Kulothunga I
| Kulottunga Chola | |||||
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| Rajakesari | |||||
Chola Territories c. 1070 CE
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| Reign | c. 1070 – c. 1122 CE | ||||
| Predecessor | Athirajendra Chola | ||||
| Successor | Vikrama Chola | ||||
| Died | 1122 CE | ||||
| Queen | Madurantaki Thyagavalli Elisai Vallabhi Solakulavalliyār |
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| Issue | Rajaraja Mummudi Chola Rajaraja Chodaganga Vikrama Chola four other sons Suttamalli |
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| Father | Sembiyan | ||||
| Regnal name | |
|---|---|
| Kō Rājakēsarivarman Abhaya Kulōttunga Chōla |
Kulottunga Chola (also spelt Kulothunga; r. 1070 – 1122 CE) (Tamil: குலோதுங்கச் சோழன்) was one of the greatest kings of the Chola Empire who ruled in the late 11th century and early 12th century. He was one of the sovereigns who bore the title Kulottunga, literally meaning the exalter of his race. During his early reign he carried out a land survey and settlement as the basis of taxation. His records also testify to the highly organised system of fiscal and local administration. He had diplomatic relations with the north Indian city Kanauj as also with distant countries like Cambodia, Sri Vijaya and China. His court poet was Jayamkondar who wrote the poem Kalingattu parani to celebrate the military victories of Kulottunga Chola. He was a liberal ruler as several land grants were given to the members of the Shudra community who were generals and royal officials during his reign. He established Chola overlordship over the Sri Vijaya province Kedah in Malaysia.
Kulottunga Chola I was the grandson of Emperor Rajendra Chola I. As a Chola prince he conquered the Sri Vijaya province Kedah on behalf of his maternal uncle Emperor Virarajendra Chola in the 11th century. As a Chola Prince he also conquered Bastar in modern Chhattisgarh. Several ancient documents and fragmented inscriptions available from places like tirugokarnam, pudukkottai, pennagadam in cuddalore, tirumaanikkuzhi in cuddalore etc. give some information on events that took place during the crowning of the Emperor. For example, the following passage from a Tamil work of the period written at tiruppadiripuliyur(cuddalore) has it as:
Paridhi kulam thannil uthitthu para samaya irulakattriya, tiru pparaman aadum perambalamum gopuramum aalayamum ponveyndhu, unmai sruthi yudan saiva neri thazhaitthu ongi, tiruneerru chozhan enru, kurumani maamudi punaintha kulothunga chola valavarul kuritthu vaazhvom
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