The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c9.56

v1.c9.56

5. But, although the power of the Emperor and that of his Minister are on a level, the influence of Sadasiva is no longer felt. The only rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire are three members of the Aravidu family, Rama Raya and his two brothers. ‘They ruled at their pleasure as they liked’, says Frederick⁷. Nevertheless Tirumala and Venkatadri rebelled against the authority of their brother at the beginning of this stage, say about 1551, presumably because they disliked Rama Raya’s treatment of his legitimate sovereign. No other reason can be given for this disagreement between Rama Raya and his brothers. Precisely one year before, in 1549-50, Tirumala had requested and obtained from Sadasiva the Mamidipundi grant¹: his gratefulness towards the sovereign was no match for the audacity of his brother.