Pulakeshin I

Pulakeshin I
Satyashraya, Vallabha and Dharmamaharaja
Founder of Chalukya dynasty
Reign	c. 543 – c. 566
Successor	Kirtivarman I

Issue	Kirtivarman I
Dynasty	Chalukya
Father	Ranaranga

Chalukya dynasties

Badami Chalukyas

Pulakeshin I	543–566
Kirtivarman I	566–597
Mangalesha	597–609
Pulakeshin II	609–642
Vikramaditya I	655–680
Vinayaditya	680–696
Vijayaditya	696–733
Vikramaditya II	733–746
Kirtivarman II	746–753

Vengi / Eastern Chalukyas

Kubja Vishnuvardhana	624–641
Jayasimha I	641–673
Indra Bhattaraka	673
Vishnu Vardhana II	673–682
Mangi Yuvaraja	682–706
Jayasimha II	706–718
Kokkili	719
Vishnuvardhana III	719–755
Vijayaditya I	755–772
Vishnuvardhana IV	772–808
Vijayaditya II	808–847
Kali Vishnuvardhana V	847–849
Vijayaditya III	849–892
Chalukya Bhima I	892–921
Vijayaditya IV	921
Amma I	921–927
Beta Vijayaditya V	927
Tala I	927
Vikramaditya II	927–928
Bhima II	928
Yuddhamalla II	928–935
Chalukya Bhima II	935–947
Amma II	947–970
Tala I	970
Danarnava	970–973
Jata Choda Bhima	973–999
Shaktivarman I	1000–1011
Vimaladitya	1011–1018
Rajaraja Narendra	1019–1061
Vijayaditya VII

Kalyani / Western Chalukyas

Tailapa II	957–997
Satyashraya	997–1008
Vikramaditya V	1008–1015
Jayasimha II	1015–1042
Someshvara I	1042–1068
Someshvara II	1068–1076
Vikramaditya VI	1076–1126
Someshvara III	1126–1138
Jagadhekamalla II	1138–1151
Tailapa III	1151–1164
Jagadhekamalla III	1163–1183
Someshvara IV	1184–1200

Pulakeshin I (IAST: Pulakeśin), also spelt Pulakesi I and Pulikeshi I, was a monarch from the Chalukya dynasty in the western Deccan region of India. His descendants ruled over an empire that comprised the entire state of Karnataka and most of Andhra Pradesh. Pulakeshin overthrew the Kadambas to establish the Chalukya kingdom. He had the titles Satyashraya, Vallabha and Dharmamaharaja.

Predecessors

The Chalukya records mention two early chiefs of the family, Jayasimha Vallabha (500–520) and his son, Ranaranga (520–540). They must have been petty chiefs under the Kadambas, but we know little about their activities and achievements.

Establishment of Chalukya kingdom

Pulakeshin I was Ranaranga's son. He earned the distinction of being the first independent King and the real founder of the Chalukya dynasty. He successfully defied the waning power of the Kadambas and proclaimed the Chalukyan independence. He chose Badami (Vatapi) as his capital and constructed a strong hill fortress there. The new fortress stood on the indefensible location surrounded by rivers and steep mountains.

Pulakeshin performed sacrifices like Asvamedha, Hiranyagarbha, Agnistoma, Vajapeya, Bahusuvarna and Paundarika. These details are provided by his Badami Cliff inscription dated Saka 565 (543 CE).55

Extent of kingdom

At the time of Pulakeshin I the Chalukyan kingdom did not extend much beyond the immediate vicinities of Badami. However his conquests pushed the borders of the empire outward from that core. He annexed the kingdom of Vakataka and expanded to the west coast of Karnataka giving him access to the valuable Arabian Sea trade routes.^[1]

Titles

Pulakeshin assumed titles like Vallabha, Dharma Maharaja, Satyashraya, Ranavikrama and so on. Inscriptions compare him with such mythical heroes as Yayati and Dilipa. His wife was Durlabhadevi of Bappura family.

Pulakeshin was succeeded by his son Kirtivarman I (566–597).

Preceded by Ranaranga	Chalukyas 543–566	Succeeded by Kirtivarman I

Notes

↑ Bauer, Susan Wise (2010). The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-393-05975-5.

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 - http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/
History of Karnataka, Mr. Arthikaje

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