A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c17.97

c17.97

Venkata did much to restore the prosperity of the villages in the northern districts which had suffered greatly from repeated Muslim inroads after 1565. Easy conditions of land tenure were offered to the farmers by the king and the nobles, who followed his example, so that the ryots returned to their wonted occupation. He also strove to sustain the failing strength of the village assemblies, and to administer impartial justice. Venkata’s rule of nearly thirty years undoubtedly saved the empire from imminent dissolution. He died in 1614 after nominating Śrīranga, his nephew, as his successor.