2. THE INTERREGNUM PERIOD OF CHOLA DYNASTY
The Interregnum period of CHOLA DYNASTY started from the end of SANGAM age i.e 300 AD to that in which the PANDYAS and PAHLAVAS dominated the TAMIL country . Little is known about the fate of the CHOLAS in the TAMIL region during the succeeding three centuries . However , a branch of them can be traced towards the close of the fifth century AD in RSYALASEEMA (the TELUGU-CHOLAS), about which the CHINESE traveler HIUEN-TSANG has mentioned in his accounts in the seventh century AD . Due to KALABHRA invasion and the growing power of PULLAVAS , CHOLAS migrated from their native TAMIL land URAIYUR to TELUGU country and had been ruling from there as chieftains of PULLAVAS at least since 540 AD . Several TELUGU CHOLA families , claiming descent from ancient TAMIL king KARIKALA CHOLA, were as follows : 1. RENATI CHOLAS ; 2. POTTAPI CHOLAS ; 3. NELLORE CHOLAS ; 4. VELANATI CHOLAS ; 5. NANNURU CHOLAS ; and 6. KONDIDELA CHOLAS . Until the accession of VIJAYALAYA CHOLA belonging to POTTAPI CHOLAS family in the second quarter of the ninth century to re-establish their Dynasty as independent rulers by overthrowing PULLAVAS and PANDYAS , the THANJAVUR kingdom , which was ruled by MUTHARAIYARS for three centuries , was ended by VIJAYALAYA CHOLA who captured THANJAVUR from ILANGO MUTHARAIYAR between 848 AD and 851 AD .
3. IMPERIAL CHOLAS
The CHOLA EMPIRE or IMPERIAL CHOLAS was a medieval INDIA thallassocratic empire that was established by the CHOLA DYNASTY that rose to prominence during middle of the ninth century . It was founded by VIJAYALAYA in 848 AD which reached at the peak of power and influence during the eleventh century AD .The second CHOLA king ADITYA I captured TONDAIMANDALAM and KONGU NADU by defeating PULLAVAS and PANDYAS . In the battle of VALLALA , ADVAITA’S son PARANTAKA I defeated the RASHTRAKUTA DYNASTY ruler . Credit goes to CHOLA kings RAJARAJA I and RAJENDRA I who expanded the Dynasty to its Imperial status by creating an influential empire in the Bay of BENGAL .The famous BRIHADISVARA TEMPLE was also built in this era . RAJENDRA I conquered ORISSA and PALA DYNASTY of BENGAL . He reached upto the river GANGES in north INDIA . He also built a new capital called GANGAIKONDA CHOLAPURAM to celebrate his victory in Northern INDIA . RAJENDRA CHOLA I successfully invaded the SRIVIJAYA kingdom in Southeast ASIA which led to the decline of their empire there. He also conquered the RAJARATA kingdom of SRI LANKA .Three diplomatic missions were sent to CHINA in 1016 AD , 1033 AD and 1077 AD respectively .The CHOLA under KULOTHUNGA CHOLA III collaborated to herald the dissolution of the CHALUKYAS by aiding HOYSALA under king VEERA BALLALA II . He also defeated the WESTERN CHALUKYAS in a series of wars with SOMESHVARA IV between 1185 AD and 1190 AD . During the reign of RAJARAJA CHOLA I , and his successors like RAJENDRA CHOLA I , VIRARAJENDRA CHOLA and KULOTHUNGA CHOLA I , the CHOLA armies invaded SRI LANKA , the MALDIVES, Southeast ASIAN countries like MALESIYA , INDONESIA and Southern THAILAND of the SRIVIJAYA EMPIRE in the eleventh century AD .
4. LATER CHOLA (1170 AD-1279 AD)
The LATER CHOLA DYNASTY was led by capable rulers like KULOTHUNGA CHOLA I, his son VIKRAM CHOLA and other successors like RAJARAJA CHOLA II , RAJADHIRAJA CHOLA II and KULOTHUNGA CHOLA III , who conquered KALINGA , ILAM and KATAHA . However,the rule of the later CHOLAS starting with RAJARAJA CHOLA II to the last Emperor RAJENDRA CHOLA III was not as strong as those of the CHOLA Emperors between 850 AD and 1215 AD .They lost control of VENGI to the WESTERN CHALUKYAS and GANGAVADI to the HOYSALA EMPIRE around 1118 AD . However , during the rule of VIKRAM CHOLA , the CHOLAS lost no time in recovering the Province of VENGI by defeating CHALUKYA king SOMESHVARA III . Similarly , he recovered GANGAVADI from the HOYSALAS .The rule of KULOTHUNGA III was stable and very prosperous up to 1215 AD , but the decline of the CHOLA power started following his defeat by MARAVARMAN SUNDARA PANDIAN II in 1215-16 AD . Subsequently , the CHOLAS lost control over SRI LANKA due to the revival of SINHALA power .The CHOLAS remained stable until 1215 AD . Then they were absorbed by the PANDYAN EMPIRE and ceased to exist in 1279 AD .
NOTE : THE SOURCES OF THE BLOG ARE TEXT BOOKS AND OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS ON THE SUBJECT .
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ARBIND KUMAR BLOG 