A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c19.250

c19.250

In 1573, therefore, Ali Âdil moved against Dhârwar and Bankâpur. The siege of the latter place under its chief, Velappa Nâik, now independent, lasted for a year and six months, when the garrison, reduced to great straits, surrendered. Firishtah¹ states that the Âdil Shâh destroyed a "superb temple" there, and himself laid the first stone of a mosque which was built on its foundation. More successes followed in the Konkan. Three years later Bellamkonda was similarly attacked, and the Râya in terror retired from Penukonda to Chandragiri. This campaign, however, resulted in failure, apparently owing to the Shâh of Golkonda assisting the Hindus. In 1579 the king of Golkonda, in breach of his contract, attacked and reduced the fortresses of Vinukonda and Kondavîd as well as Kacharlakota and Kammam,¹ thus occupying large tracts south of the Krishnâ.