The correct option is: Option 1: (1) Military Chiefs of the Vijayanagara Empire

The Nayakas were military chiefs or provincial governors of the Vijayanagara Empire. They were appointed to govern various regions and were responsible for managing military affairs, administration, and revenue collection on behalf of the Vijayanagara rulers. So, Option 1 is the correct choice.

"Among those who exercised power in the Vijaynagara empire were military chiefs who usually controlled forts and had armed supporters. These chiefs often moved from one area to another, and in many cases were accompanied by peasants looking for fertile land on which to settle. These chiefs were known as nayakas and they usually spoke Telugu or Kannada. Many nayakas submitted to the authority of the kings of Vijayanagara but they often rebelled and had to be subdued by military action. The amara-nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is likely that many features of this system were derived from the iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate."