Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c11.s2.t4.64

v1.c11.s2.t4.64

This seems to prove, on the whole, Nuniz's observations to the effect that Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya ruled together with his son (Prince Tirumala) for some time. Nuniz however does not give us the name of the prince but relates the following: that the great Emperor after his brilliant victory over the Muhammadans, "desiring to rest in his old age and wishing his son to become King when he died, he determined to make him king during his lifetime, the boy being six years old and the King not knowing what would happen after his death. Whereupon he abdicated his throne and all his power and name, and gave it all to his son, and himself became his minister, and Salvatinica who had held that office became his counsellor. . . . And so far did King Crisnarao go that after he had given the kingdom to his son, he himself did obeisance to him. With these changes the King made great festivals which lasted eight months, during which time the son of the King fell sick of a disease of which he died".² But Nuniz contradicts himself when in a later passage he tells us that the prince was "only one of the age of eighteen months".³