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SEPTEMBER, 1914] THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA.
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA. By V. RANGACHARI, M.A., L.T., MADRAS.
CHAPTER II.
(Continued from p. 158).
THE FOUNDATION OF THE NAIK DYNASTY OF MADURA
SECTION I.
The Emperor Achyuta Raya 1530-1542.
The Common Version of Achyuta Raya's Character and Administration.
187
On the death of the great Krishna Dêva Râya25 in 1530, the imperial throne of Vijayanagar was ascended by his half brother Achyuta Râya, a person about whose character and capacity a very widespread divergency of opinion exists. According to Nuniz, 26 a celebrated traveller who visited Vijayanagar at this time, and Mr. Sewell who bases his history on the account of that traveller, no worse man than Achyuta could have been chosen for the throne, and no worse misfortune to the empire was possible than his accession. Achyuta, we are told, could neither endure the fatigues of war, nor was fit to perform the duties of peaceful rule. He was endowed with a character which could hardly endear him to his people. His tyranny alienated the nobles around him, and his weakness invited the dominance of the despised Sultan of Bijapur. Ismail Adil Shah had received humiliating treatment at the hands of Krishna Dêva, and felt it so much that he had vowed to refrain from wine till he avenged the disgrace and removed the stain of subordination. A fit opportunity presented itself, we are informed, with the accession of the weak Achyuta Râya. The keen Musalmân promptly invaded the Raichur Duâb, captured the coveted towns of Mudkal and Raichûr-never again to come into the hands of the Hindus-and even marched as far as Hospet, 27 which he razed to the ground. This disgrace, together with the general weakness of Achyuta Râya's internal administration, we are further informed, lost for him the esteem, the obedience, and the loyalty of the people. In their hatred, the nobles set up the standard of rebellion. A liberal policy of tact and conciliation would have killed disaffection and restored order; but Achyuta Râya had more pride than wisdom, more passion than tact. Unable to rise to that statesmanship and forgiveness which could forget injury and disarm treason. he brought an eternal ignominy on his name by calling for help, at the cost of the independence of Vijayanagar, his deadliest enemy, Ibrâhîm Adil Shah28 (1533-1557). The latter was of course too glad to obtain an opportunity of triumph which none of his predecessors had had either by arms or by diplomacy. To be within the city of Vijayanagar, to have the mastery of its internal politics and the emperor for his tool, was a circumstance which the most ambitious of his forefathers had not dreamt. Such a circumstance was practically equal to the subordination of Vijayanagar to Bijapur. Ibrâhîm found himself therefore in 1536 as the guest of Achyuta Râya20 at Vijayanagar. It is true his satisfaction at this achievement received a rude and premature check; for the Hindu nobility suddenly awakened to the seriousness of the situation and, by a timely obedience to their debased sovereign, persuaded him to cancel an engagement, so derogatory to the prestige, and so
25 Krishna Deva had a son named Tirumalayya, but he died during his father's life-time. See Nuniz Chron; Arch. Surv. Ind. 1908-09, p. 186; and Ep. Rep. 1912, p 80-81.
28 See Forg. Empe, 366 ff. (Chap. 20-23).
27 Arch. Surv. Ind. 1908-09, p. 187. Nuniz points out that Achyuta had 200 chiefs and 600,000 soldiers under him, and yet suffered defeat.
28 See Brigg's Ferishta, Vol I, pp. 78-112; and Scott's Dekkan, Vol I, pp. 261-85 for the details of his reign. Ibrahim came to the throne in Sep. 1534. Note the fact that Ferishta does not mention Achyuta but "Bhoj Trimul Ray" in his place.
29 See Briggs III p. 83-4 and Scott 1 262-265 for a most confused account of the alleged domestic plots, civil wars and disputed successions that are said to have taken place in Vijayanagar. A discussion of this is out of place here. For an attempt at the unravelling of the whole, see Forg. Empe, 182 ; Ind, Antq. XXVII, p. 300-1
