A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c13.27

c13.27

Bukka’s first war began with the invasion already alluded to. It took place during his father Harihara’s reign, apparently about the month of December A.D. 1398 (rather later than earlier). The wide cotton plains of that tract are only passable during prolonged dry weather, and the prince would certainly not have risked an advance while there was any likelihood of rain falling. Bukka’s son accompanied his father, and the objective was the country of the Doâb, and particularly the fortresses of Mudkal and Raichûr, then in the hands of the Bâhmanî Sultan. Sultan Fîrûz moved to meet him, slaughtering on the way a Hindu chief or zamindar and seven or eight thousand of his followers, “who had always been very troublesome and refractory.” The Râya had advanced to the northern frontier of the debatable land and was encamped on the river Krishnâ, then in full flood, having large bodies of troops posted to oppose the passage of the Muhammadans.