Rajendra Chola I

ASCENSION AND EARLY YEARS OF RULE

Rajendra Chola I formally ascended the Chola throne in 1014 CE. In the early years of his reign itself he appointed his eldest son Rajadhiraja Chola I as the co-regent who continued ruling along with his father for the next 26 years. Perhaps this practice was adopted to rule out the possibility of disputed and violent succession. It was an important attribute of the Chola administration. The princes at the proper age were assigned various positions in different parts of the empire according to their capability and talent. Those who proved themselves to be worthy were declared the heir apparent.

MILITARY CONQUESTS

Since the time he was appointed the co-regent by his father, Rajendra Chola I led some of the most successful campaigns on the behalf of his father. This includes the conquest of the Rashtrakutas and the region around the current north-western state of Karnataka. He also led campaigns against the western Chalukyas and invaded their capital Manyakheta. The Chalukyan territories of Yedatore, and Banavasi were annexed. He commenced his war campaigns with the capture of territories in Central and Western Tamil Nadu. He captured Kollipaakkai in Andhra Pradesh in 1013 CE and Mannaikadakkam in 1014 CE.

INVASION OF SRILANKA

In order to fulfil his father’s dream of conquering the island of Srilanka, Rajendra Chola I invaded the island in 1018 CE. The ruler Parantaka Chola I had failed to capture the regal jewels of the Pandya kings. Rajendra Chola I accomplished this task and also captured the crown of the Sinhala king, his queen, and daughter. The entire capital city of Anuradhapura was ransacked. The Sinhala king Mahinda V was taken prisoner and transported to the Chola territory where he died in captivity after 12 years of imprisonment. After Mahinda V his son Kassapa ascended the throne and since the beginning he tried to overthrow the yoke of the Chola power. The war raged for over six months and in the end he succeeded in driving the Cholas from the southeast corner of the island. He began ruling as Vikramabahu I.

Another expedition was led by Rajendra Chola I in 1041 CE to suppress the continuous attacks by Vikramabahu I. He died soon after and a number of dynasties laid claim upon the territories including the Sinhalese, the Pandyas, and Jagatpala from Kannauj. Ultimately the Cholas were successful in defeating them all.

CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE PANDYAS AND THE CHERAS

Rajendra Chola I led a successful campaign in 1018 CE against the Pandyas and the Cheras. According to his Tiruvalangadu grants he “took possession of the bright spotless pearls, seeds of the fame of the Pandya kings” and “the fearless Madurantaka (Rajendra) crossed the mountains and in a fierce battle, brought ruin upon the Chera kings”. Later Rajendra Chola I appointed one of his sons as viceroy with the title Jadavarman Sundara Chola Pandya. Madurai became the headquarters of the viceroy. 

WAR WITH THE CHALUKYAS

Jayasimha II became the western Chalukya king in 1015 CE, and he tried to recover the losses suffered by his predecessor at the hands of the Cholas. He was successful to some extent as Rajendra Chola I was focused on his Sri Lankan campaigns.

Jayasimha further involved himself in the affairs of the Eastern Chalukyan kings of Vengi. After the Vengi king Vimaladitya died, Jayasimha supported Vijayaditya VII against the claims of Rajaraja Narendra who was the son of Vimaladitya by the Chola princess Kundavai, the sister of Rajendra Chola I. A civil war started between Vijayaditya VII supported by Jayasimha and Rajaraja Narendra supported by Rajendra Chola I. The Battle of Maski was fought in which Rajaraja Narendra emerged victorious with the help of the forces of Rajendra Chola I. Rajendra also gave his daughter Ammanga Devi in marriage to Rajaraja Narendra.

However, in 1031 CE, the Western Chalukyas invaded Vengi and Rajaraja Narendra was driven into exile. Vijayaditya VII was installed as the Vengi king. A bloody battle was fought near Kalidandi between the Chola army which came to help Rajaraja Narendra and Vijayaditya VII and his western Chalukya ally. They were pushed back and Rajaraja Narendra regained his throne in 1035 CE.

EXPEDITION TO THE GANGES

After subduing the western and eastern Chalukyas, Rajendra Chola I undertook the famous expedition in 1019 CE. His forces marched through the kingdom of Kalinga to the river Ganges. Eventually, the Chola army reached the Pala kingdom of Bengal and defeated the ruler Mahipala. The Tiruvalangadu inscription states that the campaigns lasted less than two years in which the might of the Chola army was felt by many Northern kingdoms. Further, the inscriptions describe that Rajendra Chola I defeated “the armies of Ranasura and entered the land of Dharampala and subdued him. He reached the Ganges and caused the water of the river to be brought by the conquered kings” back to the Chola kingdom.

In order to commemorate his victory to the Ganges and over the northern kings, Rajendra Chola I assumed the title of ‘Gangaikondachola’ and had a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva built, which he named ‘Gangaikondacholeshwaram Mahadev’. He also founded the city of ‘Gangaikondacholapuram’ and shifted his capital there from Thanjavur. Most of his successors were crowned at Gangaikondacholapuram and retained it as their capital. It later went on to become one of the great centres of trade and commerce in South Asia for several centuries. It was a remarkable city with a magnificent artificial lake, extensive fortifications, and the splendid Brihadeshwara temple.

OVERSEAS CONQUESTS OF RAJENDRA CHOLA I

In 1025 CE, the Chola navy invaded the Srivijaya kingdom of Sangrama Vijayatungavarman. It was ruled by the Sailendra dynasty. They sacked the capital Kadaram and took the king captive. They also attacked Pannai in present day Sumatra and Malaiyur in the Malayan peninsula. The Chola invasion proved to be the end of the Srivijaya kingdom. They conquered a number of ports including Ligor, Kedah, and Tumasik (present day Singapore).

The closing years of Rajendra Chola I’s rule were the most splendid period of the Cholas. The extent of the empire grew to its widest and the military and naval prestige reached its highest. 

PERSONAL LIFE

Rajendra Chola I had many queens. Some of them mentioned in his inscriptions are Vanavan Mahadevi, Mukkokila, Panchavan Mahadevi, and Viramahadevi, who committed sati on his death. Three of his sons succeeded him on the throne- Rajadhiraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola II, and Virarajendra Chola. His daughter Ammangadevi who married Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja Narendra was the mother of Kulothunga Chola I who went on to become the first Chalukya Chola monarch.

Rajendra Chola I died in 1044 CE in the present-day Thiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu. He was succeeded by his son Rajadhiraja Chola I whom he had appointed as the co-regent during his reign.

Rajendra Chola I is considered the most significant ruler of the early 11th century. He was so brave that even Mahmood Ghazni who was plundering north India at the time didn’t dare to attack south India. He will always be remembered for his role in patronising the arts, encouraging trade, and expanding the Chola empire to its greatest extent.