Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c7.s2.42

v1.c7.s2.42

We shall first ascertain the status Vallappa occupied in Hoysala history; and then trace the relationship between him and the Vijayanagara king. It is well known that the tendency of mediaeval monarchs was to bestow high offices on their near relations. Thus we find in A.D. 1339 the father of Vallappa and Singeya, Dāḍiya Sōmeyya, called "the minister descended from that king" (Ballāḷa III), [*tasya-rājānvaya*].³ This settles the princely rank of the father of Vallappa, and, therefore, of Vallappa himself. An inscription dated A.D. 1339 confirms this fact. It speaks of Vallappa Daṇḍanāyaka as being the younger brother of Dāḍi (Dāṭi) Singeya Daṇṇāyaka, who was the son of Vira Ballāḷa Dēva.⁴ Then again, as related above in A.D. 1334, we have the fact that in the reign of Ballāḷa Dēva, "during the times of one of his sons," Singeya Daṇṇāyaka's younger brother Vallappa made some grants.⁵ It is evident, therefore, that Dāḍi Sōmaya Daṇṇāyaka and his two sons, Singeya and Vallappa belonged to the Hoysala house. This Vallappa written in the Hosakōṭe inscription in Tamil is to be identified with Ballappa of the Śringēri Maṭha inscription. The name Pāḍiya Sōmaya of the Chikkamagalūr inscription is probably written by error for Dāḍiya or Dāṭiya Sōmaya.⁶