The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c17.59

v1.c17.59

"Sri Ranga Raya was the Viceroy of the whole Telugu country with his capital at Penukonda", says the *Chikkadevaraya* *Vamsavali*¹. The establishment of his capital at Penukonda took place later, when he was appointed Yuvaraja; but the capital of his viceroyalty seems to have been Udayagiri, in the heart of the Telugu country. "Making Udayagiri his residence," we read in the Dalavay Agraharam plates of Venkata II, "he conquered Kondavidu, Vinikondapura and other forts, and began to rule at Penukonda" ². The same is recorded in the Maredapalli grant of Ranga I³, in the Vellangudi plates⁴ and the Padmaneri grant of Venkata II⁵, and another grant of the same monarch of the year 1589⁶. Another of the same Ranga, of 1576, says that when he was at Udayagiri he conquered the inaccessible fortress of Kondavidu, Vinukonda, etc.; and that he was, at the time of the inscription, residing with all the insignia of royalty at Penukonda⁷. It is quite evident from these grants that Ranga's rule at Udayagiri was previous to his rule at Penukonda. At this time and after the conquest of Kondavidu, he is also called governor of this place, when in that capacity he granted a village to a local temple⁸.