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For two and a half centuries from the mid 13th century, the politics in the Northern India was dominated by the Delhi Sultanate; and in the Southern India by the Vijayanagar Empire, which originated as a political heir of the Hoysala Empire and Pandyan Empire.However, there were other regional powers present as well. In the north, the Rajput kingdoms remained the dominant force in Western and Central India. Their power reached to the zenith under Rana Sanga, during whose time Rajput armies were constantly victorious against the Sultanate armies.In the south, the Bahmani Sultanate was the chief rival of the Vijayanagara, and frequently created difficulties for the Vijayanagara.In the early 16th century Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar Empire defeated the last remnant of Bahmani Sultanate power, after which the Bahmani Sultanate collapsed.It was established either by a Brahman convert or patronised by a Brahman and from that source it was given the name Bahmani.In the early 16th century, it collapsed and split into five small Deccan sultanates.
In the East, the Gajapati Kingdom remained a strong regional power to reckon with; and associated with a high point in the growth of regional culture and architecture.In Northeast India, the Ahom Kingdom was a major power for six centuries; led by Lachit Borphukan, the Ahoms decisively defeated the Mughal army at the Battle of Saraighat during the Ahom-Mughal conflicts.Further east in Northeastern India, was the Kingdom of Manipur, which ruled from their seat of power at Kangla Fort and developed a sophisticated Hindu Gaudiya Vaishnavite culture.