Foreign Travelers and the Vijayanagara Empire

The Vijayanagara Empire, a prominent kingdom in South India between the 14th and 16th centuries, attracted many foreign travelers who documented their observations. These accounts are valuable sources for understanding the empire's administration, society, economy, and military strength.

Vijayanagara Military Strength Account

The question asks about a specific observation made by a foreign traveler regarding the military size of the Vijayanagara Empire. The statement mentions an estimated "90,000 men fit to bear arms".

Several foreign travelers visited Vijayanagara, including:

• Nuniz (Portuguese horse trader)
• Stefano (Information on Stefano's visit is less prominent compared to others)
• Nikitin (Russian merchant)
• Nicolo Conti (Italian merchant and traveler)

Historical records indicate that Nicolo Conti, who visited the Vijayanagara Empire in the early 15th century (around 1420s) during the reign of Devaraya I, provided descriptions of the city and the empire. Among his observations, he noted the vast military strength of the empire, estimating that it could field "90,000 men fit to bear arms".

Other travelers also provided accounts, but the specific figure of 90,000 men fit to bear arms is most notably attributed to Nicolo Conti's writings.

• Abd al-Razzaq Samarqandi, who visited later (mid-15th century), also gave extensive descriptions of the empire's wealth and military parades.
• Domingo Paes and Fernão Nuniz, both Portuguese, visited in the early 16th century during the reign of Krishnadevaraya and left detailed chronicles focusing on administration, history, and the city of Vijayanagara itself. Nuniz, for instance, provided valuable information on the history of the empire and the reign of Krishnadevaraya.
• Athanasius Nikitin, a Russian merchant, visited in the late 15th century and described the conditions and life in the Deccan region, including Bidar, before the height of Vijayanagara's power.

Based on the specific detail about "90,000 men fit to bear arms," the traveler in question is Nicolo Conti.

Revision Table: Key Foreign Travelers in Vijayanagara

Additional Information on Vijayanagara Military

The Vijayanagara Empire maintained a formidable army, crucial for its defense against Deccan Sultanates and for expansion. The army consisted of infantry, cavalry, and elephants. Cavalry was particularly important, and the empire spent considerable resources on importing quality horses, often through Portuguese traders.

Fortifications were also a key aspect of Vijayanagara's military strategy. The capital city itself was heavily fortified with multiple lines of defense. The empire relied on a system of Nayakas, or provincial governors/military chiefs, who were responsible for maintaining troops and contributing them to the royal army when needed. The numbers reported by foreign travelers, like Nicolo Conti's 90,000, provide insight into the potential scale of the military forces the empire could muster.