a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第15节
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rain； so that the Sultan may have been able to traverse the cotton plains lying between Vijayanagar and Kulbarga； plains quite impassable for troops in wet weather； somewhat earlier than would otherwise have been the case。
The Sultan's next war took place in A。H。 828； when he advanced against Warangal over the undulating plains of the Dakhan； then rich in crop； and was completely successful。 The Hindu kingdom was completely and for ever destroyed。 The English date usually given for this event is A。D。 1424； but it is quite possible that a mistake has been made owing to the use of imperfect chronological tables by those who have written on the subject； and that Ahmad Shah's capture of Warangal may have taken place in A。D。 1425。 Briggs； for instance； calls A。H。 828 〃A。D。 1424；〃 but the year only began on November 23； 1424。 The campaign； however； was very short； and may have been concluded before the end of December of that year。
We hear nothing more from Firishtah regarding the affairs of Vijayanagar till the early part of the reign of Ahmad's son and successor； Ala…ud…din II。； which began on Sunday； February 27； A。D。 1435；＇110＇ the day of Sultan Ahmad's death。
Ala…ud…din's first act was to despatch his brother Muhammad Khan with a powerful army against Deva Raya of Vijayanagar
〃who had withheld his tribute for five years and refused to pay the arrears。 They laid waste the country in such a manner that the Roy in a short time was glad to procure peace by giving twenty elephants； a great sum of money； and two hundred female slaves skilled in music and dancing； besides a valuable present to Mahummud Khan。〃
Flushed with this victory； and in command of a large force； Prince Muhammad rebelled against his brother； and Firishtah states that in doing so he obtained aid from Deva Raya。 The prince took Mudkal； Raichur； Sholapur； Bijapur； and Naldirak from the Sultan's governors； but in a pitched battle with the royal forces was completely defeated and fled。 Shortly afterwards； however； he was forgiven by his generous sovereign； and the fortress and territories of Raichur were conferred on him。
About the year 1442 Deva Raya began to consider more seriously his situation in relation to his powerful neighbour at Kulbarga。
〃He called＇111＇ a general council of his nobility and principal bramins； observing to them that as his country of Carnatic in extent； population； and revenue far exceeded the territories of the house of Bahmenee； land in like manner his army was far more numerous； wished therefore to explore the cause of the mussulmauns' successes； and his being reduced to pay them tribute。 Some said 。。。 that the superiority of the mussulmauns arose from two circumstances： one； all their horses being strong； and able to bear more fatigue than the weak； lean animals of Carnatic； the other； a great body of excellent archers always kept up by the sultans of the house of Bahmenee； of whom the roy had but few in his army。
〃Deo Roy upon this gave orders for the entertainment of mussulmauns in his service； allotted them jaghires；＇112＇ erected a mosque for their use in the city of Beejanuggur； and commanded that no one should molest them in the exercise of their religion。 He also ordered a koraun to be placed before his throne； on a rich desk； that the mussulmauns might perform the ceremony of obeisance in his presence； without sinning against their laws。 He also made all the Hindoo soldiers learn the discipline of the bow； in which he and his officers used such exertions； that he had at length two thousand mussulmauns and sixty thousand Hindoos； well skilled in archery； besides eighty thousand horse and two hundred thousand foot； armed in the usual manner with pikes and lances。〃
On a day which must have been between November 1442 and April 1443 a desperate attempt was made on the life of King Deva Raya by one of his closest relatives a brother； according to Abdur Razzak； a nephew； according to Nuniz。 Abdur Razzak's story is without doubt the more reliable of the two； since he is a contemporary witness。 The story as told by Nuniz is given in the chronicle at the end of this volume。＇113＇ Abdur Razzak was ambassador from Persia to Calicut and Vijayanagar； and his account is particularly important as it definitely fixes the date。
〃During the time that the author of this narrative was still sojourning at Calicut （November 1442 to April 1443） there happened in the city of Bidjanagar an extraordinary and most singular occurrence。。。。
〃The king's brother； who had had a new house built for himself； invited thither the monarch and the principal personages of the empire。 Now it is an established usage of the infidels never to eat in presence of each other。 The men who were invited were assembled together in one grand hall。 At short intervals the prince either came in person or sent some messenger to say that such or such great personage should come and eat his part of the banquet。 Care had been taken to bring together all the drums； kettledrums； trumpets； and flutes that could be found in the city； and these instruments playing all at the same time； made a tremendous uproar。 As soon as the individual who had been sent for entered the above…mentioned house； two assassins； placed in ambush； sprang out upon him； pierced him with a poignard； and cut him in pieces。 After having removed his limbs； or rather the fragments of his body； they sent for another guest； who； once having entered this place of carnage； disappeared。。。。 In consequence of the noise of the drums； the clamour； and the tumult； no one was aware of what was going on。 In this manner all those who had any name or rank in the state were slaughtered。 The prince leaving his house all reeking with the blood of his victims； betook himself to the king's palace； and addressing himself to the guards who were stationed in that royal residence； invited them with flattering words to go to his house； and caused them to follow the steps of the other…victims。 So that the palace was thus deprived of all its defenders。 This villain then entered into the king's presence； holding in his hand a dish covered with betel…nut； under which was concealed a brilliant poignard。 He said to the monarch； 'The hall is ready and they only wait your august presence。'
〃The king； following the maxim which declares that eminent men receive an inspiration from heaven； said to him； 'I am not in good health to…day。'
〃This unnatural brother； thus losing the hope of enticing the king to his house； drew his poignard； and struck him therewith several violent blows； so that the prince fell at the back of his throne。 The traitor； thus believing that the king was dead； left there one of his confidants to cut off the monarch's head； then going out of the hall he ascended the portico of the palace； and thus addressed the people： 'I have slain the king； his brothers； and such and such emirs； Brahmins； and viziers； now I am king。'
〃Meanwhile his emissary had approached the throne with the intention of cutting off the king's head； but that prince； seizing the seat behind which he had fallen； struck the wretch with it with so much violence on the chest that he fell upon his back。 The king then； with the help of one of his guards； who at the sight of this horrible transaction had hidden himself in a corner； slew this assassin； and went out of the palace by way of the harem。
〃His brother； still standing on the steps of the hall of council； invited the multitude to recognise him as their king。 At that moment the monarch cried out； 'I am alive。 I am well and safe。 Seize that wretch。'
〃The whole crowd assembled together threw themselves upon the guilty prince and put him to death。
〃The only one who escaped was Danaik； the vizier； who previously to this sad event had gone on a voyage to the frontier of Ceylon。 The king sent a courier to him to invite him to return； and informed him of what had just occurred。 All those who had in any way aided in the conspiracy were put to death。 Men in great numbers were slain； flayed； burnt alive； and their families entirely exterminated。 The man who had brought the letters of invitation was put to the last degree of torture。。。。〃
Nuniz states that the king died six months later and was succeeded by his son； but Abdur Razzak declares that he was presented in person to Deva Raya about the month of December 1443。 The name of Deva Raya's son is not given by Nuniz； nor yet the length of his reign； he only states that he did nothing worth relating except to give enormous charities to temples。 This king again was succeeded by a son called 〃Verupaca Rao；〃 who must be identical with Virupaksha； and Nuniz dates from his reign the commencement of the troubles that led to the usurpation of Narasimha and the downfall of the first dynasty。
But before putting together the confusing records of this period I must revert to the events of the year A。D。 1443。
〃At this period；〃 says Abdur Razzak； referring to the second half of the year 1443； 〃Danaik＇114＇ the vizier set out on an expedition into the kingdom of Kalbarga。〃 The reasons which had led to this invasion were as follows： Sultan Ala…ud…din had heard of the treacherous attempt to kill the king of Vijayanagar and the murder of the nobles an
