The legendary King Karikan was the common ancestor through whom After Sangam, the Chola became feaudatories of Uraiyur . The dynasty originated in the rich Kaveri (Cauvery) River valley. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. ; Thousands of inscriptions in temples tell about their administration, society, economy and culture. Coming to terms with the Rastrakutas, he took Nellore from them about 940, but their king, Krsna III, seized Tondaimandalam. Throughout the medieval period, however, the Cholas had one major thorn in their side. The Chola Empire left a rich legacy in the Tamil country. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The kingdom is mentioned, however, in early Tamil literature, and on one of the Pillars of Ashoka (273 - 232 BCE). At its height, the Chola Empire controlled not only southern India and Sri Lanka, but also the Maldives. But Vijayalaya founded Chola empire and ruled most parts of SouthIndia from 850- 870 CE. Uraiyur (now Tiruchchirappalli) was its oldest capital. Kings like Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola further expanded the kingdom into the Tamil region. The main area they ruled was the valley of the Kaveri River. However, around the 2nd century, the state Andhra has a Chola kingdom that flourished far and wide. The Colas (Cholas) were by far the most important dynasty in the subcontinent at this time, although their activities mainly affected the peninsula and Southeast Asia. By 1014 Rajaraja had acquired the Lakshadweep and Maldive islands. He conquered portions of the Malay Peninsula and the Malay Archipelago. Vijayalaya (reigned c. 850–870) began the occupation of the territory of the Pallavas, which was extended under Aditya I (reigned c. 870–907). All of these cultural properties also found their way into the Southeast Asian artistic lexicon, influencing religious art and literature from Cambodia to Java. The Pallava dominions passed to the Chola kings about 880. Rajadhiraja (reigned 1044–54) fought the Pandyas and Cheras and defeated the Western Chalukya ruler Someshvara I in 1046, but he was killed at the Battle of Koppam, against the Chalukyas, in 1054. Later Kulothunga Chola/Kulōttu ṅ ka Co ḻ ar took over Kalinga/Kali ṅ kā to establish a strong rule. CHOLA EMPIRE 2. Nobody knows exactly when the first Chola kings took power in the southern point of India, but certainly, the Chola Dynasty was established by the third century BCE, because they are mentioned in one of Ashoka the Great's stelae. In the mid-9th century, the dynasty began to expand its territory. Parantaka I (reigned 907– c. 953), known as the destroyer of Madurai (the capital city of the Pandyas), defeated Sinhalese invaders and united the lands of the Cholas and the Pandyas between 926 and 942. In the peak of their time, the empire was extedded to the whole south india, sri lanka, maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia and to ganges in the east This dynasty originated in the fertile land of the Kaveri River Uraiyur, now Tiruchchirapalli was the ancient capital of the Chola Dynasty. The ruling family came from the Tamil ethnic group. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea. Although the Cholas experienced a decline, the dynasty did not become extinct, and it is supposed that they served as sub-rulers under these new powers. After the first defeat, the Chola Dynasty faced a continuous decline till 1279, which marked the end of Chola dynasty. Kulothunga Chola killed the son of Virarajendra Chola called Athirajendra Chola, who had a better claim for the Chola throne than Kulothunga, to become the king of the Chola Dynasty in 1070 CE. The second period in the history of the Chola Dynasty is known as the ‘Interregnum’. Vijayalaya's son, Aditya I, went on to defeat the Pandyan Kingdom in 885 and the Pallava Kingdom in 897 CE. The Chola Empire, however, did not long outlast its gadfly. He often went on tours in order to keep better touch with the administration . The king was aided and advised by a council of ministers who held office at the pleasure of the king. The CholaKingdom is very ancient, there has been references made in Mahabharatha and even in Ashokan inscriptions. The last king of the dynasty was Rajendra Chola III and was defeated by Pandya King Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I. The center of Chola power was later moved to Kanci (now Kanchipuram), farther to the north. And this also happened when Rama Raya was killed in the battle of Talikota which resulted in the decline of the Vijayanagar Empire. It took key maritime trading posts from the Srivijaya Empire in what is now Indonesia, enabling a rich cultural transfusion in both directions, and sent diplomatic and trading missions to China's Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 CE). Cultural and artistic influences flowed in both directions between Indochina and the Indian mainland. Chola dynasty, Chola also spelled Cola, South Indian Tamil rulers of unknown antiquity, antedating the early Sangam poems (c. 200 ce). At that point of time the Chola kingdom almost ceased to exist. With the booty thus acquired, he built the great Brihadishvara temple at Tanjore (now Thanjavur). Development of the dynasty took place when kings like Aditya I and Parantaka I ruled. Cholas were also known as Chodas and it is believedthat they existed even around 3rdcentury. A Chola king, known as Elara, conquered Sri Lanka and ruled over it for about 50 years during the … Kulottunga I (reigned 1070–1122), who succeeded to both the Chola and Eastern Chalukya crowns by right of inheritance, wisely abandoned the Deccan and concentrated on uniting the eastern coast. Between 1150 and 1279, the Pandya family gathered its armies and launched a number of bids for independence in their traditional lands. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. When war broke out between the Pallava and Pandya kingdoms in about 850 CE, the Cholas seized their chance. His son Rajendracola Deva I (reigned 1014–44) outdid Rajaraja’s achievements. There was a fully developed secretariat to oversee the functioning of Central administration. His son followed up with the conquest of Sri Lanka in 925; by 985, the Chola Dynasty ruled all of the Tamil-speaking regions of southern India. Raja Raja Chola I also belonged to Medieval Cholans and he was the gem of all the kings. Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I were notable emperors of the medieval Cholas.. The last king of the dynasty was Rajendra Chola III and was defeated by Pandya King Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I. This began around the end of the Sangam era, i.e. The Chola ruled for a long period from about the later half of the 9th century to the beginning of the 13th century, but after the advent of Pandayas, the Chola Empire collapsed. Omissions? By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The Chola Dynasty arose in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. Vijayalaya The Founder • The founder of Chola Kingdom was Vijayalaya who conquered the kingdom of Tanjore during mid 8th century. The Chola dynasty wis ane o the langest-rulin dynasties in the history o soothren Indie.The earliest datable references tae this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions frae the 3rd century BCE left bi Ashoka, o the Maurya Empire.As ane o the Three Crouned Keengs o Tamilakam, the dynasty continued tae govren ower varyin territory till the 13t century CE. The next two kings, Rajaraja Chola I (r. 985 - 1014 CE) and Rajendra Chola I (r. 1012 - 1044 CE) extended the empire still further. It saw majestic architectural accomplishments such as the Thanjavur Temple, amazing artwork including particularly graceful bronze sculpture, and a golden age of Tamil literature and poetry. They likely served as sub-rulers under the new powers, yet they retained enough prestige that their daughters often married in to the Pallava and Pandya families. The rule of Chola dynasty rose to prominence in 850 when their ruler Vijayalaya defeated the Pallavas and took over Tanjore from them. Updates? The Imperial Chola Dynasty Empire Imperial of chola. From 1216 the Hoysala kings obtained lands in the Chola country, former Chola feudatories threw off their allegiance, northern powers intervened, and the upheaval facilitated the Pandya conquest of the Chola country in 1257. Not only did the Cholas outlast Ashoka's Mauryan Empire, they continued to rule until 1279 CE—more than 1,500 years. Although he was able to recapture some of the Pallava land, the Pallavas were ineffective in withstanding military pressure from the Western Chalukya dynasty, who were eventually ousted by the Cholas. The Cholas ruled for more than 1,500 years, making them one of the longest-ruling families in human history, if not the longest. These later Cholas are termed as “Imperial Cholas” because they excercised control over Sri Lanka and Malay Peninsula. The Cholas under Rajendra III fell to the Pandyan Empire in 1279 and ceased to exist. The Colas (Cholas) were by far the most important dynasty in the subcontinent at this time, although their activities mainly affected the... Brihadishvara Chola temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. He pushed the empire's northern boundary out of Tamil lands to Kalinga in the northeast of India and sent his navy to capture the Maldives and the rich Malabar Coast along the subcontinent's southwestern shore. Nobody knows exactly when the first Chola kings took power in the southern point of India, but certainly, the Chola Dynasty was established by the third century BCE, because they are mentioned in one of Ashoka the Great's stelae. Rajaraja Chola's reign marked the emergence of the Chola Empire as a multi-ethnic trading colossus. Tanjore (now Thanjavur) became the Chola capital. The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the Kaveri River. Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I were famous emperors of the medieval Cholas.. around 300 AD, when the Chola Dynasty fell from power. The reign of the Cholas began in the 9th century when they defeated the Pallavas to come into power. Uraiyur (now Tiruchchirappalli) was its oldest capital. Heartland of the Chola kingdom was the valley of Kaveri River. These territories were key points along the Indian Ocean trade routes. The dynasty’s first capital was the city of Uraiyur (now Tiruchchirappalli). The epigraphs of Rajendra Chola III indicate a civil war between Rajaraja III and himself which came to end with the former killing the latter and ascending the throne. 1. By 996 he had conquered Kerala (the Chera country) and acquired northern Sri Lanka. Chola dynasty, South Indian Tamil rulers of unknown antiquity, antedating the early Sangam poems (c. 200 ce). Not only did the Cholas outlast Ashoka's Mauryan Empire, they continued to rule until 1279 CE—more than 1,500 years. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Intrigues concerning the right to the Pandya throne embroiled Cholas, Pandyas, and Sri Lanka (which by then had recovered its independence) from about 1166. The revival of Chola power began from the accession of Parantaka II who recovered Tondamandalam to re­establish dominance of the dynasty. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. By 1044, Rajendra Chola had pushed the borders north to the Ganges River (Ganga), conquering the rulers of Bihar and Bengal, and he had also taken coastal Myanmar (Burma), the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and key ports in the Indonesian archipelago and Malay Peninsula. 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