The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c15.34

v1.c15.34

4. Both the anonymous chronicler of Golkonda and the *Burhan-i-Ma'asir* state that the four Sultans finally met at the fort of Sholapur ⁴; but the statement of Ferishta locating the place of their meeting in the plains of Bijapur seems more probable ⁵. Such is also the view of Mirza Ibrahim Zabiri, who affirms that the Sultans marching towards Bijapur finally encamped in the vicinity of Talikota, where they were generously entertained by Ibrahim Adil Shah ⁶. On December 26th, 1564, they started for the South. The Portuguese authors record that the allied army contained fifty thousand horse and three thousand foot ¹. The anonymous chronicler mentions several of the Muslim generals in charge of the detachments of this army; Mustafa Khan from Golkonda; Mowlana Inayatullah from Ahmadnagar, and Kishwar Khan from Bijapur ². Rifat Khan was also in the army of Golkonda; he had been summoned from the South where he boasted of having reduced part of the country ³. Of these Mustafa Khan, whose real name was Kamal-ud-din Husain (Mustafa Khan being only a title), was as excellent a general as he was a shrewd politician and diplomatist, and was one of the foremost warriors of the Muslim world of those days. The beautiful Tughra inscription over the Makki gate of Golkonda still displays the titles bestowed upon him by the Sultan in token of the royal satisfaction and as a reward for his services to the state ⁴. Moreover, according to the Mrtyunjaya MSS. several Maratha detachments had joined the Muhammadan army ⁵. This seems certain; for shortly after we find a body of six thousand Maratha cavalry in the army of Bijapur ⁶. The anonymous chronicler mentions six of the officers of this Mahratta cavalry : Yeswunt Row, Bhoj Mul Naig, Dew Naig, Buswunt Row, Viswas Row and Koli Row ⁷.