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
"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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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