RASHTRAKUTA DYNASTY

राष्ट्रकूट राजवंश (ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕೂಟ)

SHORT HISTORY: The origin of the Rashtrakuta dynasty has been a controversial topic of Indian history. These issues mainly pertain to the connection between the several Rashtrakuta dynasties that ruled small kingdoms in northern and central India and the Deccan between the 6th and 7th centuries. The relationship of these medieval Rashtrakutas to the most famous later dynasty, the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (present day Malkhed in the Gulbarga district, Karnataka state), who ruled between the 8th and 10th centuries has also been debated. The heart of the Rashtrakuta empire included nearly all of Karnataka, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh, an area which the Rashtrakutas ruled for over two centuries. With the fall of the Rashtrakutas, their feudatories and related clans in the Deccan and northern India declared independence. The Western Chalukyas annexed Manyakheta and made it their capital until 1015 and built an impressive empire in the Rashtrakuta heartland during the 11th century. The focus of dominance shifted to the Krishna River – Godavari River doab called Vengi. The former feudatories of the Rashtrakutas in western Deccan were brought under control of the Chalukyas, and the hitherto-suppressed Cholas of Tanjore became their arch enemies in the south. At their peak the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta had ruled a vast empire stretching from the Ganges River and Yamuna River doab in the north to Cape Comorin (Kanya Kumari) in the south, a fruitful time of political expansion, architectural achievements and famous literary contributions. The early kings of this dynasty were influenced by Hinduism and the later kings by Jainism. This Suryavanshi dynasty established itself in the Deccan in the years between 747 and 753, having already ruled in North Berar since 631 and Gujarat since ca700. Several branches of the Rashtrakuta dynasty were founded during their expansion into central and northern India in the eighth to the tenth centuries. These kingdoms ruled during the reign of the parent empire or continued to rule for centuries after the its fall or came to power much later. Well known among these were the Rashtrakutas of Gujarat (757-888), the Rattas of Saundatti (875-1230) in modern Karnataka, the Rashtrakutas of Rajputana, and ruling from Hastikundi or Hathundi (893-996), Dahal (near Jabalpur), Mandore (near Jodhpur), the Rathores of Dhanop, Rashtraudha dynasty of Mayuragiri in modern Maharashtra and Rashtrakutas of Kanauj. Rulers were....

• Raja Dantivarman I, 1st Raja of the Deccan, in the inscription of the Dashavatara temple, he is described as a protector of 'Varnashrama Dharma' (laws of castes and stages of life); he was described as a goodnatured, merciful and independent ruler; married and had issue. He lived around 593.

  • Raja Indraraja I [aka Prachchhakaraja](qv)

• Raja Indraraja I, 2nd Raja of the Deccan, he is described as a performer of many sacrifices (Yagyas) and a brave king; married and had issue.

  • Raja Govindaraja I [aka Vira Narayana](qv)

• Raja Govindaraja I, 3rd Raja of the Deccan, married and had issue. He lived around 634.

  • Raja Karkaraja I (qv)

• Raja Karkaraja I, 4th Raja of the Deccan, he was a follower of the Vedic religion and a patron of leaning; married and had issue.

  • Raja Indraraja II (qv)

  • Raja Krishnaraja I (qv)

  • Rao Nanna, married and had issue.

    • Rao Shankaragana, he lived around 793.

• Raja Indraraja II, 5th Raja of the Deccan, married a Chalukya Princess, and had issue.

  • Raja Dantidurga Vallabharaja [aka Dantivarman II] (by the Chalukya Rani) (qv)

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Dantidurga Prithvivallabha, Vallabharaja, Maharaja Sharva, Khadgavaloka, Sahasatunga, Vairamegha, 6th Raja of the Deccan 735/756 or 750/760 or 754/768, he laid the foundation of Rashtrakuta empire, which was the most powerful of the time; he probably ruled from Achalapura in Berar (modern Elichpur in Maharashtra), he and Pulakeshin of Gujarat combined to help Vikramaditya II Chalukya, repulse an Arab invasion; he joined Vikramaditya in an expedition against Kanchi and the Pallavas; he conquered Gurjara, and Malwa, and defeated the Chalukya Raja Vallabha Kirtivarman II, so that by the end of 753, he controlled all of Maharashtra; he marrried (a), a Chalukya Princess, married (b), a daughter of the Pallava King Nandivarman.

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Krishnaraja I Akalavarsha, Shubhatunga, Prithvlvallabha, Shrivallabha, Vallabharaja, 7th Raja of the Deccan 756/774 or 760/- or 768/783, he succeeded his nephew and completed the defeat of the Chalukya rulers, bringing major portions of present-day Karnataka and Konkan under his control; married and had issue.

  • Raja Govinda II (qv)

  • Raja Dhruvaraja Dharavarsha (qv)

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Govinda II Vallabharaja, Prabhu tavarsha, Vikramavaloka, 8th Raja of the Deccan 774/780, he was uninterested in ruling and left the administration to his brother, who eventually usurped the throne, defeating the Ganga, Pallava, and Vengi kings who had opposed him.

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Dhruvaraja Dharavarsha, Kalivallabha, Shrivallabha, Nirupama, 9th Raja of the Deccan 780/793, during his rule, the kingdom expanded into an empire that encompassed all of the territory between the Kaveri River and Central India; he led successful expeditions to Kannauj, the seat of northern Indian power where he defeated the Gurjara Pratiharas and the Palas of Bengal, gaining him fame and vast booty but not more territory; he also brought the Eastern Chalukyas and Gangas of Talakad under his control, and the Rashtrakutas became a pan-India power; married and had issue.

  • Mahasamantadhipati Stambha [aka Shauchakamba, Kambayya or Ranavaloka)

  • Raja Govinda III [aka Jagattunga I](third son) (qv)

  • Rao Indraraja, 1st Raja of Lata 808/818, his older brother conquered Lata (southern and central Gujarat) around 808, and gave it to him as a fief; appointed Viceroy of Gujurat and Malava by his brother; married and had issue. He died after 818.

    • Mahasamantadhipati Lateshvara Suvarnavarsha Raja Karkaraja [aka Kakkaraja], 2nd (joint) Raja of Lata 818/826, Viceroy of Gujarat, he acted as Regent for his cousin; married and had issue. He died after 826.

      • Mahasamantadhipati Dharavarsha Nirupama Raja Dhruvaraja I, 4th Raja of Lata before 835/845, he headed a rising against Amoghavarsha I, which obliged the latter to march against him, he was probably killed in this action, married and had issue. He was killed in battle in or before 867.

        • Mahasamantadhipati Shubhatunga Subhatatunga Raja Akalavarsha, 5th Raja of Lata, married and had issue. fl.867

          • Mahasamantadhipati Raja Dhruvaraja II, 6th Raja of Lata, -/871 he defeated the combined invading armies of Gurjararaja, Vallabha, and Mihira (possibly Pratihara Raja Bhoja of Kanauj)

          • Mahasamantadhipati Aparimitavarsha Raja Dantivarman, 7th Raja of Lata, married and had issue.

            • Mahasamantadhipati Akalavarsha Raja Krishnaraja, 8th Raja of Lata, he defeated his enemies at Ujjain in the presence of Vallabharaja, the kingdom was annexed sometime between 888 and 910 by the Rajas of Manyakheta (see below).

          • Rao Govindaraja III

    • Mahasamantadhipati Prabhutavarsha Raja Govindaraja, 3rd (joint) Raja of Lata 818/826

  • Raja Bhima-Salukki, he was installed on the Vengi throne by his brother in 802, but after his brother died in 814, he was overthrown by Vijayaditya II who regained his throne and invaded Rashtrakuta territory, plundering and devastating the city of Stambha

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Govinda III Prithvivallabha, Pabhutavarsha, Shrivallabha, Vimaladitya, Jagattunga, Kirtinarayana, Atishayadhavala, Tribhuvanadhavala, Janavallabha, 10th Raja of the Deccan 793/814, his reign heralded an era of success like never before, but first he had to defeat his brother, Stambha and a rebellion of twelve kings, but the brothers soon afterwards reconciled; there was a three way conflict between the Rashtrakutas, the Palas and the Pratiharas for control over the Gangetic plains, and he first turned his army north toward Kannauj, and defeated Raja Nagabhata II and the Pala Emperor Dharmapala; later he marched all the way to the Himalayas, uprooting and reinstating local kings, he also defeated Vijayaditya II, who had become king of Vengi in 799 and had challenged Rashtrakuta supremacy; his forces then scattered a confederacy of Pallava, Pandya, Kerala, and Ganga rulers and occupied Kanchi, threatening the king of Lanka; the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Cheras all paid him tribute, and the Rashtrakuta empire was now spread over the areas from Cape Comorin to Kannauj and from Banaras to Bharuch; married Rani Gamundabbe, and had issue.

  • Raja Amoghavarsha I (qv)

  • Rajkumari Rannadevi, married Raja Dharmapala, the Pala Raja of Bengal.

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sharva Maharaja Shantfa Amoghavarsha I Nripatunga, Atishayadhavala, Vlra Narayana, Prithvivallabha, Shri Prithvivallabha, Lakshmivallabha, Bhatara, Prabhutavarsha, Jagattunga, 11th Raja of the Deccan 814/878 (abdicated), born about 800, he was the most famous of the Rashtrakuta kings, during his minority, Karkka, the Viceroy of Gujarat acted as Regent; he made Manyakheta his capital and ruled a large empire; he came to the throne in 814 but it was not until 821 that he had suppressed revolts from feudatories and ministers; about 817, Vijayaditya II of Vengi occupied the throne of the Deccan but was finally ousted by Karkka in 821; ten years later in about 831, the Rashtrakuta army defeated the Eastern Chalukyas at Vingavalli, he assumed the title Viranarayana and also occupied the throne for about twelve years; Karkka was again made Viceroy of Gujarat, but his son, Dhruva, later rebelled and was killed around 845; the Rashtrakutas also warred with the Gangas for around twenty years until some peace was bought with the marriage of his two daughters to the Western Ganga prince; his long reign an enriching one for the arts, literature and religion and was distinguished for its royal patronage of Jainism and the flourishing of regional literature, and he himself was an accomplished scholar in both Kannada and Sanskrit, having authored the Kavirajamarga, which is considered an important landmark in Kannada poetics and the Prashnottara Ratnamalika in Sanskrit; married Rani Asagavve, and had issue. He died 882.

  • Raja Krishnaraja II Akalavarsha (qv)

  • Rao Duddaya

  • Rajkumari Chandrabbalabbe, married in about 860, Rao Gunadattaranga Bhutuga I, son of Ereganga Neetimarga, son of Raja Rachamalla I of the Western Ganga.

  • Rajkumari Revakanimaddi, she administered the province of Edathore Vishaya; she married the Western Ganga Prince, Yereganga, but he was related to the main ruling line, in an unknown way.

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Krishnaraja II Vallabharaja,Shubhatunga, Shrl Prithvivallabha, Akalavarsha, 12th Raja of the Deccan 878/914, he faced a revolt from the Eastern Chalukyas and ended the independent status of the Gujarat branch and brought it under direct control from Manyakheta; he married the daughter of Chedi ruler Kokkalla I, in order to gain an ally for his many wars with the Pratiharas, Eastern Chalukyas, Vengi, and the Chola; married (amongst others) (a), Maharani Mahadevi, daughter of Chedi ruler Raja Kokkalla I, Kalachuri Raja of Tripuri 850/890 or 875/925, and possibly his wife, Rani Netta Devi, daughter of Rao Vijayshakti (Chandel), 4th Rao of Jejakabhukti 865/885, and had issue.

  • Rao Jagattunga II (by Govindamba), married 1stly, Rani Lakshmi, daughter of Ranavigraha aka Shankaragana (son of Chedi ruler Raja Kokkalla I, Kalachuri Raja of Tripuri), married 2ndly, Rani Govindamba, younger sister of the first wife, and had issue. He died vp.

    • Raja Indra III (qv)

    • Raja Amoghavarsha III [aka Baddiga] (qv)

  • Rao Dantivarman

  • Rajkumari Illangopichi, she married Raja Rajakesari Aditya I, Chola Raja (see Chola Dynasty).

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Indraraja III Shrl Prithvivallabha, Nityavarsha, 13th Raja of the Deccan 914/922, he recovered the dynasty's fortunes in central India by defeating the Paramara and then invaded the doab region of the Ganges and Jamuna rivers; he also defeated the dynasty's traditional enemies, the Pratiharas (he captured northern India's imperial city Kanauj) and the Palas, while maintaining his influence over Vengi; married Rani Vijamba, daughter of Ammanadeva (Anangadeva), son of Arjuna and grandson of Raja Kokkala of the Kalachuri (Haihaya) dynasty, and had issue. He died 922.

  • Raja Amoghavarsha II (qv)

  • Raja Govinda IV [aka Gojjiga](qv)

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Amoghavarsha II Vallabharaja, 14th Raja of the Deccan 922/930 or 916/917, he was religious minded by nature and had to get help from his Chedi relations to defeat his brother Govinda IV, who had usurped the throne.

• Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Govindaraja IV Prabhutavarsha, Suvarnavarsha, Nripatunga, Vlranarayana, Nityakandarpa, Rattakandarpa, Shashanka, Nripatitrinetra, Sahasanka, Prithvlvallabha, Vallabhanarendradeva, Vikrantanarayna, Gojjigavallabha, 15th Raja of the Deccan (917?)930/935, he may have made an unsuccessful attack upon Chalukya Raja Bhima, as well as an attempt on Chalukya Raja Amma I, King of Vengi, at the time of the succession, but achieved no success. He died of sexual excess at a young age in about 934-935.

• Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Amoghavarsha III Shrl Prithvivallabha, 16th Raja of the Deccan 934/939, married (a), Rani Kandakadevi, daughter of the Kalachuri Raja Yuvarajadeva I, King of Tripuri, and had issue.

  • Rajkumari Revakanimmadi, she married Raja Satyavakya Kongunivarma Peramanadi Bhutuga II, of the western Ganga.

  • Raja Krishnaraja III Vallabharaja (qv)

  • Rao Jagattunga III, he died before 940.

  • Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Khottigadeva Nityavarsha, Rattakandarpa, Shrl Prithvlvallabha, Vallabharaja (qv)

  • Rao Nirupama, married and had issue.

    • Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Paramamaheshvara Karkkaraja II Amoghavarsha, Nripatunga, Viranarayana, Nutana Partha, Ahitamartanda, Rajatrinetra, Prithvivallabha, Vallabhanarendra (qv)

• Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Paramaramaheshvara Krishnaraja III Akalavarsha, Prithvivallabha, Shrl Prithvivallabha, Samastabhuvanashraya, Kandharapuravaradhishvara, Vallabharaja, 17th Raja of the Deccan 939/967, after a succession of weak kings during whose reigns the empire lost control of territories in the north and east, he consolidated the empire so that it stretched from the Narmada River to Kaveri River and included the northern Tamil country (Tondaimandalam) while levying tribute on the king of Ceylon; early in his reign he defeated the Kalachuri (Haihaya) Raja Sahasrarjuna, King of Chedi, and a relative of his mother and wife; he organized an invasion of the Chola Empire and acquired the territories of Kanchi and Tanjore, twenty years later another he undertook another expedition to the north, so that by the time of his death, the Rashtrakutas ruled over a vast empire; sometime around 950 he assumed the title of Chakravarti (Emperor); after his death struggles for the vacant throne allowed the Chalukya Raja, Taila II to overthrow the Deccan dynasty in 973 or 974; married a daughter of Raja Gangeyadeva of the Ganga dynasty, and had issue.

  • Raja Indraraja IV Vallabharaja (by Ganga Princess) (qv)

• Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Khottigadeva Nityavarsha, Rattakandarpa, Shrl Prithvlvallabha, Vallabharaja, Amoghavarsha, 18th Raja of the Deccan 967/972, he was attacked by Paramara Raja Siyaka Harsha in 972, who plundered Manyakheta, the capital of the Rashtrakutas. He died sp in 972.

• Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Karkkaraja II Prithvivallabharaja, Viranarayana, 19th Raja of the Deccan 972/973, dynasty overthrown by the Chalukya rulers in 973. He was killed in 973.

• Raja Indraraja IV Vallabharaja, Rattakandarpadeva, Rajamartanda, Chaladankakarana, Chaladaggale, Kirtinarayana, '20th Raja of the Deccan' 973/982, a brave and tried warrior, he was a puppet ruler installed by Raja Tailapa II, the Western Chalukya Raja, a feudatory who had declared himself independent; married a daughter of Rajachudamani. He committed Sallekhana (fasting unto death as practiced by Jain monks) at Shravanabelagolahe and died on 20th March 982.

Rashtrakutas of Hastikundi (Hathundi) (Jodhpur)

• Raja Harivarman, Raja of Hastikundi, married and had issue. fl.893

  • Raja Vidagdharaja (qv)

• Raja Vidagdharaja, Raja of Hastikundi, married and had issue. fl.916-938

  • Raja Mammata (qv)

• Raja Mammata, Raja of Hastikundi, married and had issue. fl.940

  • Raja Dhavala (qv)

  • Rani Mahalakshmi, married Maharajadhiraja Bhartribhatta II, 16th Rawal of Mewar at Chittor 942/943, and had issue.

    • Rawal Allata, 18th Rawal of Mewar at Ahar 951/953 (see Sisodia Dynasty)

• Raja Dhavala, Raja of Hastikundi, married and had issue.

  • Raja Balaprasada (qv)

• Raja Balaprasada, Raja of Hastikundi, married and had issue. fl.997

Rashtrakutas of Badaun (11th. century-13th. century)

• Rao Vigrahapala, 1st Rao of Badaun, he was granted the estate of Badaun; married and had issue.

  • Rao Bhuvanpala (qv)

• 2nd Rao of Badaun

• Rao Bhuvanpala, 3rd Rao of Badaun, married and had issue.

  • Rao Gopala (qv)

• Rao Gopala, 4th Rao of Badaun, married and had issue.

  • Rao Tribhuvanapala (qv)

  • Rao Madanapala (qv)

• Rao Tribhuvanapala, 5th Rao of Badaun

• Rao Madanapala, 6th Rao of Badaun fl.1119

  • Rao Devapala (qv)

  • Rao Bhimapala (qv)

• Rao Devapala, 7th Rao of Badaun, he lost Shravasti to the Gahadavalas in 1128.

• Rao Bhimapala, 8th Rao of Badaun, married and had issue.

  • Rao Shurapala (qv)

• Rao Shurapala, 9th Rao of Badaun, married and had issue.

  • Rao Amritapala (qv)

  • Rao Lakhanapala (qv)

• Rao Amritapala, 10th Rao of Badaun

• Rao Lakhanapala, 11th Rao of Badaun -/1202, in 1202, Qutbuddin Aibak conquered Badaun and gave it to Shamsuddin Altamish in Jagir.

• Raja Mahasamanta Barahadeva, '12th Rao of Badaun' a feudatory under the Gahadavala Raja Adakkhamalla fl.1237