Later Cholas

From 1070 AD till 1279 AD, is the period assigned to the later Cholas. During this time, the Chola Empire reached its Zenith and became the “Most Powerful Country” of the world. These Cholas colonized the South East Asian Countries and had the most powerful army and navy of the world at that time.

Trouble in Chola Kingdom

The death of Virarajendra Chola in 1070 AD was followed by troubles in Chola Kingdom. Further, Vikramaditya VI, his son-in-law attained significant position and soon started taking the Chola alliance as a liability. When Virarajendra died, there was an uprising (probably religious) in Chola Kingdom. After hearing this, Vikramaditya VI went to the Chola Capital and destroyed the uprising. Vikramaditya VI remained at Gangaikonda Cholapuram for around a month and then returned to his capital. At Gangaikonda Cholapuram, he installed Athirajendra as new King. However, within a few months, Athirajendra was killed in a fresh outbreak of rebellion. His own people most probably killed him.

Athirajendra had no male successor. When Athirajendra died, Rajendra Chola or Rajendra Chalukya, who was later known as Kulotthunga Chola I, captured Chola throne. This was the beginning of a new line of Chola Kings, called Later Cholas, who were offspring’s of Chola-Chalukya alliance.

Kulotthunga Chola-I (1070 – 1120 AD)

Rajendra Chola I, the great Gangaikonda had a daughter named Ammanaga Devi. She had been given in marriage to the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi king Rajaraja Narendra. The offspring of this union was Rajendra Chola or Rajendra Chalukya who later became Kulotthunga-I. ^{Kulotthunga literally means the “upraiser
of fame of the (two) families”.} A few years of Kulotthunga Chola -I were spent in suppressing the uprisings. In Sri Lanka also, some parts had declared their independence. Vikramaditya VI did not accept the accession on Chola throne by Kulotthunga and this was a trouble to deal with.

Kulotthunga Chola I led two military campaigns in Kalinga and annexed some parts of the territories of Southern Kalinga into Chola Empire. The rivalry between Kulotthunga and Vikramaditya VI let Kulotthunga assume a title ” Viruduraja Bhayankara” i.e. Frightning for the Vikramaditya, as his inscriptions say. A war was fought between the combined armies of Kulotthunga & Someshwara II and Vikramaditya VI. This battle ended in confusion.

Under Kulotthunga, the empire remained intact except Sri Lanka. Still the boundary between the Western Chalukya and Chola was Tungabhadra river. He was succeeded by his son Vikrama Chola in 1120 AD.

Vikrama Chola 1120-1135 AD

As a prince, his father as Viceroy of Vengi appointed Vikrama Chola. He was recalled in 1118 AD and was declared as Co-regent. He ruled with his father till Kulotthunga died in 1122 AD. The Western Chalukyas had become prominent and they annexed Vengi by attacking the Eastern Chalukyas. His period as a prince was more important for, he led the conquests to Kalinga. He was able to recover Vengi.

He assumed the title of “tyagasamudra” and was a great devotee of Shiva. He was succeeded by his son Kulotthunga Chola II in 1133 AD.

Kulotthunga Chola II 1133 AD – 1150 AD

Kulotthunga Chola II was son and successor of Vikrama Chola. There are no significant warfare in his account. He was a patron of the Chidambaram temples. His reign was generally peaceful. He was succeeded by Rajaraja Chola II in 1150 AD.

Rajaraja Chola II 1150 – 1173 AD

Kulotthunga Chola III had made Rajaraja Chola II his heir apparent and coregent in 1146 AD. The territories remained intact, but the weakness of the Kingdom administrations had started becoming apparent in his rule. He still had full control over the Vengi, Kalinga, Pandya, Chera etc. territories and also invaded Sri Lanka, but the closing years of his reign saw a civil Unrest in the kingdom, in the former Pandya Territories. Before he died, he made Rajadhiraja Chola II as his heir appparent and coregent in 1163 AD. During his reign the Airavateswarar Temple at Darasuram near Kumbakonam was built. It is a world heritage site today. He made grants to the temples at Tanjore, Chidambaram, Kanchi, Srirangam, Trichy and Madurai. He was succeeded by his son Rajadhiraja Chola II.

Rajadhiraja Chola II 1166 AD -1178 AD

Rajaraja Chola II was succeeded by Rajadhiraja Chola II, who was most probably not his son. His reign is known for further weakness in the Chola Kingdom and uprising, followed by independence of local feudatories particularly among the Pandyas. The Pandyas were allowed to rule as they wished during the reign of Kulotthunga I, subjected to subordiness to the Cholas. There was a civil war among the Pandyas, which required Chola’s attention and intervention. But, the Pandyas started gaining prominence and the central Chola Kingdom got weakened day by day. Rajaraja Chola II was succeeded by Kulothunga Chola III in 1178 AD.

Kulothunga Chola III 1178- 1218 AD

Kulothunga Chola III was able to crush the Pandyas in Madurai, Cheras of Venad, Hoysalas of Mysore as well as the Sinhala Kings of Sri Lanka. The century took a turn and a Pandya vassal of Chola Empire named Jatavarman Kulasekaran I ascended to the Madura Throne in 1290, turned rebel to Cholas.

The Cholas invaded him and sacked Madurai. Jatavarman Kulasekaran I surrendered to the Chola king Kulothunga III with wife and son and acknowledging his surrender, he was returned his capital. But during this, the ancient coronation hall of Pandyas in Madurai was destroyed and it also destroyed the records if any of the previous Pandyas.

To take revenge of this assault, younger brother of Kulasekaran, named Maravarman Sundara Pandyan, who came into power in 1216 AD, invaded the Chola Kingdom. The armies of Sundara Pandyan sacked the cities of Thanjaur and Uraiyur of Chola Kings and drove the Chola kings out in exile. His armies marched up to Chidambaram and in memory of this victory, Sundar Pandyan conducted a Thulabaram at the Chidambaram temple and donated wealth equal to his weight.

But, victory of Sundar Pandyan over Cholas was followed by a march of the Hoyasala army towards Sri Rangapattam. Kingdom of the Cholas was returned after interference of Hoyasala king Veera Ballala III, but now Cholas accepted suzerainty of the Sundar Pandyan. This was the revival of second Pandyan Empire and decline of the mighty Chola Power.

Rajaraja Chola III 1216-1256 AD

When Rajaraja Chola III, son of Kulothunga Chola III came into power in July 1216, the Chola Kingdom had reduced to a very small territory compared to the earlier Cholas. In the graphic, the green shaded area shows the territories of Rajaraja Chola III in 1246 AD, 10 years prior to his demise.
His reign was of continuous troubles. The Pandyas had become the important power in South and Vengi and other areas were now under the Hoysalas. Since Rajaraja III was now a vassal of Pandyas, he did not pay tributes to the Pandyan overlord. The Pandyan army entered his Chola Capital and Rajaraja III fled. He was captured at Sendamangalam. The Hoyasala King Narsimha interfered and then only the Chola King was released. The Hoysalas attacked the Pandya army and defeated them on the banks of river Cauvery. For rest of his life Chola King Rajaraja III was dependent upon the Hoysals for aid and help. He recognized his son Rajendra Chola III as heir apparent in 1246 AD.

Rajendra Chola III 1246 – 1280 AD

Rajendra Chola III came to power in 1246 AD, when his father was alive. He tried to stop the rapid decline of the Chola Kingdom, but at this time, the Hoysalas turned hostile and Pandyas became powerful. The sudden tide of the Sundar Pandyan and his able successors swept out the Chola Kingdom. Rajendra III faced a war and defeat in that war in the hands of Pandyas. The remaining territories of the Cholas were annexed to Pandya Territory and the new king was Kulasekara Pandyan I , who was in reign since 1268, but got the Chola territories in 1280. The Chola Kingdom ended thus with Rajendra Chola III. Whether Rajendra Chola III died in the war or else, is a question, which has not been resolved.