The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c7.66

v1.c7.66

Neither Ferishta nor Correa mention any battle between Rama Raya and Salakam Timma; and the former even seems to suppose that the bribes Rama Raya made among the troops of Vijayanagara opened to him the gates of the city¹. But the Telugu poem *Narasabupaliyamu* says that the valiant general 'waged war and destroyed the traitor Salakam Timma'²; and in the *Ramarajiyamu* we read that he 'defeated the armies of Salakam'³; and the *Svaramelakalanidhi* states that he 'conquered the traitors to the kingdom'⁴; and the *Annals of Hande Anantapuram* record that Rama Raya and Tirumala, along with Hande Hanumappa Nayudu of Sonnalapuram, delivered the attack upon the forces of Salakam. They were helped by addtional forces from Kandnavol (Karnul) and Gadwal. The battle did not last long. The *Annals* do not mention Rama Raya's bribes to the officers of Salakam; but this inference may also be drawn from their assertion that "his officers, thinking that he was only a shepherd who wanted to snatch away the kingdom as he was rich, deserted in a body" ⁵. This desertion by the officers might have been caused by Rama Raya's bribes. After this action Rama Raya became the lord of the capital: the bribes that Ferishta speaks of became very useful on this occasion. Perhaps the final victory of the confederates was due to them. Salakam Timma and his relatives did not leave the city to defend their rights in a pitched battle, for the inscription of Markapur mentioned above informs us that Rama Raya