The chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century. The dynasty originated near kaveri river. The history of cholas falls into four periods, the early cholas, the interregnum period, medieval cholas and chalukya cholas.
Early cholas
The earliest chola kings for whom there is tangible evidence are mentioned in the sangam literature. The sangam literature also records legends about mythical chola kings. The cholas were looked upon as descended from the sun. These myths speak of the chola king Kantaman. According to sangam literature, the following kings are the early chola kings.
Illamchetcenni.
Karikala chola.
Nedun Killi.
Nalan Killi.
Killivalavan.
Kopperuncholan.
Kocengannan
Perunarkilli.
Uraiyur and Kaveripompattinam were their capital. The Mahavamsa mentions a chola prince known as Elara invaded the island Sri Lanka around 235 BCE.
Interregnum Period
There is not much information around three centuries from the end of the sangam age. An obscure dynasty, The Kalabhras invaded Tamil country and ruled for around three centuries. They were displaced by the Pallavas and Pandyas around 6th century.
Medieval Cholas
Around 850 AD, Vijayalaya chola rose from obscurity to take an opportunity arising out of a conflict between Pandyas and Pallavas. He capture Thanjavur by defeating Muthariyar and established the imperial line of the medieval cholas. There is an abundance of materials from diverse sources on the medieval cholas. A large number of stone inscriptions and copper plate grants have been instrumental in constructing the history of medieval cholas. The following kings were the medieval chola kings according to the inscriptions and literature.
Vijayalaya chola (848 AD – 871 AD)
Aditya chola I (871 AD – 907 AD)
Parantaka chola I (907 AD – 950 AD)
Gandaraditya Chola (950 AD – 957 AD)
Arinjaya Chola (956 AD – 957 AD)
Sundara Chola (957 AD – 970 AD)
Uttama Chola (970 AD – 985 AD)
Rajaraja Chola I (985 AD – 1014 AD)
Rajendra Chola I (1012 AD – 1044 AD)
Rajadhiraja Chola (1018 AD – 1054 AD)
Rajendra Chola II (1051 AD – 1063 AD)
Virarajendra Chola (1063 AD – 1070 AD)
Athirajendra Chola (1067 AD – 1070 AD)
The chola dynasty was at its peak of its influence and power during the medieval period. Through their leadership and vision, kings such as Rajaraja chola I and Rajendra chola I extended the chola kingdom beyond the traditional limits of Tamil Kingdom.
Chalukya Cholas
Marital and political alliances between Cholas and Eastern chalukyas began during the period of Rajaraja Chola I following his invasion of Vengi. Rajaraja’s daughter married chalukya prince Vimaladitya. Rajendra’s chola daughter was also married to an eastern chalukya prince Rajaraja Narendra. When Athirajendra Chola was assassinated in a civil disturbance in 1070, Kulothunga Chola I, the son of Rajaraja Narendra, ascended the chola throne and started the Chalukya Chola dynasty.
Vikrama Chola (1118 AD – 1135 AD)
Kuloghunga Chola II (1133 AD – 1150 AD)
Rajaraja Chola II (1146 AD – 1163 AD)
Rajadhiraja Chola II (1163 AD – 1178 AD)
Kulothunga Chola III (1178 AD – 1218 AD)
Rajaraja Chola III (1216 AD – 1256 AD)
Rajendra Chola III (1246 AD – 1279 AD)
The Cholas under Rajaraja Chola III and later, his son Rajendra Chola III, experienced continous trouble. At the close of the Rajendra’s reign, the Pandyan empire was at the height of prosperity and had taken the place of the Chola empire. The last recorded date of Rajendra III is 1279. The Chola empire was completely overshadowed by the Pandyan empire and sank into the obscurity by the end of the 13th century.
