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killed Veera Ballala. He is said to have a flag with a crow
inscribed on it. (See Sarga 9, Sc.32)
 
Veera Ballala
 
Veera Ballala is the most renowned of the emperors of
Hoyasala Raj. He took it as a duty to protect South India from
the onslaughts of the Muslims. Very often he successfully resisted
the Muslim forces that tried to conquer the south and emerged
victorious. While discharging this historic and heroic duty, he
sacrificed his life in 1340 A. D. in his battle with the above sultan.
Ibun Batuta the brother-in-law of the above sultan wrote that he
saw the corpse of Veera Ballala laid against the wall of the fort.
 
Their battle was described in the following terms by his-
torians. "The armies of the sultan of Madhura were stationed
at Kannanur-ukoppa a village near Sreerangam about only 6000
strong. Veera Ballala suddenly marched on that village, seiged
the fort and defeated the Muslim armies. Learning this, the
sultan made a surprise raid on the forces of Ballala when they
were resting. In the pandemonium that ensued, the Muslims
relentlessly chased and killed the forces of Ballala. They took
him captive and tortured him for some time and killed him, in
1340 A.D. This is indicated by the words 'वल्लालसंपल्लतिकाकुठारम् ".
Thus with Ballala's death in 1340 A. D. the mantle of protecting
and preserving South India from the might of the muslims, fell
on the rulers of Vijayanagar and they were prepared for it. Cons-
truction of Vijayanagar started in 1336 A. D. was completed by
1343.A.D. Bukkaraya emerged as its ruler along with the full-
fled, ed emergence of the capital. The inscription relating to the
gift of Govada by minister Madhava, recites as follows: