Virarajendra Chola
Virarajendra Chola was born in 1002 CE to the Chola ruler Rajendra I and Queen Mukkokilan Adigal. Seeing his capabilities since his childhood he was posted as the Chola viceroy of Sri Lanka by his elder brother Rajadhiraja Chola 1 and later as the Lord of Uraiyur by his second brother Rajendra Chola II.
Due to the play of events, three sons of Rajendra Chola I ascended to the Chola throne one after the other and ruled for a total of 16-20 years. Due to the continuous change, the opponents of the Cholas saw it as a golden opportunity to declare themselves free. Ultimately it was Virarajendra Chola who was able to re-establish the Chola dominion and suppressed the enemies of the empire. In his rule of less than 10 years, he preserved the Chola territories and made overseas conquests in far-off lands like Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Nicobar.
EARLY BATTLES
Soon after succeeding the Chola throne, Virarajendra Chola had to encounter a number of rebellions and battles. He fought and killed the king of Pottapi and the king of the Cheras. He suppressed the Pandya rebellion and while he was out to the Pandya territory, the Chalukyan king Someshwara I saw it as a golden opportunity to avenge his humiliation at the hands of Rajendra II. Virarajendra Chola immediately suppressed the Chalukyan rebellion by defeating both the sons of Someshwara I and occupied Vengi which was the chief centre of the Chalukyan power. Later the Chola army captured Kalyanpura, the Chalukyan capital, plundered the wealth and took with them the chief queen, the horses, and the elephants of the Chalukyas.
WAR IN SRI LANKA
The Sri Lankan king Vijayabahu tried to expand his empire and expel the Cholas from the island. Hearing this, Virarajendra Chola sent an expedition to attack the Rohana district. The Sri Lankan king was assisted by the king of Burma. The Cholas were successful in suppressing the revolts, but the rebellions and disturbances continued for the next few years.
THE KADARAM CAMPAIGN
The Tamil inscriptions of Virarajendra Chola mention a naval invasion of Kadaram which can be related to modern day Kedah in Malaysia in 1068 CE. Possibly the expedition was undertaken because a Kadaram prince had approached Virarajendra Chola seeking help in procuring the throne
CONTINUING BATTLES WITH THE CHALUKYAS
Virarajendra Chola continuously fought with the Chalukyas even before becoming the king of the Chola Empire. In the battle of Madukaru, he fought the Chalukya forces under the command of the then heir apparent, Rajamahendra.
After he became the king Virarajendra defeated Someshwara I a number of times as the latter tried to avenge his defeat at the battle of Madukaru. After losing, Someshwara I became a tribute paying subordinate king of Virarajendra Chola. However, taking a last chance, Someshwara I summoned Virarajendra Chola to fight. But the Chalukyan king never came to fight. Agitated, the Chola army destroyed the entire surrounding areas and built a victory pillar on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
Virarajendra Chola was a brave, able and wise king who strengthened the Chola army and territory at a very crucial time. He supported the arts and cared for temples dedicated to all deities and himself was a Vaishnavite. Virarajendra Chola held several titles like Sakalabhuvanasrya, Srimedinivallabha, Mahrajadhiraja Cholakula Sundara Pandyakulantaka, Vira Chola, etc.
He died in 1070 CE and was succeeded by Athirajendra Chola who ruled for a very short period of a few months and died in 1070 CE itself. He was the last ruler of the Chola clan as his successor Kulothunga I belonged to the Chola-Chalukya dynasty.
