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
"A day being fixed, he with his bride proceeded to Beejanuggur,
leaving the camp in charge of Khankhanan. On the way he was met by
Dewul Roy in great pomp. From the gate of the city to the palace,
being a distance of six miles,[97] the road was spread with cloth of
gold, velvet, satin, and other rich stuffs. The two princes rode on
horseback together, between ranks of beautiful boys and girls, who
waved plates of gold and silver flowers[98] over their heads as they
advanced, and then threw them to be gathered by the populace. After
this the inhabitants of the city made offerings, both men and women,
according to their rank. After passing through a square directly
in the centre of the city,[99] the relations of Dewul Roy, who had
lined the streets in crowds, made their obeisance and offerings, and
joined the cavalcade on foot, marching before the princes. Upon their
arrival at the palace gate, the sultan and roy dismounted from their
horses, and ascended a splendid palanquin, set with valuable jewels,
in which they were carried together to the apartments prepared for
the reception of the bride and bridegroom, when Dewul Roy took his
leave, and retired to his own palace. The sultan, after being treated
with royal magnificence for three days, took his leave of the roy,
who pressed upon him richer presents than before given, and attended
him four miles on his way, when he returned to the city.
"Sultan Feroze Shaw was enraged at his not going with him to his
camp, and said to Meer Fuzzul Oollah that he would one day have his
revenge for the affront offered him by such neglect. This declaration
being told to Dewul Roy, he made some insolent remarks, so that,
notwithstanding the connection of family, their hatred was not calmed."
Firuz returned after this to his capital and sent for the lovely
Pertal, and on her arrival, finding that her beauty surpassed
all report, he gave her in marriage to his eldest son, Hasan
Khan, when "the knot was tied amid great rejoicings and princely
magnificence." The lady's husband is described by Firishtah as being
"a weak and dissipated prince." He was heir to the throne, but was
easily ousted by the valiant Ahmad "Khankhanan," and lived privately
at Firuzabad, "entirely devoted to redolence and pleasure." The last
we hear of him is that his usurping uncle, Ahmad Shah I., treated
him kindly, "gave him the palace of Firozeabad for his residence,
with an ample jaghire (estate), and permission to hunt or take his
pleasure within eight miles round his palace, without restriction to
time or form." Hasan "was more satisfied with this power of indulging
his appetites than with the charge of empire. While his uncle lived
he enjoyed his ease, and no difference ever happened between them;
but he was afterwards blinded and kept confined to the palace of
Firozeabad." This must have been after A.D. 1434.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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