Medieval Cholas

Medieval Cholas
848 CE–1070 CE
Map showing the extent of the Chola empire
Capital		Pazhaiyaarai, Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Languages		Tamil
Religion		Hinduism (predominantly Shaivism)
Government		Monarchy
King
•	848–871	Vijayalaya Chola
•	1067–1070	Athirajendra Chola
Historical era		Middle Ages
•	Established	848 CE
•	Rise of the medieval Cholas	848 CE
•	Empire at its greatest extent	1030 CE
•	Disestablished	1070 CE
Today part of		India  Maldives  Sri Lanka

Medieval Cholas rose to prominence during the middle of the 9th century C.E. and established one of the greatest empires in South India. They successfully united South India under their rule and through their naval strength extended their influence in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. They had trade contacts with the Arabs in the west and with the Chinese in the east.

Medieval Cholas and Chalukyas were continuously in conflict over the control of Vengi and the conflict eventually exhausted both the empires and led to their decline. The Chola dynasty merged into the Eastern Chalukyan dynasty of Vengi through decades of alliances and later united under the Later Cholas.

Vijayalaya Chola was probably a Pallava vassal. Vijayalaya captured Thanjavur in 848 C.E. making use of the opportunity during a war between Pandyas and Pallavas. The Cholas under Aditya I captured the Pallavas in the north (c. 869 C.E.) and subdued the Pandayas and Cheras in the south (c. 903 C.E.). Parantaka I drove the Pandayas out of their territories and captured Sri Lanka in 910 C.E. Rashtrakutas and Gangas in the north posed the biggest threat to the nascent Chola Empire and the Chola prince Rajaditya was killed in the battle of Thakkolam in 949 C.E. Parantaka had a long reign and when he died in 950 C.E., his second son Gandaraditya became king. The Chola throne went to Gandaraditya’s younger brother Arinjaya briefly before Arinjaya’s son Sundara Chola took the reins of the kingdom overlooking the claims of Uttama Chola, son of Gandaraditya.