A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c16.s1.83

c16.s1.83

The whole country was divided out—so Nuniz tells us, and his account is confirmed by other evidence—into governorships. Each chief was allowed entire independence in the territory allotted to him so long as he maintained the quota of horse, foot, and elephants, the maintenance of which was the price of his possession, in perfect readiness for immediate action, and paid his annual tribute to the sovereign. Failing these he was liable to instant ejection, as the king was lord of all and the nobles held only by his goodwill.