Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c8.s3.58

v1.c8.s3.58

Horses might not have been so frequently used as beasts of burden because of the fact of their having been imported from Persia and of their great use in the wars. Nevertheless, they were trained in the art of caracoling and prancing, and were held in such high respect that feudatory kings had to take their oath of allegiance on the king's horse. This we gather from Paes. "When the (triumph-al) cars (belonging to the great nobles) have gone out they are immediately followed by many horses covered with trappings and cloths of very fine stuff of the king's colours, and with many roses and flowers on their heads and necks, and with their bridles all gilded; and in front of these horses goes a horse with two state-umbrellas of the king and with grander decorations than the others, and one of the lesser equerries leads it by the bridle. In front of this horse goes another caracoling and prancing, as do all horses here, being trained in that art. You must know that this horse that is conducted with all this state is a horse that the king keeps, and on which they are sworn and received as kings, and on it must be sworn all those that shall come after them; and in case such a horse dies they put another in its place. If any king does not wish to be sworn on horseback, they swear him on an elephant, which they keep and treat with equal dignity."'