Rajaraja Chola II
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 Chola territories during 1170 CE |
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| Reign | 1146 – 1173 C.E. |
| Title | Parakesari |
| Capital | Gangaikonda Cholapuram |
| Queen | Avanimulududaiyal Bhuvanimulududiyal Ulagudai Mukkokilan |
| Children | Unknown |
| Predecessor | Kulothunga Chola II |
| Successor | Rajadhiraja Chola II |
| Father | Kulothunga Chola II |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 1173 C.E. |
| List of Chola kings | |
|---|---|
| Early Cholas | |
| Ilamcetcenni | Karikala Chola |
| Nedunkilli | Nalankilli |
| Killivalavan | Kopperuncholan |
| Kocengannan | Perunarkilli |
| Interregnum - c 200-848 | |
| Medieval Cholas | |
| Vijayalaya Chola | 848-871(?) |
| Aditya I | 871-907 |
| Parantaka Chola I | 907-950 |
| Gandaraditya | 950-957 |
| Arinjaya Chola | 956-957 |
| Sundara Chola | 957-970 |
| Uttama Chola | 970-985 |
| Rajaraja Chola I | 985-1014 |
| Rajendra Chola I | 1012-1044 |
| Rajadhiraja Chola | 1018-1054 |
| Rajendra Chola II | 1051-1063 |
| Virarajendra Chola | 1063-1070 |
| Athirajendra Chola | 1067-1070 |
| Chalukya Cholas | |
| Kulothunga Chola I | 1070-1120 |
| Vikrama Chola | 1118-1135 |
| Kulothunga Chola II | 1133-1150 |
| Rajaraja Chola II | 1146-1163 |
| Rajadhiraja Chola II | 1163-1178 |
| Kulothunga Chola III | 1178-1218 |
| Rajaraja Chola III | 1216-1256 |
| Rajendra Chola III | 1246-1279 |
| Chola Society | |
| Chola Government | Chola Military |
| Chola Art | Chola Literature |
| Poompuhar | Urayur |
| Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Thanjavur |
| Telugu Cholas | |
| edit | |
Rajaraja Chola II succeeded his father Kulothunga Chola II to the Chola throne in 1150 C.E. He was made his heir apparent and coregent in 1146 C.E and so the inscriptions of Rajaraja II count his reign from 1146 C.E. Rajaraja's reign began to show signs of the coming end of the great dynasty.
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[edit] Growing weakness
The extent of the Chola territories remained as they were during Rajaraja's predecessors. The Vengi country was still fimmly under the Chola rule. However the feudatory Telugu Chola chieftains of Velanadu began to assert their independence more and more. There had been string of disasters from towards the close of Kulothunga Chola I's reign. The Chola territories, which was at its greatest under Rajendra Chola II has become severely circumscribed by the successes of the Hoysalas and the Western Chalukyas. More remarkably, the local chieftains, and dynastieswho had so far been loyal to their Chola overlords, were beginning to grow in power and influence.
The Chola central administration was never very effective over the outlying parts of the empire, but at the end of Rajaraja's reign, it even started betraying weakness at the centre. It was no longer the vigorous autocracy it once was. The constant warfare and pursuit of territory that was driving the empire forward and the expensive enterprises such as temple building, had been absent since the end of Kulothunga Chola I.
During the closing years of Rajaraja's reign, a great civil unrest as a result of a succession dispute convulsed the Pandya country, further weakening Chola influence there.
[edit] Extent of the Empire
The empire of Rajaraja II extended over the whole of the Telugu country up to Daksharama and over large area of Kungu country and the eastern part of Gangavadi.
[edit] Death and succession
The last regnal year cited in Rajaraja's inscription is 26. That makes the last year of his reign 1173 C.E. It seems likely that Rajaraja made Rajadhiraja Chola II heir apparent and coregent in 1163 C.E. Rajadhiraja was not the son of Rajaraja, but a son of Vikrama Chola by one of his daughters. It is very likely that this was because Rajaraja Chola II did not have any direct suitable descendant to ascend the Chola throne.
[edit] References
- Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1935). The CōĻas, University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).
- Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
- South Indian Inscriptions - http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/
