Legendary early cholas

Pre historical cholas

A number of mythical hero and demi-gods found their place in the ancestry claimed by the later Cholas in the long mythical genealogies incorporated into the copper-plate charters and stone inscription of the tenth and eleventh centuries. The earliest version of this is found in the Anbil Plates which gives fifteen names before Vijayalaya Chola including the genuinely historical ones of Karikala, Perunarkilli and Kocengannan. The Thiruvalangadu Plate swells this list to forty-four, and the Kanyakumari Plate runs up to fifty-two.
The Cholas were looked upon as descended from the sun. These myths speak of a Chola king, supposed contemporary of the sage Agastya, whose devotion brought the river Kavery into existence. There is also the story of the king ManuNeedhi Cholan who sentenced his son to death for having accidentally killed a calf. King Sibi Chakravarthi who rescued a dove from a hawk by giving his own flesh to the hungry hawk was also part of the early Chola legends. King Sibi was also called Sembiyan, a popular title assumed by a number of Chola kings.

Cholas of Sangam Period

The Sangam literature is full of legends about the mythical Chola kings. The following list of early Sangam Cholas has been built from the various poems of Purananuru. The dates of accession are approximate interpolation of the Hindu Puranic Timeline.

Eri Oliyan Vaendhi C. 3020 B.C.E.
Maandhuvaazhi C. 2980 B.C.E.
El Mei Nannan C. 2945 B.C.E.
Keezhai Kinjuvan C. 2995 B.C.E.
Vazhisai Nannan C. 2865 B.C.E.
Mei Kiyagusi Aerru C. 2820 B.C.E.
Aai Kuzhi Agusi Aerru C. 2810 B.C.E.
Thizhagan Maandhi C. 2800 B.C.E.
Maandhi Vaelan C. 2770 B.C.E.
Aai Adumban C. 2725 B.C.E.
Aai Nedun jaet chozha thagaiyan C. 2710 B.C.E.
El Mei Agguvan a.k.a Keezh nedu mannan C. 2680 B.C.E.
Mudiko Mei Kaalaiyam Thagaiyan C. 2650 B.C.E.
Ilangok keezh kaalaiyan thagaiyan a.k.a. Ilangeezh nannan C. 2645 B.C.E. -start of Kadamba lineage by his brother Aai Keezh Nannan
Kaalaiyan gudingyan C. 2630 B.C.E.
Nedun gaalayan dhagayan C. 2615 B.C.E.
Vaengai nedu vael varaiyan C.2614 B.C.E.
Vaet kaal kudingyan C. 2600 B.C.E.
Maei Ila vael varaiyan C. 2590 B.C.E.
Sibi Vendhi C. 2580 B.C.E.
Paru nonji chaamazhingyan C. 2535 B.C.E.
Vaeqratrtri chembiya chozhan C. 2525 B.C.E.
Saamazhi chozhiya vaelaan C. 2515 B.C.E.
Uthi ven gaalai thagan C. 2495 B.C.E.
Nannan that kaalai thagan C. 2475 B.C.E.
Vel vaen mindi C. 2445 B.C.E.
Nedun jembiyan C. 2415 B.C.E.
Nedu nonji Vendhi C. 2375 B.C.E.
Maei Vael paqratrtri C. 2330 B.C.E.
Aai Perun thoan nonji C. 2315 B.C.E.
Kudiko pungi C. 2275 B.C.E.
Perun goep poguvan C. 2250 B.C.E.
Koeth thatrtri C. 2195 B.C.E.
Vadi sembiyan C. 2160 B.C.E.
Aalam poguvan C. 2110 B.C.E.
Nedun jembiyan C. 2085 B.C.E.
Perum paeyar poguvan C. 2056 B.C.E.
Kadun jembiyan C. 2033 B.C.E.
Nedun kathan C. 2015 B.C.E.
Paru nakkan C. 1960 B.C.E.
Vani sembiyan C. 1927 B.C.E.
Udha chira mondhuvan C. 1902 B.C.E.
Perun kaththan C. 1875 B.C.E.
Kadun kandhalan C. 1860 B.C.E.
Nakka monjuvan C. 1799 B.C.E.
Maarko vael Maandhuvan Aaththikko C. 1786 B.C.E.
Musukunthan Vaendhi C. 1753 B.C.E.
Peru nakkan Thatrtri C. 1723 B.C.E.
Vaer kaththan C. 1703 B.C.E.
Ambalaththu Irumundruvan C. 1682 B.C.E.
Kaari mondhuvan C. 1640 B.C.E.
Vennakkan Thatrtri C. 1615 B.C.E.
Maarko chunthuvan C. 1565 B.C.E.
Vaer parunthoan mundruvan C. 1520 B.C.E.
Udhan kaththan C. 1455 B.C.E.
Kaariko sunthuvan C. 1440 B.C.E.
Vendri nungunan C. 1396 B.C.E.
Mondhuvan Vendhi C. 1376 B.C.E.
Kaandhaman C. 1359 B.C.E.
Mundruvan Vendhi C. 1337 B.C.E.
Kaandhaman C. 1297 B.C.E.
Monjuvan Vendhi C. 1276 B.C.E.
Ani sembiyan C. 1259 B.C.E.
Nungunan Vendhi C. 1245 B.C.E.
Maarkop perum Cenni C. 1229 B.C.E.
Monjuvan Nanvendhi C. 1180 B.C.E.
Kop perunar chenni C. 1170 B.C.E.
Monthuvan jembiyan C. 1145 B.C.E.
Narchenni C. 1105 B.C.E.
Caet chembiyan C. 1095 B.C.E.
Nakkar chenni C. 1060 B.C.E.
Parun jembiyan C.1045 B.C.E.
Venjenni C. 998 B.C.E.
Musugunthan C. 989 B.C.E.
Maarkop perun jembiyan C. 960 B.C.E.
Nedunjenni C.935 B.C.E.
Thatchembiyan C. 915 B.C.E.
Ambalaththu iruvaer chembiyan C. 895 B.C.E.
Kaariko chenni C. 865 B.C.E.
Venvaer chenni C. 830 B.C.E.
Kaandhaman, C. 788 B.C.E.
Kaandhalan C. 721 B.C.E.
Caetchenni C. 698 B.C.E.
Vani nungunan C. 680 B.C.E.
Mudhu sembiyan Vendhi C. 640 B.C.E.
Peelan jembiyach chozhiyan C. 615 B.C.E.
Maeyan gadungo C. 590 B.C.E.
Thiththan C. 570 B.C.E.
Perunar killi Porvaiko C. 515 B.C.E.
Kadu mundruvan C. 496 B.C.E.
Kopperunjozhan C. 495 B.C.E.
Narkilli Mudiththalai C. 480 B.C.E.
Thevvan go chozhan C. 465 B.C.E.
Naran jembiyan C. 455 B.C.E.
Nakkam peela valavan C. 440 B.C.E.
Iniyan thevvan jenni C. 410 B.C.E.
Varcembiyan C. 395B.C.E.
Nedun jembiyan C. 386 B.C.E.
Nakkan aran jozhan C. 345 B.C.E.
Ambalathu irungoch chenni C. 330 B.C.E.
Perunar killi C. 316 B.C.E.
Kochaet Cenni C. 286 B.C.E.
Cerupazhi Erinda Ilanjaetcenni, C. 275 B.C.E.
Nedungop perunkilli C. 220 B.C.E.
Cenni Ellagan C. 205 B.C.E.
Perun gilli C. 165 B.C.E.
Kopperun jozhiyav ilanjaetcenni C. 140 B.C.E.
Perunar killi Mudiththalai ko C. 120 B.C.E.
PerumpootCenni C. 100 B.C.E.
Ilam perunjenni C. 100 B.C.E.
Perungilli Vendhi aka Karikaalan I C. 70 B.C.E.
Nedumudi Killi C. 35 B.C.E.
Ilavanthigaipalli Thunjiya Maei Nalangilli Caet Cenni, C. 20 B.C.E.
Aai Vaenalangilli C. 15 B.C.E.
Uruvapakraer Ilanjaetcenni, C. 10 - 16 C.E.
16 C.E. - 30 C.E. Kingdom ruled by a series of Uraiyur chieftains
Karikaalan II Peruvalaththaan, C. 31 C.E.
Vaer paqradakkai Perunar killi, C. 99 C.E.
Perun thiru mavalavan ,Kuraapalli Thunjiya C. 99 C.E.
Nalangilli C. 111 C.E.
Perunarkilli , Kula mutrtraththu Thunjiya C. 120 C.E.
Perunarkilli , Irasasuya vaetta C. 143 C.E.
Vael kadunkilli C. 192 C.E.
Kochenganaan C. 220 C.E. Nalluruththiran C. 245 C.E.

Genealogy from Chola inscriptions

There is no concordance between various Chola inscriptions as far as their ancestry is concerned. The genealogy of the Chola family conveyed by the Thiruvalangadu copperplate grant consists of names that are mostly mythological.

Manu, Ikshvaku, Vikukshi, Puranjaya, Kakutstha, Kakshivat, Aryaman, Analapratapa, Vena, Prithu, Dhundhumara,
Yuvanasva, Mandhatri, Muchukunda, Valabha, Prithulaksha, Parthivachudamani, Dirghabahu, Chandrajit, Sankriti,
Panchapa, Satyavrata, Rudrajit, Sibi, Marutta, Dushyanta, Bharata, Cholavarman, Rajakesarivarman, Parakesarin,
Chitraratha, Chitrasva, Chitradhanvan, Suraguru (Mrityujit), Chitraratha, Vyaghraketu, Narendrapati, Vasu (Uparichara),
Visvajit, Perunatkilli, Karikala, Kochchengannan.

The Great Cholas

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.

Kulothunga Chola I (1070 AD – 1120 AD)
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.