Chola Rulers and Political History (Rajaraja I, Rajendra I)

At a Glance

• Founder Vijayalaya, who captured Tanjore in 850
• Great rulers Rajaraja I (985 to 1014), Rajendra I (1014 to 1044)
• Capitals Tanjore, then Gangaikondacholapuram
• Strength The navy, which controlled the Bay of Bengal
• Rival Later Pulakeshin II (609 to 642) Kalyani branch 973 to…">Chalukyas of Kalyani
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Early Medieval Period

Where Does It Fit?

This is the ninth topic of the category on the early medieval period. The previous topic covered the Rashtrakutas, whom the Cholas faced in the north of their empire, and this topic opens a group of four topics on the Cholas. The next topic describes how the Cholas governed their empire. Previous topic: Rashtrakuta Dynasty of the Deccan. The early Tamil kingdoms are in Sangam Age – The Three Early Kingdoms of the Deep South.

How Did the Chola Empire Rise?

In short: the Chola empire rose from a Pallava feudatory, Vijayalaya, in the ninth century and became the strongest power of the south and a naval power of the Indian Ocean.

Vijayalaya was at first a feudatory of the Pallavas and captured Tanjore in 850. By the end of the ninth century the Cholas had defeated the Pallavas of Kanchi and weakened the Pandyas, bringing the southern Tamil country under their control. They struggled to defend their position against the Rashtrakutas, and Krishna III defeated the Chola king and annexed the northern part of the empire. This was a serious setback, but the Cholas recovered quickly after Krishna III died in 965 and the Rashtrakuta empire fell. The empire marked a climax in south Indian history and brought a large part of the peninsula under its control.

What Did Rajaraja I Achieve?

Rajaraja I ruled from 985 to 1014. He destroyed the Chera navy at Trivandrum and attacked Quilon. He conquered Madurai and captured the Pandyan king, invaded Sri Lanka and annexed its northern part, and conquered the Maldives. He annexed the northwestern parts of the Ganga kingdom in Karnataka and overran Vengi. These moves were partly aimed at gaining control of trade with Southeast Asia, since the Coromandel coast and Malabar were the centres of India’s trade with that region. He built the Brihadishwara temple at Tanjore, completed in 1010.

What Did Rajendra I Achieve?

Rajendra I had been made heir apparent in his father’s lifetime and had experience in administration and war before he came to the throne. The Chola army followed in reverse the route of Samudragupta to Bengal. Sri Lanka could not free itself from Chola control for another 50 years.

Why Did the Cholas Attack Sri Vijaya?

The Sri Vijaya empire, revived in the tenth century, covered the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Java and nearby islands and controlled the sea route to China. Its Sailendra rulers were Buddhists and had friendly relations with the Cholas, and one of them built a Buddhist monastery at Nagapattinam, for which Rajendra I endowed a village. The break apparently came because the Cholas wished to remove obstacles to Indian traders and expand trade with China. The Chola navy was the strongest in the area, and for some time the Bay of Bengal became a Chola lake.

The Cholas also sent embassies to China, in 1016 and 1033, and a Chola embassy of 70 merchants reached China in 1077. A Chinese account says it received 81,800 strings of copper cash in return for goods such as glassware, camphor, brocades, rhinoceros horns and ivory, which the Chinese called tribute.

How Did the Cholas and Later Chalukyas Fight?

The Chola rulers fought constantly with the later Chalukyas of Kalyani over Vengi, the Tungabhadra doab and the Ganga country in northwest Karnataka. Neither side won clearly, and the contest exhausted both. The wars grew harsher, and Chola armies sacked Chalukyan cities, including Kalyani, and killed people, including Brahmans and children. They placed military colonies in the Pandya country and destroyed Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. The record calls these blots on Chola history.

How Did the Chola Empire Decline?

The empire still flourished in the twelfth century but declined in the early thirteenth. The Pandyas and Hoysalas took the place of the Cholas in the south, and the Yadavas and Kakatiyas replaced the later Chalukyas. These states patronised arts and architecture but weakened themselves by constant wars, sacking towns and even temples. The sultans of Delhi destroyed them at the beginning of the fourteenth century.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Naval power The Chola navy ruled the Bay of Bengal and reached Southeast Asia
• Inscriptions Temple inscriptions give detailed records of Chola victories
• Climax of the south The empire marks the peak of early medieval south India

What Came Next?

The next topic describes how the Cholas administered their empire and their village self-government. Next topic: Chola Administration (Local Self-Government – Ur, Sabha, Nadu Village Assemblies).

Key People and Terms

• Vijayalaya Founder; took Tanjore in 850
• Rajaraja I Built the Brihadishwara temple, 1010
• Rajendra I Gangaikondachola
• Gangaikondacholapuram New capital near the Kaveri mouth
• Sri Vijaya Maritime empire in Southeast Asia
• Kadaram Kedah in the Malay peninsula

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions on the Cholas often ask about naval power or trade. These points add depth.

• Navy Conquest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Kedah
• Motive Control of Southeast Asian and China trade
• Weakness Harsh wars with the Chalukyas and the Pandyas