Vidyadharavarman (Chandel Emperor): Difference between revisions

==Military Career==

===Invasion on Kannauj===

In 1018 CE, the [[Ghaznavid]] king [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] invaded [[Kannauj]], whose [[Gurjara-Pratihar|Pratihara]] king (possibly Rajyapala) fled the city, allowing the Ghaznvids to sack it without facing much resistance. According to the 12th century Muslim historian [[Ali ibn al-Athir]], Bida, the king of [[Khajuraho]] killed the king of Kannauj as a punishment for this cowardice. Bida is believed to be a variant of "Vidya" (that is, Vidyadharavarman). Some later Muslim historians misread this name as "Nanda", based on which [[British India|British-era]] scholars identified the killer of the Kannauj king as Vidyadharavarman's predecessor Gandavarman. However, an inscription discovered at Mahoba confirms that it was Vidyadharavarman who defeated the ruler of Kannauj.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=72-73}}{{sfn|Dikshit|1976|p=72}} The Dubkund inscription of Arjuna of [[Kachchhapaghata dynasty|Kachchhapaghata]] family claims that Arjuna killed Rajyapala in a great battle. The Kachchhapaghatas were feudatories of the Chandels, so it appears that Arjuna was acting as an agent of Vidyadharavarman.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=74-75}}

It is possible that Vidyadharavarman appointed Rajyapala's successor Trilochanapala on the Pratihara throne.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|p=75}} In 1019 CE, Mahmud launched a fresh invasion of India, and defeated the [[Hindu Shahi|Kabul Shahi]] ruler Trilochanapala (not to be confused with the Pratihara ruler of same name). He then advanced towards Bari, the new Pratihara capital. According to [[Abu Sa'id Gardezi]]'s ''Zayn al-Akhbar'', the Pratihara ruler Trilochanapala fled from the town. After sacking Bari, Mahmud encountered the army of Vidyadhara (variously named "Bida" or "Nanda" in Muslim chronicles).{{sfn|Mitra|1977|p=78}} According Dr. Katare in J.H.Q, Vidyadharavarman defeated Mahmud soon after the latter's invasion of Kannauj.{{sfn|Dikshit|1976|p=96}} According to C.V. Vaidya, the invasions of the Yaminis ([[Ghaznavid]]) had completely changed the political map of Northern India. The empire of the [[Gurjara-Pratihara]]s and the kingdom of the [[Hindu Shahi]]s the valiant defenders of the North-West had disappeared, along with a whole host of minor states. Chandels alone survived the or deal. They not only halted the triumphal career of [[Mahmud of Ghazna]], but also emerged as the dominant power to the North of the [[Vindhya range|Vindhyas]] and the credit for that undoubtedly goes to the sagacious policy of Vidyadharavarman.{{sfn|Dikshit|1976|p=97}} After an unsuccessful invasion of Kalinjar in 1019 CE, [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] again invaded the [[Chandela|Chandel kingdom]] in 1022 CE and the war was fought outside of [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar fort]]. After a long battle Mahmud surrendered and made a peace with Kalinjar. Later, [[Vidyadhara (Chandela ruler)|Vidyadharavarman]] celebrated his success over Mahmud of Ghazni, [[Bhoja]] and other rulers by building [[Kandariya Mahadeva Temple|Kandhariya Mahadev temple]].{{Sfn|Ring|Salkin|Boda|1994|p=468}}{{sfn|Mitra|1977|p=82}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Balakrishna |first=Sandeep |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lzALEAAAQBAJ&dq=the+proud+kshatriya+king+vidyadhara&pg=PT69 |title=Invaders and Infidels (Book 1): From Sindh to Delhi: The 500-Year Journey of Islamic Invasions |date=2020-11-28 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-93-90077-22-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gopal |first=Dr Krishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GAfgAAAAMAAJ&q=Vidyadhar+Chandel |title=Fairs and Festivals of India |date=2003 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-212-0810-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chakraberty |first=Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w-g9AAAAIAAJ&q=Vidyadhara+Chandel |title=The Racial History of India |date=1944 |publisher=Vijaya Krishna Brothers |language=en}}</ref> Also, an inscription of the [[Chandela|Chandel]] emperor [[Jayavarman]] also states that Vidyadharavarman defeated [[Mahmud of Ghazna|Mahmud Ghaznavi]] after his invasion of [[Kanyakubja]] (Kannauj).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dikshit |first=R. K. |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=a9j9ZJGJOV0C&pg=PA96&dq=Vidyadhara+Jayavarman&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-6oDNlt6EAxVEwzgGHSQIDSwQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=Vidyadhara%20Jayavarman&f=false |title=The Candellas of Jejākabhukti |date=1976 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-046-4 |language=en}}</ref>

According to [[Nizamuddin Ahmad]]'s ''Tabaqat-i-Akbari'', the two armies were encamped on the opposite banks of a river. Mahmud sent an envoy to Vidyadhara (called "Nanda" by Ahmad), asking him to accept [[Islam]] and Mahmud's suzerainty. Vidyadhara refused to make a submission. After seeing the Chandel ruler's vast army from an elevated spot, Mahmud became worried. However, at night, Vidyadhara withdrew with some of his companions, leaving behind his army. According to this account, there was no fight between the two armies. After Vidyadhara's withdrawal, Mahmud's army sacked his camp, and procured a great amount of wealth, including 580 elephants. Gardezi, in his ''Zayn al-Akhbar'', states that the Chandel ruler (called "Ganda" in this account) had already deserted his camp by the time Mahmud's envoy reached there. [[Ali ibn al-Athir]] offers a different account, stating that the two armies fought a battle before retreating at the nightfall. {{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=78-79}} In 1022 CE, Mahmud invaded the Chandela kingdom again, besieging the [[Gwalior Fort]] (Gopadri), which was controlled by a [[Kachchhapaghata dynasty|Kachchhapaghata]] feudatory of Vidyadhara. This feudatory is identified with Kirtiraja. According to ''Tabaqat-i-Akbari'' Mahmud lifted the siege after four days, in return for a tribute of 35 elephants. He then proceeded to besiege the Chandel fortress of [[Kalanjara]]. After a long siege, the Kalanjara ruler (called "Nanda" in this account), offered Mahmud a tribute of 300 elephants and "begged for safety". According to [[Firishta]]'s account, the Chandel king intoxicated the elephants and sent them to Mahmud's camp without any riders. These wild elephants were tamed by Mahmud's [[Tatars|Tatar]] soldiers. The Chandel king, on seeing this act of bravery, sent a [[panegyric]] praising Mahmud and his army. In return, Mahmud also complimented the Vidyadhara, and awarded him 15 fortresses and other presents before turning to his capital [[Ghazna]].{{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=80-82}} S. K. Mitra theorizes that the encounter between Vidyadhara and Mahmud ended with an "exchange of gifts", which must have been depicted as "tribute" by the Muslim historians.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|p=82}}