a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第28章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
his tents at some distance from those of the Hindu lords。 The Sultan thence wrote to the Raya demanding the delivery to him of his recalcitrant 〃slave；〃 and the Raya sent on the letter to Asada Khan； who told the king that he would never join the Muhammadans； but would remain faithful to Vijayanagar。 A short pause ensued； during which the Raya learned that constant messages were passing between the camps of the Sultan and Asada Khan。 Both armies then marched towards Raichur； the Raya to retake the place from the Sultan； the Sultan watching for an opportunity to attack the Raya。
On the third day Asada Khan started with his forces two hours in advance of the royal troops； crossed the river first； and hastened to join the Sultan。 Adil Shah received him with great apparent cordiality； and at length freely forgave him on the Khan's protestations that his intrigues with Vijayanagar and the Portuguese were only so many moves in a game undertaken for the advancement of the Sultan's interests。 Previous to this move the Khan had held a conversation with Figueiredo； in which he succeeded in totally deceiving him as to his intentions； and reiterated his promises to obtain the cession of the mainlands from the Raya； for whom he professed the greatest friendship。
In the end； says Barros； the Adil Shah； secretly fearful of Asada Khan's duplicity； made a treaty of peace with the Raya； by which the Muhammadans retained Raichur but gave up some other territory。
Though this story differs from Firishtah at almost every point； it is permissible to think that it may refer to the events of 1535； when the Sultan visited Vijayanagar； for in continuing his narrative； Barros a little later mentions the year 1536。 It seems hopeless to try and reconcile the conflicting stories of Nuniz； Barros； and Firishtah； but enough has been said to afford insight into the character of Asada Khan。 Nuniz echoes the general sentiment when he writes of the Khan's rescue of the Adil Shah； after his defeat at Raichur in 1520 A。D。； as being effected 〃by cunning；〃 for his own purposes； and when he describes how； by a series of lies； Asada contrived the execution of Salabat Khan at the hands of Krishna Raya。
During this reign the Portuguese were busy establishing themselves at various places on the coast； and they built several forts there for the protection of their trade。 They had been constantly at war with the Samuri of Calicut and other feudatories of Vijayanagar； but with the Raya himself they were on terms of friendship； and in 1540 they ratified a treaty of peace with the sovereigns of Bijapur and Ahmadnagar as well as with the Samuri。
Throughout the whole of their dealings with the Portuguese I find not a single instance where the Hindu kings broke faith with the intruders；＇287＇ but as much cannot； I fear； be said on the other side。 The Europeans seemed to think that they had a divine right to the pillage； robbery； and massacre of the natives of India。 Not to mince matters； their whole record is one of a series of atrocities。 It is sad to turn from the description given us by Paes of the friendship felt for the Portuguese； and especially for Christovao de Figueiredo； by the 〃gallant and perfect〃 King Krishna Deva； and then to read of the treachery of the Viceroy towards the great Hindu Government； with which the Portuguese had made alliances and treaties； and for which they openly professed friendship。 Thus； to take one instance only； in 1545 the governor of Goa made ready a large fleet and a force of 3000 men； but kept all his preparations secret； for very good reason。 His object was to sail round the coast to San Thome； near Madras； land his troops； march inland； and sack the great temple of Tirumala or Tirupati； purely for lust of gain。 Luckily a severe storm prevented him from setting said； but he plundered and destroyed some rich temples on the western coast； and enriched himself with the spoil This was a mere wanton attack on property belonging to feudatories of the Vijayanagar empire； for there has never been any pretence that the peace…loving Brahmans attached to these temples had in any way offended or interfered with the Portuguese。
In the time of Achyuta a large number of grants were made by the nobles to temples throughout Southern India； and numerous inscriptions on stone and copperplates are extant relating to these charitable and religious donations。 One of the most important has been published by Professor Kielhorn。＇288＇ It relates that the king； being on the banks of the Tungabhadra on the 12th October A。D。 1540； at the temple of Vitthalasvami or Vitthalesvara the splendidly sculptured pavilions of which remain to this day； even in their ruin and decay； an object of astonishment and admiration to all beholders gave a grant of a village not far from Madras to the Brahmans learned in the Vedas。
The last date of Achyuta known to epigraphists at present is found in an inscription＇289＇ bearing a date corresponding to January 25； A。D。 1541； and the earliest date similarly available of his successor； Sadasiva； is July 27； A。D。 1542。
CHAPTER 14
The Beginning of the End
Reign of Sadasiva The king a prisoner but acknowledged Rama Raya The Adil Shah again at Vijayanagar Bijapur in danger Saved by Asada Khan Rebellion of Prince Abdullah Royal gratitude Death of Asada at Belgaum The Portuguese support Abdullah Treaties Ain…ul…Mulkh Fights near Goa Rama Raya's threatened expedition to Mailapur He joins the Adil Shah and wastes the territories of Ahmadnagar Portuguese violence on the Malabar coast The Inquisition at Goa。
Sadasiva； then； began to reign in 1541 or 1542 A。D。； but was only nominally king； the whole power of the state being in the hands of Rama Raya and his two brothers； Tirumala and Venkatadri。 That Sadasiva was recognised by every one as the real sovereign is shown by a large number of inscriptions； ranging from 1542 to 1568；＇290＇ most of which； however； have not yet been properly examined。 A careful study has been made by Dr。 Hultzsch＇291＇ of one of these； dated in A。D。 1566 67； a year or so after the great defeat of the Hindus at Talikota and the destruction of the capital； and this is especially interesting as it bears out my assertion that even the three brothers themselves recognised Sadasiva as king； though he had no power and was kept under constraint。 In this document Rama Rajah's brother； Tirumala； is the important personage； but he submits to the minor title； MAHAMANDALESVARA； while Sadasiva is mentioned as sovereign。 The inscription states that a certain person presented a petition to the 〃Mahamandalesvara Rama Raja Tirumala Raja；〃 who； AFTER OBTAINING SANCTION AT THE FEET OF SADASIVA…DEVA MAHARAYA； granted a village to the great temple at Vellore。 Rama Rajah and Venkatadri were both at that time dead； and Tirumala was king DE FACTO。 Couto＇292＇ even goes so far as to say that the three brothers 〃went on one day every year and prostrated themselves before their lawful sovereign in token of his rights over them。〃 But as to the read relationship of Achyuta to Krishna； and Sadasiva to both； we are still completely in doubt。
We saw that； according to Nuniz； Krishna Deva； immediately on his accession to the throne； imprisoned his three brothers and a nephew； then eight years old； son of the late king； 〃Busbalrao。〃 This was in the year 1509 A。D。； and Krishna was then over twenty years old。 We hear of no king of the name of 〃Busbalrao；〃 or anything like it； from other sources； nor are the names of Krishna's three brothers as given by Nuniz＇293＇ at all like those of the two half…brothers mentioned in some of the inscriptions。
More than one epigraphical record contains the following genealogy：
Here we have two half…brothers of Krishna Deva named Ranga and Achyuta； the latter being chosen king； and a nephew； Sadasiva。
Two inscriptions noted in my 〃Sketch of the Dynasties of Southern India〃＇294＇ state that Achyuta was the son of Krishna Deva； while a Telugu work； the MANUCHARITRAM； makes him son of the second Narasimha。 Couto＇295＇ says that he was nephew of Krishna Raya。
As to Sadasiva； some authorities make him； as stated above； nephew of Krishna Deva and son of Ranga； while another says that he was the son of Achyuta。
An inscription at Conjeeveram＇296＇ states that Achyuta had a wife named Varada Devi who bore him a son； Venkata。 Venkata was actually raised to the throne； but lived only a short time； and then young Sadasiva was crowned king。
If it is necessary to make any choice amid all this confusion； I recommend my readers to accept provisionally the pedigree given in the above table； leaving it for future research to finally settle the question。
As to Rama Raya； several inscriptions state that he and his two brothers were sons of one Ranga Raya； whose pedigree is given； and Professor Kielhorn considers it established that Rama married Krishna Deva's daughter。＇297＇ She was probably a child at her marriage。 She had a brother eighteen months old at the time of Krishna Deva's death so Nuniz says but we hear nothing more about him； or what became of him。 Another daughter of Krishna Deva Raya's is said to have been married to Rama Raya's brother； Tirumala。 Some authorities state that Rama's wife was Sadasiva's sister。＇298＇
That there were disturbances at the capital on the death of Achyuta in 1542 seems clear； and indeed it could hardly be otherwise； for he appears to have dislocated the whole empire； alienated the nobles； upon whom the defence of the country rested； and aroused in them a spirit of rebellion to the crown。
Gaspar Correa has left us an account of what took place at Vijayanagar at that time； and I repeat his story for what it is worth； though it certainly seems as if he had made a mistake and brought down to this year the affairs of 1535 36； the story of which has already been told。 For he alludes to a visit of the Adil Shah to Vijayanagar； and unless there were two such visits； Correa would seem to be in error； since Firishtah's date is confirmed by Nuniz； in whose time King Achyuta was alive。
Correa＇299＇ states that in 1542 Achyuta； king of Vijayanagar； died； leaving a young son in the power of his uncle； brother of the dead king； who had been king contrary to right。＇300＇ The nobles wished to keep the boy at liberty； nominating two ministers to carry on the government； but the uncle disagreed； since in this way he would lose all power； and he contrived to gain over some partisans to his side。 The nobles in disgust separated； returned to their estates； and； in despair of good government； began to assume independence each in his own province。 The queen； mother of the boy； begged the Adil Shah to come to her aid and secure the kingdom for her son； promising him； in return for this favour； immense riches。 The Sultan set out for this purpose； intending to visit Vijayanagar； but on the road he was met by emissaries from the minister； and bought off with lavish gifts。 The king by real right （probably the uncle； Ranga）； who had been detained in a fortress； was then liberated； and he also sought aid from the Sultan of Bijapur。 The Sultan took advantage of the opportunity to set out afresh； nominally to aid the true king； but really to acquire the kingdom for himsel
