Rajendra Chola -I
Rajendra Chola I succeeded his father Rajaraja Chola I in 1014 AD and reigned till 1044 AD. He was an able son and prince. He continued the ambitious career of his father and added more and more territories to the Chola Dominions.
The powerful standing army and a great navy organized under Rajaraja Chola I achieved even great successes under Rajendra Chola.
Rajendra Chola I was declared crown prince in 1012 AD, but he was active with his father since 1002 AD, when he conquered the Rastrakuta Country on behalf of his father. He also led a campaign against the western Chalukyan King Satyasraya and his successor Jayasimha II crossing the Tungabhadra river and attacking them at the heart of their capital, ruining the Chalukyas.
Only 4 years after he became King, in 1018 he declared his eldest son Rajadhiraja as crown prince.
Conquest of Ceylon by Rajendra Chola
In 1018 AD, he led a campaign on Illam (Sri Lanka). The Powerful navy of Rajendra Chola I overran the Sri Lankan capital Anuradhapura. The Sinhala King Mahinda V was taken prisoner and was transported to the Chola Country. He was held a prisoner for 12 years and died in captivity. The whole of Sri Lanka (Iramandalam) was conquered by Rajendra Chola-I.
Conquest of other empires
In 1021, his turned his attention to the Western Chalukyan Empire and defeated Jayasimha II in the Battle of Maski. Jayasimha II was returned his territory and was made a tributary subordinate. He also subdued the Eastern Chalukyas. After that his forces marched to Kalinga and reached the Pala Kingdom, where they met with forces of Mahipala and defeated them. The weight of the Chola arms was felt by almost all the Northern Kingdoms in this two year campaign. Victory over the Chalukyas, Kalinga, Gangas and Palas etc. led him to assume the title “Gangaikonda“.
Naval Conquests of Rajendra Chola
In 1025 AD, the Naval forces of Rajendra Cola I crossed the ocean and attacked the Srivijaya Kingdom (Sumatra) of Sangrama Vijayatungavarman. The capital Kadaram (part of Malaya) was sacked and its king was made a prisoner. Along with Kadaram, the Sumatra and Malaiyur were attacked and sacked. Kedah in today’s Malaysia was also attacked and occupied.
Relations with China
Cholas had good relations with the contemporary Chinese Kingdoms. The contemporary Chinese rulers were from the Song Dynasty who sent a mission to Chola country in 1015 AD to Rajaraja Chola I (Lo-ts’a-lo-ts’a) and again in 1033 AD to Rajendra Chola I (Shi-lo-cha Yin-to-loChu-lo Sri Raja Indra Chola). The commercial trade was extensive between them, and today’s South East Asian territories might have been the midway in the trade routes , which indicate a reason of enmity between Cholas and these countries.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram was constructed by Rajendra Chola I to commemorate his conquest over the Chalukyas and other feudatories, Kalinga, Gangas, Palas etc. . . . These victories led him to assume the title Gangaikonda. Gangaikonda Cholapuram was erected as a new capital of the Cholas, which served as a Capital of the later Cholas until the Chola dynasty came to an end in 1280. It is now a small village in Tamil Nadu. There is a great Shiva Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. All the future princes of the Chola dynasty were coronated at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram after Rajendra Chola I. Now, only the temple at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram survives. A magnificent Royal Palace of burnt bricks was built over there, which was later turned to ruins most probably by the Pandyas. When Rajendra Chola I died in 1044 AD, the extent of the Chola Empire was the widest in the word and naval prestige was highest. The benevolent imperialism of the Cholas was maintained by his successor Rajadhiraja Chola.
