Campaigns of Kujula Kadphises: Difference between revisions

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Battle at Takkolam

The Rashtrakuta contingent at Takkolam included a collection of feudal militias and royal soldiers (from Western Gangas, Banas and Vaidumbas among others).^[1] Prince Rajaditya was supported by a number of military personnel from Kerala (Chera) chiefdoms.^[1]

An account of the battle, which differs in some details from the Chola version, is found in the Atakur inscription issued by Krishna III and prince Butuga (a young underlord of Krishna III^[1]) of the Western Ganga family. According to the inscription, during the battle, Rajaditya was struck while seated atop his war elephant by an arrow from prince Butuga.^[2] The Chola prince died instantly. The Chola army was subsequently defeated and retreated in disorder.^[1]

Consequences

The collapse of the Chola resistance after the battle of Takkolam lead to the virtual destruction of the Chola empire. The Rashtrakutas conquered eastern and northern parts of the Chola empire and advanced to Rameswaram. As per the Karhad copper plates of Krishna II, dated 959 AD, the king "uprooted the Cholas, distributed their territory among his followers, and extracted tribute from the Chera (Kerala) and Pandya kings" during his campaign.^[3]

The epithet ‘Tanjaiyunkonda’ or the 'conqueror of Tanjore' was given to Krishna III as mentioned in many records found in Tondai-Mandalam, that the conclusion becomes inevitable that he had conquered and occupied the Chola capital at least for some time. The statements in the Karhad plates states that Krishna defeated the Pandyas and the Keralas, exacted tributes from the king of Ceylon and planted the creeper of his fame at Ramesvara^[4]

As per historians, the defeat at Takkolam reversed the substantial political gains made by Parantaka Chola in previous decades. It opened the way for a period of multiple (and perhaps even disputed) Chola accessions.^[5] The Chola royals remained in confusion, and perhaps continued a precarious political existence under the threat of Rashtrakuta invasion.^[3]

Reference

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :1
↑ Epigraphia Indica 6 (1900–01), no. 6c: 53–56.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :0
↑ A. S. Altekar 1934, p. 134.
↑ Nilakantha Sastri, Cōḷas, 140–67.

Bibliography

A. S. Altekar (1934). Rashtrakutas And Their Times. Digital Library of India.

[:1-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :1

[2] Epigraphia Indica 6 (1900–01), no. 6c: 53–56.

[:0-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :0

[FOOTNOTEA._S._Altekar1934134-4] A. S. Altekar 1934, p. 134.

[5] Nilakantha Sastri, Cōḷas, 140–67.

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-== Background ==
-It seems that king Parantaka I anticipated a climatic battle with the Rashtrakutas and their allies in Tirumunaippati Nadu.<ref name=":1" />
-Sometime in the 930s, or perhaps as early as 923 AD,<ref>''South Indian Inscriptions'' 7 (1932), No. 1009.</ref> prince Rajaditya was sent with a substantial military contingent, including elephants and horses, as well as his entire household, to the region (to protect the northern edges of a nascent Chola state).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The prince was joined in Tirumunaippati Nadu by his mother and his half-brother Arinjaya (whose mother also might have been from the Chera Perumal family).<ref name=":1" />
 == Battle at Takkolam ==
 The Rashtrakuta contingent at Takkolam included a collection of feudal militias and royal soldiers (from [[Western Gangas]], [[Bana kingdom|Banas]] and Vaidumbas among others).<ref name=":1" /> Prince Rajaditya was supported by a number of military personnel from [[Kerala]] (Chera) chiefdoms.<ref name=":1" />