CAPF AC 2021 Q87: Medieval History – Vijayanagara Empire

CAPF AC 2021, Paper I (General Ability and Intelligence) · Medieval History

Which of the following statements about Amaranayakas of Vijayanagara are correct? 1. The Amaranayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the Raya. 2. In lieu of their service and also to maintain their contingents, they were paid in cash. 3. They maintained stipulated contingents and elephants. 4. They used to send tribute to the king annually and personally appeared in the royal court with gifts to express their loyalty. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

Amara-nayakas of Vijayanagara

How to think: the amara-nayaka system was like the iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate.

A commander was given land to govern, not a salary.

So look for the statement about cash.

Statement	Verdict	Reason
1. Military commanders given territories by the Raya	Correct	This is the definition of the system
2. They were paid in cash	Wrong	They collected taxes from their territory and kept a part
3. They kept stipulated contingents and elephants	Correct	Horses and elephants for the king's army
4. They sent annual tribute and came to court with gifts	Correct	This showed their loyalty

How the king controlled them: he transferred them from place to place.

In the seventeenth century many nayakas set up independent kingdoms, such as Madurai and Thanjavur.

Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Incorrect. It includes 2; they were not paid in cash but given territory.
(b) CORRECT. Statements 1, 3 and 4 are true.
(c) Incorrect. It includes 2 and leaves out the defining statement 1.
(d) Incorrect. Statement 2 is false, so all four cannot be right.

Key point

Amara-nayakas: military commanders given territories (amaram) by the Raya; collected revenue, kept part for themselves and their troops of horses and elephants, sent annual tribute and appeared at court with gifts. Modelled on the iqta system.

Remember

Amara-nayakas: land, not cash.

Common mistakes

Accepting that they were paid in cash, like Mughal officers on a salary.
Mixing up amara-nayakas (commanders) with the ayagars (village officials).
Thinking the nayakas were always loyal; many became independent later.

Exam tip

Educated guess: statement 1 says they were given territories. If they held land, there was no need to pay them cash, so statements 1 and 2 clash. Drop every option with 2.

Sources

NCERT Class XII History — Themes in Indian History Part II, Chapter 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (the Rayas and the Nayakas)
Satish Chandra, History of Medieval India — The Vijayanagara and Bahmani Kingdoms

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