ascended the throne. His conflict was with the Hoysalas themselves. In addition, they also faced constant threats from the Yadavas. Neither was able to completely defeat the Kampili king.

However, in 1327, the Muslim expedition of Muhammad bin Tughlaq of the Delhi Sultanate conquered both the kingdoms of the Ramachandra Yadava and even extended to that of Kampiladeva. The Hoysala king of the time, Vira Ballala III took advantage of the situation and occupied Hampi, the capital of what would soon be the Vijayanagara Empire. Harihara and Bukka were appointed to administer Kampili in the Hoysala rule again.

Finally, in 1327-38 AD, the Kampili kingdom was taken over by the forces led by the Delhi Sultanate. The army was led by Malik Zada, who sent Muhammad bin Tughlaq the word of victory viciously with the straw-stuffed severed head of the Hindu king.

The people of Kampili did not want to succumb to the rule of a Muslim ruler, an unwelcome invasion. All the Hindu women performed Jauhar (a mass-suicide to prevent from being tortured, raped or being enslaved by foreign invaders) when it was certain that they would be defeated. One could say that the Vijayanagara Empire that ruled South India for over 200 years rose from the ashes of these people who sacrificed their lives as a phoenix does!