Medieval Cholas 1

Medieval Cholas
Medieval Cholas rose to prominence during the middle of the 9th century C.E. and established the greatest empire
South India had seen. They successfully united the South India under their rule and through their naval strength
extended their influence in the Southeast Asian countries such as Srivijaya. They dominated the political affairs of
Lanka for over two centuries through repeated invasions and occupation. They also had continuing trade contacts
with the Arabs in the west and with the Chinese empire in the east.
Cholas and Chalukyas, the other major power of that time were continuously in conflict over the control of the Vengi
kingdom and this conflict eventually exhausted both the empires and brought down their decline. The Chola dynasty
merged into the Eastern Chalukyan dynasty of Vengi through decades of alliances, and at the end of this period came
under one ruler (Kulothunga Chola I).

List of Chola kings

Early Cholas

Elara Chola  ·   235 BC - 161 BC

Ilamcetcenni  ·   Karikala Chola

Nedunkilli  ·

Killivalavan  ·   Kopperuncholan

Kocengannan  ·   Perunarkilli

Interregnum (c.200–848)

Medieval Cholas

Vijayalaya Chola 848–871(?)

Aditya I 871–907

Parantaka Chola I 907–950

Gandaraditya 950–957

Arinjaya Chola 956–957

Sundara Chola 957–970

Uttama Chola 970–985

Rajaraja Chola I 985–1014

Rajendra Chola I 1012–1044

Rajadhiraja Chola 1018–1054

Rajendra Chola II 1051–1063

Virarajendra Chola 1063–1070

Athirajendra Chola 1067–1070

Later Cholas

Kulothunga Chola I 1070–1120

Vikrama Chola 1118–1135

Kulothunga Chola II 1133–1150

Rajaraja Chola II 1146–1173

Rajadhiraja Chola II 1166–1178

Medieval Cholas 2

Kulothunga Chola III 1178–1218

Rajaraja Chola III 1216–1256

Rajendra Chola III 1246–1279

Chola society

Chola government

Chola military  ·   Chola Navy

Chola art  ·   Chola literature

Solesvara Temples

Poompuhar  ·   Urayur

Melakadambur Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Thanjavur  ·   Telugu Cholas

[1]

After the Sangam Era

The Early Cholas of the Sangam era were one of the most dominant political force in the Tamil country. They had
managed to establish hegemony over the Pandyas and Cheras and their influence was even felt beyond the traditional
boundaries of the Tamil country.

Kalabhras
After the close of the Sangam epoch, from about 300 C.E. to 600 C.E., there is an almost total lack of information
regarding events in the Tamil country. Some time after 300 C.E. the whole south India was upset by the predatory
activities of the Kalabhras. These people, possibly from the south Deccan, were not Tamil speakers, and could have
once been part of the Satavahana kingdom. After the demise this kingdom, its various dominions split up and
established their independence. Kalabhras arose out of this political confusion, and trying to carve themselves a
territory, invaded the land of the Tamils. The Tamil dynasties were not prepared to face this new threat and their
defiance quickly crumbled.
Kalabhras, not bound by the norms and customs of the Tamils, upset the existing order by their ways. They are
speculated to be the followers of Buddhism and did not respect the traditional Hindu values. These differences in the
custom probably caused animosity to them amongst their subject and were probably the reason for the uniform
adverse reports by the Tamil historians and authors who wrote following their demise.

Pandyas and Pallavas

From c. 600 C.E., the Pandya Kadungon and the Pallava Simhavishnu managed to oust the Kalabhras from their
territories and dominted the Tamil country for the next three centuries. After repeated wars, their frontier fluctuated
along the river Kaveri. Cholas almost disappeared from the political map. They retained their ancient seat of Urayur
and probably aligned with both the Pandyas and the Pallavas as the situation demanded. Their home country around
Urayur was the location of many battles between the two major kingdoms. It is most likely, due to the strategic
location of the Chola country during this time, both the Pallavas and Pandyas sought their help.
Medieval Cholas 3

Rise of the Imperial Cholas

Beginnings of the Empire

Vijayalaya Chola, who was probably a Pallava Vassal,
rose out of obscurity during the middle of the 9th
century C.E. Making use of the opportunity during a
war between Pandyas and Pallavas, Vijayalaya rose out
of obscurity and captured Thanjavur in 848 C.E.
We do not know whom Vijayalaya defeated to capture
Thanjavur. During the 8th century a family of chiefs
Cholas at the height of its power (c. 1050).
known as the Muttaraiyans ruled Thanjavur. Historians
have suggested that they may have belongs to the
Pandya clan. In the disturbed state of affairs that existed then, Vijayalaya seems to have found a good opportunity to
defeat the Muttaraiyan chiefs, and make himself the ruler of Thanjavur and the surrounding Chola country.
The Cholas under Aditya I soon displaced the remnants of Pallava power in the north (c. 869 C.E.) and subdued the
Pandayas and Cheras in the south (c. 903 C.E.). Parantaka I drove the Pandayas out of their territories and into Lanka
(c. 910 C.E.). He then invaded the island to quell any opposition to the Chola expansion.

Vijayalaya Chola
848 - 871
|
Aditya Chola I
871 - 907
|
Parantaka Chola I
907 - 950
|
Rajaditya -- Gandaraditya -- Arinjaya
(d.949) 950 - 957 956 - 957
| |
Uththama Chola Sundara Chola
970 - 985 957 - 970
|
Aditya Karikala -- Rajaraja Chola I -- Kundavai
(d. 965) 985 - 1014
|
Rajendra Chola I
1012 - 1044
|
Rajadhiraja Chola -- Rajendra Chola -- Virarajendra Chola -- Kundavai
I II 1063 - 1070
1018 - 1054 1051 - 1063
|
Athirajendra Chola
Medieval Cholas 4

Rashtrakutas and Gangas in the north posed the biggest threat the nascent Chola Empire (c. 940 C.E.). The Chola
prince Rajaditya was killed in one of the bloodiest battles in Thakkolam (949 C.E.) and the growth of the Cholas was
halted for a few years.
The period following was one of the most difficult and dangerous for the Cholas. Parantaka had a long reign and
when he died in 950 C.E., his second son Gandaraditya became king. He was more suited to the realm of religion
than politics. His reign was marked for the stagnation in the progress of the Chola power. The Chola throne went to
Gandaraditya’s younger brother Arinjaya briefly before Arinjaya’s son Sundara Chola took the reins of the kingdom
overlooking the claims of the still minor Uttama Chola, Gandaraditya’s son.

Empire Blossoms
The Chola power recovered during Sundara Chola’s reign. The Chola Army under the command of the crown prince
Aditya Karikala defeated the Pandyas and invaded in the north up to Tondaimandalam in the north. Sundara
Chola’s reign although was marked by a personal tragedy His son Aditya Karikala was assassinated in a political
intrigue. Uttama Chola’s involvement in this plot has been suspected. Uttama, son of the previous Chola king
Gandaraditya forced Sundara Chola to declare him heir apparent. Uttama Chola’s reign was conspicuous for the lack
of any major initiatives and he was replaced by the great Rajaraja Chola in 985 C.E.

Golden Era
Rajaraja Chola and his equally distinguished son
Rajendra Chola gave political unity to the whole of
Southern India and established the Chola Empire as a
respected sea power. Rajaraja consolidated the Chola
defences in the north by eliminating the last remnants
of the Rashtrakuta power. The Rashtrakutas were
replaced by the resurgence of Chalukyas of Kalyani.
This was the beginning of the long history of conflict
between the Cholas and the Western Chalukyas. The
Chola-Chalukya conflicts resulted in the river
Tungabhadra being recognised as the frontier between
Rajendra Chola's Territories c. 1030. the two kingdoms.

Rajaraja soon extended his kingdom overseas to Lanka

and the Chola army occupied most of the island (993 C.E). Rajaraja also invaded Vengi to restore the throne to his
nephew Saktivarman.
Rajendra Chola extended his father’s successes by completing the conquest of Lanka (1018 C.E.). The Sinhala king
was captured and imprisoned in the Chola country. Rajendra also had to fight the Western Chalukyas (1021 C.E.)
and invade Vengi to sustain the Chola influence there (1031 C.E.).
Rajendra’s reign was marked by his expedition to the river Ganges (c. 1019 C.E.). The Chola army dashed through
the kingdoms north of Vengi and engaged the Pala king Mahipala and defeated him. The victorious Chola army
returned with the waters of the holy Ganges. Historians now discount this expedition as nothing more than a
pilgrimage to the Ganges and no permanent gain of territories resulted from it. The inscriptions of Rajaraja however
glorify this as a major conquest.
Rajendra’s overseas conflicts are of similar nature. The Chola navy attacked and conquered the kingdom of
Srivijaya. The cause of this conflict is likely commercial interests rather than political. Srivijaya was located at the
hub of the thriving trade between Cholas and the ancient China. This expedition was to secure Chola strategic
interests. There was no permanent territorial gain and the kingdom was returned to the Srivijaya king for recognition
Medieval Cholas 5

of Chola superiority and the payment of periodic tributes.

Chola Chalukya Wars

The History of Cholas from the period of Rajaraja was tinged with a series of conflicts with the Western Chalukyas.
The Old Chalukya dynasty had split in to two sibling dynasties of the Western and Eastern Chalukyas. Rajaraja’s
daughter Kundavai was married to the Eastern Chalukya prince Vimaladitya. Stemming from this Cholas had a filial
interest in the affairs of Vengi. Western Chalukyas however felt that the Vengi kingdom was under their natural
sphere of influence. Several wars were fought and neither could claim mastery over the other. Cholas inflicted
several defeats on the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani, who never managed to get a foothold in the Tamil country at
any time of their existence. For the most part, the frontier remained at the Tungabhadra River for both kingdoms,
though these wars, however, resulted in a lot of bloodshed and the death of at least one monarch (Rajadhiraja Chola).

Rajendra’s Successors
Rajendra after his long reign was followed by three of his sons in succession. Rajadhiraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola II
and Virarajendra Chola all had to continue the Chalukya wars. Rajadhiraja lost his life on the battlefield during one
such battles and Rajendra Chola II crowned himself on the battlefield and continued the fight. Virarajendra managed
to split the Western Chalukya kingdom by convincing Vikramaditya IV to an alliance. Vikramaditya acted as a
buffer between the Cholas and the Chalukyas in Kalyani.
Vikramaditya also tried to prevent Rajendra Chalukya, an Eastern Chalukyan prince of Chola descent from
ascending the Vengi throne. However when Virarajendra died in 1070 C.E., Rajendra Chalukya utilised and even
engineered some internal confusion in the Chola kingdom, in which the Chola king Athirajendra Chola was
assassinated. Rajendra Chalukya crowned himself Kulothunga Chola I (1070 C.E.), thereby starting the Later Chola
dynasty.

Society and Culture

The medieval Cholas under Rajaraja and his successors developed a highly organised administrative structure with
central control and autonomous village assemblies. The system of government was a hereditary monarchy and the
coronation of the king was an impressive ceremony. The royal household had numerous servants of varied
descriptions. For the purpose of administration the empire was divided into convenient areas such as valanadu,
mandalam, nadu, etc. Land revenue was the mainstay of public finance and great care was undertaken to recording
land rights and revenue dues.
Justice was administered by regularly constituted royal courts in addition to village courts. Crimes of the state, such
as treason, were dealt with the king himself. The most striking feature of the Chola period was the unusual vigour
and efficiency of the autonomous rural institutions.
This period of the Chola rule saw the maturity of the Tamil Temple architecture. Rajaraja built the great Brihadisvara
Temple in Thanjavur. His son Rajendra imitated this effort by building the temple at his new capital Gangaikonda
Cholapuram.
This age also saw the Hindu religious revival in both Saiva and Vaishnava traditions. The Saiva and Vishnava
canons were collected and categorised during this period.Though recent movies portray persecution of Vaishnavas
during this period, these claims are completely false.
Medieval Cholas 6

See also
• Telugu Cholas

Middle kingdoms of India

Timeline: Northern India Southern India Indus Valley

 6th century • Magadha • Satavahana empire • Gandhara

BCE • Shishunaga dynasty • Pandyan (Persian rule)
 5th century • Nanda empire • Cholas (Greek conquests)
BCE • Kalinga • Chera
• Indo-Greeks
 4th century • Maurya Empire • Kalabhras
BCE • Sunga Empire • Indo-Scythians
• Kadamba Dynasty
 3rd century • Indo-Parthians
• Kuninda Kingdom • Pallava
BCE • Kushan Empire
• Western Satraps • Chalukya
 2nd century • Indo-Sassanids
BCE • Gupta Empire • Rashtrakuta • Kidarite Kingdom
 1st century BCE • Harsha • Western Chalukyas • Indo-Hephthalites
 1st century CE • Gurjara Pratihara • Hoysala Empire (Islamic conquests)
 2nd century • Pala Empire • Shahi
 3rd century • Solanki
 4th century (Islamic Empire)
• Eastern Ganga dynasty
 5th century • Sena dynasty
 6th century
 7th century
 8th century
 9th century
10th century
11th century

References
• Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
• South Indian Inscriptions - http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/

References
[1] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ wiki/ Template:Chola
Article Sources and Contributors 7

Article Sources and Contributors

Medieval Cholas  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=391997082  Contributors: Corlyon, Dbachmann, Dewan357, Fratrep, Giraffedata, Grafen, Jagged 85, Mlpkr, Nmadhubala,
R'n'B, Sarvagnya, Shyamsunder, Srirangam99, Utcursch, Valfontis, Venu62, Woohookitty, 6 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

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