Robert Sewell
His aptly titled book, A Forgotten Empire Vijayanagar: A Contribution to the History of India written published in 1900 is still considered as seminal work on this South Indian empire that was left buried in the otherwise overwhelming history of India.
R
obert Sewell (1845 – 1925) was a collector and magistrate in Madras Presidency in colonial India. Like may civil servant turned Indologists of those times, he was a scholar in history. Also in charge for the then archeology department.His aptly titled book, A Forgotten Empire Vijayanagar: A Contribution to the History of India written published in 1900 is still considered as seminal work on this South Indian empire that was left buried in the otherwise overwhelming history of India.
Along with this book he translated two chronicles by Domingo Paes, a Portuguese envoy and Fernao Nuniz who was a Portuguese horse trader in Hampi (Vijayanagar) the then capital of Vijayanagara. Both were eyewitness of the happenings during the hay days of Vijayanagara. Their firsthand accounts in fact acted as a basis for many assumptions historians made about the life in the imperial capital of Vijayanagara.
A Forgotten Empire Chapter 2
Origin of the Empire (A.D. 1316) : Muhammad's capture of Kampli and Anegundi — Death of his nephew Baha-ud-din — Malik Naib made governor of Anegundi — Disturbances – Harihara Deva Raya raised to be king of Anegundi — Madhavacharya Vidyaranya — The city of Vijayanagar founded — Legends as to the origin of the new kingdom.
A Forgotten Empire Chapter 3
The First Kings (A.D. 1336 to 1379): Rapid acquisition of territory ~~ Reign of Harihara I. ~~ Check to Muhammadan aggression ~~ Reign of Bukka I. ~~ Kampa and Sangama? ~~ The Bahmani kingdom established, 1347 ~~ Death of Nagadeva of Warangal ~~ Vijayanagar's first great war ~~ Massacres by Muhammad Bahmani ~~ Battle at Adoni, 1366 ~~ Flight of Bukka ~~ Mujahid's war, 1375 ~~ He visits the Malabar coast ~~ Siege of Vijayanagar ~~ Extension of territory ~~ Death of Mujahid, 1378.