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Fernao Nuniz was a Portuguese traveler and chronicler who visited India in the mid-16th century during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire. His accounts are considered one of the most important primary sources on the history of this period, providing valuable insights into the administration, society, economy, and military structure of the empire. For UPSC aspirants, understanding the contributions of Fernao Nuniz is crucial when studying the Vijayanagara Empire and its place in Indian history.
Fernao Nuniz was a Portuguese horse trader who came to India in search of business opportunities, particularly in the sale of Arabian horses, which were highly sought after by the rulers of South India. He arrived in Vijayanagara around 1535-1537 CE, during the reign of King Achyuta Deva Raya, the brother of the famous ruler Krishna Deva Raya. Nuniz stayed for several years in the empire, during which he compiled detailed observations of the political, social, and economic aspects of Vijayanagara.
Nuniz’s writings are part of the broader body of Portuguese accounts of India, which also includes chronicles by other travelers like Domingo Paes. His records are significant because they offer a foreigner’s perspective on the inner workings of one of India’s most powerful and prosperous empires at the time. The importance of Nuniz’s work lies in the detailed descriptions of various aspects of the Vijayanagara Empire, which serve as key historical evidence for modern historians.
The Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE) was a dominant power in South India, known for its military strength, architectural achievements, and thriving trade with foreign nations, including Portugal. It played a crucial role in resisting the expansion of Muslim kingdoms in the Deccan region and served as a bastion of Hindu culture during a time when Islamic empires were gaining prominence in other parts of India. The empire’s capital, Vijayanagara (modern-day Hampi), was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world during its time.
Nuniz’s accounts are particularly valuable because they cover a period just after the reign of Krishna Deva Raya, widely regarded as the golden age of the Vijayanagara Empire. His descriptions of the political intrigue, military campaigns, and administrative practices during Achyuta Deva Raya’s reign help shed light on the empire’s slow decline after Krishna Deva Raya’s death.
Nuniz provides detailed information about the governance of the Vijayanagara Empire. He describes the king as an absolute ruler but mentions the presence of a council of ministers who assisted the monarch in decision-making. The king was supported by a network of nobles and feudal lords who managed various provinces. These nobles maintained large private armies, which were mobilized in times of war.
Nuniz also notes the presence of a well-organized bureaucracy that ensured the smooth functioning of the administration. The empire was divided into provinces, and each province was governed by a Nayaka (local chieftain or governor), who enjoyed a considerable degree of autonomy but was ultimately answerable to the king.
Nuniz highlights the military power of Vijayanagara, which was one of the most formidable in South India during the 16th century. The empire’s army consisted of infantry, cavalry, and war elephants, with the cavalry being particularly important. The Vijayanagara rulers imported Arabian horses for their cavalry, and Nuniz himself was involved in the trade of these horses. He mentions the use of advanced weaponry, including artillery, which was likely influenced by contact with the Portuguese and other foreign powers.
The military campaigns described by Nuniz illustrate the ongoing conflict between Vijayanagara and the neighboring Deccan Sultanates. These wars were primarily fought to control the fertile Raichur Doab region, a strategic area located between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.
Nuniz’s writings are a valuable source of information on the economy of Vijayanagara. He describes the empire as a major center of trade, with thriving markets in the capital city. The economy was based on agriculture, with rice, sugarcane, and cotton being the main crops. The empire also benefited from its control of important trade routes, both inland and maritime. Vijayanagara had strong trade relations with several foreign powers, including Portugal, Persia, and Southeast Asian kingdoms.
Nuniz also mentions the production of gold, diamonds, and precious stones in the empire. The wealth of Vijayanagara was legendary, and the capital city was known for its opulent palaces, temples, and public buildings. The Portuguese chronicler marveled at the prosperity of the empire, noting that it had a stable currency and a well-developed taxation system.
Nuniz’s accounts provide glimpses into the social and cultural life of the Vijayanagara Empire. He describes a society that was hierarchical, with the king and his nobles at the top, followed by merchants, artisans, and peasants. The caste system was firmly entrenched in Vijayanagara society, and there was little social mobility.
Religion played a central role in the life of the empire, and Hinduism was the dominant faith. Nuniz describes the numerous temples and religious ceremonies he witnessed during his stay. He also mentions the tolerance shown by the Vijayanagara rulers toward other religions, including Islam and Christianity, which were practiced by the foreign merchants and traders who lived in the empire.
The capital city of Vijayanagara was a vibrant cultural hub, known for its patronage of art, literature, and architecture. Nuniz was particularly impressed by the grandeur of the city, with its massive temples, beautiful gardens, and bustling markets. The architecture of the Vijayanagara period, especially the construction of massive temples like the Virupaksha Temple, is still considered one of the greatest achievements of Indian art.
Nuniz’s accounts, along with those of other Portuguese travelers like Domingo Paes, are indispensable for reconstructing the history of the Vijayanagara Empire. Although his writings were not intended to be a comprehensive history, they provide rich details about the day-to-day functioning of the empire, its people, and its rulers.
For UPSC aspirants, understanding Fernão Nuniz’s contributions is essential, particularly in topics related to medieval Indian history, foreign travelers’ accounts, and the Vijayanagara Empire’s administration and economy. His observations are often cited in history books and papers, making his work an important part of the UPSC Civil Services Examination syllabus, especially in the sections dealing with the cultural and political history of South India.
Fernão Nuniz’s writings are an invaluable source for historians studying the Vijayanagara Empire. His detailed observations of the empire’s political, military, economic, and cultural aspects provide a unique foreign perspective on one of India’s greatest empires. For UPSC aspirants, his accounts are crucial for understanding the complexities of medieval South Indian history, making him a key figure in the study of Indian history for the Civil Services Examination.
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