a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第13节
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Deva Raya then began to treat for peace； and was compelled to submit to conditions to the last degree humiliating。 He agreed to give the Sultan his daughter in marriage； to indemnify him with an immense treasure； and to cede for ever the fort of Bankapur。＇96＇
〃Though the roies of Carnatic had never yet married their daughters but to persons of their own cast； and giving them to strangers was highly disgraceful； yet Dewul Roy； out of necessity； complied； and preparations for celebrating the nuptials were made by both parties。 For forty days communication was open between the city and the sultan's camp。 Both sides of the road were lined with shops and booths； in which the jugglers； drolls； dancers； and mimics of Carnatic displayed their feats and skill to amuse passengers。 Khankhanan and Meer Fuzzul Oollah； with the customary presents of a bridegroom； went to Beejanuggur； from whence at the expiration of seven days they brought the bride； with a rich portion and offerings from the roy； to the sultan's camp。 Dewul Roy having expressed a strong desire to see the sultan； Feroze Shaw with great gallantry agreed to visit him with his bride； as his father…in…law。
〃A day being fixed； he with his bride proceeded to Beejanuggur； leaving the camp in charge of Khankhanan。 On the way he was met by Dewul Roy in great pomp。 From the gate of the city to the palace； being a distance of six miles；＇97＇ the road was spread with cloth of gold； velvet； satin； and other rich stuffs。 The two princes rode on horseback together； between ranks of beautiful boys and girls； who waved plates of gold and silver flowers＇98＇ over their heads as they advanced； and then threw them to be gathered by the populace。 After this the inhabitants of the city made offerings； both men and women； according to their rank。 After passing through a square directly in the centre of the city；＇99＇ the relations of Dewul Roy； who had lined the streets in crowds； made their obeisance and offerings； and joined the cavalcade on foot； marching before the princes。 Upon their arrival at the palace gate； the sultan and roy dismounted from their horses； and ascended a splendid palanquin； set with valuable jewels； in which they were carried together to the apartments prepared for the reception of the bride and bridegroom； when Dewul Roy took his leave； and retired to his own palace。 The sultan； after being treated with royal magnificence for three days； took his leave of the roy； who pressed upon him richer presents than before given； and attended him four miles on his way； when he returned to the city。
〃Sultan Feroze Shaw was enraged at his not going with him to his camp； and said to Meer Fuzzul Oollah that he would one day have his revenge for the affront offered him by such neglect。 This declaration being told to Dewul Roy； he made some insolent remarks； so that； notwithstanding the connection of family； their hatred was not calmed。〃
Firuz returned after this to his capital and sent for the lovely Pertal； and on her arrival； finding that her beauty surpassed all report； he gave her in marriage to his eldest son； Hasan Khan； when 〃the knot was tied amid great rejoicings and princely magnificence。〃 The lady's husband is described by Firishtah as being 〃a weak and dissipated prince。〃 He was heir to the throne； but was easily ousted by the valiant Ahmad 〃Khankhanan；〃 and lived privately at Firuzabad； 〃entirely devoted to redolence and pleasure。〃 The last we hear of him is that his usurping uncle； Ahmad Shah I。； treated him kindly； 〃gave him the palace of Firozeabad for his residence； with an ample jaghire （estate）； and permission to hunt or take his pleasure within eight miles round his palace； without restriction to time or form。〃 Hasan 〃was more satisfied with this power of indulging his appetites than with the charge of empire。 While his uncle lived he enjoyed his ease； and no difference ever happened between them； but he was afterwards blinded and kept confined to the palace of Firozeabad。〃 This must have been after A。D。 1434。
Deva Raya I。 lived till at least 1412 A。D。； and was succeeded by his son Vira…Vijaya； whom Nuniz calls 〃Visaya；〃 and who； he says； reigned six years。 The last extant inscription of Deva Raya I。 is dated in A。D。 1412 13； the first of his successor Vijaya in 1413 14。 Vijaya's last known inscription is one of 1416 17； and the first yet known of his successor； his eldest son； Deva Raya II。； is dated Monday； June 26； 1424 25。 Nuniz gives Deva Raya II。 a reign of twenty…five years。
I am inclined to think that Deva Raya II。 began to reign in 1419； for the following reason。 The informants of Nuniz stated that during Vijaya's reign he 〃did nothing worth relating；〃 and the chronicle records that during the reign which followed； namely that of Deva Raya II。； there was 〃constant warfare。〃 Now we have it from Firishtah that in 1417 Firuz； Sultan of Kulbarga； commenced a war of aggression against the Hindus of Telingana He besieged the fortress of Pangul；＇100＇ seventy miles north…east of Adoni； for a period of two years； but the attempt to reduce it ended in failure owing to a pestilence breaking out amongst both men and horses。
〃Many of the first nobility deserted the camp and tied with their followers to their jaghires。 At this crisis Dewul Roy collected his army； and having obtained aid from the surrounding princes； even to the Raja of Telingana （Warangal）； marched against the sultan with a vast host of horse and foot。〃
This then took place in 1419 A。D。； and since this energetic action was not consonant with the character of Vijaya； the FAINEANT sovereign； 〃who did nothing worth recording〃 in all his career； we must suppose that it took place as soon as Deva Raya； his successor； was crowned； when the nobles surrounding him （he was； I believe； quite young when he began to reign）＇101＇ filled with zeal and ambition； roused the Hindu troops and in the king's name plunged into war against their country's hereditary foe。
If this be correct； the reign of Deva Raya II。； granting that it lasted as stated by Nuniz for twenty…five years； ended in A。D。 1444。 Now the chronicle tells us a story of how this Deva Raya's son and successor； 〃Pina Rao；〃＇102＇ was attacked by his nephew with a poisoned dagger； and died from the effects of his wounds after a lapse of six months。 Abdur Razzak； more reliable because he was not only a contemporary but was at Vijayanagar at the time； relates the same anecdote of Deva Raya II。 himself； making the would…be assassin the king's brother； and definitely fixing the date beyond a shadow of a doubt。 The event occurred on some day between November 1442 and April 1443 the outside limits of Razzak's visit to Calicut during his stay at which place he says it happened。 Abdur Razzak does not mention the king's death； and this therefore had not supervened up to the time of the traveller leaving the capital in December 1443。 On the assumption that we need not be too particular about Nuniz's 〃six months；〃 we may conclude that the attack was made about the month of April 1443； and that Deva Raya II。 died early in 1444 A。D。 There is still； however； a difficulty； as will be noticed below； inscriptions giving us the name of a Deva Raya as late as 1449 A。D。； but it is just possible that this was another king of the same name。
Putting together the facts given above； we find that the twenty…five years of the reign of Deva Raya II。 lay between 1419 and 1444 A。D。
CHAPTER 6
Deva Raya II。 （A。D。 1419 to 1444 or （？） 1449）
A fresh war； 1419 Success of Vijayanagar Death of Firuz Sultan Ahmad attacks Deva Raya The latter's adventure and narrow escape Ahmad at the gates of the city He nearly loses his life Submission of Deva Raya Fall of Warangal Sultan Ala…ud…din Deva Raya's precautions His attempted assassination； 1433 The story as told by Abdur Razzak Expedition against Kulbarga Improvements at the capital Probable date of the kings death Was there a King Deva Raya III。？
There was war then with Kulbarga in 1419； Deva Raya II。 being king of Vijayanagar。 The Sultan had been unsuccessful in his attack on the Warangal fortress； Pangul； and the troops of Vijayanagar marched against him with horse； foot； and elephants。 Firuz Shah gave battle forthwith； though he judged his forces to be inferior。 Firishtah does not mention where the fight took place。
〃Meer Fuzzul Oollah； who commanded the troops of Islaam； charged the infidels with heroic vigour； and； routing their center； proceeded to attack their right wing。 He was on the point of gathering the flowers of victory； when one of his own attendants； bribed for the purpose by Dewul Roy； gave him a mortal wound on the head； and he instantly quaffed the sherbet of martyrdom。 This fatal event changed the fortune of the day； the sultan was defeated； and with the utmost difficulty； by the most surprising and gallant efforts； made his escape from the field。 The Hindoos made a general massacre of the mussulmauns； and erected a platform with their heads on the field of battle。 They followed the sultan into his own country； which they wasted with fire and sword； took many places； broke down many mosques and holy places； slaughtered the people without mercy； by their actions seeming to d
