Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c11.s2.t3.68

v1.c11.s2.t3.68

Nuniz here seems to contradict Paes about the position which the nobles occupied in the political organization of Vijayanagara. Paes, as we have just remarked, informs us that the lords held "the city, and the towns and villages of the kingdom" and that, therefore, they could command immense revenues. Nuniz, however, is of opinion that the nobles were "never suffered to settle in cities or towns". If we are inclined to believe Nuniz, we cannot account for the fact that, as he himself says, the nobles paid to the Emperor "every year sixty lakhs of rents as royal dues".⁴ Then, again, Nuniz mentions the King of Bengapor (Baṅkāpur), the King of Gasopa (Gērasoppe), the King of Bacanor (Bārakūr) the King of Calecu (Calicut ?), "and he of Batecal" (Bhaṭkal); and then he speaks of the "captains and lords of this kingdom of Bisnaga".¹ In the detailed list of "the officers of the King who go about the kingdom", Nuniz gives eleven names of the lords of Vijayanagara.² But in another connection he affirms that there are "nine principal captains in the kingdom".³ Further he writes: "In this way the kingdom of Bisnaga is divided between more than two hundred captains who are all heathen, and according to the lands and revenues that they have so the King settles for them the forces that they are compelled to keep up, and how much revenue they have to pay him every month during the first nine days of the month of September".⁴ Evidently Nuniz confounds the tributary kings with the provincial viceroys, and these again with the minor nobles who were merely officials in the Government. This is clear from the manner in which he concludes about the "captains, who are thus like renters". "But a concession is granted to the kings that are subject to him, namely they do not go to court unless they are summoned, and from their own cities they send to him their rents or tributes; yet the King of Bengapor (Baṅkāpur) is obliged to be always in camp, and he goes to court twice in the year".⁵