The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c9.22

v1.c9.22

As chief minister of the Regent, Tirumala was given the most important province of the Empire to rule; this was Udayagiri, called ‘the chief fortress under the royal throne of Vijayanagara’ 8, owing its proximity to the Muhammadan frontier. Formerly it had almost always been governed by Princes of the Royal family, as Viceroys on behalf of the Emperor. In 1543 Tirumala was governor of Udayagiri 9, and in 1551-2 we find him fulfilling the same office 10; however, he did not stay at Udayagiri, because in the same year 1551, according to an inscription at Sangam, the governor of Udayagiri was Chivvakkaluri Bayacha Rajayya ¹, who ruled on behalf of Tirumala. Was this the same Tirumala who was governor of Udayagiri in 1535-6? ². His appointment at that time was not due to his brother, but either to Achyuta or to the ministers of the latter.