A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c17.s6.2

c17.s6.2

Nuniz tells us that when the city of Raichûr surrendered, the Hindu king made a triumphal entry into it, and treated the garrison with kindness and consideration; while the other Muhammadan kings sent envoys to Krishna Deva Râya on hearing of his success, and received a haughty and irritating reply. Krishna Deva then returned to Vijayanagar and held high festival. Shortly afterwards an ambassador arrived from the defeated Shâh, and was treated with scant courtesy for more than a month, after which he was received in audience; when the king sent answer by him to his enemy, that if the Âdil Shâh would come to him, do obeisance, and kiss his foot, his lands and fortresses should be restored to him. No attention being paid to this, the Râya set out to search for the Shâh, hoping that he would be induced to do homage in the manner demanded, and appearing to ignore altogether the effect which would necessarily be produced on the minds of the other kings of the Dakhan by this contemplated supreme humiliation of one of their number. The submission never took place. Krishna led his army as far north as Bîjapûr, the Âdil Shâh’s capital, which for a time he occupied and left sadly injured. Then Asada Khân, the Shâh’s wily courtier, successfully brought about the death of his personal enemy, Salâbat Khân, by inducing the Râya to order his execution; an act to which the king was led by the machinations of the arch-intriguer, who subordinated his chief’s interests to his own selfish ends.