The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c11.60

v1.c11.60

9. This happened in the year 1555, when the Sultan of Ahmadnagar, Husain Nizam Shah, and the Sultan of Golkonda, Ibrahim Qutb Shah, met in the vicinity of Gulbarga, and Kutb Shah promised to aid the army of Ahmadnagar in capturing that fort. “The fort of Gulbarga”, says Ali ibn Aziz, “although built on the plain, is yet very strong, and is surrounded by a deep and broad ditch full of water. It is so constructed that the walls cannot be damaged by artillery, for the ground at the top of the counterscarp of the ditch rises so high that all shot fly above the walls; while the depth of the ditch and the fact that is always full of water prevent running.” The old Bahmani capital was accordingly besieged after a while, but it resisted every effort of the allies for a whole month. Then at last, after two breaches had been effected, an assault was made in which, after the loss of many of the best officers of the Ahmadnagar army, the allies were repulsed. “The fighting before the fortress and in the breaches continued not only throughout the day, but for a whole month more. At length the garrison were reduced to great straits; and having no more strength to fight, sent a messenger to Adil Shah setting forth their desperate circumstances.” The Sultan of Bijapur, to whom Gulbarga belonged, unable any longer to cope single-handed with the united forces of the allies, sent an ambassador with magnificent presents to Vijayanagara, to beg the aid of Rama Raya, who immediately marched in person at the head of his army to the assistance of Ibrahim Adil Shah. On the way he addressed the following letter to Ibrahim Qutb Shah, preserved for us by the anonymous chronicler of Golkonda, who perhaps saw the original in the archives of the court:—