a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第21章
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We have an account of what Vijayanagar was like in A。D。 1504 14 in the narrative of Duarte Barbosa； a cousin of Magellan； who visited the city during that period。
Speaking of the 〃kingdom of Narsinga；〃 by which name the Vijayanagar territories were always known to the Portuguese； Barbosa writes：＇202＇ 〃It is very rich； and well supplied with provisions； and is very full of cities and large townships。〃
He describes the large trade of the seaport of Bhatkal on its western coast； the exports from which consisted of iron； spices； drugs； myrabolans； and the imports of horses and pearls； but as regards he last two items he says； 〃They now go to Goa； on account of the Portuguese。〃 The governor of Bhatkal was a nephew of King Krishna Deva。 〃He lives in great state and calls himself king； but is in obedience to the king； his uncle。〃
Leaving the sea…coast and going inland； Barbosa passed upwards through the ghats。
〃Forty…five leagues from these mountains there is a very large city which is called BIJANAGUER； very populous； and surrounded on one side by a very good wall； and on another by a river； and on the other by a mountain。 This city is on level ground； the king of Narsinga always resides in it。 He is a gentile； and is called Raheni。＇203＇ He has in this place very large and handsome palaces； with numerous courts。。。。 There are also in this city many other palaces of great lords； who live there。 And all the other houses of the place are covered with thatch； and the streets and squares are very wide。 They are constantly filled with an innumerable crowd of all nations and creeds。。。。 There is an infinite trade in this city。。。。 In this city there are many jewels which are brought from Pegu and Celani （Ceylon）； and in the country itself many diamonds are found； because there is a mine of them in the kingdom of Narsinga and another in the kingdom of Decani。 There are also many pearls and seed…pearls to be found there； which are brought from Ormuz and Cael 。。。 also silk…brocades； scarlet cloth； and coral。。。。
〃The king constantly resides in the before…mentioned palaces； and very seldom goes out of them。。。。
〃All the attendance on the king is done by women； who wait upon him within doors； and amongst them are all the employments of the king's household； and all these women live and find room within these palaces； which contain apartments for all。。。。
〃This king has a house＇204＇ in which he meets with the governors and his officers in council upon the affairs of the realm。。。。 They come in very rich litters on men's shoulders。。。。 Many litters and many horsemen always stand at the door of this palace； and the king keeps at all times nine hundred elephants and more than twenty thousand horses； all which elephants and horses are bought with his own money。。。。 This king has more than a hundred thousand men； both horse and foot； to whom he gives pay。。。。
〃When the king dies four or five hundred women burn themselves with him。。。。 The king of Narsinga is frequently at war with the king of Dacani； who has taken from him much of his land； and with another gentile king of the country of Otira （apparently Orissa）； which is the country in the interior。〃
Barbosa mentions that the lord of Goa； before the Portuguese attack on the place； was 〃Sabaym Delcani；〃 meaning the king of the Dakhan； and he alludes to its first capture by Albuquerque on 25th February 1510； and the second on 25th November of the same year。
We learn from other sources that about this time Krishna Deva Raya was engaged with a refractory vassal in the Maisur country； the Ganga Rajah of Ummatur； and was completely successful。 He captured the strong fortress of Sivasamudra and the fortress of Srirangapattana； or Seringapatam； reducing the whole country to obedience。
In 1513 A。D。 he marched against Udayagiri； in the present district of Nellore； an exceedingly strong hill…fortress then under the king of Orissa；＇205＇ and after the successful termination of the war he brought with him from a temple on the hill a statue of the god Krishna； which he set up at Vijayanagar and endowed with a grant of lands。 This is commemorated by a long inscription still in existence at the capital。 It was then that the great temple of Krishnasvami was built； which； though now in ruins； is still one of the most interesting objects in the city。 This is also attested by a long inscription on stone； still in its place。 The king further built the temple of Hazara Ramasvami near； or in； his palace enclosure； at the same time。
Nuniz relates that at Udayagiri Krishna Raya captured an aunt of the king of Orissa and took her prisoner to Vijayanagar。 He next proceeded against Kondavid； another very strong hill…fortress also in possession of the king of Orissa； where he met and defeated the king in person in a pitched battle； and captured the citadel after a two months' siege。 He left Saluva Timma here as a governor of the conquered provinces； and went in pursuit of his enemy northwards。 Nuniz says that Saluva Timma appointed his own brother captain of Kondavid； but an inscription at that place gives us the name of this man as Nadendla Gopamantri； and calls him a nephew of Timma。 Kondavid seems to have been under the kings of Orissa since A。D。 1454； its capture by Krishna Deva took place in 1515。＇206＇ To confirm our chronicler's account of the king's northward journey； I find that there is at the town of Meduru； twenty…two miles south…east of Bezvada on the Krishna； an inscription which states that in 1516 a battle took place there between Krishna Deva and some enemy whose name is obliterated； in which the former was victorious。
The king； advanced to Kondapalle； took the place after a three months' siege； and captured therein a wife and son of the king of Orissa。 The unhappy fate of the latter is told in the chronicle。 Thence he marched to Rajahmundry and halted six months。 Peace was made shortly after； and Krishna Deva married a daughter of the Orissan king。＇207＇ After this marriage King Krishna made an expedition against a place in the east which Nuniz calls 〃Catuir；〃 on the Coromandel side； and took it。 I have been unable to locate this place。
By these conquests the whole of his eastern dominions were brought into entire subjection to the sovereign。
Nuniz writes as though the attack on Raichur immediately followed the campaign against Udayagiri； Kondavid； and 〃Catuir；〃 but； according to the evidence afforded by inscriptions； these expeditions were at an end in 1515； and the battle of Raichur did not take place for at least five years later。
A long account of wars in the south…eastern Dakhan country between Sultan Quli Qutb Shah of Golkonda and his neighbours； both Mussulman and Hindu； is given in the third volume of Colonel Briggs' 〃Firishtah；〃＇208＇ translated from a Muhammadan historian not Firishtah himself； and as this certainly covers the period of at least a portion of Krishna Deva's reign； it is well to give a summary of it。 I cannot； however； as yet determine the exact dates referred to； and the story differs from that acquired from Hindu and Portuguese accounts； the dates of which are confirmed by epigraphical records。
Sultan Quli proclaimed himself an independent sovereign in 1512。 The historian referred to states that shortly after this Quli attacked and took Razukonda and Devarakonda； fortresses respectively south…east and south…south…east of Hyderabad in Telingana。 After the second of these places had fallen Krishna Raya of Vijayanagar marched against the Sultan with an immense army and invaded his dominions。 This must； I think； refer to about the year 1513。 The Hindu army encamped at Pangul； in the angle of the Krishna river almost due east of Raichur； and here a battle took place in which the Qutb Shah was victorious The place was then besieged； it capitulated； and the Muhammadans proceeded to Ghanpura； twenty miles to the north。 This fort was captured after heavy loss； and the Sultan led his army to Kovilkonda； twenty miles to the north…west； on the borders of the country of Bidar； the territory of Ala…ud…din Imad Shah。 This place also fell。
A war with the Imad Shah followed； in which Sultan Quli was again victorious。 Shortly afterwards there were disturbances on the east of the Golkonda territories。 Sitapati； Rajah of Kambampeta； on the Muniyer river； who possessed extensive territories including Warangal and Bellamkonda； a fortress south of the Krishna rose against the Muhammadans； and the Sultan marched against Bellamkonda； which； after a long siege； he captured。 Sitapati then fought a pitched battle； was defeated； and fled； Quli returning to Golkonda。 The Rajah then stirred up a number of neighbouring chiefs and assembled large forces at Kambampeta。 Hearing of this； the Golkonda forces marched to attack them； and met with complete success； Sitapati flying to the protection of 〃Ramchunder Dew； the son of Gujputty； who held his court at Condapilly；〃 and was king of Orissa。 The Sultan advanced and attacked Kambampeta； where； after his capture of the place； he slew every man； woman； and child in the city； seizing the females of Sitapati's household for his own seraglio。 Meanwhile an immense Hindu host from all the countries about； under command of the king of Orissa； prepared to do battle for their country； and a decisive action took place near the river at Palinchinur； in which the Hindus were completely defeated。 Quli then seized Kondapalle； Ellore； and Rajahmundry； and a treaty was made between him and Orissa fixing the Godavari river as the eastern boundary of Golkonda。 By this the Sultan added the districts of Ellore and Bezvada to his own dominions。
Krishna Raya then advanced to the rescue and the Sultan marched to Kondavid。 He invested the place； but was forced to retreat owing to attacks made on him from Bellamkonda and Vinukonda； the first of which fortresses he succeeded in reducing after heavy loss。 After this he retired towards Kondapalle。 Krishna Raya now arrived and attacked the Muhammadan garrison in Bellamkonda； upon which the Sultan counter…marched； and suddenly appeared in rear of the Hindu army。 In the battle which ensued he was victorious and the siege was raised； after which he returned to Kondavid and took it。 On learning of the fall of Kondavid； Krishna Raya detached 〃his general and son…in…law Seeva Ray〃＇209＇ with 100；000 foot and 8000 horse to march against the Muhammadans。 The Sultan retreated and encamped on the banks of the Krishna； leaving Kondavid to the Hindus。＇210＇ After settling the place the Vijayanagar forces proceeded in pursuit of the Sultan； were attacked by him； defeated； and retired to Kondavid； which was a second time invested by the army of Golkonda。 The Hindus then submitted and agreed to become tributary。
On his return towards his capital the Sultan learned that Ismail Adil Shah of Bijapur was besieging Kovilkonda； 〃at the instance of the Raja of Beejanuggur。〃＇211＇ He marched against him； and a series of actions ensued； the campaign lasting eleven months； at the end of which Ismail died of a fever； and was succeeded by his son Malu。 In one of the fights Sultan Quli was wounded severely by a sabre in the face； and disfigured for life。＇212＇
I have given the whole of this story in this place because it runs as a consecutive se
