Mangalesa

Mangalesa (C. 596 – 610 CE) succeeded Kirtivarman I to the Chalukya throne. He ruled as regent as the heir to the throne Pulakesi II was considered too young to rule.

Capable warrior

An energetic and ambitious ruler, Mangalesa won several laurels in war. Mangalesa continued the policy of expansion, he invaded the territory of the Kalachuri ruler Buddhiraja who ruled over Gujarat, Khandesh and Malwa. This campaign was more a raid than a conquest as it brought in much booty and no addition to the territories. He suppressed a rebellion on the part of Swamiraja, the Governor of Revatidvipa (Goa) and re-established the Chalukyan power in Konkan. From the Mahakuta pillar inscription of 595 it is known that he subdued the Gangas, Pallava, Chola, Alupas and Kadambas rulers.

Titles

Mangalesa assumed the titles like Ururanaparakrama, Ranavikrama and Paramabhagavata, and excavated the Vaishnava temple at Badami.

Desire for the throne

As Mangalesa was ruling as a regent, he should have surrendered the throne to Pulakesi II when the latter came of age. Instead he sought to prolong his reign with the view of handing the throne to his own son Sundaravarma in due course.

This forced Pulakesi to rebel against his uncle. Pulakesi left the court and by his own martial prowess, waged a war on Mangalesa with the help of few of his friends. Mangalesa was routed and killed in the battlefield of Elapattu-Simbige (in Anantapur District). This incident is mentioned in the Peddavadu-guru inscription, and the incident must have happened about 610.

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).
• Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat (2001). Concise History of Karnataka, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002).
• South Indian Inscriptions
• History of Karnataka, Mr. Arthikaje