A History of Agriculture in India v2.c65.s4.2

v2.c65.s4.2

Devaraya I realized the value of cavalry in warfare. By purchasing large number of horses from Arabia and Persia and recruiting troopers to man them, he improved the fighting capacity of his army. He was also the first ruler of Vijayanagar to employ Turkish bowmen whom he attracted by liberal grants of land and money. Under his fostering care the Vijayanagar army became an efficient tool of war, and enabled him to withstand the long-drawn contest with the Bahmani Sultan Firuz Shah.