A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c17.83

c17.83

As Rāma Rāya's career began with a short period of service in the Qutb Shahi court of Golconda, he had a first-hand knowledge of the internal conditions of that kingdom, and had friends among the nobles of that court. With Ibrahim Qutb Shah his relations were at first friendly as he had received him with favour when he fled to Vijayanagar from his brother's wrath and helped him to gain the throne when that brother died (1550). But gradually their conflicting interests drove than apart, and Ibrahim cooperated in the war against Ahmadnagar only in a half-hearted manner. Later, he openly allied himself with Ahmadnagar, went against Bijapur and laid siege to Kalyāni. Rāma Rāya went to the relief of the fortress and ordered at the same time an invasion of the southern districts of the Golconda kingdom led by his brother Venkatādri. Thereupon the allied sultans retreated from Kalyāni; Rāma Rāya pursued the Nizam Shah while the Bijapur troops chased the Qutb Shah. Ahmadnagar was besieged a second time by Vijayanagar forces, but now without success as the flooding of the adjacent river compelled the invading army to retire with losses. Ibrahim Qutb Shah was defeated in battle, and reached his capital with difficulty, where he found everything in disorder owing to Venkatādri's invasion. Soon Rāma Rāya also returned from Ahmadnagar and marched towards Golconda. Ibrahim sought to divert him by attacking Kondavidu, but met with no success, being once more beaten in the field. His country was thus devastated and the principal forts captured by the enemy. In the end he had to purchase peace by surrendering the forts of Kovilkonda, Ganpura and Pangal (c. 1563). The war widened the breach between Golconda and Vijayanagar, and Ibrahim became more than ever determined to destroy the Hindu power which had become a source of repeated humiliation to its Muslim neighbours in the north, even their ambassadors not being received properly.