A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c17.103

c17.103

Thinking he was too friendly with the Nāyak of Gingee, the rulers of Tanjore and Madura plotted to seize Venkata. They failed and war began in 1637 but was soon ended by a patched-up peace. For reasons that are not clear, Śrīranga, once so loyal to his uncle, turned against him and actually engineered two invasions from Bijapur in 1638 and 1641. On the first occasion the sultan's forces invested Bangalore, and Venkata had to buy peace at the cost of a large indemnity early in 1639. Later in the year, with the help of troops sent by the southern Nāyaks, he gained a moderate success which put a temporary check on Muslim inroads. The invasion of 1641 was led by Randhula Khan who was joined by Śrīranga; they marched upon Vellore after capturing some forts on the way, and pitched their camp within twelve miles of the capital. Once more aid from the Nāyaks saved Vellore for a while.