Canberra, 2 February 2020 Venkata Deva III left no male heirs although he had an illegitimate son who was debarred from succeeding him to the throne by the laws of the land. The senior chiefs, the Nayakas, of the kingdom disputed and debated the claim of possible successors and finally chose Sri Ranga, Venkata’s nephew, […]
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Indian History Part 77 The Aravidu Dynasty Section VI Venkata Deva Raya III:Racing Towards Oblivion
January 18, 2020 
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Canberra, 18 January 2020 Rama Deva’s death was immediately followed by open rebellion in Karnataka and for a period of time no one could be identified as being in control. Only Pedda Venkata was able to muster some support, mostly from nobles and minor chiefs who were related to him. In what could only be […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 77 The Aravidu Dynasty Section V: A Civil War and Succession: Decay Sets In
January 11, 2020 0 Comments
Canberra, 11 January 2019 Sri Ranga, the younger son of Rama Raja, the viceroy of Srirangapatana and elder brother of Venkata Deva Raya II, had moved to the court in Penukonda even before his father’s death. He had been brought up by his uncle, the king, and was considered by all to be the future […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 77 The Aravidu Dynasty Section IV: Rebellions and Declining Fortunes
January 1, 2020 0 Comments
Canberra, 1 January 2020 In the period 1596-99, two important events took place in the Deccan that lead one to believe, indirectly, that the fortunes of Vijayanagara was once again on the rise. The first was the annexation of the Nizam Shahi kingdom of Ahmadnagar by the Mughals under the instruction of Emperor Akbar. The […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 77 The Aravidu Dynasty Section III: Venkata Deva Raya II
December 26, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra, 26 December 2019 Sri Ranga Deva’s younger brother, Rama Raja, had predeceased him, leaving behind two sons. However, at the time of Sri Ranga’s death, both these princes were minors. Therefore, the ‘people’, meaning the nobles, Brahmins and warriors, chose Venkata the youngest brother of Sri Ranga, to succeed to the throne. This move […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 77 The Aravidu Rule Section I: Aravidu Rule is Formalised
December 14, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra 14 December 2014 Even before the Shahi kings departed from Vijayanagara, steeped in their own dissentions and confusion, a power struggle for control had started to crystallise in the defeated kingdom with the son of Rama Raya, Timma, questioning his uncle Tirumala’s claim to becoming the Regent. By the time the departing Shahis had […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 76 Collapse of an Empire Section IV Recouping the Kingdom after the Defeat
November 30, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra, 30 November 2019 Robert Sewell, the celebrated historian, states categorically that the history of Vijayanagara finishes with the defeat at the Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi [Talikota] since the Empire disintegrated, rapidly decayed and became extinct soon after the battle. This assessment is based completely on the reports of Ferishta, written around 1612-14. Ferishta, one of […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 76 Collapse of an Empire Section III Rama Raya – A Retrospective Analysis
November 30, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra, 30 November 2019 In a purely factual analysis of the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, Rama Raya’s name stands out either as a hero or a villain depending on the bias of the author or researcher. It is an indisputable fact that Rama Raya was the de facto king of the Empire at the […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 76 Collapse of an Empire Section II: The Aftermath
November 27, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra, 27 November 2019 The four Shahi kings moved from the battlefield towards Vijayanagara and halted at Anegundi. They send out advance parties of soldiers to prepare the capital for a great triumphal entry of the victors. After a few days they entered the capital in a state procession with the four kings at the […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 76 Collapse of an Empire Section I: The Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi (Talikota)
November 23, 2019 2 Comments
Canberra, 23 November 2019 The Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi is better known in historical narratives and discussions as the Battle of Talikota, so much so that the name of the twin villages Rakshasa-Tangadi remains in relative obscurity even today. The fact, however, remains that the battle was not fought at, or even close to, the town […]
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Sanu Kainikara 
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