PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: Chola disrupted by defeat at the hands of the Delhi Sultanate in 1279. Portions of the state annexed to Delhi, while other areas fall into the hands of provincial rulers. Eventually, Vijayanagar ("City of Victory") emerges as the chief centre of independent Hindu resistance to Muslim control of most of India. Rulers were....

• Raja Parakesari ^(#1) VIJAYALAYA 848/871, ruled the Chola country from Thanjavur having captured it in 848, married and had issue. He died 871.

  • Raja Rajakesari ADITYA I (qv)

• Raja Rajakesari ADITYA I c871/907, extended the Chola dominions by the conquest of the Pallavas at the battle of Sripurambiyam near Kumbakonam about 885AD, ensuring the end of Pandya power in the south, he also ended Pallava rule in Tondaimandalam (north Tamil Nadu) and the whole of Pallava kingdom now became Chola territory, earning him the epithet of Tondainadu-pavina Rajakesarivarman (Rajakesarivarman who overran Tondainadu), he next conquered the Kongu country in the south west of Tamil Nadu, married (a), Rani Tribhuvanamadeviyar [Vayiri Akkan], married (b), Rani Ilangon Pichchi, and had issue. He died 907 at Tondaimanarrur.

  • Raja Parakesari PARANTAKA I (qv)

• Raja Parakesari PARANTAKA I Viranarayana Virakirti Vira-Chola Vikrama-Chola Irumadi-Sola Devendran Chakravartin Panditavatsalan Kunjaramallan Surachulamani 907/950, invaded the Pandya kingdom in 910, capturing its capital of Madurai, and completing his conquest of the entire Pandya country, defeated in the north of his domains by the Rashtrakuta king, married at least eleven wives, amongst whom were, (a), Rani Udaiya Pirattiyar Kokkilan Adigal, daughter of the Chera (Kerala) king Rama Varma of the Kulasekara dynasty, married (b), Rani Arumoli Nangai, the daughter of another Chera king, Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Amuthan ruling from west Paluvur of the present Tirutchirappalli in Tamil Nadu bordering Kerala, married (c), Rani Villavan Mathevi, probably the daughter of the Venad King of the Chera country, and had issue. He died about 950AD.

  • Prince Rajaditya (by Kokkilan Adigal), Co-Regent 947/949, died vp at the Battle of Takkolam about 949.

  • Raja Rajakesari GANDARADITYA (by Kokkilan Adigal) (qv)

  • Raja Parakesari ARINJAYA (by Arulmoli Nangai) (third son) (qv)

  • Prince Arikulakesari

  • Prince Uttamasili, died at an early age.

  • Princess Viramadevi

• Raja Rajakesari GANDARADITYA 950/956, a reluctant monarch who spent more time in religious matters than affairs of state, author of a Tamil Hymn on Siva of the Chidambaram Temple, married (a), Rani Viranaraniyar, married (b), Rani Udaiyapirattiyar [Madevadigalar Sembiyan Madeviyar], died about 1001, and had issue. He died about 956.

  • Raja Parakesari MADHURANTAKA UTTAMA (by Udaiyapirattiyar) (qv)

• Raja Parakesari ARINJAYA 956/957, possibly a co-regent before 956, married (a), Rani Kalyani, a princess from the clan of Vaidumbas, married (b), Rani Viman Kundaviyar, died after 957, married (c), Rani Athithan Kothai Piratiyar, died after 957, daughter of the Chera king, Indukothai Ravi Varma, and had issue. He died 957 at Arrur.

  • Raja Rajakesari PARANTAKA II [Sundara] (by Kalyani) (qv)
    

• Raja Rajakesari PARANTAKA II [Sundara] 957/970, defeated the Pandya king at the Battle of Chevur in 959, though was unable to deliver a final blow, he regained Tondaimandalam and pushed the Chola frontiers north of Kanchipuram, married (a), Rani Udaya Piratiyar Thambiranadigal Vanavanmatheviyar [Thiribhuvanamatheviyar], the daughter of the Malaiyaman king of Thirukkovalur in Thondainadu, committed sati in 970, married (b), Rani Paranthahan Theviammanar, daughter of a Chera king, died 1001, and had issue. He died 970 in Kanchipuram.

  • Raja Aditya II Karikala, possibly Co-Regent 957/969, assasinated vp around 969AD.

  • Raja Rajakesari RAJARAJA I DEVA [Arunmoli Varman] (third child) (by Vanavanmatheviyar) (qv)

  • Princess Kundavi (by Vanavanmatheviyar), married Vallavaraiyar Vandyadevar. She died after 1014.

• Raja Parakesari MADHURANTAKA UTTAMA 970/985, still very young at his father's death, he was set aside in favour of his cousin, fought battles in Pandyas and the Sinhalas in Sri Lanka, married (a), Rani Panchavanmathevi, daughter of Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Maravan, the Chera king of Paluvur on the west of Thirutchirappalli (sic. Tiruchirapalli or Trichy) bordering Kerala state, married (b), Rani Sorabbaiyar, married (c), Rani Tribhuvana-Mahadeviyar, married (d), Rani Kaduvettigal, married (e), Rani Nandippottairaiyar, a Pallava Princess, married (f), Rani Siddhavadavan Suttiyar, a relative of Vikramasola-Miladudaiyar, King of Miladu, and had issue. He died 985.

  • Prince Madurantaka Gandaraditya Chola, served as an official in Rajaraja’s court.

• Raja Rajakesari RAJARAJA I DEVA Mummudi-Chola 985/1014, installed on the throne in July 985, he conquered the whole of southern India, and the Chola empire extended as far as Sri Lanka in the south and Kalinga (Orissa) in the north, invaded Sri Lanka in 993, destroying the capital and defeating its king, invaded the territory of the Ganga king, which was brought under under Chola rule, he created a powerful army and navy and reorganized civil administration, married (a), Rani Villavanmathevi, daughter of the king of Venadu of Chera country, married (b), Rani Lokamahadevi, married (c), Rani Cholamahadevi, married (d), Rani Trailokyamahadevi, married (e), Rani Abhimanavalli, married (f), Rani Iladamadeviyar (Latamahadevi), married (g), Rani Prithivimahadevi, and had issue. He died 1014.

  • Raja Parakesari RAJENDRA I Choladeva (by Lokamahadevi) (qv)

  • Princess Madevadigal

  • Rani Kundavi, married Raja VIMALADITYA, Eastern Chalukya ruler of Vengi.

• Raja Parakesari RAJENDRA I Choladeva Gangaikonda Chola 1014/1044, Co-Regent 1012/1014, invaded Sri Lanka in 1018, capturing the Crown jewels and taking the Lanka king prisoner with his family, defeated the Western Chalukya ruler at the Battle of Maski in 1022, and later again in 1031, attacked the king of Srivijaya and defeated him in a naval battle in 1025, defeated the Chera King, and assumed the title of Mudikonda Cholan, married (a), Rani Panchavanmathevi, daughter of the Chera king Paluvettariyar, married (b), Rani Vananvanmadevi, daughter of the Malaiyaman king of Kovalur, married (c), Rani Tribhuvana Mahadeviyar, married (d), Rani Viramadevi, committed sati in 1044, married (e), Rani Mukkokilan, and had issue. He died 1044.

  • Raja Rajakesari RAJADHIRAJA I (qv)

  • Raja Parakesari RAJENDRA II DEVA (qv)

  • Manukulakesari, Chola Keralan, appointed as the Chola viceroy to rule the captured Kudamalai Nadu of the Kerala country. He died during the Chola-Chalukya war c1023.

  • Raja Rajakesari VIRARAJENDRA (qv)

  • Princess Arulmolinangayar

  • Rani Ammangadevi, married about 1022, Rajaraja Narendra, died 1064, Eastern Chalukya Ruler of Vengi, and had issue.

    • Raja Rajakesari KULOTTUNGA CHOLA I [Rajendra Chalukya] (see below)

• Raja Rajakesari RAJADHIRAJA I Vijayarajendra Virarajendra Varman Ahavamally Kulantaka Kalyanapurangondachola 1018/1054, Co-Regent 1018/1044, defeated the Western Chalukya forces in a battle at Dannada on the river Krishna, married Rani Trilokyam Udaiyar, and had issue, two sons (names unknown). He died at the Battle of Koppam in 1054.

• Raja Parakesari RAJENDRA II DEVA 1054/1063, Heir Apparent and Co-Regent 1052/1054, proclaimed himself king on the Koppam battlefield after his victory in 1054 against the Chalukya army, married Rani Kilanandigal, and had issue. He died 1063.

  • Rajamahendra, installed as Heir Apparent in 1059, Co-Regent 1059/1062, possibly died vp.

  • Princess Madhurantaki

• Raja Rajakesari VIRARAJENDRA 1063/1070, fought and killed the king of Pottapi in Kerala country, also had to suppress a rebellion in the Pandya territories, and fought a number of battles with the Western Chalukya rulers successfully, then proceeded to conquer the entire Eastern Chalukya kingdom, and to defeat Kalinga who had been in alliance with the Western Chalukyas, married Rani Arulmolinangai, and had issue. he died 1070.

  • Raja Parakesari ADHIRAJENDRA (qv)

  • Prince Madhurantaka, appointed as viceroy of Tondaimandalam with the title of Cholebdra’.

  • Prince Gangaikondachola, viceroy of the Pandya territories. (one of these sons was later installed as Raja Parakesari ADHIRAJENDRA).

  • Daughter, married Raja VIKRAMADITYA II, a Western Chalukya ruler.

  • Rani Rajasundari, married a King of Kalinga, and had issue.

    • Raja Anantavarman Chodaganga of Kalinga, defeated by Raja Kulottunga Chola in 1110AD.

• Raja Parakesari ADHIRAJENDRA 1070 (for a few months) (Co-Regent 1067/1070), last male heir, his short reign was marked by civil unrest in which he was killed, married and had issue. He died 1070.

• Raja Rajakesari KULOTTUNGA CHOLA I [Rajendra Chalukya] 1070/1122, son of Raja Rajaraja Narendra Chalukya and maternal great-grandson of RAJARAJA I, an eastern Chalukya prince, allied himself with the Cholas in battle against the Western Vhalukya ruler, Raja Vikramaditya, for which he earned the title of Virudurajabhayankara, annexed the southern part of Kalinga to the Chola kingdom in about 1110, towards the end of his reign he lost Vengi to the Western Chalukya ruler, as well as other areas to the Hoysala ruler, married before 1070, (a), Rani Madurantaki, died before 1110, daughter of Rajendra Chola I, married (b), Rani Thyagavalli, married (c), Rani Elisai Vallabhi, married (d), Rani Trilokya Mahadevi, married (e), Rani Kadavan Mahadevi, a Pallava Princess, married (f), Rani Kampamadevi, married (g), Rani Adittan Adakuttiyar, and had issue. He died 1122.

  • Rajaraja Mummadi Choda, Viceroy of Vengi 1076/1077.

  • Rajaraja Vira Choda, Viceroy of Vengi 1077/1084.

  • Rajaraja Choda Ganga, Viceroy of Vengi 1084/1089.

  • Raja Parakesari VIKRAMA Chola (by Madurantaki) (fourth son) (qv)

  • Princess Suttamalli, married into the Lanka Royal Family.

  • Princess Pillayar Amanangai Alvar

• Raja Parakesari VIKRAMA Chola 1122/1135, Viceroy of Vengi 1089/1118, appointed Heir Apparent and Co-Regent on 29th June 1118, he was partially successful in regaining some of the territories lost by his father, ended Western Chalukya supremacy south of Krishna River at the Battle of Manneru, a great benefactor of temples, earning the title of Tyagasamudra (ocean of sacrifice), married (a), Rani Mukkokilan, married (b), Rani Tyagapataka, married (c), Rani Neriyan Madeviyar, and had issue. He died 1135.

  • Raja Rajakesari KULOTTUNGA CHOLA II (qv)

  • Daughter, married (name unknown), and had issue.

    • Raja Rajakesari RAJADHIRAJA II (qv)

• Raja Rajakesari KULOTTUNGA CHOLA II Anapaya Tirunirruchola 1135/1150, Heir Apparent and Co-Regent 1133/1135, enjoyed a generally peaceful reign, only needing to restore Chola control over the Northern Vengi territories, married (a), Rani Tyagavalli [Buvanamulududaiyal], the chief queen, married (b), Rani Mukkokilan, a princess of the family of Malaiyaman, and had issue. He died 1150.

  • Raja Parakesari RAJARAJA II (qv)

• Raja Parakesari RAJARAJA II 1150/1173, Heir Apparent and Co-Regent 1146/1150, during his reign local chiefs began to grow in power and influence with the central administration losing efective control, particularly over the outlying areas, furthermore Chola influence was weakened in Pandya territory due to a succession dispute there, married (a), Rani Avanimulududaiyal, married (b), Rani Bhuvanimulududiyal, married (c), Rani Ulagudai Mukkokilan. He died sp 1173.

• Raja Rajakesari RAJADHIRAJA II 1173/1178, Heir Apparent and Co-Regent 1163/1173, responsible for the gradual erosion of Chola authority in Pandya lands, died 1178.

• Raja Parakesari KULOTTUNGA CHOLA III 1178/1218, installed on the throne on 8th July 1178, son of Prince Sangamaraja, who is otherwise unknown, renowned for his patronage of art and literature, campaigned successfully three times against the Pandya rulers, in 1182, 1187 and 1212, however towards the end of his reign in 1216/1217, he was defeated by the Pandya ruler and made subordinate to Pandya rule, married and had issue. He died in 1218.

  • Raja Rajakesari RAJARAJA III (qv)

• Raja Rajakesari RAJARAJA III 1218/1260, an incompetent king, his reign was a period of continuous trouble and was characterised by growing revolt and conflicts, and he was unable to deal with the situation, with the Pandyas in the south and the Hoysalas in the west growing in power, with the latter being the eventual victors, he married and had issue. He died 1260.

  • Raja Parakesari RAJENDRA IV (qv)

• Raja Parakesari RAJENDRA IV 1260/1279, Heir Apparent and Co-Regent 1246/1260, last Chola ruler, he was unable to capitalize on early successes against the Pandya rulers after 1250, and by 1258 the Chola rulers were under Pandya control, in 1279 the Chola and Hoysala armies were both defeated by the Pandya king and the empire was finally absorbed into the Pandyan kingdom, he married Rani Cholakulamadeviyar. He died 1279?