Vijayanagara-kingdom / Vijayanagara Kingdom / Administration of Vijayanagara
The Vijayanagara Empire operated under a well-structured administrative system that encompassed various levels of governance and revenue collection.
- Administrative Units
- The empire was divided into distinct administrative units, including Mandalams, Nadus, Sthalas, and gramas. Each unit had its own governance structure to oversee local affairs.
- Governors and Officials
- Governors of Mandalams, known as Mandaleshwars or Nayaks, were responsible for overseeing territories called Nayakatans. Nayaks frequently rotated between territories to prevent the consolidation of power. Top-grade officers of the army, known as Nayaks or Poligars, were granted land, known as amaram, in exchange for their military service.
- Sources of Revenue
- The government derived income from various sources, including land revenue, tributes from vassals and feudal chiefs, customs duties at ports, and taxes on professions.
- Military Structure
- The army consisted of cavalry, infantry, artillery, and elephants, with Nayaks playing crucial roles in military administration and land management. They were responsible for maintaining armed contingents and collecting taxes on behalf of the state.
- Village Administration
- Village affairs were managed by a body of 12 functionaries known as Ayangars, who handled day-to-day governance. Tax-free lands, known as Manyams, were also part of the administrative landscape.
- Nayankara System
- Under the Nayankara system, all land was owned by the rulers, who distributed territories among their generals, known as simas or sirmais. These generals functioned as feudal lords under the king's authority, maintaining armed contingents and collecting taxes. The Nayaks, or land lords, accepted the supremacy of the Vijayanagara rulers while governing their allocated territories.
- Revenue Collection and Distribution
- Nayaks collected a significant portion of revenue from their territories, often one-tenth of the total revenue, which was deemed high. Half of this revenue was remitted to the central government, while the remainder was utilized for local administration, military expenses, and charitable works.
- Legacy of Nayaka Polities
- Following the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, Nayaka polities emerged as independent entities. Examples include Ikkeri, Odeyars, Senji (Gingee), Thanjavur, Madurai, Cholamandalam, and Pandiamandalam, each maintaining its own governance and administrative structures.
