Cola dynasty

Cola dynasty

South Indian Tamil rulers of unknown antiquity (before с AD 200).

The dynasty originated in the rich Cauvery (Kaveri) River valley, and Uraiyur (Tiruchchirappalli) was its oldest capital. The Cola country stretched from the Vaigai River in the south to Tondaimandalam in the north. Under Rajendracola Deva I (r. 1014–44), the conquest of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) was completed, the Deccan was conquered (с 1021), and an expedition was sent as far north as the Ganges (Ganga) River (1023). His successor battled the Calukya dynasty in the Deccan. The Pandyas conquered the Cola country in 1257, and the dynasty ended in 1279. Revenue administration, village self-government, and irrigation were highly organized under the Colas.

* * *

India
also spelled  Chola 
      South Indian Tamil rulers of unknown antiquity, antedating the early Śaṅgam poems (probably c. 200). The dynasty originated in the rich Kāveri Valley. Uraiyūr (now Tiruchchirāppalli [Trichinopoly]) was its oldest capital.

      The legendary king Karikālaṉ was the common ancestor through whom small Deccan and Andhra families called Cōḷa or Cōḍa claimed a connection with the Uraiyūr family. The Cōḷa country (Coromandel Coast) (Coromandel) stretched from the Vaigai River in the south to Toṇḍaimaṇḍalam, the capital of which was Kāñcī (Kānchipuram), in the north. Much of Tamil classical literature and the greater Tamil architectural monuments belong to the Śaṅgam period, which also saw a revival of Śaivism (worship of Śiva) and the development of southern Vaiṣṇavism (worship of Vishnu). Revenue administration, village self-government, and irrigation were highly organized under the Cōḷas.

      Cōḷa kings and emperors bore the titles Parakēśarivarman and Rājakēśarivarman, alternately. Their chronology is difficult. Vijayālaya (reigned c. 850–870) began the occupation of the territory of the Pallavas, which was extended under Āditya I (reigned c. 870–907). Parāntaka I (reigned 907–c. 953), known as the destroyer of Madurai (the capital city of the Pāṇḍyas), defeated Sinhalese invaders and united the lands of the Cōḷas and the Pāṇḍyas between 926 and 942. Coming to terms with the Rāṣṭrakūṭas, he took Nellore from them about 940, but their king, Kṛṣṇa III, seized Toṇḍaimaṇḍalam.

      Rājarāja I (reigned 985–1014), an able administrator, protected Veńgi (the Godāvari districts) and occupied the Gańgavāḍi territory (Karnātaka state), annihilating the western Gangas. By 996 he had conquered Kerala (the Cēra country) and acquired northern Ceylon (Sri Lanka). With the booty thus acquired he built the great Bṛhadīśvara temple at Tanjore (Thanjāvūr). By 1014 Rājarāja had acquired the Laccadive and Maldive Islands.

      His son Rājendracōḻa Deva I (reigned 1014–44) outdid Rājarāja's achievements. He placed a son on the throne at Madurai, completed the conquest of Ceylon, overran the Deccan (c. 1021), and sent (1023) an expedition to the north that penetrated to the Ganges River and brought Ganges water to the new capital, Gańgaikoṇḍacōḷapuram. He conquered portions of the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago.

      Rājādhirāja (reigned 1044–54) fought the Pāṇḍyas and Cēras and defeated the Western Cālukya ruler Someśvara I in 1046, but he was killed at the Battle of Koppam against the Cālukyas in 1054. The Cōḷa ruler Vīrarājendra (reigned 1063–69) attempted to render the Cālukya Empire in the Deccan harmless, but his death enabled Vikramāditya Cālukya to dabble in Cōḷa family quarrels.

      Kulottunga I (reigned 1070–1122), who succeeded to both the Cōḷa and Eastern Cālukya crowns by right of inheritance, wisely abandoned the Deccan and concentrated on uniting the eastern coast. Intrigues concerning the right to the Pāṇḍya throne embroiled Cōḷas, Pāṇḍyas, and Ceylon (which by then had recovered its independence) from c. 1166.

      From 1216 the Hoysaḷa kings obtained lands in the Cōḷa country, former Cōḷa feudatories threw off their allegiance, northern powers intervened, and the upheaval facilitated the Pāṇḍya conquest of the Cōḷa country in 1257. The Cōḷa dynasty ended in 1279.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • dynasty — dynastic /duy nas tik/; Brit. also /di nas tik/, dynastical, adj. dynastically, adv. /duy neuh stee/; Brit. also /din euh stee/, n., pl. dynasties. 1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group: the Ming dynasty …   Universalium

  • cola — cola1 /koh leuh/, n. a carbonated soft drink containing an extract made from kola nuts, together with sweeteners and other flavorings. Also, kola. [1920 25; sp. var. of KOLA, extracted from the trademark names of such drinks, as Coca Cola, Pepsi… …   Universalium

  • COLA — /koh leuh/, n. an escalator clause, esp. in union contracts, that grants automatic wage increases to cover the rising cost of living due to inflation. [c(ost) o(f) l(iving) a(djustment)] * * * (as used in expressions) Coca Cola Co. Cola di Rienzo …   Universalium

  • Chola dynasty — Chola redirects here. For other uses, see Chola (disambiguation). Chola Empire சோழ நாடு 300s BC–1279 …   Wikipedia

  • Ganga dynasty — Either of two distinct but remotely related Indian dynasties. The Western Gangas ruled in Mysore state from с AD 250 to 1004. They encouraged scholarly work, built some remarkable temples, and encouraged cross peninsular trade. The Eastern Gangas …   Universalium

  • Calukya dynasty — or Chalukya dynasty Either of two ancient Indian dynasties. The Western Calukyas ruled as emperors in the Deccan (peninsular India) from AD 543 to 757 and again from с 975 to с 1189. The Eastern Calukyas ruled in Vengi (present day eastern Andhra …   Universalium

  • Kamboja-Pala Dynasty of Bengal — The Kamboja Pala Dynasty ruled parts of Bengal in the 10th to 11th centuries CE, gradually gaining independence from their former liege lords, the Palas.OriginsDuring the last centuries BCE, many clans of the Kambojas entered India in alliance… …   Wikipedia

  • Chola Dynasty — Infobox Former Country native name = சோழர் குலம் conventional long name = Chola Empire common name = Chola Empire continent = Asia region = South East Asia country = era = Middle Ages status = event start = year start = 300s BC date start =… …   Wikipedia

  • Chola dynasty — ▪ India Chola also spelled  Cola        South Indian Tamil rulers of unknown antiquity, antedating the early Shangam poems (c. 200 CE). The dynasty originated in the rich Kaveri (Cauvery) River (Kaveri River) valley. Uraiyur (now… …   Universalium

  • Pāṇḍya Dynasty — ▪ Indian dynasty       Tamil rulers in the extreme south of India of unknown antiquity (they are mentioned by Greek authors in the 4th century BC). The Roman emperor Julian received an embassy from a Pāṇḍya about AD 361. The dynasty revived under …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”