Southern Kingdoms: Chola Rulers

Founder of the Chola Empire: In 815 CE, he overthrew the Mutharaiyar in Tanjore and erected a Durga shrine.
In 850, he founded the Chola monarchy of the imperial line and constructed the city of Thanjavur.
Vijayala’s rebuilding of Tanjore is mentioned in the Kanyakumari inscription.

By subduing Aparajita and capturing Tondaimandalam, he brought an end to the Pallava monarchy.
He continued to have friendly relations with Cheras.

After conquering Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas, he took on the title of “Madurain-konda”.
A comprehensive account of village administration under the Cholas can be found in the Uthiramerur inscriptions, which date back to his reign.
In the Vellore Battle, he vanquished Ceylon’s Kassapa V and the Pandyan king Rajasimha II.
In the Deccan, he overthrew Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna II. and became victorious
Rajaditya, his eldest son, was killed in the Battle of Takkolam, in 1948, when Rashtrakutas defeated him.

Among the Chola rulers, Rajaraja I is the most well-known. In 985 CE, he succeeded to the Chola throne as the son of Parantaka II.
He was accepting of all religions despite being a devoted Saivista.
Mummudi-Chola (the Chola monarch who wears three crowns – the Chera, Chola, and Pandya), Jayankonda, Sivapadasekara, Kandalur salai kalamarutta, Pandya Kulashani (Thunderbolt to the Race of the Pandyas).
In 994 CE, he emerged victorious in the naval battle of Kandalursalai against the Chera ruler Bhaskararavivarman.
He overthrew Amarabhujanga, the Pandya king, and instituted Chola dominion over the Pandya nation.
In the Mysore region, he subjugated the Gangavadi, Tadigaipadi, and Nolambapadi.
He overthrew the Chalukya king Satyasraya and took control of Banavasi, Raichur Doab, and other locations.
He took the northern part of Sri Lanka from King Mahinda V. Anuradhapura was replaced as the capital by Polanaruva, where a Shiva temple was constructed.
By conquering the Telugu Chodas, he returned the Vengi throne to its monarchs, Saktivarman and Vimaladitya. Vimaladitya was given Kundavai, Rajaraja’s daughter, as a bride.
The naval campaign that Rajaraja led to the conquest of the Maldives Islands was his final military victory.

When Rajaraja I was in power, Rajendra I served as his co-regent. In 1012 CE, he took the throne.
He worshipped Siva with great fervour. However, he also showed tolerance for the Buddhist and Vaishnava groups.
He furthered the matrimonial alliance started by Rajaraja I by giving his daughter Ammangadevi to the Vengi Chalukya prince.
He carried on his father’s aggressive expansionist and conquest-focused strategy.
He got the titles Pandita Cholan, Kadaram Kondan, Gangaikondan, and Mudikondan.

He came to the throne in 1052 following Rajadhiraja’s death in the battle of Koppam. Following that, he led the Battle of Koppam.
At the Battle of Kundal-Sangamam in 1062, he emerged victorious over Someshwar, the ruler of the western Chalukyans.
He travelled to Sri Lanka (Vijayabahu I) and the Kalinga Kingdom (Vira Salamegha, the King of the Kalingas).
During his rule, the Ulagalantha Perumal Temple in Tamilnadu and the Veetrirundha Perumal Temple had substantial expansions. Ulagalantha Perumal Temple has a new shrine built of excellent black granite.
The town of Ulakkaiyur received gold from Rajendra to construct the Agastheeswarar Temple.