Veera Ballala II
| Veera Ballala II | |
|---|---|
| Hoysala King | |
| Reign | c. 1173 – c. 1220 CE |
| Predecessor | Narasimha I |
| Successor | Vira Narasimha II |
| Spouse | Cholamahadevi |
| Issue | Vira Narasimha II, Somaladevi |
| Dynasty | Hoysala |
| Hoysala Kings (1026–1343) | |
| Nripa Kama II | (1026–1047) |
| Hoysala Vinayaditya | (1047–1098) |
| Ereyanga | (1098–1102) |
| Veera Ballala I | (1102–1108) |
| Vishnuvardhana | (1108–1152) |
| Narasimha I | (1152–1173) |
| Veera Ballala II | (1173–1220) |
| Vira Narasimha II | (1220–1235) |
| Vira Someshwara | (1235–1263) |
| Narasimha III | (1263–1292) |
| Veera Ballala III | (1292–1343) |
|
Harihara Raya (Vijayanagara Empire) |
(1342–1355) |
Veera Ballala II (Kannada: ವೀರ ಬಲ್ಲಾಳ 2) (r.1173–1220 CE) was the most notable monarch of the Hoysala Empire. His successes against the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Southern Kalachuris, the Pandyas of Madurai and the waning Western Chalukya Empire, and his domination over the diminishing Cholas of Tanjore took the Hoysalas to their peak of power. The historian Chaurasia claims by the end of the 12th century, Ballala II's conquests had made the Hoysalas the most powerful dynasty of the Deccan. According to historian Derrett, Ballala II was "the most outstanding among Hoysala kings", and historian William Coelho in comparing Ballala II to King Vishnuvardhana writes, "he vied in glory with his grandfather".
His court was adorned with some of the most notable of medieval Kannada language poets including the Jain poets Janna and Nemichandra, and the Brahman poet Rudrabhatta. According to the historians Chopra et al., during his rule, the Hoysala kingdom consolidated into an independent empire commencing an age of "Hoysala imperialism". His architectural legacy includes among numerous ornate temples, the Kedareshwara temple, the Veera Narayana temple and the Amrutesvara temple. He was ably supported in war and in administrative matters by his son, prince Vira Narasimha II, and crowned queen Umadevi. His other queen Cholamahadevi was a Chola princes. His daughter Somaladevi was given in marriage to the Chola monarch Kulothunga Chola III.
Ballala II's ascendancy to the Hoysala throne in c. 1173 was preceded by his successful rebellion against his weak father Narasimha I with the help of some malnad chiefs, such as the Chengalvas and the Kongalvas. He later ensured the same chiefs' could not rise against him. In the late 12th century, the weakening Chalukya throne became the bone of contention between the main vassals, the Yadavas, the Hoysalas and the Kalachuris. Around c.1168, the Kalachuri King Bijjala II had gained control of the Chalukyan capital Basavakalyan (then called Kalyani, in modern Bidar district of Karnataka state). According to historian Kamath, in c.1171, an ambitious Ballala tasted first victory against Pandya king Kavadeva of the Uchchangi family. This was followed by the annexation of Hangal in c.1178. But an attempt by him to invade Belvola-300 in c.1179 led to his defeat by Kalachuri commander Sankama who seized Hangal. According to Chopra et al., in c.1179, a Kalachuri invasion into the Hoysala territory resulted in a truce with Ballala II agreeing to accept nominal subordination and to help the Kalachuri in their designs against the Chalukyas. However, by c.1183, the Kalachuris themselves were in serious decline due to the inept rule of the sons of Bijjala II. The last Chalukya scion, Someshvara IV, was back in control of his capital Basavakalyan with help from the Kalachuri commander Brahma.
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