Veera Ballala III

Veera Ballala III (r. 1292–1342) was the last great king of the Hoysala Empire. During his rule, the northern and southern branches of the Hoysala empire (which included much of modern Karnataka and northern Tamil Nadu) were consolidated and administered from Halebidu (also known as Dwarasamudra). During his rule, he fought numerous wars with the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Pandyan Dynasty of Madurai and other minor dynasties of South India.

Quotes

• In 1311 ce, Malik Kafur again set out for the south, this time against the Hoysala ruler, Vira Ballala III (1291-1342 ck) of Dwarasamudra, and the Pandya kingdom in the far south. .... Vira Ballala rushed back, but the vicious nature of the invasion forced him to propose a settlement. Malik Kafur was reported to have responded,
  ... he was sent with the object of converting him to Muhammadanism, or of making him zimmi (one who could enjoy the same political privileges as the Muhammadans on payment of jiziya) and subject to pay tax, or of slaying him, if neither of these terms were assented to.
  • (Aiyangar 1971: 98), quoted in Jain, M. (2019). Flight of deities and rebirth of temples: Episodes from Indian history.245

• Around that time, the Hoysala ruler Vira Ballala Il, then about eighty years-old, defeated the Muslims near Kobban and forced them to retreat to Madurai. Eventually, Ghiyasud- din Damaghani made a surprise attack on Vira Ballala, took him prisoner and put him to a cruel death in 1342 ce. Ibn Battuta wrote, His skin was then filled with straw and hung up on the wall of Madura where I saw it suspended .
  • (Ibn Battuta 1953: 229) quoted in Jain, M. (2019). Flight of deities and rebirth of temples: Episodes from Indian history.245 ff