The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c10.87

v1.c10.87

Against this Portuguese town, in the vicinity of Mailapura, marched Rama Raya in the year 1558, and the motive of this expedition was this. The Franciscan Friars, who from the beginning were established at St. Thome and at Negapatam, caused several Hindu temples to be desecrated and the idols destroyed, building in their stead many Christian churches and chapels. In the year 1542, they had built at Negapatam two churches, one dedicated to St. Francis and the other to Nossa Senhora da Saude, and about three thousand people had embraced the Catholic Faith ³. The Jesuits who came shortly after, followed the example of the Franciscans. The Brahmins naturally represented these facts to the Regent of the Empire, who took no action against the Portuguese, because, no doubt, of the necessity of their friendship to obtain horses for war purposes ⁴. But, on this occasion a Portuguese fidalgo, a traitor to his nation and faith, whose name is not given in the Portuguese chronicles, invited Rama Raya to proceed against the Portuguese town, the inhabitants of which were 'most rich' he said, and from whom he would be able to get more than two millions of gold pagodas. Rama Raya was in need of money, on account both of the frequent wars with the Muhamadans and of his imperial designs. This invitation he soon accepted; and after collecting an army of more than five hundred thousand soldiers and a great deal of ammunition, set out from Vijayanagara towards Sao Thome.