a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第27章

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ma　had　raised　to　high　rank；　and　this　man；　on　being　applied　to　by　the　minister　to　send　supplies　from　the　capital；　was　so　amazed　at　the　wealth　which　he　saw　in　the　royal　treasury　that　he　resolved　to　attempt　to　gain　possession　of　it。　He　therefore　released　the　child…king；　obtained　the　co…operation　of　Hoje　Tirumala；　assumed　the　office　of　minister；　and　began　to　raise　troops。　〃Several　tributary　roies；　who　were　disgusted　with　Ramraaje；　flew　with　speed　to　Beejanuggur　to　obey　their　lawful　king；　and　in　a　short　time　thirty　thousand　horse　and　vast　hosts　of　foot　were　assembled　under　his　standard　at　the　city。〃　Tirumala　then　had　the　slave…governor　assassinated。　Rama　Rajah　at　once　returned　to　the　capital；　but　was　unable　at　that　juncture　to　assert　his　authority。　Finding　himself　deserted　by　many　of　the　nobles　he　concluded　a　treaty　with　his　lawful　sovereign；　and　retired　to　his　own　province；　which　by　agreement　he　was　allowed　to　retain　as　his　own　independent　state。　Tirumala　shortly　afterwards　strangled　the　king　and　seized　the　throne。　The　nobles　submitted；　since　he　was　of　royal　blood；　and　better；　in　their　opinion；　than　Rama　Rajah；　but　when　afterwards　they　found　themselves　unable　to　endure　his　tyranny　and　oppression；　they　rebelled　and　invited　Rama　Rajah　to　return。

Tirumala　then　found　himself　in　great　straits；　and　sent　ambassadors　with　large　presents　to　Ibrahim　Adil　Shah；　begging　him　to　march　to　his　assistance　and　promising　that　the　Vijayanagar　kingdom　should　be　declared　tributary　to　Bijapur。　Ibrahim；　delighted　beyond　measure；　after　consulting　Asada　Khan　accepted　the　terms；　moved　from　his　capital；　and　arrived　before　Vijayanagar　〃in　the　year　942；〃　which　corresponds　to　the　period　from　July　2；　A。D。　1535；　to　June　20；　1536。＇278＇　He　was　conducted　into　the　city　by　Hoje　Termul　Roy；　who　seated　him　on　the　musnud　of　the　raaje　and　made　rejoicings　for　seven　days。〃　This　conduct　led　to　a　change　of　front　on　the　part　of　Rama　Rajah　and　his　supporters。　They　entreated　Tirumala　for　the　sake　of　the　country　to　procure　the　retreat　of　the　Sultan　to　his　own　dominions；　promising　submission　and　obedience　if　this　should　be　done；　and　Tirumala；　thinking　that　now　he　had　no　further　use　for　his　allies；　requested　the　Sultan　to　return　home。　He　paid　over　the　subsidy　agreed　upon；　which　was　assessed　at　something　approaching　two　millions　sterling；　and　made　many　other　gifts。　The　story　then　ends　with　a　tragedy。

〃Ibrahim　Adil　Shaw　had　not　yet　recrossed　the　Kistnah；　when　Ramraaje　and　the　confederates；　who　had　bribed　many　of　the　troops　in　the　city；　broke　their　newly　made　vows；　and　hastened　towards　Beejanuggur；　resolved　to　put　the　roy　to　death；　on　pretence　of　revenging　the　murder　of　his　predecessor。　Hoje　Termul　Roy；　seeing　he　was　betrayed；　shut　himself　up　in　the　palace；　and；　becoming　mad　from　despair；　blinded　all　the　royal　elephants　and　horses；　also　cutting　off　their　tails；　that　they　might　be　of　no　use　to　his　enemy。　All　the　diamonds；　rubies；　emeralds；　other　precious　stones；　and　pearls；　which　had　been　collected　in　a　course　of　many　ages；　he　crushed　to　powder　between　heavy　millstones；　and　scattered　them　on　the　ground。　He　then　fixed　a　sword…blade　into　a　pillar　of　his　apartment；　and　ran　his　breast　upon　it　with　such　force　that　it　pierced　through　and　came　out　at　the　back；　thus　putting　an　end　to　his　existence；　just　as　the　gates　of　the　palace　were　opened　to　his　enemies。　Ramraaje　now　became　roy　of　Beejanuggur　without　a　rival。〃

After　this　point　in　Firishtah's　narrative　we　hear　of　no　more　〃young　Roies〃　or　imprisoned　sovereigns　of　the　Second　Dynasty。　〃Ramraaje〃　alone　is　spoken　of　as　king；　and　Kings　Achyuta　and　Sadasiva　　the　latter　of　whom　was　undoubtedly　recognised　as　king　for　some　years　though　he　was　kept　in　custody　　are　not　so　much　as　mentioned。

Thus　Firishtah　and　Nuniz　both　agree　that　Ibrahim　Adil　advanced　as　far　as　the　city　of　Vijayanagar；　and　retired　after　payment　of　immense　sums　of　money　and　the　gift　of　many　valuable　presents。　The　date　was　A。D。　1535　　36。　With　this　date　ends　the　historical　portion　of　the　chronicle　of　Nuniz。＇279＇

We　continue　the　narrative　of　events　in　Achyuta's　reign　as　gathered　from　Firishtah。＇280＇　As　soon　as　he　heard　of　the　death　of　Hoje　Tirumala　and　the　seizure　of　the　throne　by　〃Ramraaje；〃　Ibrahim　Adil　Shah　sent　Asada　Khan　to　reduce　the　important　fortress　of　Adoni；　which　was　undisputedly　in　Vijayanagar　territory。　Rama　Rajah　despatched　his　younger　brother；　Venkatadri；　to　its　relief；　and　the　latter　hastened　thither　with　a　large　force。

〃Assud　Khan；　upon　his　approach；　raised　the　siege　and　moved　towards　him。　A　sharp　engagement　ensued；　and　Assud　Khan；　finding　that　he　was　likely　to　have　the　worst　of　the　action；　from　the　vast　superiority　in　numbers　of　the　enemy；　retreated　in　good　order；　but　was　followed　fourteen　miles　by　the　victors；　when　he　encamped；　and　Venkatadry；＇281＇　in　order　to　be　ready　to　harass　the　retreat　the　next　day；　halted　in　full　security　at　a　distance　of　only　two　miles　from　him。　Assud　Khan；　who　had　ardently　wished　for　such　an　event；　towards　the　dawn　of　day；　with　four　thousand　chosen　horse；　surprized　the　camp　of　Venkatadry；　whose　self…confidence　had　left　him　wholly　off　his　guard　against　such　a　manoeuvre。　Assud　Khan　penetrated　to　his　tents　before　he　received　the　alarm；　and　he　had　scarce　time　to　make　his　escape；　leaving　his　treasures；　family；　and　elephants　to　the　mercy　of　the　victors。　When　the　day　had　fully　cleared　up；　Venkatadry　collected　his　scattered　troops；　and　drew　up　as　if　to　engage；　but　seeing　Assud　Khan　resolute　to　maintain　his　advantage；　and　fearing　for　the　personal　safety　of　his　wife　and　children；　he　declined　hazarding　a　battle；　and；　retiring　some　miles　off；　fixed　his　camp：　from　whence　he　wrote　Ramraaje　an　account　of　his　disaster；　and　requested　reinforcements　to　enable　him　to　repair　it。　Ramraaje　immediately　sent　supplies　of　men　and　money；　openly　declaring　his　intentions　of　carrying　on　the　war；　but　privately　informed　his　brother　that　he　had　reason　to　imagine　that　Ibrahim　Adil　Shaw　had　not　been　led　merely　of　his　own　will　to　besiege　Oodnee；　that　he　suspected　the　zemindars　of　that　quarter　had　invited　him　to　make　war；　and　that　many　of　the　nobility　with　him　were　secretly　in　his　interest；　therefore；　he　thought　he　would　act　prudently　by　making　peace　with　the　mussulmauns　at　present；　and　procuring　the　release　of　his　wife　and　family　from　Assud　Khan。　Venkatadry；　in　consequence　of　the　desires　of　his　brother；　having　procured　the　mediation　and　influence　of　Assud　Khan；　addressed　the　sultan　for　peace；　which　being　granted；　and　all　affairs　settled　to　the　satisfaction　of　both　states；　Ibrahim　Adil　Shaw　returned　to　Beejapore　with　Assud　Khan　and　the　rest　of　his　nobility　and　army。〃

Asada　Khan　after　this　was　greatly　honoured　by　the　Sultan；　in　spite　of　the　intrigues　which　were　fomented　against　him。　Quarrels　and　disturbances；　however；　arose　in　the　Bijapur　dominions　which　lasted　during　the　whole　of　the　year　1542；　in　the　course　of　which　year　King　Achyuta　died；　and　was　succeeded　nominally　by　Sadasiva；　during　whose　reign　Vijayanagar　was　practically　in　the　hands　of　Rama　Rajah　and　of　his　two　brothers；　Tirumala　and　Venkatadri。

Firishtah　was　a　great　admirer　of　Asada　Khan　and　supported　him　in　all　that　he　did。＇282＇　Asada　was　a　Turk；　who；　beginning　life　under　the　simple　name　of　Khusru　in　the　service　of　Ismail　Adil　Shah；　distinguished　himself　in　his　sovereign's　defence　during　the　attack　on　Bijapur　in　1511；　a　defence　celebrated　on　account　of　the　heroic　conduct　of　the　Sultan's　aunt；　Dilshad　Agha。　Khusru　was　rewarded　by　Ismail　with　the　title　of　〃Asada　Khan；〃　a　name　which　he　bore　for　the　rest　of　his　life；　and　a　grant　of　the　jaghir　of　Belgaum。　He　rose　to　be　chief　minister　and　commander…in…chief　of　the　army　of　his　master；　and　died　full　of　years　and　honours　in　A。D。　1549。

The　Portuguese　at　Goa　had　a　very　low　opinion　of　Asada's　character。　They　held　him　to　be　an　inveterate　intriguer；　ready　at　every　moment　to　betray　his　best　friends；　even　his　sovereign；　if　only　by　so　doing　he　could　advance　his　own　personal　and　selfish　interests；　and　in　this；　owing　to　his　consummate　skill　and　tortuous　ways；　he　invariably　succeeded。　If　space　permitted；　many　interesting　stories　could　be　narrated　of　him；　culled　from　the　various　writings　of　the　day。＇283＇

Barros　calls　him　〃Sufo　Larij；〃＇284＇　a　name　which　some　writers　have　derived　from　〃Yusuf　of　Lar。〃　Castanheda　spells　the　name　〃Cufolarim。〃

Asada　Khan　is　entitled　to　a　chapter　to　himself；　but；　to　avoid　prolixity；　I　will　only　give　one　extract　from　the　〃Asia〃　of　Barros。＇285＇　Allusion　has　been　made　above　to　an　attack　on　the　mainlands　of　Goa　by　three　Hindu　chiefs；　when　Ponda　was　besieged。　The　inhabitants　appealed　to　Nuno　da　Cunha；　the　governor…general；　who　hesitated　to　interfere　for　fear　of　bringing　on　a　war　with　the　Adil　Shah。　The　principal　danger　was　the　lord　of　Belgaum；　Asada　Khan。

〃Acadachan；　like　one　who　in　a　safe　and　lofty　place　watches　some　great　fire　spreading　over　the　plains　below；　watched　from　his　city　of　Belgaum　the　events　that　were　passing；〃　　but　did　nothing　till　the　Adil　Shah　wrote　desiring　him　to　return　to　Bijapur；　which　he　had　temporarily　left　owing　to　a　disagreement；　and　to　assist　him　in　the　government　of　the　kingdom。　Asada　Khan　replied　craftily　that　he　had　done　with　the　affairs　of　this　life；　and　proposed　to　go　and　die　at　Mecca。　At　this　Ismail　flew　into　a　passion　and　vowed　revenge　against　his　powerful　subject；　who；　to　save　himself；　wrote　to　Da　Cunha；　professing　his　unalloyed　friendship　for　the　Portuguese；　and　inviting　them　to　take　possession　of　certain　tracts　on　the　mainland；　declaring　that　his　master；　the　Sultan；　was　powerless　to　defend　himself　against　the　armies　of　Vijayanagar。　This　was；　it　must　be　borne　in　mind；　long　after　the　Hindu　victory　at　Raichur。　Da　Cunha　sent　Christovao　de　Figueiredo；　Krishna　Deva's　valiant　friend；　to　bear　his　reply；　since　the　latter　was　on　friendly　terms　with　the　lord　of　Belgaum。　A　conversation　took　place；　in　which　Asada　Khan　said　that　he　was　afraid　of　his　master；　who　was　of　variable　and　inconstant　character；　and　that　he　desired　of　all　things　to　preserve　friendship　with　the　Portuguese。　He　therefore　begged　to　be　allowed　to　visit　Goa　and　cement　an　alliance　with　the　governor…general；　to　whom　he　faithfully　promised　that　the　lands　in　question　should　become　for　ever　the　property　of　the　king　of　Portugal。　Accordingly　the　lands　were　seized　by　Da　Cunha。

Immediately　afterwards　Asada　began　to　intrigue　with　the　king　of　Vijayanagar；　and　being　invited　to　visit　that　city　on　the　occasion　of　one　of　the　great　MAHANAVAMI　festivals；　left　Belgaum　with　13；000　men　and　200　elephants。　Before　starting　he　wrote　to　Da　Cunha；　asking　that　Figueiredo　might　be　sent　to　accompany　him；　and　promising　to　obtain　for　the　Portuguese　a　definite　cession　of　the　lands　from　the　Raya；　since　these　had　formerly　been　the　latter's　possession。　Accordingly　Figueiredo　left　for　Vijayanagar；　but　learned　that　the　Khan　had　already　arrived　there　and　had　joined　the　king。　The　Raya　received　Asada　favourably；　and；　as　a　present；　gave　him　two　towns；　〃Tunge　and　Turugel；〃＇286＇since　he　hoped　for　his　aid　against　the　Sultan。

When　the　Sultan　heard　of　Asada　Khan's　defection　he　gave　himself　up　for　lost；　but　assembled　an　army　and　advanced　to　within　twelve　leagues　of　the　king's　camp；　where　Asada　Khan　had　pitched　his　tents　at　some　distance　from　those　of　the　Hindu　lords。　The　Sultan　thence　wrote　to　the　Raya　demand