a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第13章

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hand　a　dish　covered　with　betel…nut；　under　which　was　concealed　a　brilliant　poignard。　He　said　to　the　monarch；　'The　hall　is　ready　and　they　only　wait　your　august　presence。'

〃The　king；　following　the　maxim　which　declares　that　eminent　men　receive　an　inspiration　from　heaven；　said　to　him；　'I　am　not　in　good　health　to…day。'

〃This　unnatural　brother；　thus　losing　the　hope　of　enticing　the　king　to　his　house；　drew　his　poignard；　and　struck　him　therewith　several　violent　blows；　so　that　the　prince　fell　at　the　back　of　his　throne。　The　traitor；　thus　believing　that　the　king　was　dead；　left　there　one　of　his　confidants　to　cut　off　the　monarch's　head；　then　going　out　of　the　hall　he　ascended　the　portico　of　the　palace；　and　thus　addressed　the　people：　'I　have　slain　the　king；　his　brothers；　and　such　and　such　emirs；　Brahmins；　and　viziers；　now　I　am　king。'

〃Meanwhile　his　emissary　had　approached　the　throne　with　the　intention　of　cutting　off　the　king's　head；　but　that　prince；　seizing　the　seat　behind　which　he　had　fallen；　struck　the　wretch　with　it　with　so　much　violence　on　the　chest　that　he　fell　upon　his　back。　The　king　then；　with　the　help　of　one　of　his　guards；　who　at　the　sight　of　this　horrible　transaction　had　hidden　himself　in　a　corner；　slew　this　assassin；　and　went　out　of　the　palace　by　way　of　the　harem。

〃His　brother；　still　standing　on　the　steps　of　the　hall　of　council；　invited　the　multitude　to　recognise　him　as　their　king。　At　that　moment　the　monarch　cried　out；　'I　am　alive。　I　am　well　and　safe。　Seize　that　wretch。'

〃The　whole　crowd　assembled　together　threw　themselves　upon　the　guilty　prince　and　put　him　to　death。

〃The　only　one　who　escaped　was　Danaik；　the　vizier；　who　previously　to　this　sad　event　had　gone　on　a　voyage　to　the　frontier　of　Ceylon。　The　king　sent　a　courier　to　him　to　invite　him　to　return；　and　informed　him　of　what　had　just　occurred。　All　those　who　had　in　any　way　aided　in　the　conspiracy　were　put　to　death。　Men　in　great　numbers　were　slain；　flayed；　burnt　alive；　and　their　families　entirely　exterminated。　The　man　who　had　brought　the　letters　of　invitation　was　put　to　the　last　degree　of　torture。。。。〃

Nuniz　states　that　the　king　died　six　months　later　and　was　succeeded　by　his　son；　but　Abdur　Razzak　declares　that　he　was　presented　in　person　to　Deva　Raya　about　the　month　of　December　1443。　The　name　of　Deva　Raya's　son　is　not　given　by　Nuniz；　nor　yet　the　length　of　his　reign；　he　only　states　that　he　did　nothing　worth　relating　except　to　give　enormous　charities　to　temples。　This　king　again　was　succeeded　by　a　son　called　〃Verupaca　Rao；〃　who　must　be　identical　with　Virupaksha；　and　Nuniz　dates　from　his　reign　the　commencement　of　the　troubles　that　led　to　the　usurpation　of　Narasimha　and　the　downfall　of　the　first　dynasty。

But　before　putting　together　the　confusing　records　of　this　period　I　must　revert　to　the　events　of　the　year　A。D。　1443。

〃At　this　period；〃　says　Abdur　Razzak；　referring　to　the　second　half　of　the　year　1443；　〃Danaik＇114＇　the　vizier　set　out　on　an　expedition　into　the　kingdom　of　Kalbarga。〃　The　reasons　which　had　led　to　this　invasion　were　as　follows：　Sultan　Ala…ud…din　had　heard　of　the　treacherous　attempt　to　kill　the　king　of　Vijayanagar　and　the　murder　of　the　nobles　and　Principal　people；　and　he　had　sent　a　message　to　the　king　demanding　payment　of　〃seven　lakhs　of　varahas；〃　as　he　thought　the　moment　auspicious　for　an　attempt　to　crush　the　kingdom。　〃Diou…rai；　the　king　of　Bidjanagar；　was　equally　troubled　and　irritated　by　the　receipt　of　such　a　message；〃　but　he　sent　a　brave　answer　and　prepared　for　war。

〃Troops　were　sent　out　on　both　sides；　which　made　great　ravages　on　the　frontiers　of　the　two　kingdoms。。。。　Danaik；　after　having　nit　de　an　invasion　upon　the　frontiers　of　the　country　of　Kalbarga；　and　taken　several　unfortunate　prisoners；　had　retraced　his　steps。。。。〃

Firishtah　also　describes　this　war　of　A。D。　1443。　He　states　that　Deva　Raya　wantonly　attacked　the　Bahmani　princes　

〃crossed　the　Tummedra　suddenly；　took　the　fortress　of　Mudkul；　sent　his　sons　to　besiege　Roijore　and　Beekapore；　encamped　himself　along　the　bank　of　the　Kistnan；　and　sent　out　detachments；　who　plundered　the　country　as　far　as　Saugher　and　Beejapore；　laying　waste　by　fire　and　sword。

〃Sultan　Alla　ud　Dien；　upon　intelligence　of　this　invasion；　prepared　to　repel　it；　and　commanded　all　his　forces　from　Telingana；　Dowlutabad；　and　Berar　to　repair　to　the　capital　of　Ahmedabad　without　delay。　Upon　their　arrival　he　reviewed　the　whole；　and　found　his　army　composed　of　fifty　thousand　horse；　sixty　thousand　foot；　and　a　considerable　train　of　artillery。　With　this　force　he　began　to　march　against　the　enemy；　and　Deo　Roy；　upon　his　approach；　shifted　his　ground；　and　encamped　under　the　walls　of　the　fortress　of　Mudkul；　detaching　a　large　body　to　harass　the　sultan。

〃The　sultan　halted　at　the　distance　of　twelve　miles　from　Mudkul；　and　despatched　Mallek　al　Tijar　with　the　troops　of　Dowlutabad　against　the　sons　of　Deo　Roy；＇115＇　also　Khan　Zummaun；　governor　of　Beejapore；　and　Khan　Azim；　commander　of　the　forces　of　Berar　and　Telingana；　against　the　main　body　of　the　enemy。　Mallek…al…Tijar；　going　first　to　Roijore；　gave　battle　to　the　eldest　son　of　Deo　Roy；　who　was　wounded　in　the　action；　and　fled　towards　Beekapore；　from　whence　he　was　joined　by　his　younger　brother；　who　quitted　the　siege　of　that　fortress。

〃In　the　space　of　two　months；　three　actions　happened　near　Mudkul　between　the　two　grand　armies；　in　the　first　of　which　multitudes　were　slain　on　both　sides；　and　the　Hindoos　having　the　advantage；　the　mussulmauns　experienced　great　difficulties。＇116＇　The　sultan　was　successful　in　the　others；　and　in　the　last；　the　eldest　son　of　Deo　Roy　was　killed　by　a　spear　thrown　at　him　by　Khan　Zummaun；　which　event　struck　the　Hindoos　with　a　panic；　and　they　fled　with　the　greatest　precipitation　into　the　fortress　of　Mudkul。〃

Two　chief　Muhammadan　officers；　in　the　ardour　of　pursuit；　entered　the　city　with　the　fugitives；　and　were　captured　by　the　Hindus。

Deo　Roy　then　sent　a　message　to　the　Sultan　that　if　he　would　promise　never　again　to　molest　his　territories　he　would　pay　the　stipulated　tribute　annually；　and　return　the　two　prisoners。　This　was　accepted；　a　treaty　was　executed；　and　the　prisoners　returned　with　the　tribute　and　added　presents；　and　till　the　end　of　Deva　Raya's　reign　both　parties　observed　their　agreement。

From　the　terms　of　the　agreement　we　gather　that；　though　Firishtah　does　not　expressly　mention　it；　tribute　had　been　demanded　by　the　Sultan；　and　this　confirms　the　account　given　by　Abdur　Razzak。　It　also　shows　why　the　〃Danaik〃　in　Abdur　Razzak's　narrative　had　not　returned　covered　with　glory；　but　merely；　having　〃taken　several　unfortunate　prisoners；　had　retraced　his　steps。〃

The　campaign　must　have　been　of　short　duration；　since；　while　it　began　in　A。H。　847　（May　1；　A。D。　1443；　to　April　19；　1444）　according　to　Firishtah；　it　was　over　before　December　1443　when　Abdur　Razzak　left　Vijayanagar。

The　narrative　being　thus　brought　down　to　the　close　of　the　year　1443；　let　us；　before　passing　on；　turn　to　other　records　and　see　what　they　tell　us　about　the　reign　of　Deva　Raya　II。　I　have　already　stated　that　he　appears　to　have　been　very　young　at　his　accession　in　A。D。　1419。　In　1443　he　had　already　reigned　twenty…four　years。　Now　the　Hakluyt　translation　of　Abdur　Razzak's　chronicle　states　that　Razzak　saw　King　Deva　Raya　II。　in　1443；　and　the　India　Office　copy　contains　the　additional　information　that　the　king　was　then　〃exceedingly　young。〃　I　am　not　aware　which　version　is　the　more　accurate。　But　even　if　these　added　words　be　accepted　as　part　of　the　original；　the　difficulty　is　capable　of　being　explained　away　by　the　supposition　that　perhaps　the　ambassador　was　presented　to　one　of　the　princes　and　not　to　the　king　himself。　The　king　appears　to　have　been　in　doubt　as　to　whether　the　traveller　was　not　an　impostor　in　representing　himself　as　an　envoy　from　Persia；　and　may　have　refrained　from　granting　a　personal　interview。

Several　inscriptions　of　the　reign　are　extant。　One　records　a　proclamation　made　in　the　king's　name　in　A。D。　1426。＇117＇　According　to　another　bearing　a　date　corresponding　to　Wednesday；　October　16；　in　the　same　year；＇118＇　he　caused　a　Jain　temple　to　be　erected　in　the　capital；　in　a　street　called　the　〃Pan　Supari　Bazaar。〃　This　temple　is　situated　south…west　of　the　temple　marked　as　No。　35　on　the　Government　map。　It　is　within　the　enclosure　of　the　royal　palace；　and　close　to　the　rear　of　the　elephant　stables　still　standing。　The　king　is　honoured　in　this　inscription　with　the　full　imperial　title　of　MAHARAJADHIRAJA　RAJAPARAMESVARA。　The　site　of　this　bazaar　is　thus　definitely　established。　It　lay　on　either　side　of　the　road　which　ran　along　the　level　dry　ground　direct　from　the　palace　gate；　near　the　temple　of　HAZARA　RAMASVAMI；　in　a　north…easterly　direction；　to　join　the　road　which　now　runs　to　the　Tungabhadra　ferry　through　the　fortified　gate　on　the　south　side　of　the　river　immediately　opposite　Anegundi。　It　passed　along　the　north　side　of　the　Kallamma　and　Rangasvami　temples；　leaving　the　imperial　office　enclosure　with　its　lofty　walls　and　watch…towers；　and　the　elephant　stables；　on　the　left；　skirted　the　Jain　temple　and　the　temple　numbered　〃35〃　on　the　plan；　and　passed　along　under　the　rocky　hills　that　bound　this　plain　on　the　north　till　it　debouched　on　the　main　road　above　mentioned。　This　street　would　be　the　direct　approach　from　the　old　city　of　Anegundi　to　the　king's　palace。

In　A。D。　1430　the　king　made　a　grant　to　a　temple　far　in　the　south　in　the　Tanjore　district。＇119＇　There　are　two　inscriptions　of　his　reign　dated　respectively　in　1433　　34　and　1434　　35　A。D。　at　Padavedu　in　North　Arcot。＇120＇　If；　as　stated　by　Nuniz；　King　Deva　Raya　II。　died　a　few　months　after　his　attempted　assassination；　and　if　Abdur　Razzak　saw　him　in　December　1443；　we　are　led　to　the　belief　that　he　died　early　in　1444。　Definite　proof　is；　however；　wanting。　Other　inscriptions　must　be　carefully　examined　before　we　can　arrive　at　any　certain　conclusion。　Thus　an　inscription　at　Sravana　Belgola；　of　date　corresponding　to　Tuesday；　May　24　A。D。　1446；　published　by　Professor　Kielhorn；＇121＇　relates　to　the　death　on　that　day　of　〃Pratapa　Deva　Raya；〃　and　as　it　is　couched　in　very　curious　and　interesting　terms；　I　give　the　translation　in　full　

〃In　the　evil　year　Kshaya；　in　the　wretched　（month）　second　Vaisakha；　on　a　miserable　Tuesday；　in　a　fortnight　which　was　the　reverse　of　bright；＇122＇　on　the　fourteenth　day；　the　unequalled　store　of　valour　（PRATAPA）　Deva　Raya；　alas！　met　with　death。〃

But　since　royal　titles　are　not　given　to　the　deceased；　he　may　have　been　only　a　prince　of　the　blood。　An　inscription　at　Tanjore；　also　dated　in　A。D。　1446；　mentions　the　name　Deva　Raya；　but　gives　no　further　royal　titles　than　the　BIRUDA　　〃Lord　of　the　four　oceans。〃＇123＇　An　inscription　bearing　date　corresponding　to　Saturday；　August　2　A。D。　1449；　at　Conjeeveram；＇124＇　records　a　grant　by　a　king　called　Vira　Pratapa　Praudha…Immadi…Deva　Raya；　to　whom　full　royal　titles　are　given。

It　is　provoking　that　Nuniz　omits　the　name　of　the　successor　of　Deva　Raya　II。；　as　known　to　tradition　in　the　sixteenth　century；　for　this　might　have　helped　us　to　a　decision。　At　present　it　looks　as　though　there　had　been　a　Deva　Raya　III。　reigning　from　A。D。　1444　to　1449；　but　this　point　cannot　as　yet　be　settled。

Mr。　Rice　has　shown　that　one　of　the　ministers　of　Deva　Raya　II。　was　named　Naganna；　he　had　the　title　〃Dhannayaka；〃　implying　command　of　the　army。



CHAPTER　7

The　City　of　Vijayanagar　in　the