1) Something very interesting mentioned by Raamanaathacharite. Apparently, there were a band of Jihadis (ತುರುಕರು, to use the words of Raamanathacharite) who, staying on the border between the Hoysalas and the Kampila's kingdom, were looting both sides of the border.
2) Raamanaatha sent them an emissary, demanding that they stop their atrocities. But the Jihadi leader scoffed at the demand of a petty king and threw out envoys. The interesting part is-although they stayed on Hoysala side of the border mostly, they looted Hoysala towns too.
3) The question naturally arises why Ballala [Hoysals ruler] tolerated their atrocities at all. The answer to that is also provided in Raamanaathacharite. Ballala was apparently paying tribute to the sultan [of Delhi] after being beaten and was compelled to tolerate Jihadis.
4) This, then, was the fate of the south Indian kingdoms even in the early 14th century. They were not only forced to pay tribute, but were also compelled to tolerate the Jihadis of the sultans of Delhi looting their towns. Jihadis were the only ones to make merry throughout.
5) While this is mentioned in the case of the Hoysalas and Kampila's kingdom, I have not the faintest doubt that this was the fate of all kingdoms, north, south, east, or west, that paid tribute to the Jihadi rulers. The bonus of being looted came with paying tribute to Jihadis.
cc @hamsanandi @talekaayi @keel1616 @nayanikaaa @ShrikaanthK @holatombola Something that might interest you all.
