The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c30.55

v1.c30.55

The Jesuits never mentioned the name of this woman; but fortunately two other European sources give us a clue to it. For in August, 1611, the English Captain, Anthony Hippon, writing to the East India Company on the result of his expedition to Pulicat ⁶, simply said: Pellacata (Pulicat) do belong unto the Queen and is given unto her for a dowry by the King, and so she at her own pleasure sets a governor or governess as she pleaseth" 1. The Queen referred to by Captain Hippon seems no doubt the same as that spoken of by the Jesuits in their letters: she is called 'the Queen' who 'at her own pleasure' manages the Government affairs. But the Dutch traveller Floris, the other European authority, gives us the name of this Queen to whom Pulicat belonged. He says that the Queen of Pulicat was Obiama 2. She must then be the same as the person called Obamma by the *Ramarajiyamu* and Pedobamamba in Venkata's grants. Consequently the daughter of Jillella Ranga Raja obtained supreme power in the government of Vijayanagara after the death of Raghavamba, Oba Raya's daughter.