When Hari Har and Bukka set up a principality in the South India, which later became Vijayanagar Empire, who was the Delhi Sultan?

The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 CE by two brothers, Harihara and Bukka [c1][t1]. Historical records and traditions indicate that the brothers were originally in the service of the Hoysala rulers but were later captured and taken to Delhi, where they were forced to serve the Tughlaq Sultanate [c1][c2]. They eventually returned to the south, renounced their forced conversion to Islam, and asserted their independence [c1][t2]. During this period (1336 CE), the Delhi Sultanate was ruled by Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who reigned from 1325 to 1351 CE [t3]. His reign was characterized by political instability and the loss of control over distant provinces, which allowed Harihara and Bukka to establish their independent kingdom at Hampi [c2][t4]. While other Tughlaq and Khilji rulers expanded into the Deccan earlier or later, it was specifically during Muhammad bin Tughlaq's tenure that the Vijayanagara principality emerged [c2][t6].

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 12: Bahmani and Vijayanagar Kingdoms > Origin and Expansion > p. 180
2. [2] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > The Vijayanagara Empire > p. 31
3. [3] https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/icp01/chapter/the-vijayanagara-empire/