[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sewell-1900) › c19.28 # A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c19.28 A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c19.28 - **Language:** English ### [c19.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sewell-1900.c19.28) "Heem" Râjah, or, as Briggs renders the name, "Tim" Râjah—representing "Timma," and referring doubtless to Sâluva Timma, the great minister of Krishna Deva—had, forty years earlier, become \*de facto\* ruler of Vijayanagar on the death of the two sons of a former king, “Seo” Râya. He had poisoned the infant son of the younger of these sons, and had thus succeeded in becoming head of the state. During these forty years he had been obeyed by all. On his death his son Râma Râjah became ruler. Râma's marriage to “a daughter of the son of Seo” Râya¹ had greatly added to his dignity and power, and he now tried to secure the throne for himself and his family. He was, however, compelled by the nobles to recognise as king an “infant of the female line,” whose person he committed to the care of the child's uncle, “Hoje” Tirumala Râya,² a man of weak intellect if not absolutely insane. In five or six years Râma cut off by treachery most of the chiefs who opposed him.³ He then marched on an expedition into Malabar, and afterwards moved against a powerful zamindar to the south of Vijayanagar, who held out for six months and in the end beat off the troops of Râma Râya. Vijayanagar was at that time governed by a slave whom Râma had raised to high rank, and this man, on being applied to by the minister to send supplies from the capital, was so amazed at the wealth which he saw in the royal treasury that he resolved to attempt to gain possession of it. He therefore released the child-king, obtained the co-operation of Hoje Tirumala, assumed the office of minister, and began to raise troops. “Several tributary roies, who were disgusted with Ramraaje, flew with speed to Beejanuggur to obey their lawful king; and in a short time thirty thousand horse and vast hosts of foot were assembled under his standard at the city.” Tirumala then had the slave-governor assassinated. Râma Râjah at once returned to the capital, but was unable at that juncture to assert his authority. Finding himself deserted by many of the nobles he concluded a treaty with his lawful sovereign, and retired to his own province, which by agreement he was allowed to retain as his own independent state. Tirumala shortly afterwards strangled the king and seized the throne. The nobles submitted, since he was of royal blood, and better, in their opinion, than Râma Râjah; but when afterwards they found themselves unable to endure his tyranny and oppression, they rebelled and invited Râma Râjah to return. - [Previous: c19.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sewell-1900.c19.27) - [Next: c19.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sewell-1900.c19.29) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sewell-1900.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sewell-1900.c19.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sewell-1900.c19.28) · Pramāṇa