The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c20.18

v1.c20.18

Heri Chamraj Wodeyar died childless in 1576, after a reign of five years, and was succeeded by a cousin of the elder branch of the family, named Bettad Wodeyar, son of Dodda Chama Raja Wodeyar¹. The new Mysore Raja had no capacity for government. He was brave, but wild, thoughtless and imprudent. Accordingly in the short space of two years he had thrown the finance into such disorder, that the elders of the family thought it necessary to depose him and to install his younger brother Raja Wodeyar²; but the latter declined the appointment on the ground that the financial state of the country was in too hopeless a state for him to try to mend it. The treasury was empty; the total arrears of tribute due to the viceroy of Seringapatam amounted to 5,000 pagodas. But his way was smoothed by a contribution from the members of the royal family, and thus he started his rule in 1578³.