The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c17.35

v1.c17.35

The author of the anonymous life of St. Xavier quoted above, who finished his work during the reign of Tirumala ³, writes to this effect: "There were several wars over the question of the succession to the throne; for there was no more issue of the royal family, and various nobles and leading chiefs of the kingdom did not acknowledge the one who is ruling at present" ⁴. This fact is also recorded in a letter of Tirumala ⁵ to Velappa Raya of Bankapur, kept by Ferishta. The King complains that "most of the dependents of the house of Bijanagar (Vijayanagara) had become rebels from their duty" ⁶. But Frederick, who was travelling through the Empire at the time, gives us more details. While describing 'the place where they get Diamants', 'sixe dayes journey from Bezeneger (Vijayanagara)' he states that "it is many yeeres agone since they got any there, for the troubles that have been in that kingdome. The first cause of this trouble was, because the sonne of this Temaragio had put to death the lawful king,...for which cause the Barons and Noblemen in that kingdome would not acknowledge him to be their king, and by this meanes there are many kings, and great division in that kingdom" 1. Again, Anquetil du Perron, after the account of the regicide, adds: "Many troubles sprang from these revolutions: the nobles refused to acknowledge the new king" 2.