Tag: the pallavas of kanchi (350 a.d. to 895 a.d.)

Rajaraja was aware of the importance of controlling the sea. He decided to show his strength along the coasts of South India. So, he took out a naval expedition and attacked both Sri Lanka and the Maldive Islands. However, he did not succeed in controlling them. 

For centuries, Indian merchants had been trading with various parts of South-East Asia and southern China, through the Straits of Malacca, which was held by the kingdom of Shrivijaya (modern day Indonesia). As the merchants of Shrivijaya began creating problems for the Indian merchants, the Indian merchants appealed to Rajendra Chola for help. He sent out a huge navy and defeated the Shrivijaya king. 

Rajendra I was a Chola emperor who is considered one of the greatest rulers and military generals of India. He succeeded his father Rajaraja Chola I. During his reign, he extended the influence of the Chola empire to the banks of the river Ganga in North India and across the Indian ocean to the West, making the Chola Empire as one of the most powerful empires of India. He ruled till 1044 A.D.

 The Chola empire was divided into mandalams or provinces. These were further divided into valandu and nadu. Princes of the royal family were appointed governors of provinces. 

 Rajendra assumed the title ‘Gangaikonda Chola’ (The Chola who took the Ganges) after defeating the Gangas, Chalukyas, Cheras, Pallavas, Pandyas, Kalinga and other rulers.

The Cholas believed in local self-government. In many of the villages, the administration was carried out not by the government officials but by the villagers themselves. These villages had three types of assemblies, namely the ur, the sabha and the nagaram. 

Rajadhiraj Chola was the last great ruler of the Chola dynasty, who successfully maintained the honour and extent of the Chola Empire. But he himself was killed in the Battle of Koppam against the Chalukyas in AD 1052. 

Rajendra I was a Chola emperor who is considered one of the greatest rulers and military generals of India. He succeeded his father Rajaraja Chola I in 1014 CE.

The Central Government  under the headship of the King. Council of ministers and officials took active part in running the administration of Central Government. The higher officials were called Peruntaram and the lower officials were called Siruntaram.

The Chola Empire was divided into mandalams and each mandalam into valanadus and nadus. In each nadu there were a number of autonomous villages. The royal princes or officers were in charge of mandalams. The valanadu was under periyanattar and nadu under nattar. The town was known as nagaram and it was under the administration of a council called nagarattar.