Vikrama Chola

Infobox Chola | name=Vikrama Chola
tamil = விக்ரம சோழன்


caption = Chola Territories c. 1126 C.E.
reign= 1118 – 1135 C.E.
title = Parakesari
capital = Gangaikonda Cholapuram
queen= Mukkokilan
Tyagapataka
Neriyan Madeviyar
children= Kulothunga Chola II
predecessor= Kulothunga Chola I
heir= Kulothunga Chola II
father= Kulothunga Chola I
year of birth= Unknown
year of death= 1135 C.E.

Vikrama Chola succeeded his father the famous Kulothunga Chola I to the Chola throne in 1120 C.E. He inherited an empire that had been severely confined to the Tamil country and a few out-lying areas of the Telugu country. He was partially successful in regaining some of the territories lost by his father.

During his reign the Chola country suffered from severe floods and the resultant draught. Most of the northeastern provinces were affected by this calamity.

Military campaigns

Early career

Vikrama Chola, who was probably the fourth son of Kulothunga Chola, was appointed as Viceroy of the Vengi province in 1089 C.E., succeeding his brother Rajaraja Chodaganga. Vikrama during his tenure successfully managed to check the ambitions of the Western Chalukya Vikramaditya VI on the Vengi kingdom.

In 1118 C.E., the aging Kulothunga recalled Vikrama Chola from Vengi to appoint him heir apparent and coregent. This apparently took place on the 29th June 1118 C.E. Vikrama continued to rule alongside his father until the latter's death in 1122 C.E. However the Western Chlukyas, utilising the opportunity of proper leadership in Vengi, invaded and captured the Eastern Chalukyan provinces.

Kalinga Expedition

Early in his career, Vikrama as the viceroy to the norther provinces led an expedition to the Kalinga country on behalf of his father (1110 C.E.). He defeated Telunga Bhima of Kulam. The Kalinga war is also referred to in the inscriptions and in the epic "Vikkiramacholan Ula".

Recovery of Vengi

The Western Chalukya Vikramaditya VI occupied the Eastern Chalukya provinces in 1118 C.E. When Vikramaditya died in 1026 C.E, Vikrama Chola re-conquered the lost territories. We do not have much information or the details on this campaign, however it seems likely that the local Telugu chieftains were ready to prefer the Chola overlordship to the Western Chalukyan dominance. On the request of the local chieftains in Vengi, Vikrama sent his son Kulothunga II at the head of a powerful army on an expedition against Vengi. The Velanadu Chodas, Giripaschima and Konakandravada also joined hands with the Chola army. The Chola supremacy over Vengi and consequently to Kalinga was firmly re-established with the Western Chalukyas who had occupied Vengi taking advantage of his travel to Gangaikonda Cholapuram for his coronation, were crushed in the battle of Mannery, which resulted in their being confined to Manyakheta for the rest of their existence.

Gangavadi

Vikrama Chola also succeeded in his attempts to recover to recover Gangavadi, which was lost the Hoysalas in 1118. While he did not recover Gangavadi fully, he was able to defeat the Hoysalas and annexe part of Gangavadi into the Chola Kingdom.

Personal life

Vikrama Chola was a great devotee of Siva and greatly patronised the temple at Chidambaram. In 1128 C.E. he signalled his devotion by allocating the entire revenue of the year to the upgrade and extension of the temple. He had the main "Vimana" of the temple and the roofs of the passages around the main deity covered with gold. He had a palace built near the temple and spent much of his time there.

The most characteristic title of Vikrama Chola was "Tyagasamudra" – the ocean of sacrifice, which is found in his inscriptions and in "Vikramacholan Ula".

We know the names of three of his queens: Mukkokilan, Tyagapataka and Neriyan Madeviyar. Of his sons we only know of Kulothunga Chola II who succeeded his on the throne.

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/
* Durga Prasad, History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D., P. G. PUBLISHERS, GUNTUR (1988)