The three Sangam Literary Assemblies were held in Madurai, which was the capital of the Pandya kingdom and the major center of Tamil literary culture. According to Tamil tradition and Sangam literature itself, the three Sangams (Tamil Kadal) were patronized by Pandya kings and convened in Madurai over several centuries. The first Sangam is said to have been held at then-Madurai (capital lost to sea), the second at Kapatapuram, and the third at present-day Madurai. Thanjavur was a later Chola capital, Kanchipuram was Pallava territory, and Vanji was the Chera capital.