2 Rebirth!

1650 Hampi Vijayanagara Empire Mahanavami Dibba.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please wake up ..."

Vijay felt groggy and confused as he opened his eyes. Instead of finding himself in a hospital bed after being poisoned, he was surrounded by the luxurious splendour of a room adorned with gold and silk, reminiscent of historical soap operas.

"Your Majesty, it's time for your coronation. Please hurry up. All the guests are waiting for you," a woman spoke to him in ancient Kannada. She had beautiful black hair, and an elegant figure, and her vibrant saree flowed gracefully as she moved. Just as Vijay was about to ask who she was.

*Pang*

A sudden pang of pain shot through his head, flooding him with unfamiliar memories. He instinctively clutched his head, trying to alleviate the throbbing ache.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" the woman asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"I'm alright, Aunty Mina. Please don't worry. I'll be okay. Inform the guests that I'm on my way," Vijay reassured her as she had been taking care of him since he was born.

Relieved by Vijay's reassuring words, Aunty Mina hurriedly left the room to inform the waiting guests of his imminent arrival for the coronation ceremony.

Vijay Deva Raya (formerly known as Vijay) was bewildered by the sudden shift in his reality. He had transmigrated into the body of the monarch of the Vijayanagara Empire, but there was one significant difference from the previous world: his father, Sriranga Raya, had not been assassinated four months after inheriting the throne from his grandfather, Venkata II.

In Original world history, Sriranga II (a.k.a. Sriranga Raya) was nominated in 1614 by King Venkata II to succeed him as king of the Vijayanagara Empire in Southern India. Sriranga was supported by a faction headed by Yachama Naidu of the Recherla Velama dynasty, one of the Venkata II's loyal viceroys and commanders and Nayak of Venkatagiri, but was not favoured by a set of nobles headed by Gobburi Jagga Raya, brother (or father) of Venkata II's favourite Queen Obayamma. Finally, Yachama Naidu arranged with the captain of the Vellore Fort to murder Sriranga II.

In this altered timeline, Vijay's father had recently passed away due to illness, leaving him as the sole heir to the throne. His mother had died during childbirth, he felt heavyweight as the future ruler. However, Vijay was no stranger to the hardships and challenges that came with the position. he was a chief scientist in ISRO after all. Under his father's rule, he had witnessed the eradication of Yachama Naidu of the Recherla Velama dynasty and opposition and extremist groups, as well as the suppression of rebellions in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. His father's iron-fisted approach had consolidated military and financial power, ensuring stability but also instilling fear in those who dared to oppose him.

As Vijay prepared for his coronation, he couldn't help but reflect on the vastness and rich heritage of the Vijayanagara Empire. Spanning across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, it encompassed approximately 600,000 square kilometres of land. The empire was renowned for its rich cultural heritage, flourishing as a centre of art, culture, and trade. Dravidian architecture adorned the landscape, with intricate sculptures, majestic temples, and palaces that showcased the empire's artistic brilliance.

Vijayanagara's prosperity was intertwined with its thriving economy. The fertile lands supported agriculture, while well-established trade routes connected the empire to distant regions.

However, there was one immediate trouble that Vijay remained wary of—the Dutch.

In recent years, the Dutch East India Company had been steadily expanding its influence in the region. While his father did not see the threat from the Dutch, as he looked down on merchants, Vijay, as a man from the future, knew that their formidable naval power and aggressive trade policies posed a potential threat to the empire's economic interests. Vijay understood the importance of safeguarding the empire's sovereignty and protecting its economic and military prosperity

As Vijay contemplated his upcoming reign, he keenly realized the weight of his responsibilities. Beyond the political and military challenges, he anticipated the looming threats posed by foreign aggressors. The Dutch, already knocking at the empire's door, the British, the Portuguese, the Spaniards, and the Islamic rulers seeking to colonize through religion and every other European nation seemed to have their eyes on India.

Being a person from the 21st century, well aware of the historical bloodshed and oppression suffered by Hindus under various invaders, Vijay's blood boiled with Fury. "In this life," he proclaimed, "I will change it all. I will build this into the strongest empire with blood." His commitment to rewrite the history of his land burned brightly within him.

With his coronation approaching, Vijay Deva Raya prepared himself to assume the mantle of leadership. He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he was determined to uphold the legacy of the Vijayanagara Empire.

End of Chapter 2.