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{{Short description|Chola | {{Short description|Chola Emperor from 1044–1052}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}} | {{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}} | ||
{{Infobox royalty | {{Infobox royalty | ||
| name = Rajadhiraja I | | name = Rajadhiraja I | ||
| title = | | title = Parakesarivarman, Maharajadhiraja, Yuddhamalla, Jayankonda Chola | ||
| image = Coin_of_Rajadhiraja_Chola.png | | image = Coin_of_Rajadhiraja_Chola.png | ||
| alt = rajadhiraja territories | | alt = rajadhiraja territories | ||
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| father = [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]] | | father = [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]] | ||
| mother = Mukkokilan Adigal | | mother = Mukkokilan Adigal | ||
| birth_name = Ilaval | | birth_name = Ilaval Sundaran | ||
| birth_date = 994 C.E. | | birth_date = 994 C.E. | ||
| birth_place = [[Thanjavur]], [[Chola Empire]] (modern day [[Thanjavur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]) | | birth_place = [[Thanjavur]], [[Chola Empire]] (modern day [[Thanjavur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]) | ||
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| successor2 = [[Rajendra Chola II|Rajendra II]] | | successor2 = [[Rajendra Chola II|Rajendra II]] | ||
| dynasty = [[Chola]] | | dynasty = [[Chola]] | ||
| succession3 = [[Chola empire | Chola | | succession3 = [[Chola empire|Chola Viceroy of Pandya]] | ||
| reign3 = 1018 CE - 1044 CE | | reign3 = 1018 CE - 1044 CE | ||
| cor-type3 = Governor | | cor-type3 = Governor | ||
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}} | }} | ||
'''Rajadhiraja I''' (994 CE - 1052 CE) was a [[Chola]] emperor and the successor of his father, [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]]. | '''Rajadhiraja I''' (994 CE - 1052 CE) was a [[Chola]] emperor, the most skilled military commander among the Chola rulers and the successor of his father, [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]]. He was the only Chola emperor who was killed while leading his army in war, and although he had a short reign, he helped his father conquer several territories as well as to maintain the Chola authority over most of [[Sri Lanka]], [[Chalukya dynasty|Eastern Chalukya]] and [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]], among others. He also established imperial relations with overseas allies despite a series of revolts in the territory. | ||
Rajadhiraja Chola proved capable of maintaining the vast and expansive empire with territories even outside the shores of India. Records also show that the king was a skilled commander on the battlefield, leading his soldiers from the front lines. He earned the title ''Jayamkonda | Rajadhiraja Chola proved capable of maintaining the vast and expansive empire with territories even outside the shores of India. Records also show that the king was a skilled commander on the battlefield, leading his soldiers from the front lines. He earned the title ''Jayamkonda Solan'' (The Victorious Cholan) after numerous victories. Towards the end of his reign, he sacked the Western Chalukyan capital Kalyanapuram and assumed the title ''Kalyanapuramgonda Chola'' and performed a Virabhisheka (anointment of heroes) under the name ''Vijaya Rajendra Cholan'' (the victorious Rajendra Cholan).<ref>{{cite book|title=Gangaikondacholapuram|author=Irāmaccantiran̲ Nākacāmi|publisher=State Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu, 1970 - Gangaikondacholapuram (India) - 61 pages|page=8}}</ref> | ||
{{Chola history}} | {{Chola history}} | ||
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{{Main|Chola occupation of Sri Lanka (993–1077)}} | {{Main|Chola occupation of Sri Lanka (993–1077)}} | ||
[[File:Rajendra map new.svg|thumb|Map of the [[Chola dynasty|Chola Empire]] under Rajadhiraja I (c. 1045 C.E.)]] | [[File:Rajendra map new.svg|thumb|Map of the [[Chola dynasty|Chola Empire]] under Rajadhiraja I (c. 1045 C.E.)]] | ||
The Buddhist text ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' shows that the years following the defeat and deportation of the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] king [[Mahinda V]] by Rajendra in 1017 CE were filled with revolt and anarchy due uprisings by the Sinhalese 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. | The Buddhist text ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' shows that the years following the defeat and deportation of the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] king [[Mahinda V]] by Rajendra in 1017 CE were filled with revolt and anarchy due uprisings by the Sinhalese 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 centered on Kassapa.<ref name=sastri165>See Sastri, KAN, ''A History of South India'', p165</ref> | ||
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.<ref name=sastri165/> 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 [[Pandya]]n princes against their common enemy. Pandyas had a very close political as well as marital relationship with the Sinhalese. | 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.<ref name=sastri165/> 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 [[Pandya]]n princes against their common enemy. Pandyas had a very close political as well as marital relationship with the Sinhalese. | ||
During | During Rajadhiraja's reign this became very acute as Vikramabahu launched an all out attack on the Tamil armies to expel them from the island. He was assisted by a Pandya prince Vikarama Pandya and Jagatpala, a prince from the distant [[Kanauj]] in North India. Rajadhiraja's forces battled and killed these princes.<ref name=sastri167>See Sastri, KAN, ''A History of South India'', p167</ref> | ||
The version of the ''Mahavamsa'' has to be taken in the right perspective in that it states itself to be a Buddhist chronicle and its point of view is only supposed to favour Buddhist subjects. We cannot expect it to speak in very complimentary terms about non-Buddhist kings. In any case, at least in war, the Cholas were known to be very uncompromising with their enemies and believed in eliminating them rather than setting them free. whether it was the "Chalukyas", "Pandyas" or the "Ilangai kings"... their treatment was the same, which the ''Mahavamsa'' chroniclers found inhuman.What is | The version of the ''Mahavamsa'' has to be taken in the right perspective in that it states itself to be a Buddhist chronicle and its point of view is only supposed to favour Buddhist subjects. We cannot expect it to speak in very complimentary terms about non-Buddhist kings. In any case, at least in war, the Cholas were known to be very uncompromising with their enemies and believed in eliminating them rather than setting them free. whether it was the "Chalukyas", "Pandyas" or the "Ilangai kings"... their treatment was the same, which the ''Mahavamsa'' chroniclers found inhuman. What is valorous and uncompromising warfare on the part of the Cholas was described as brutal conduct when it came to describing defeats of the rulers of Eelam (Sri Lanka). | ||
The Chola provinces in Lanka were a separate administrative division of the empire. The deep southern half was however a Sinhalese stronghold in perpetual conflict with the Cholas. Prince Kitti, son of Vikramabahu became Vijayabahu in 1058 CE and took over the leadership of the resistance. The | The Chola provinces in Lanka were a separate administrative division of the empire. The deep southern half was however a Sinhalese stronghold in perpetual conflict with the Cholas. Prince Kitti, son of Vikramabahu became Vijayabahu in 1058 CE and took over the leadership of the resistance. The generals of Cholas executed the captured Lankan generals along with their family members.<ref>See Mendis, GC, p53</ref> | ||
===Continuing Chalukya Wars=== | ===Continuing Chalukya Wars=== | ||
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}} | }} | ||
There is another inscription of the king his 29th regnal year from the Manimangalam village about donation of land which speaks on a detailed way his military achievements. Inscription goes on to describe the following: | There is another inscription of the king his 29th regnal year from the Manimangalam village about donation of land which speaks on a detailed way his military achievements. Inscription goes on to describe the following: | ||
a. Appointment of his 7 relatives as governors to Chera, Chalukya, Pandya, Ganga, Ceylon, Pallava and Kanyakubja (Kannauj – UP). | a. Appointment of his 7 relatives as governors to Chera, Chalukya, Pandya, Ganga, Ceylon, Pallava and Kanyakubja (Kannauj – UP). | ||
b. Victorious war against ahavamalla, vikki, vijayaditya who are Someswarar I, Vikramaditya VI and Vijayaditya respectively of Western Chalukya and the burning of Kollipakai. | b. Victorious war against ahavamalla, vikki, vijayaditya who are Someswarar I, Vikramaditya VI and Vijayaditya respectively of Western Chalukya and the burning of Kollipakai. | ||
c. His exploits at Ceylon where he attacked its four kings (Vikramabahu, Veera Salamegan, Vikrama Pandya and Srivallabha madanaraja) . Out of four, vira salamegan had initially ruled over Kannauj. Rajadhiraja while sacking Ceylon had seized his elder sister and his wife and also went on to cut the nose of his mother. | c. His exploits at Ceylon where he attacked its four kings (Vikramabahu, Veera Salamegan, Vikrama Pandya and Srivallabha madanaraja) . Out of four, vira salamegan had initially ruled over Kannauj. Rajadhiraja while sacking Ceylon had seized his elder sister and his wife and also went on to cut the nose of his mother. | ||
d. On his second raid to chalukyan kingdom, he went on to burn Kampili and he died on the battle field at Kopam. There is one inscription by Western Chalukya which was inscribed in Annigere which talks of a wicked chozha who had abandoned his religious practices and burned Jaina temples and ultimately yielded his head to someswara.<ref name="Rajadhiraja Inscription">{{cite web |url=https://wanderingfakhir.in/f/rajadhiraja-inscription-from-manimangalam |publisher=Wandering Fakhir|title=Rajadhiraja inscription from Manimangalam}}</ref> | d. On his second raid to chalukyan kingdom, he went on to burn Kampili and he died on the battle field at Kopam. There is one inscription by Western Chalukya which was inscribed in Annigere which talks of a wicked chozha who had abandoned his religious practices and burned Jaina temples and ultimately yielded his head to someswara.<ref name="Rajadhiraja Inscription">{{cite web |url=https://wanderingfakhir.in/f/rajadhiraja-inscription-from-manimangalam |publisher=Wandering Fakhir|title=Rajadhiraja inscription from Manimangalam}}</ref> | ||
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Here is an excerpt of an inscription from the [[Chikballapur District|Chikballapur]] district of [[Karnataka]]. It gives a brief overview of some of the king's exploits while he was still a co-regent of his predecessor (original in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Grantha alphabet]]): | Here is an excerpt of an inscription from the [[Chikballapur District|Chikballapur]] district of [[Karnataka]]. It gives a brief overview of some of the king's exploits while he was still a co-regent of his predecessor (original in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Grantha alphabet]]): | ||
{{Cquote|''In the 32nd year of the reign of Ko Rajakesari Varma alias Sri Rajadhiraja Deva of bright intellect, who...was born to render conspicuous the ancient race of the hot-rayed god (i.e., the Solar Race); who caused his umbrella, planted under the shadow of his father's white umbrella, to cast its shade over the entire kingdom of his father, who conquered with his army Ganga of the prosperous north, Lanka of the south, Makotai of the west and Kadaram of the east; who swayed his scepter over every region; who cut-off on the battle-field the beautiful head which was adorned with large jewels and was never without the golden crown, of Manabharanan, the renowned king of the south (Pandya); who sent the king of Venad to heaven [or back to the Chera country]; who killed the king of Kalingam on the battle-field; who caused to be destroyed the Kandalur Salai on the sea coast; and who acquired great fame under the praiseworthy name of 'Jayangonda Cholan' | {{Cquote|''In the 32nd year of the reign of Ko Rajakesari Varma alias Sri Rajadhiraja Deva of bright intellect, who...was born to render conspicuous the ancient race of the hot-rayed god (i.e., the Solar Race); who caused his umbrella, planted under the shadow of his father's white umbrella, to cast its shade over the entire kingdom of his father, who conquered with his army Ganga of the prosperous north, Lanka of the south, Makotai of the west and Kadaram of the east; who swayed his scepter over every region; who cut-off on the battle-field the beautiful head which was adorned with large jewels and was never without the golden crown, of Manabharanan, the renowned king of the south (Pandya); who sent the king of Venad to heaven [or back to the Chera country]; who killed the king of Kalingam on the battle-field; who caused to be destroyed the Kandalur Salai on the sea coast; and who acquired great fame under the praiseworthy name of 'Jayangonda Cholan' | ||
''The officer Vira Vichchadira (Vidyadhara) Muvendavelar...gave for the god Maha Nandiswara Udaya Mahadeva, on the Nandi hill in Kalavara Ndu, a plate of gold weighing by the standard of the city, 2.5 kalanju and 1 manjadi, as an ornament to be worn by the god for as long as the sun and the moon exist.''<ref name="Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume 10, Part 1, page 202">''Epigraphia Carnatica,'' Volume 10, Part 1, page 202</ref> | ''The officer Vira Vichchadira (Vidyadhara) Muvendavelar...gave for the god Maha Nandiswara Udaya Mahadeva, on the Nandi hill in Kalavara Ndu, a plate of gold weighing by the standard of the city, 2.5 kalanju and 1 manjadi, as an ornament to be worn by the god for as long as the sun and the moon exist.''<ref name="Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume 10, Part 1, page 202">''Epigraphia Carnatica,'' Volume 10, Part 1, page 202</ref> | ||
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==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2022}} | {{Unreferenced section|date=January 2022}} | ||
Rajadhiraja employed his | Rajadhiraja employed his father's brother, his own brothers, elder and younger, in important offices of state and constituted them into subordinate rulers of regions of his empire. We know of the title (Trilokyam Udaiyar) rather than the actual name of a queen. His queens do not figure prominently in his records. Apart from ''Vijaya Rajendra'', he took the titles of ''Virarajendra Varman'', ''Ahavamally Kulantaka'' and ''Kalyanapurangondachola''. His children seem to have been overlooked in the succession to the Chola throne for a brief time.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} | ||
==Officials== | ==Officials== | ||
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== Religion == | == Religion == | ||
The [[Shaiva Siddhanta]] school of thought was prevalent and the Bhakti poetry of the [[Nayanars]] were encouraged and sang in the temples. We have a record dated in the twenty eighth year of the king's reign from the Adhipurisvara temple in [[Tiruvottiyur|Tiruvorriyur]] which mentions the Tiruttondatogai of [[Sundarar]] and the names of the sixty three Nayanars.<ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|author=P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar|page=52|publisher=Asian Educational Services, 1982 - Hindu shrines - 638 pages}}</ref> | Like his forefathers, he too was a devout Hindu. The [[Shaiva Siddhanta]] school of thought was prevalent and the Bhakti poetry of the [[Nayanars]] were encouraged and sang in the temples. We have a record dated in the twenty eighth year of the king's reign from the Adhipurisvara temple in [[Tiruvottiyur|Tiruvorriyur]] which mentions the Tiruttondatogai of [[Sundarar]] and the names of the sixty three Nayanars.<ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|author=P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar|page=52|publisher=Asian Educational Services, 1982 - Hindu shrines - 638 pages}}</ref> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||