The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c17.84

v1.c17.84

This agreement was fatal to the Hindu Empire. Ali Adil Shah set out at once to invest the fortress of Turkal, then in possession of Venkatayasu Raya, who surrendered after seven months of strenuous defence. Then the Sultan proceeded to reduce Dharwar, "one of the strongest of the forts in the Karnatik, and at that time in possession of one of the officers of the late Ramraj, who, though he paid annually a small tribute to Yeltumraj (Tirumala), had now acquired great power." The fortress, however, took six months to subdue. Then Ali Adil Shah turned his arms to Bankapur. Its Raja, Velappa Raya, who rebelled against Vijayanagara after the Raksas-Tagdi disaster ¹, "shut himself up in the fort, and detached his son, with a thousand horse and ten thousand foot, to occupy the woods and passes, in order to harass the enemy as opportunity offered, and to endeavour to cut off his resources". At the same time, he sent a message to Tirumala asking for help. But the Emperor's answer carried unutterable despair to his heart; for Tirumala replied that "by his wickedness and evil example most of the dependents on his house had become rebels, and departed from their duty, so that it was with difficulty he could support himself at Penukonda and Chandragiri, the only places which the kings of Islam had left him. He advised him therefore, if money or jewels could purchase terms from the Muhammadans, to procure them on any conditions; but if he should find this impossible, he recommended him by all means to induce the neighbouring Rajas to espouse his cause, and to prevail on them to join his son with their followers, in order to harass the Mussulmans by cutting off their supplies and making frequent night attacks. He promised, moreover, to issue orders to all his vassals to assist him, though he could not rely on their obedience". Accordingly, Velappa Raya prevailed on some chiefs to join his son; and they acted with such vigour "that grain became scarce in the king's camp", says Ferishta, "which was molested every night by bands of robbers and assassins, who did much execution... They entered the tents at night, and without mercy stabbed the soldiers while sleeping. Every night numbers were killed by them in this treacherous manner: and so great a dread and discontent prevailed among the troops, that they were near forcing the king to raise the siege; but the tactics of Mustafa Khan freed the camp of these night marauders, and then confidence was restored among the Muslim soldiers. The siege, however, lingered on for one year and three months. Velappa Raya surrendered at last after the demise of his son, on condition of being allowed to depart with his family and effects ¹. When this fort fell, Ranga I was already Emperor.