a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第17章

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Muhammad　Shah　reduced　Kondapalle；　where　he　destroyed　a　temple；　slew　the　Brahman　priests　attached　to　it；　and　ordered　a　mosque　to　be　erected　on　its　site。　He　remained　nearly　three　years　at　Rajahmundry；　secured　the　Telingana　country；　expelled　some　refractory　zamindars；　and　〃resolved　on　the　conquest　of　Nursing　Raya。〃

〃Nursing；〃　says　Firishtah；　〃was　a　powerful　raja；　possessing　the　country　between　Carnatic＇157＇　and　Telingana；　extending　along　the　sea…coast；　to　Matchiliputtum；＇158＇　and　had　added　much　of　the　Beejanuggur　territory　to　his　own　by　conquest；　with　several　strong　forts。〃

This　was　probably　the　powerful　chief　Narasimha　Raya；　a　relation　of　the　king　of　Vijayanagar；　who；　intrusted　with　the　government　of　large　tracts；　was　rising　rapidly　to　independence　under　the　weak　and　feeble　monarch　whom　he　finally　supplanted。　The　Sultan　went　to　Kondapalle；＇159＇　and　there　was　told　that；　at　a　distance　of　ten　days'　journey；　〃was　the　temple　of　Kunchy；＇160＇　the　walls　and　roof　of　which　were　plated　with　gold；　ornamented　with　precious　stones；〃　upon　receipt　of　which　intelligence　the　Sultan　is　said　to　have　made　a　forced　march　thither；　taking　with　him　only　6000　cavalry；　and　to　have　sacked　the　place。

The　account　given　by　the　BURHAN…I　MAASIR　as　to　Muhammad　Shah's　proceedings　at　this　period　is　that　on　going　to　Rajahmundry　he　found　there　Narasimha　Raya　〃with　700；000　cursed　infantry；　and　500　elephants　like　mountains　of　iron；〃　who；　in　spite　of　all　his　pomp　and　power；　fled　like　a　craven　on　the　approach　of　the　army　of　Islam。　The　Sultan　then　reduced　Rajahmundry；　which　had　been　held　by　a　HINDU　force　　not　Muhammadan；　as　Firishtah　declares。　In　November　1480＇161＇　he　marched　from　Rajahmundry　to　Kondavid；　going　〃towards　the　kingdom　of　Vijayanagar。〃　After　reducing　that　fortress；　he　proceeded　after　a　while　to　Malur；　which　belonged　to　Narasimha；　〃who；　owing　to　his　numerous　army　and　the　extent　of　his　dominions；　was　the　greatest　and　most　powerful　of　all　the　rulers　of　Telingana　and　Vijayanagar；〃　and　who　〃had　established　himself　in　the　midst　of　the　countries　of　Kanara　and　Telingana；　and　taken　possession　of　most　of　the　districts　of　the　coast　and　interior　of　Vijayanagar。〃

While　at　Malur　the　Sultan　was　informed　that　〃at　a　distance　of　fifty　farsakhas　from　his　camp　was　a　city　called　Ganji；〃　containing　temples；　&c。；　to　which　he　promptly　marched；　arriving　before　the　place　on　13th　March　A。D。　1481。＇162＇　He　sacked　the　city　and　returned。

After　this　the　Sultan　went　to　Masulipatam；　which　he　reduced；　and　thence　returned　to　Kondapalle。　This　was　his　last　success。　His　cold…blooded　murder　of　the　celebrated　Mahmud　Gawan；　his　loyal　and　faithful　servant；　in　1481；　so　disgusted　the　nobles　that　in　a　short　time　the　kingdom　was　dismembered；　the　chiefs　revolted；　the　dynasty　was　overthrown；　and　five　independent　kingdoms　were　raised　on　its　ruins。

Muhammad　Shah　died　on　21st　March。　A。D。　1482。　Shortly　before　his　death　he　planned　an　expedition　to　relieve　Goa　from　a　Vijayanagar　army　which　〃Sewaroy；　Prince　of　Beejanuggur；〃　had　sent　there　（Firishtah）；　but　the　Sultan's　death　put　a　stop　to　this　（BURHAN…I　MAASIR）。

We　have　some　further　information　on　the　affairs　of　Kulbarga　during　the　reign　of　Muhammad　Shah　in　the　writings　of　the　Russian　traveller　Athanasius　Nikitin；　but　it　is　very　difficult　to　fix　the　exact　date　of　his　sojourn　there。　Nikitin　was　a　native　of　Twer；　and　set　out　on　his　wanderings　by　permission　of　the　Grand　Duke　Michael　Borissovitch；　and　his　own　bishop；　Gennadius。　This　fixes　the　time　of　his　start　so　far　that　it　must　have　taken　place　subsequent　to　1462；　and　the　author　of　the　〃Bombay　Gazetteer；〃　RE　Poonah；　assigns　the　period　1468　to　1474　as　that　of　Nikitin's　stay　in　India。

Nikitin　first　went　to　Chaul；　and　thence　travelled　by　land　to　Junir。

〃Here　resides　Asat；　Khan　of　Indian　Jooneer；　a　tributary　of　Meliktuchar。。。。　He　has　been　fighting　the　Kofars　for　twenty　years；　being　sometimes　beaten　but　mostly　beating　them。〃

By　〃Meliktuchar〃　is　probably　meant　the　celebrated　minister　Mahmud　Gawan；　who　in　1457　A。D。　received　the　title　〃Mallik…al…Tijar；〃　a　title　which　was　borne　by　the　chief　amongst　the　nobility　at　the　Bahmani　court。　It　meant　literally　〃chief　of　the　merchants。〃　The　〃Kofars〃　are；　of　course；　the　Kaffirs　or　Hindus。　Firishtah　tells　us　of　fighting　having　taken　place　in　1469　between　the　Mallik…al…Tijar　and　〃the　roles　of　Songeer；　Khalneh；　and　rebels　in　Kokun；〃　when　the　troops　of　Junir　were　under　the　Mallik's　command。　During　the　war　he　captured　Goa；　as　already　stated。　There　were　campaigns　also　against　the　Hindus　of　Rajahmundry；　Vinukonda；　and　other　places；　and　in　1472　one　against　Belgaum；　which　has　been　already　described。　Firishtah　tells　us　that　the　Daulatabad　and　Junir　troops　were　sent　against　the　powerful　Hindu　Raja　Narasimha　on　the　east　coast。＇163＇　As　to　Kulbarga　and　his　experiences　there；　Nikitin　writes　as　follows：　

〃The　Hindus　。。。　are　all　naked　and　bare…footed。　They　carry　a　shield　in　one　hand　and　a　sword　in　the　other。　Some　of　the　servants　are　armed　with　straight　bows　and　arrows。　Elephants　are　greatly　used　in　battle。。。。　Large　scythes　are　attached　to　the　trunks　and　tusks　of　the　elephants；　and　the　animals　are　clad　in　ornamental　plates　of　steel。　They　carry　a　citadel；　and　in　the　citadel　twelve　men　in　armour　with　guns　and　arrows。。。。　The　land　is　overstocked　with　people；　but　those　in　the　country　are　very　miserable；　whilst　the　nobles　are　extremely　opulent　and　delight　in　luxury。　They　are　wont　to　be　carried　on　their　silver　beds；　preceded　by　some　twenty　chargers　caparisoned　in　gold；　and　followed　by　three　hundred　men　on　horseback　and　five　hundred　on　foot；　and　by　horn…men；　ten　torch…bearers；　and　ten　musicians。

〃There　may　be　seen　in　the　train　of　the　Sultan　about　a　thousand　ordinary　horses　in　gold　trappings；　one　hundred　carrels　with　torch…bearers；　three　hundred　trumpeters；　three　hundred　dancers。。。。　The　Sultan；　riding　on　a　golden　saddle；　wears　a　habit　embroidered　with　sapphires；　and　on　his　pointed　headdress　a　large　diamond；　he　also　carries　a　suit　of　gold　armour　inlaid　with　sapphires；　and　three　swords　mounted　in　gold。。。。　The　brother　of　the　Sultan　rides　on　a　golden　bed；　the　canopy　of　which　is　covered　with　velvet　and　ornamented　with　precious　stones。。。。　Mahmud　sits　on　a　golden　bed；　with　a　silken　canopy　to　it　and　a　golden　top；　drawn　by　four　horses　in　gilt　harness。　Around　him　are　crowds　of　people；　and　before　him　many　singers　and　dancers。。。。

〃Melikh　Tuchar　took　two　Indian　Towns　whose　ships　pirated　on　the　Indian　Sea；　captured　seven　princes　with　their　treasures。。。。　The　town　had　been　besieged　for　two　years　by　an　army　of　two　hundred　thousand　men；　a　hundred　elephants；　and　three　hundred　camels。＇164＇　。。。

〃Myza　Mylk；　Mek…Khan；　and　Farat　Khan　took　three　large　cities；　and　captured　an　immense　quantity　of　precious　stones；　the　whole　of　which　was　brought　to　Melik　Tuchar。。。。　They　came　to　Beder　on　the　day　of　the　Ascension。〃

The　Sultan's　brother　〃when　in　a　campaign　is　followed　by　his　mother　and　sister；　and　2000　women　on　horseback　or　on　golden　beds；＇165＇　at　the　head　of　his　train　are　300　ordinary　horses　in　gold　equipment。〃

〃Melik　Tuchar　moved　from　Beder　with　his　army；　50；000　strong；　against　the　Indians。。。。　The　Sultan　sent　50；000　of　his　own　army。。。。　With　this　force　Melik　Tuchar　went　to　fight　against　the　great　Indian　dominion　of　CHENUDAR。　But　the　king　of　BINEDAR＇166＇　possessed　300　elephants；　100；000　men　of　his　own　troops；　and　50；000　horse。〃

The　writer　then　gives　details　as　to　the　rest　of　the　Sultan's　forces；　and　the　total　comes　to　the　enormous　amount　of　over　900；000　foot；　190；000　horse；　and　575　elephants。

〃The　Sultan　moved　out　with　his　army　。。。　to　join　Melich　Tuchar　at　Kalbarga。　But　their　campaign　was　not　successful；　for　they　took　only　one　Indian　town；　and　that　at　the　loss　of　many　people　and　treasures。＇167＇

〃The　Hindu　Sultan　Kadam　is　a　very　powerful　prince。　He　possesses　a　numerous　army　and　resides　on　a　mountain　at　BICHENEGHER。　This　vast　city　is　surrounded　by　three　forts　and　intersected　by　a　river；　bordering　on　one　side　on　a　dreadful　jungle；　and　on　the　other　on　a　dale；　a　wonderful　place　and　to　any　purpose　convenient。　On　one　side　it　is　quite　inaccessible；　a　road　gives　right　through　the　town；　and　as　the　mountain　rises　high　with　a　ravine　below；　the　town　is　impregnable。

〃The　enemy　besieged　it　for　a　month　and　lost　many　people；　owing　to　the　walls　of　water　and　food。　Plenty　of　water　was　in　sight　but　could　not　be　got　at。

〃This　Indian　stronghold　was　ultimately　taken　by　Melikh　Khan　Khoda；　who　stormed　it；　and　fought　day　and　night　to　reduce　it。　The　army　that　made　the　siege　with　heavy　guns　had　neither　eaten　nor　drunk　for　twenty　days。　He　lost　5000　of　his　best　soldiers。　On　the　capture　of　the　town　20；000　inhabitants　men　and　women；　had　their　heads　cut　off；　20；000　young　and　old　were　made　prisoners　and　sold。。。。　The　treasury；　however；　having　been　found　empty；　the　town　was　abandoned。〃

It　is　impossible　to　decide　to　what　this　refers；　as　we　have　no　other　information　of　any　capture　of　Vijayanagar　by　the　Sultan's　forces　at　this　period。　But　the　traveller　may　have　confused　the　place　with　Rajahmundry　or　one　of　the　eastern　cities　of　Telingana。

In　1482　A。D。；　as　before　stated；　Mahmud　Shah　II。　succeeded　to　the　throne　of　Kulbarga；　being　then　a　boy　of　twelve；　but　his　sovereignty　was　only　nominal。　Constant　disturbances　took　place；　the　nobles　in　many　tracts　rose　against　the　sovereign；　and　amongst　others　the　governor　of　Goa　attempted　to　assert　his　independence；　seizing　many　important　places　on　the　coast；　civil　war　raged　at　the　capital；　and　before　long　the　great　chiefs　threw　off　all　semblance　of　obedience　to　the　authority　of　the　Bahmanis；　and　at　length　divided　the　kingdom　amongst　themselves。

At　Vijayanagar；　too；　there　seems　to　have　been　chaos；　and　about　the　time　when　the　Dakhani　nobles　finally　revolted；　Narasimha　Raya　had　placed　himself　on　the　throne　and　established　a　new　and　powerful　dynasty。

The　five　separate　kingdoms　which　arose　in　the　Dakhan　were　those　of　the　Adil　Shahs　of　Bijapur；　with　whom　we　have　most　to　do；　the　Barid　Shahs　of　Bidr　or　Ahmadabad；　the　Imad　Shahs　of　Birar；　the　Nizam　Shahs　of　Ahmadnagar；　and　the　Qutb　Shahs　of　Golkonda。

Adil　Shah　was　the　first　of　his　line　at　Bijapur；　and　he　proclaimed　his　independence　in　A。D。　1489。　The　unhappy　king　Mahmud　II。　lived　in　inglorious　seclusion　till　December　18；　A。D。　1517；　and　was　nominally　succeeded　by　his　eldest　son；　Ahmad。　Ahmad　died　after　two　years'　reign；　and　was　followed　in　rapid　succession　by　his　two　brothers；　Ala…ud…din　III。　（deposed）　and　Wali　（murdered）；　after　whom　Kalim　Ullah；　son　of　Ahmad　II。；　was　nominally　placed　on　the　throne　but　was　kept　a　close　prisoner；　and　with　his　death　the　Bahmani　dynasty　fell　for　ever。



CHAPTER　9

The　First　Kings　of　the　Second　Dynasty　（A。D。　1490　to　1509）

Narasimha　usurps　the　throne　　Flight　of　the　late　king　　Saluva　Timma　　Vira　Narasimha　　Bijapur　again　attacks　Vijayanagar　　The　Portuguese　in　India　　They　seize　Goa　　Varthema's　record　　Albuquerque。

In　my　〃Sketch　of　the　Dynasties　of　Southern　India；〃　published　in　1883　（p。　106）；　the　following　passage　occurs：　

〃We　now　come　to　the　second　or　Narasimha　dynasty；　whose　scions　became　more　powerful　than　any　monarchs　who　had　ever　reigned　over　the　south　of　India。　Dr。　Burnell　fixes　A。D。　1490　as　the　initial　date　of　Narasimha's　reign；　and　at　present　no　inscription　that　I　can　be　sure　of　appears　to　overthrow　that