The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c5.7

v1.c5.7

Venkata I, hitherto simply called Venkatadri, whose early death provoked the seizing of the capital by Rama Raya and his brothers; Sadasiva Raya, who saw patiently the rising of Rama Raya as well as his sudden fall in the national calamity at Raksas-Tagdi; Tirumala, who finally succeeded in establishing the Aravidu family on the throne of Vijayanagara; Ranga I, whose short reign witnessed the increased power of the Muhammadans, who were constantly menacing the northern frontier of the Empire; and finally, Venkata II, known hitherto as Venkata I, the most illustrious sovereign of this Dynasty, who checked the Muslim raids in the North, subdued the turbulent Nayaks in the South, caused the Rajas of Mysore to be firmly established in their realm, strengthened his power by an alliance with the Portuguese and fostered literature and the fine arts throughout his vast dominions. The civil war that followed his death hastened the decay of the Empire.