The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c15.121

v1.c15.121

And then, at the height of all the confusion, there was a movement in the Hindu army that decided the fate of the day. Two Muhammadan generals who served under Rama Raya, taking advantage of the confusion caused by the last charge of Kishwar Khan Lary, turned their backs on their lord, and went over with their troops to the cause of Islam. This treason, recorded neither by Ferishta nor by Ali ibn Aziz, explains quite satisfactorily the sudden change of fortune at the end of the battle. We are made aware of it by C. Frederick, who heard the account of the whole action one year later when he passed through Vijayanagara: "These foure Kings," says he, "were not able to overcome this Citie and the King of Bezeneger, but by treason. This King of Bezeneger was a Gentile, and had, amongst all other of his Captaines, two which were notable, and they were Moores (Muhammadans): and these two Captaines had either of them in charge threescore and ten or fourescore thousand men. These two Captaines, being of one Religion with the foure kings which were Moores (Muhammadans), wrought meanes with them to betray their owne king into their hands. The King of Bezeneger esteemed not the force of the foure kings his enemies, but went out of his Citie to wage battell with them in the fields; and when the Armies were joyned, the battell lasted but a while, not the space of foure houres; because the two traiterous Captaines, in the chiefest of the fight, with their companies turned their faces against their King and made disorder in his Armie, that as astonied they set themselves to flight" ¹. Anquetil du Perron records likewise that "the king, abandoned during the battle by two Muhammadan chiefs, perished" ².