Identify the correct statements in regards to the ‘Vijayanagara Empire’:
A. The military chiefs were known as nayakas and they usually spoke in Telugu or Kannada.
B. The ‘amara-nayakas’ were military commanders, who were given territories to govern by the raya.
C. The ‘amara-nayaka’ system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.
D. The ‘amara-nayakas’ sent tribute to the king monthly.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A, B and C only
A. The military chiefs were known as nayakas and they usually spoke in Telugu or Kannada. Correct. These chiefs usually controlled forts and had armed supporters. Many of them submitted to the kings of Vijayanagara, but they often rebelled.
B. The ‘amara-nayakas’ were military commanders, who were given territories to govern by the raya. Correct. They collected taxes and dues in their territories, kept part of the revenue for themselves and used it to maintain a fixed contingent of horses and elephants for the king.
C. The ‘amara-nayaka’ system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire. Correct. Many of its features were probably derived from the iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate.
D. The ‘amara-nayakas’ sent tribute to the king monthly. Incorrect. The amara-nayakas sent tribute to the king annually, not monthly, and appeared in the royal court in person with gifts to express their loyalty.
NCERT (2025-26): “2.3 The rayas and the nayakas … Among those who exercised power in the 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. The amara-nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the raya. They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, craftspersons and traders in the area. They retained part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated contingent of horses and elephants.… …The amara-nayakas sent tribute to the king annually and personally appeared in the royal court with gifts to express their loyalty.…” |