Domingo Paes, Traveller, Books, on Vijayanagara, Krishnadevaraya

Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveller who visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of King Krishnadevaraya in the early 16th century. His work, Chronica dos reis de Bisnaga, provides a detailed account of the Vijayanagara Empire, including its administration, military, agriculture, trade and society.

He described Hampi as a prosperous and well-developed city with busy markets, precious-stone trade, gardens, aqueducts and artificial lakes. His travelogue is an important foreign source for understanding the political, socio-economic and cultural life of Vijayanagara and complements indigenous and other foreign accounts.

Domingo Paes Traveller

Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveller and a foreign traveller who visited India around 1520 CE. He travelled with traders from Portuguese Goa and recorded his observations in Chronica dos reis de Bisnaga (“Chronicle of the Vijayanagar Kings”). His account is particularly valuable because it provides a detailed description of the capital city, its fortifications, markets, temples, royal palaces, irrigation facilities, military organisation and festivals.

Domingo Paes Visit to India

Domingo Paes visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya around 1520-1522 CE. Paes referred to Vijayanagara as the Kingdom of Narsymga, a name associated with the broader political and geographical designation used by contemporary foreign visitors.

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Domingo Paes Account of India

Domingo Paes's account is one of the most detailed descriptions of the Vijayanagara Empire provided by a foreign visitor. His observations cover different dimensions of the empire, including its capital city, economy, religious institutions, festivals, military organisation and political administration.

• He provides essential information about the city's walls, gates, streets, and markets for various commodities, as well as the major temples, including the Virupaksha and Vitthalswami at Hampi, and its colonnaded bazaar.
• Paes goes into detail on the Mahanavami festival, which takes place at the House of Victory. 
• Paes' story closes with a description of the king's palace, Krishnadevaraya's new home in Nagalpur (Hospet).

Domingo Paes on Vijayanagara Empire

Paes described Vijayanagara as an exceptionally large and prosperous city. He compared its size and grandeur with Rome and highlighted its extensive population and urban development. Economic Prosperity: He described the immense wealth of the empire, reflected in its flourishing markets, extensive commercial activities and availability of diverse commodities.

• Trade and Commerce: He observed merchants selling precious stones, diamonds, rubies, pearls, textiles, and other commodities. He also noted the presence of merchants from different regions and countries, highlighting the cosmopolitan character of the capital.
• Markets and Social composition: He described markets where horses, citrus fruits, oranges, grapes and other agricultural products were sold. He also mentioned a separate residential quarter for Muslims (Moorish people), many of whom were employed in the king's service.
• Administration and Military: He discussed the king's authority, the revenues of the kingdom and the position of subordinate chiefs or nayakas at the royal court. He also provided information about the organisation of the royal army, including infantry, cavalry and archers.
• Social and Cultural life: His account describes religious practices, public celebrations, royal ceremonies and everyday activities, providing insights into the social and cultural life of Vijayanagara.

Domingo Paes on Krishnadevaraya

Domingo Paes visited Vijayanagara during Krishnadevaraya’s reign and recorded his observations about the king's personality, military achievements, royal household and political authority.

• Personality and Appearance: Paes described Krishnadevaraya as a medium-height ruler with a fair complexion and well-built physique. He observed that the king was rather fat than thin and had smallpox marks on his face. His title is given as ‘Crisnarão Macação’, king of kings. 
• Military Achievements: He described Krishnadevaraya's victory over the Gajapati ruler of Odisha and recorded that the king captured the ruler's son. Subsequently, a marriage alliance was established with the Gajapati family to secure peace between the two kingdoms.
• Royal Household: He mentioned that Krishnadevaraya had three principal queens who enjoyed equal status and referred to a royal household comprising approximately 12,000 wives.
• Royal Palace: He described Krishnadevaraya's new royal residence at Nagalpur (Hospet), providing insights into the grandeur of the royal establishment.

Domingo Paes Hampi

Domingo Paes described Vijayanagara as a vast, prosperous and well-developed urban centre, comparing its size with Rome. His observations about the city's fortifications, markets, temples and water infrastructure are valuable for understanding its urban development.

• Size and Geographical setting: He compared Vijayanagara with Rome in terms of its size and estimated that it contained approximately one lakh houses. He described the city as situated between several ranges of hills, making it difficult to view its entire extent from a single location.
• Fortifications and Urban Planning: He described the city as strongly fortified with massive masonry walls, towers, and heavily protected gates. He also noted well-built residential structures, beautiful streets and buildings with flat roofs.
• Urban Landscape and Greenery: He observed numerous groves of trees, gardens attached to residential houses, palm groves and fruit-bearing trees within the city, including those near the royal palace.
• Markets and Commerce: He described streets lined with merchants selling rubies, pearls, precious stones, textiles, and other commodities. He also mentioned evening markets selling horses, citrus fruits, oranges, grapes, and other agricultural products.
• Temples and Architecture: He described important temples, particularly the Virupaksha and Vitthala temples at Hampi. His account of the Virupaksha temple includes its monumental gateway, sculptured tower, large courtyard, residential structures, and facilities for pilgrims and religious rituals. He also mentioned the colonnaded bazaar associated with the Vitthala temple.
• Religious Architecture: He described the principal idol of the Virupaksha temple as a round stone and mentioned the arrangements made for maintaining lamps to illuminate the temple.
• Water Management: He recorded the construction of irrigation tanks to supply water to gardens and rice fields. He particularly described a large tank constructed between two hills, where water collected from surrounding areas and was brought through pipes. Approximately 15,000 workers were reportedly employed in its construction under the supervision of the king's captains.

Domingo Paes on Mahanavami Festival

Domingo Paes provided an elaborate description of the nine-day Mahanavami festival celebrated during September at the House of Victory (Mahanavami Dibba) in Vijayanagara. His account highlights the religious, ceremonial and military dimensions of the celebrations.

• Royal Celebrations: The festival began with grand processions of horses and elephants. The king worshipped the deity placed in a specially decorated cloth enclosure.
• Religious Rituals: Horses were also ceremonially worshipped by the chief Brahmin, with the royal horse leading the ritual procession and carrying two royal parasols.
• Royal Participation: Paes described the queen's attendants and women participating in the celebrations, dressed in their finest clothes and jewellery and carrying gold vessels.
• Military and Ceremonial Displays: The festival included processions of the captains' triumphal cars and displays of royal military strength. The celebrations culminated in a grand military review held at some distance outside the city. Paes recorded the organisation and strength of the royal army, including its cavalry, infantry and archers.
• Political Significance: The participation of military captains and the ceremonial display of military strength reflected the authority of the Vijayanagara ruler and the importance of the military establishment.