The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c27.127

v1.c27.127

14. The siege of St. Thome by the army of Venkata II clearly showed the imperative necessity of fortifying the city. No walls had surrounded the settlement till then; it was really a tour de force to resist the attack of the imperial army for several months, without walls, bastions or ditches. In a letter of Philip III of March 7th, 1613, we read: "The same Viceroy wrote to me that the inhabitants of the city of St. Thome were demanding aid and permission, not only for fortifying themselves, but also for incorporating their city into the jurisdiction of that State (of Portuguese India), and establishing a custom-house and a tax-collector to gather the ‘one fourth per cent’, which is now paid to the King of Bisnaga (Vijayanagara), for my treasury ” 1. The second item which the King speaks of shows the disaffection the inhabitants of St. Thome felt towards Venkata. It had been the natural result of his recent siege of their own city. This was the first indication of their desire to be independent of the sway of the Vijayanagara Sovereign. Great discussions ensued on this point after the death of Venkata, which will be narrated in the following volume. As to the first point of the King’s letter, his decision to fortify St. Thome was not carried out until after Venkata had passed away; his letter did not reach India before that event. This may be seen from the answer of the Viceroy 2.