The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c16.152

v1.c16.152

17. What was the interior state of the Empire in the meanwhile? Both Couto and Faria y Sousa relate that after the battle of Raksas-Tagdi the whole territory of Vijayanagara was divided among the sons and nephews of Rama Raya ¹; and several modern authors have blindly followed their statements ². But we know from epigraphical records that there was at that time no such break up of the empire: the members of the Aravidu family remained as united as ever. That explains why the anonymous author of the life of St. Xavier, who wrote his book a little later, writes to this effect, after narrating the battle of Raksas-Tagdi: "Nevertheless the king of this country was not so much knocked down, for he is still very rich and powerful; and he possesses a large state, and has quite a good number of elephants and great cavalry and infantry" ³.