In the Kingdom of Krishnadeva Raya: A Glimpse into the Emperor's Daily Life
Domingo Paes, a Portuguese merchant, visited Vijayanagar around the year 1520 during the reign of the celebrated Krishnadeva Raya (r: 1509-1530).
Christovao de Figueiredo, a Portuguese factor, played a crucial role in assisting Krishna during his conquest of Raichur. He was accompanied by a group of twenty Portuguese men who had come to Vijayanagar to sell Arabian horses to the emperor. Paes joined Figueiredo a few months after the battle. While in Vijayanagar, Paes had the opportunity to partake in the grand festivals of Mahanavami and New Year's Day.
In his chronicle of the Vijayanagar kings, Paes provided a brief description of Krishnadeva Raya's physical appearance and daily activities.
Krishnadeva Raya was of medium height, fair complexion, and good figure, rather fat than thin, with signs of smallpox on his face. He was a feared yet perfect king, cheerful and merry in disposition. He was welcoming to foreigners, showing interest in their affairs regardless of their rank. Known for his great sense of justice, he was also prone to sudden fits of rage. His title was Krishnadeva Maharaya, king of kings, lord of the greater lords of India, lord of the three seas and the land.
These wives were only seen by a select few, possibly elderly men of high rank favored by the emperor. When they needed to go out, they were carried in closed litters, accompanied by a large entourage of eunuchs for protection.
Another Portuguese merchant, Fernao Nuniz visited Vijayanagar during the reign of Achyuta Raya (r: 1530-1542). From Nuniz's narrative, it appears that the lover mentioned by Paes was Chinna Devi. Nuniz documented that Krishnadeva Raya had a romantic relationship with a courtesan named Chinna Devi in his youth and promised to marry her if he became king. Even after ascending to the throne, the emperor still harbored feelings for Chinna Devi and would secretly visit her. One night, his minister Timmarusu caught him entering her house and reprimanded him for his behavior, escorting him back to the palace.
Krishnadeva Raya confessed his deep love for Chinna Devi to his minister and expressed his determination to marry her. Timmarusu, understanding the emperor's resolve, agreed to help without causing scandal. "In order to do this, he sought for him a very beautiful woman of the family of the kings of Narsimha, and after he had married him to her, at the end of the wedding ceremonies, he put this woman and the other in a house, to which he had added a tower very lofty and large, and in which he lodged her."
According to Nuniz, Krishnadeva Raya had four queens, but his love for Chinna Devi surpassed all others. He states that Krishnadeva Raya built a city named Nagalapur in her honour. However, Nagalapur was actually built in memory of Krishnadeva Raya's mother Nagambika, also known as Nagala Devi. Chinnadevipura, on the other hand, was built to honor Chinna Devi.
Krishnadeva Raya was constantly at war with Prataparudra Deva, the king of Orissa. Eventually, Prataparudra sought peace by offering his daughter in marriage to Krishna. The Orissa princess, known by various names such as Jaganmohini, Thukka Devi, or Bhadra, was said to have been neglected by Krishnadeva Raya and lived a solitary life at Cumbum.
Among Krishnadeva Raya's chief queens was Tirumala Devi, the daughter of the governor of Srirangapatna. Amuktamalyada mentions two other queens, Annapurna Devi and Kamala Devi, possibly alternate names for Chinna Devi and the Orissa princess.
After his physical training, the emperor would ride a horse around the plain until sunrise. He would then cleanse himself in a ritual guided by a respected Brahman. Following this, he would go to the palace to perform prayers and ceremonies.
In a grand pillared porch-like building, Krishnadeva Raya would meet with his officials, city governors, and favourites to discuss matters of the kingdom. The greatest favourite was his minister Saluva Timma also known as Timmarusu and Appaji.
After these discussions, the emperor summons the lords and captains who are waiting at the gate. Upon entering, they make their salaam to the emperor and position themselves along the walls at a respectful distance. They keep their hands in the sleeves of their tunics and their eyes lowered. If the king wishes to communicate with someone, it is done through a mediator. The person the emperor wishes to speak to then raises their eyes to respond to the mediator's query. Once the interaction is over, they return to their original position and remain in that manner until the emperor dismisses them. They all bow to the emperor and leave.
The act of bowing, known as the salaam, is a gesture of utmost respect, where they join their hands above their head as high as possible. It is customary for them to visit the emperor daily to offer their salaam.
Krishnadeva Raya was dressed in a white robe embellished with golden roses and a diamond necklace. He wore a brocade cap resembling a Galician helmet, covered in fine silk.
The emperor was barefoot, and it was customary for anyone entering his presence to also be barefoot. Most people in the kingdom went barefoot. Those who did wear shoes had pointed ends, while there were also shoes with only soles, secured on the feet with straps.
Krishnadeva Raya gifted Figueiredo a brocade tunic along with a cap similar to his own attire. Each Portuguese man was given a cloth embroidered with pretty figures as a token of friendship and love.
After their audience with Krishnadeva Raya, Figueiredo and his companions arrived in the city of Vijayanagar, where they were provided with excellent accommodations. The emperor sent him generous provisions, including sheep, fowls, butter, honey, and other food items, which Figueiredo distributed among his soldiers and companions. Krishnadeva Raya expressed curiosity towards Figueiredo, inquiring about the customs and practices of the king of Portugal.
Notes:
Tirumala Devi's daughter was married to Rama Raya, while Chinna Devi's daughter was married to Tirumala, who is Rama Raya's brother.
Christovao de Figueiredo, a Portuguese factor, played a crucial role in assisting Krishna during his conquest of Raichur. He was accompanied by a group of twenty Portuguese men who had come to Vijayanagar to sell Arabian horses to the emperor. Paes joined Figueiredo a few months after the battle. While in Vijayanagar, Paes had the opportunity to partake in the grand festivals of Mahanavami and New Year's Day.
In his chronicle of the Vijayanagar kings, Paes provided a brief description of Krishnadeva Raya's physical appearance and daily activities.
Krishnadeva Raya was of medium height, fair complexion, and good figure, rather fat than thin, with signs of smallpox on his face. He was a feared yet perfect king, cheerful and merry in disposition. He was welcoming to foreigners, showing interest in their affairs regardless of their rank. Known for his great sense of justice, he was also prone to sudden fits of rage. His title was Krishnadeva Maharaya, king of kings, lord of the greater lords of India, lord of the three seas and the land.
Krishnadeva Raya's Wives
Paes mentioned that Krishnadeva Raya had twelve wives, three of whom were the chief wives. One of them was the daughter of the king of Orissa, another was the daughter of the king of Srirangapatna, a vassal of Vijayanagar. "Another wife is a courtesan whom in his youth he had for mistress before he became king, and she made him promise that if he came to be king he would take her to wife, and thus it came to pass that this courtesan became his wife." Paes also noted that out of love for her, the emperor built a new city.These wives were only seen by a select few, possibly elderly men of high rank favored by the emperor. When they needed to go out, they were carried in closed litters, accompanied by a large entourage of eunuchs for protection.
Another Portuguese merchant, Fernao Nuniz visited Vijayanagar during the reign of Achyuta Raya (r: 1530-1542). From Nuniz's narrative, it appears that the lover mentioned by Paes was Chinna Devi. Nuniz documented that Krishnadeva Raya had a romantic relationship with a courtesan named Chinna Devi in his youth and promised to marry her if he became king. Even after ascending to the throne, the emperor still harbored feelings for Chinna Devi and would secretly visit her. One night, his minister Timmarusu caught him entering her house and reprimanded him for his behavior, escorting him back to the palace.
Krishnadeva Raya confessed his deep love for Chinna Devi to his minister and expressed his determination to marry her. Timmarusu, understanding the emperor's resolve, agreed to help without causing scandal. "In order to do this, he sought for him a very beautiful woman of the family of the kings of Narsimha, and after he had married him to her, at the end of the wedding ceremonies, he put this woman and the other in a house, to which he had added a tower very lofty and large, and in which he lodged her."
According to Nuniz, Krishnadeva Raya had four queens, but his love for Chinna Devi surpassed all others. He states that Krishnadeva Raya built a city named Nagalapur in her honour. However, Nagalapur was actually built in memory of Krishnadeva Raya's mother Nagambika, also known as Nagala Devi. Chinnadevipura, on the other hand, was built to honor Chinna Devi.
Krishnadeva Raya was constantly at war with Prataparudra Deva, the king of Orissa. Eventually, Prataparudra sought peace by offering his daughter in marriage to Krishna. The Orissa princess, known by various names such as Jaganmohini, Thukka Devi, or Bhadra, was said to have been neglected by Krishnadeva Raya and lived a solitary life at Cumbum.
Among Krishnadeva Raya's chief queens was Tirumala Devi, the daughter of the governor of Srirangapatna. Amuktamalyada mentions two other queens, Annapurna Devi and Kamala Devi, possibly alternate names for Chinna Devi and the Orissa princess.
Daily Routine
Every morning, before the break of dawn, the emperor would start his day by consuming three-quarters of a pint of gingelly (sesame) oil. He would then proceed to anoint his entire body with the oil. Next, he would wrap a small cloth around his waist and lift heavy earthenware weights in his hands. Following this, he would practice with a sword until he sweated out all of the oil, and then engage in wrestling with one of his wrestlers.After his physical training, the emperor would ride a horse around the plain until sunrise. He would then cleanse himself in a ritual guided by a respected Brahman. Following this, he would go to the palace to perform prayers and ceremonies.
In a grand pillared porch-like building, Krishnadeva Raya would meet with his officials, city governors, and favourites to discuss matters of the kingdom. The greatest favourite was his minister Saluva Timma also known as Timmarusu and Appaji.
After these discussions, the emperor summons the lords and captains who are waiting at the gate. Upon entering, they make their salaam to the emperor and position themselves along the walls at a respectful distance. They keep their hands in the sleeves of their tunics and their eyes lowered. If the king wishes to communicate with someone, it is done through a mediator. The person the emperor wishes to speak to then raises their eyes to respond to the mediator's query. Once the interaction is over, they return to their original position and remain in that manner until the emperor dismisses them. They all bow to the emperor and leave.
The act of bowing, known as the salaam, is a gesture of utmost respect, where they join their hands above their head as high as possible. It is customary for them to visit the emperor daily to offer their salaam.
Meeting with Krishnadeva Raya
Christovao de Figueiredo, along with Paes and other Portuguese traders, visited Krishnadeva Raya in the newly built city. Krishnadeva Raya received them with great hospitality. Figueiredo presented him with letters from the Captain Major and various gifts, including organs.Krishnadeva Raya was dressed in a white robe embellished with golden roses and a diamond necklace. He wore a brocade cap resembling a Galician helmet, covered in fine silk.
The emperor was barefoot, and it was customary for anyone entering his presence to also be barefoot. Most people in the kingdom went barefoot. Those who did wear shoes had pointed ends, while there were also shoes with only soles, secured on the feet with straps.
Krishnadeva Raya gifted Figueiredo a brocade tunic along with a cap similar to his own attire. Each Portuguese man was given a cloth embroidered with pretty figures as a token of friendship and love.
After their audience with Krishnadeva Raya, Figueiredo and his companions arrived in the city of Vijayanagar, where they were provided with excellent accommodations. The emperor sent him generous provisions, including sheep, fowls, butter, honey, and other food items, which Figueiredo distributed among his soldiers and companions. Krishnadeva Raya expressed curiosity towards Figueiredo, inquiring about the customs and practices of the king of Portugal.
Notes:
Tirumala Devi's daughter was married to Rama Raya, while Chinna Devi's daughter was married to Tirumala, who is Rama Raya's brother.
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