A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c16.14

c16.14

The account of this period as given by Firishtah differs altogether from that of Nuniz, and gives rise to much confusion and difficulty. And as to the relationship of the succeeding sovereigns, Narasa, Vira Narasimha, Krishna Deva Râya, Achyuta, and Sadâsiva, the native inscriptions themselves are totally at variance with one another. Some few points, however, in the general scheme of history of the second dynasty are quite certain, and these may be shortly summarised. The last kings of the first dynasty were recognised down to about the year 1490 A.D. Narasimha and Vira Narasimha ruled till the accession of Krishna Deva Râya in 1509; Achyuta succeeded Krishna in 1530, and Sadâsiva succeeded Achyuta in 1542. The latter was virtually a prisoner in the hands of Râma Râya, the eldest of three brothers, at first nominally his minister, but afterwards independent. The names of the other brothers were Tirumala and Venkatâdri. These three men held the government of the kingdom till 1565, when the empire was utterly overthrown by a confederation of the five Muhammadan kings of the Dakhan, already mentioned, at the battle of Talikota—so-called—and the magnificent capital was almost wiped out of existence.