Rajadhiraja Chola
| Rajadhiraja Chola இராஜாதிராஜ சோழன் |
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| Parakesari | |
Chola territories
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| Reign | 1044 C.E. – 1052 C.E. |
| Predecessor | Rajendra Chola I |
| Successor | Rajendra Chola II |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 1052 C.E. |
| Queen | Trailokyamahadevi |
| Issue | many sons |
| Father | Rajendra Chola I |
Kōpparakēsarivarman Rājādhiraja Chōla I was an 11th-century emperor of the Indian Chola empire and the successor of his father, Rajendra Chola I. During his long reign, he helped his father conquer many territories and maintained the Chola authority over most of Lanka, Vengi, Kalinga, etc. and the relations with overseas domains despite a series of revolts in the territory. Rajadhiraja Chola’s record shows that he was a born fighter who was very capable of maintaining a vast and expansive empire with territories even outside the shores of India. He was a great warrior who always led from the front. His life is a testimony to a king who fought his own wars standing shoulder to shoulder with his men on front lines. He performed the horse sacrifice and earned the title Jayamkonda Cholan (The Victorious Cholan). He was also known as Vijaya Rajendra Cholan (the victorious Rajendra Cholan). One of his predecessors, Rajaraja Chola I also assumed the title Jayangonda Chola towards the end of his reign.
Rajadhiraja Chola was made co-regent very early in his reign (1018). From that day onward, father and son ruled together and shared the burdens of the empire. From the inscriptions of Rajadhiraja it is evident that Rajadhiraja ruled in full regal status in the lifetime of his father. Rajadhiraja was at the forefront of most of his father's military campaigns.
The Buddhist text Mahavamsa shows that the years following the defeat and deportation of the Sinhala king Mahinda V by Rajendra in 1017 CE were filled with revolt and anarchy due uprisings by the Sinhala subjects against the reign of the Chola invaders. Mahinda was captured and transported to the Chola country as prisoner where he died 12 years later. Mahinda’s son Kassapa had formed the resistance against the Chola occupiers and the revolts were centred on Kassapa.
Kassapa managed to face off the almost 95,000 strong Chola army for over six months and push them northwards from the Rohana area in southern Sri Lanka he then crowned himself Vikramabahu in 1029 C.E. Cholas never intended to subjugate the entire island of Sri Lanka and only occupied the whole island for a period of about 10 years. Sinhalese resistance was assisted by various Pandyan princes against their common enemy. Pandyas had a very close political as well as marital relationship with the Sinhalese.
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Wikipedia