The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c21.61

v1.c21.61

5. Nevertheless from the beginning of his reign, the new Emperor had to face great difficulties within his own dominions. There were among the petty chiefs fresh outbreaks of rebellion against Venkata, who was supposed to be the murderer of the late Emperor Sadasiva. "Before 1595," says Anquetil du Perron, "the Naiques of Tanjore, Madurei and Gingi (Jinji) gave up all allegiance, as they did not want to acknowledge as their sovereign one who had dethroned the legitimate King of Bisnagar" ⁴. We shall speak later of the rebellion of these three powerful Nayaks; but we feel sure that, encouraged by their example, and even perhaps before them, many petty chiefs rebelled against Venkata. This is more than a mere supposition, because in the contemporary sources we find abundant evidence of the internal troubles during those years. Venkata is called in the Mangalampad grant 'the crusher of the pride of Avahaluraya' ⁵, and 'the hero who punished kings who break their word' ⁶. The Dalavay Agraharam plates, after speaking of his campaigns against the Muhammadans, style him "the only excellent conqueror of the Chaurasidurga, (who) terrified the hearts of the hostile kings in the eight quarters,...(who) was a destroyer of his enemies,...(who) was broad-armed like Adisesha, (who) was a bear to the earth, *viz.* the provincial chiefs,...a Ramabadra in battle” 1. These general remarks are a clear reference to the action of Venkata against the provincial chiefs of his Empire who ‘broke their word’ of faithfulness and allegiance to the imperial power. But there are also other and more pronounced testimonies.