History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c7.114

c7.114

By the close of the year 728 A.H. the emperor's authority was fully established in the various provinces of the empire. The northern provinces were fully incorporated in the dominions of Dihli; in the south too M'abar, Dwarsamudra and Kampil all acknowledged the authority of the Sultan. The Kākatīyas had long struggled with the rulers of Dihli for the preservation of their independence, but the disunion of the Hindu chiefs and the superior military power of the Muhammadans had always frustrated their attempts. Warangal was conquered in 727-28 A.H. and the conquest of M'abar and Dwarsamudra was accomplished soon afterwards. Dwarsamudra, the capital of the Hoysalas was demolished by the troops of Muhammad Tughluq, and Muslim sovereignty was established in the far south at Madura.⁶⁰ The most powerful king in the Deccan at this time was Vir Ballāla III who was anointed to the crown on February 1, 1292 A.D.⁶¹ He had developed his power at the expense of the Kākatīyas whom he superseded as the leader of the Hindu revolt against the yoke of Islam in the south, and his reputation increased to such an extent that he was commonly described as a "terror-giving fever to Chola, Malava, Gaula and Gurjjara, a Visnuvardhana and emperor of the south, the strong-armed Hoysala who ruled the kingdom of the world.⁶² The decline of the Kākatīyas proved highly favourable to Ballala's ambitions, and without exciting suspicion this astute ruler had organised his resources, and it was probably at this time that he laid the foundation of the city generally called Hosāpattana or Virūpāksapattana which ultimately became Vijayanagar to secure his northern frontier.⁶³ In 1328-29 A.D. he was living at Unnamalāi or Tiruvannamalāi in the south Arcot district, which he made his capital partly owing to the fear of the Muham-madans and partly owing to the hostility of the rival Hindu chiefs, Hari Hara and Bukkā, and here he ruled in peace and happiness as the sole monarch.⁶⁴ Firishta's statement that Vir Ballāla acknowl-