a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第8章

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〃Mujahid　Shaw；　having　heard　great　praises　of　the　beauty　of　the　city；　advanced　to　Beejanuggur；　but　thinking　it　too　strong　to　besiege　at　present；　he　moved　in　pursuit　of　the　enemy　in　the　field。〃

Now　follows　a　passage　on　which　it　is　difficult　to　place　full　reliance；　but　which　only　echoes　common　tradition。　It　runs　to　the　effect　that；　on　the　advance　of　the　Sultan；　the　Raya

〃fled　through　the　woods　and　hills　towards　Seet　Bunder　Ramessar　followed　by　the　sultan；　who　cut　passages　for　his　cavalry；　through　forests　before　inaccessible。　In　this　manner　the　roy　fled　from　place　to　place　for　six　months；　but　never　dared　to　appear　without　the　woods。　It　was　in　vain　that　the　favourites　of　the　sultan　represented　the　pursuit　as　fruitless　and　destructive　to　the　troops。　He　would　not　desist。　At　last　his　good　fortune　prevailed。　The　health　of　Kishen　Roy　and　his　family　became　affected　by　the　noxious　air　of　the　woods；　and　they　were　warned　to　quit　them　by　the　physicians。。。。　Driven　by　necessity；　he　retired　by　secret　paths　to　his　capital　of　Beejanuggur。　The　sultan　despatched　an　army　after　him；　while　he　himself；　with　the　ameer　al　amra　Bahadur　Khan　and　five　thousand　men；　went　to　amuse　himself　with　the　sight　of　Seet　Bunda　Ramessar。

〃The　sultan　at　this　place　repaired　a　mosque　which　had　been　built　by　the　officers　of　Sultan　Alla　ad　Dien　Khiljee。　He　broke　down　many　temples　of　the　idolaters；　and　laid　waste　their　country　after　which　he　hastened　with　all　expedition　to　Beejanuggur。〃

It　is　a　fact　that　a　mosque　is　declared　to　have　been　erected　by　Malik　Kafur　on　the　sea…coast　in　1310；　but　apparently　not　at　Ramesvaram；　which　lies　in　the　extreme　south　of　India；　on　the　eastern　coast　opposite　the　island　of　Ceylon。　Moreover；　it　is　extremely　improbable　that　a　Muhammadan　sovereign　could；　in　the　fourteenth　century　A。D。；　have　penetrated　so　far　south　with　such　a　handful　of　men。　They　would　have　been　harassed　at　every　step　by　myriads　of　Hindus；　who；　though　doubtless　trembling　at　the　sight　of　a　Muhammadan；　would；　we　may　be　sure；　never　have　permitted　5000　men　to　traverse　in　peace　1000　miles　of　forest　and　mountain；　for　Ramesvaram　is　fully　500　miles　from　Vijayanagar。　Malik　Kafur's　expedition　is　said　to　have　taken　place　after　the　conquest　by　him　of　the　Ballala　Rajah　of　Dvarasamudra　in　Maisur；　when　he　erected　a　mosque　on　the　SEA…COAST　OF　MALABAR；　and　therefore　nowhere　near　Ramesvaram。　Colonel　Briggs　has　observed　this　difficulty；＇58＇　and　thinks　that　the　place　alluded　to　must　be　Sadasivaghur；　on　the　western　coast；）　south　of　Goa；　adding；　〃The　spot　。。。　is　called　Cape　Ramas　on　our　maps。〃＇59＇　He　believes；　however；　that　the　remains　of　an　old　mosque　do　exist　at　Ramesvaram；　and　its　date　should　be　settled。　Leaving　it　to　others　better　informed　to　throw　light　on　this　point；　I　return　to　Bukka　Raya　and　his　doings。

Firishtah　says　that　there　were　two　roads　to　Vijayanagar：

〃one　fit　for　the　passage　of　armies；　the　other　narrow　and　difficult。　As　the　former　was　lined　with　ambushes；　he　chose　the　latter；　through　which　he　marched　with　a　select…body　of　troops；　and　appeared　suddenly　in　the　suburbs　of　the　city。〃

If　Mujahid　came　up　from　the　Malabar　coast；　the　former　of　these　two　roads　would　perhaps　be　the　usual　route　adopted　by　travellers；　which　leads　through　open　undulating　plains。　Avoiding　this　route；　the　Sultan　may　have　turned　the　Sandur　hills　by　a　flank　movement　to　his　right；　and　approached　either　along　the　valley　of　Sandur　or　along　the　valley　which　now　carries　the　main　road　from　Bellary　to　Vijayanagar；　between　the　Sandur　hills　and　the　hills　that　surround　the　latter　city。

〃Kishen　Roy　was　astonished　at　his　boldness；　and　sent　myriads　of　his　people　to　defend　the　streets。　The　sultan　drove　them　before　him　and　gained　the　bank　of　a　piece　of　water　which　alone　now　divided　him　from　the　citadel；　in　which　Kishen　Roy　resided。　Near　this　was　an　eminence；　upon　which　stood　a　temple　covered　with　plates　of　gold　and　silver　set　with　jewels；　much　venerated　by　the　Hindoos；　and　called　in　the　language　of　the　country　Puttuk。　The　sultan；　esteeming　the　destruction　of　it　as　a　religious　obligation；　ascended　the　hill；　and　having　razed　the　temple；　possessed　himself　of　the　precious　metals　and　jewels。〃

The　piece　of　water　alluded　to　may　have　been　the　picturesque　lake　at　Kamalapuram；　but　which　was　the　temple　that　Mujahid　destroyed？　It　seems　useless　to　speculate；　considering　that　the　historian　only　wrote　from　tradition　after　a　lapse　of　two　centuries。　There　are　many　temples　on　hills　to　choose　from；　and　several　pieces　of　water。　But　the　strangest　part　of　the　story　is　that　we　are　not　told　how　the　Sultan　succeeded　in　penetrating　the　outer　lines　of　works；　and　in　reaching　a　spot　which　divided　him　only　from　the　inner　citadel　or　palace　enclosure。　It　must；　however；　be　remembered　that　though　in　A。D。　1443　Abdur　Razzak　saw　seven　lines　of　walls；　we　are　not　certain　how　many　there　were　in　the　days　of　Bukka　Raya。

At　this　point　Mujahid　was　attacked　and　nearly　lost　his　life。

〃The　idolaters；　upon　seeing　their　object　of　veneration　destroyed；　raised　their　shrieks　and　lamentations　to　the　sky。　They　obliged　Kishen　Roy　to　head　them　and　advanced　resolutely　in　astonishing　numbers。　Upon　which　the　sultan　formed　his　disposition。　He　laid　aside　his　umbrella；　and　with　one　of　his　arms…bearers；　an　Afghaun　named　Mhamood；　crossed　a　small　rivulet　to　observe　the　numbers　and　motions　of　the　infidels。　A　Hindoo；　who　knew　the　sultan　from　the　horse　he　rode；　resolved；　by　revenging　the　destruction　of　his　gods　and　country；　to　gain　immortal　reputation　for　himself。　He　moved　unperceived　through　the　hollows　and　broken　ground　along　the　bank　of　the　rivulet；　had　gained　the　plain；　and　was　charging　towards　the　sultan　at　full　speed；　when　Mujahid　Shaw；　at　a　lucky　instant；　perceiving　him；　made　a　sign　to　Mhamood　Afghaun；　who　without　delay　charged　the　Hindoo。　Mhamood's　horse　rearing；　he　fell　to　the　ground。　His　antagonist；　having　every　advantage；　was　on　the　point　of　putting　him　to　death；　when　sultan　Mujahid　Shaw　advanced　with　the　quickness　of　lightning。　The　Hindoo；　changing　his　object；　aimed　a　heavy　stroke　at　the　sultan；　giving　at　the　same　instant　a　shout　of　triumph；　which　made　the　spectators　believe　his　blow　was　effectual。　Luckily；　a　helmet　of　iron　saved　the　head　of　the　sultan；　who　now　inflicted　such　a　wound　on　his　enemy　that　he　was　divided　from　the　shoulder　to　the　navel　and　fell　dead　from　his　horse；＇60＇　upon　which　the　sultan　remounted　Mhamood　and　joined　his　army　on　the　other　side　of　the　rivulet。〃

A　battle　ensued　in　which　the　Hindus　were　defeated；　but　while　the　invading　force　had　hardly　recovered　from　their　fatigue；　the　Raya's　brother＇61＇　〃arrived　at　the　city　from　his　government　with　a　reinforcement　of　twenty　thousand　horse　and　a　vast　army　of　foot〃＇62＇　The　fighting　then　became　furious。　In　the　middle　of　the　battle　the　Sultan's　uncle；　Daud　Khan；＇63＇　fearful　for　the　safety　of　his　sovereign；　quitted　his　post　at　〃Dhunna　Sodra〃＇64＇　and　joined　in　the　engagement　with　distinguished　gallantry。　The　Muhammadans　were　again　victorious；　but　the　enemy；　having　taken　advantage　of　Daud　Khan's　movement；　had　captured　the　abandoned　position；　and　thus　seriously　threatened　the　Sultan's　retreat。　He　therefore　left　the　field；　and　by　skilful　manoeuvring　enabled　the　whole　of　his　force　to　extricate　themselves　in　safety　from　the　hills。　With　between　sixty　and　seventy　thousand　prisoners；　mostly　women；　he　retreated　from　Vijayanagar　and　sat　down　before　Adoni；　but　after　a　siege　lasting　nine　months　the　attempt　was　abandoned；　and　the　Sultan　retired　to　his　own　territories。　Thus　ended　the　campaign。

Firishtah　gives　a　short　account　of　the　kingdom　of　Vijayanagar　at　this　period　（about　1378　A。D。）；　from　which　the　following　extracts　are　taken。

〃The　princes　of　the　house　of　Bahmanee　maintained　themselves　by　superior　valour　only；　for　in　power；　wealth；　and　extent　of　country　the　roles　of　Beejanuggur　were　greatly　their　superiors；〃　and　he　implies　that　at　this　time；　as　certainly　in　after　years；　all　Southern　India　had　submitted　to　the　sway　of　the　Raya。

〃The　seaport　of　Goa；＇65＇　the　fortress　of　Malgaon；＇66＇　。。。　belonged　to　the　roy　of　Beejanuggur；　and　many　districts　of　Tulghaut＇67＇　were　in　his　possession。　His　country　was　well　peopled；　and　his　subjects　submissive　to　his　authority。　The　roles　of　Malabar；　Ceylon；　and　other　islands　and　other　countries　kept　ambassadors　at　his　court；　and　sent　annually　rich　presents。〃＇68＇

We　must　revert　for　a　moment　to　the　Sultan's　uncle　and　his　behaviour　before　Vijayanagar。　It　will　be　remembered　that；　filled　with　the　best　intentions；　he　had　quitted　his　post　to　defend　his　king。

〃The　sultan；　on　seeing　the　standard　of　Daood　Khan；　was　enraged；　but　stifled　his　displeasure　till　the　gale　of　victory　had　waved　over　the　standards　of　the　faithful。　He　then　called　Daood　Khan　before　him；　and　gave　him　a　harsh　reprimand　for　quitting　a　station　so　important　that；　should　the　enemy　gain　possession；　not　a　mussulmaun　could　make　his　escape　from　the　city。〃

Daud　treasured　up　his　resentment　at　this　treatment；　and；　being　joined　by　other　disaffected　nobles；　secretly　plotted　the　assassination　of　the　Sultan。　The　conspirators　waited　till　Mujahid　was　on　his　way　from　Adoni　towards　Kulbarga；　and　then　one　night；　that　of　Friday；　April　16；　A。D。　1378；＇69＇　while　the　Sultan　was　asleep　in　his　tent；　Daud；　accompanied　by　three　other　men；　rushed　in　and　stabbed　him。　There　was　a　struggle；　and　the　unfortunate　monarch　was　despatched　by　the　blow　of　a　sabre。＇70＇　Daud　at　once　proclaimed　himself　Sultan　as　nearest　of　kin　　Mujahid　having　no　children　　and　being　acknowledged；　proceeded　to　Kulbarga；　where　he　was　proclaimed。

The　assassination　of　his　nephew　availed　Daud　but　little；　as　the　country　was　at　once　divided　into　two　opposing　factions；　and　on　May　21；　A。D。　1378；＇71＇　after　a　reign　of　only　one　month；　the　murderer　was　himself　assassinated　while　at　prayer　in　the　great　mosque　of　the　capital。　Meanwhile　Bukka　Raya　overrun　the　Doab；　advanced　as　far　as　the　river　Krishna；　and　invested　the　fortress　of　Raichur。

Daud　was　succeeded　by　Ala…ud…din's　youngest　son　Mahmud　I；＇72＇　Mujahid's　sister　Ruh　Parvar　Agah　having　blinded　Daud's　son；　then　a　boy　of　eight　years；　in　order　to　prevent　dissension。　Mahmud　was　apparently　welcome　to　all　parties；　for　even　the　Raya　raised　the　siege　of　Raichur　and　agreed　to　pay　him　the　tribute　exacted　by　Muhammad　Shah；　so　at　least　says　Firishtah。　And　during　the　whole　of　his　reign　of　nearly　twenty　years　there　was　peace　and　tranquillity　at　home　and　abroad。　He　died　on　the　20th　April　A。D。　1397。＇73＇

The　decease　of　Bukka　I。　of　Vijayanagar　must　apparently；　for　reasons　shown；　be　placed　at　about　A。D。　1379。



CHAPTER　4

Growth　of　the　Empire　（A。D。　1379　to　1406）

Harihara　II。　　Firuz　Shah　of　Kulbarga　　Fresh　wars　　Assassination　of　a　prince　in　1399　A。D。　　Bukka　II。

Bukka　I。　was　succeeded　by　Harihara　II。；　his　son　by　his　wife　Gauri。　Nuniz　calls　the　new　king　〃Pureoyre　Deorao；〃　and　〃Pureoyre〃　seems　to　be　a　rough　Portuguese　version　of　the　name　Harihara；　H　and　P　representing　the　same　sound　in　the　Kanarese　and　Telugu　languages。　According　to　the　inscriptions；＇74＇　Harihara　II。　reigned　at　least　twenty　years；　and　he　was　the　first　king　who　gave　himself　imperial　titles　under　the　style　of　MAHARAJADHIRAJA。　He　gave　many　grants　to　the　temples；　and　consolidated　the　supremacy　of　his　dynasty　over　all　Southern　India。　Sayana；　brother　of　Madhavacharya；　appears　to　have　bee