A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of IndiaSewell, Robert
History
A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India
Sewell, Robert
Vijayanagar (Empire) -- History
"that till he should have put to death one hundred thousand infidels,
as an expiation for the massacre of the faithful, he would never
sheathe the sword of holy war nor refrain from slaughter. When he
reached the banks of the Kistna, he swore by the power who had created
and exalted him to dominion, that eating or sleep should be unlawful
for him till he had crossed that river in face of the enemy, by the
blessing of heaven routed their army, and gladdened the souls of the
martyrs of Mudkul with the blood of their murderers. He then appointed
his son Mujahid Shaw to succeed him, and Mallek Syef ad Dien regent
of his kingdom. He resigned all his elephants, except twenty, to the
prince, gave him his advice, and sent him back to Kulbarga. He then
crossed the river with nine thousand chosen horse without delay. The
roy of Beejanuggur, notwithstanding his vast army, was so alarmed[46]
that he sent off all his treasure, valuable baggage, and elephants
towards his capital, intending to engage the next morning, or retreat,
as he should find it adviseable. The night being stormy and heavy rain
falling, the elephants and other beasts of burden stuck frequently
in the mud,[47] and were not able to advance above four miles from
the camp. Mahummud Shaw heard of the enemy's movement during the
night, and immediately marched towards them, leaving his encampment
standing. Towards the dawn he arrived at the roy's camp, and the alarm
being given, so great was the confusion, that the infidels fled with
the utmost precipitation towards the fortress of Oodnee, leaving
everything behind them. Mahummud Shaw entered the camp of their
market and baggage, putting all to death without any distinction;
and it is said that the slaughter amounted to seventy thousand men,
women, and children."
Muhammad passed the hot weather and the season of the early rains that
year near Mudkal, and after being reinforced marched against Adoni --
"in the plains of which, on the banks of the Tummedra (Tungabhadra),
the roy of Beejanuggur had taken up his station in his own territories,
having given the command of Oodnee to his sister's son. Here he had
collected a great army, and brought elephants and all the splendid
insignia of empire from Beejanuggur."[48]
The Sultan had with him a train of artillery[49] and in a short time
crossed the Tungabhadra, "and entered the domains of Beejanuggur,
which were now for the first time invaded by a Muhammadan sovereign
in person." This remark of Firishtah's is historically correct, for
the Delhi Sultan's attack on Anegundi took place on the north bank
of that river.
Before continuing the story I must note that Firishtah calls the king
of Vijayanagar "Kishen Roy," otherwise Krishna Raya; but there can
be no doubt that his real name was Bukka. The historian collected
his information more than two hundred years after these events,
and often misnamed the Hindu kings of whom he writes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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