Imperial Cholas: Prominent Rulers

Imperial Cholas

• The Cholas rose to prominence as a ruling power in the 9th century CE.
• Vijayalaya captured Tanjavur from a Pallava chief.
• The Cholas gained control over Pallava territories and subdued the Pandyans.
• The Chola state was supported by the resources of the fertile Kaveri valley.

Prominent Rulers

• Vijayala (c. 850 CE) was a Pallava feudatory who captured Tanjore and built a temple for Durga.
• Aditya (c. 871-907 CE) ended the Pallava kingdom by defeating Aparajita and annexed Tondaimandalam.
• Parantaka I (c. 957-973 CE) defeated the Pandyas and the ruler of Ceylon at the Battle of Vellur, and was defeated by Rashtrakuta king Krishna III at the Battle of Takkolam.
• Parantaka I (c. 957-973 CE) provided the vimana for the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram with a golden roof.
• The Uthiramerur inscriptions, detailing Chola village administration, belong to Parantaka I's reign.
• Parantaka II/Sundara Chola (c. 957-973 CE) invaded Sri Lanka and regained parts of Tondaimandalam.
• Uttama Chola (c. 973-985 CE) recovered most of Tondaimandalam.
• Rajaraja I/Arumolivarman (c. 985-1014 CE) saw the Chola power reached its peak.
• Military conquests of Rajaraja I included:
  • Defeat of Chera ruler Bhaskara Ravivarman at the Battle of Kandalur Salai, he destroyed their navy, defeated of Pandya ruler Amarabhujanga, and the invasion of Sri Lanka, entrusted to Rajendra I.
• Rajaraja I conquered the Maldives Islands through a naval expedition.
• Rajaraja I defeated Satyasraya of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani and captured Raichur Doab and Banavasi.
• Rajaraja I constructed the Rajarajeshwara/Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore in 1010 CE.
• Rajaraja I was known as "Ulagalanda Perumal", meaning "the king who measured the earth".
• Rajendra I (c. 1014-1044 CE) made the entirety of Sri Lanka a part of the Chola empire.
• Rajendra I led an expedition to North India, defeating many rulers en route to the Ganges.
• Rajendra I defeated Mahipala I of the Pala empire in Bengal.
• Rajendra I founded Gangaikondacholapuram with the Rajesvaram temple and excavated the Cholagangam irrigation tank.
• Rajendra I's naval expedition to Kadaram/Sri Vijaya was to control the overseas trade route to China.
• Rajendra I assumed the title Kadaramkondan and was known as Pandita Cholan for being a patron of learning.
• Kulottunga I (c. 1070-1122 CE) sent an embassy of 72 merchants to China.
• Kulottunga I united the Vengi kingdom of Chalukyas with the Chola empire.
• Kamban, who wrote Ramayana in Tamil, was at Kulottunga I's court.

Decline

• The Chola rule ended in the 13th century.
• The Cholas were replaced by the Pandyas and Hoysalas in the south.
• The Cholas were ultimately destroyed by the Sultans of Delhi in the early 14th century.

Chola Administration

• The village was the lowest administrative unit.
• Nadus were formed by combining villages, and Valanadus were made of a few Nadus.
• Nattars were the representatives of the Nadu locality.
• Brahmadeyakkilavars were Brahmana donees of Brahmadeya.
• Nagarattars were part of the trading community.
• Devadana, Palliccanda, Kavimurruttu, and Vettaperu were tax-free villages.
• Cultivators were generally referred to as vellals.
• Inscriptions indicate that many Brahmadeyas in the Chola period were Taniyur (separate villages) in a Nadu.
• Taniyurs had a separate administrative system and at times was subordinate to a temple.
• Taxes on land were collected in cash and kind.
• Officers maintaining land records and revenue were Varipottagam and Variyiledu.
• Kankanis (supervisors) were the audit officers.

Bhakti Literature

• There was a growth of literature during the Chola reign.
• Alvars and Nayannars composed literature in Tamil and other regional languages between the 6th and 9th centuries.
• This literature makes up eleven volumes named Tirumurais from the early 12th century.
• The Tirumurais were considered to be the fifth Veda.

Rise of Rural Economy

• Early medieval Indian economy saw the rise of a number of rural settlements that were not linked to trade networks or long-distance trade.
• Local needs were met locally.
• Kings, princes, and chiefs supported agriculture which strengthened the rural economy.
• Improvement of irrigation and advancements agricultural sciences improved rural economy.
• Decline of towns led to skilled artisans migrating into the countryside.
• Land grants along tribal frontiers brought virgin land under cultivation.