Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c11.s2.t4.53

v1.c11.s2.t4.53

The reigns of Raṅga Rāya I and Veṅkaṭapati Rāya II, therefore, witnessed the fundamental defect of Tirumala's political reorganization. It may not be far wrong to say that as yet there was no sign of an actual dismemberment of the Vijayanagara Empire. About the beginning of the seventeenth century, the greatness of the Empire was noticed even by foreigners. In A.D. 1608-11 William Finch remarked thus: "Alongst the seaside towards the Cape is the mightie king of Bezeneger (Vijayanagar), under whom the Portugals hold Saint Thome and Negapatan, but are not suffered to build a castle".¹ But the political shiftings of the great feudatories in the southern and central parts of the Empire² told sadly on its future life. In A.D. 1614 the Government was again faced with the problem of revolt. This time it was, as we have remarked above, the Gobbūri chief who rose against the Emperor.³ To Tirumala's administrative changes alone can we attribute the insubordination of Tirumala Nāyaka and the ruler of Mysore in the reign of Śrīraṅga Rāya,⁴ which eventually led to the disappearance of the Vijayanagara monarchs from the political stage of south Indian history, relegating the old line of kings to the position of petty chieftains in the city of Anegundi.