Rajaraja - Conquerer Unparalleled!!!

The Greatest King of South India:

Well this is yet another back to back post by me, this is one topic which I am extremely keen to key in my views - Ancient History, especially Dravidian history, I feel there is a lot of hue and cry on Aryan History, the invasion theory and associated theories but much lesser attention towards Dravidian History and its vast significance in the current scheme of things.

RajaRaja is my favourite King, simply because of his volominous conquests and his vision to unite India at such an early phase in world history, the catch point being - all this amalgamation taking place from bottom to top(south to north), and not the other way as we have heard of on so many instances.

His Prestigious Conquests Encapsulate:

Kandalur Salai:
Significant highpoints: Destroying a Fleet in the port of Kandalur( present kerala ), this port is located in the dominions of the Chera King Bhaskara Ravi Varman Thiruvadi.Insciptions around Tanjavur show frequent references to this conquest. This war was waged mainly against the Pandya's and Chola's.

Invasion Of Lanka:

Mahinda V was the king of Sinhalas(Lankans) in 991 C.E. RajaRaja's fleet plundered Lanka, the famous copper - plate inscriptions show RajaRaja's powerful army crossing the Indian Ocean.A Mahinda gave up and absconded off to hill Rohana for refuge, Cholas occupied the entire northern half of Lanka and named the kingdom as ‘Mummudi Chola Mandalam’.

Moving Up North:

Before his 14th year c. 998 – 999 C.E., Rajaraja conquered Gangapadi and Nurambapadi, which formed part of the present Karnataka State. These wars were called the ganga wars and the territory occupied was called Ganga country.This success was aided by the sudden dissappearance of Rastrakutas in 973 C.E. as they were conquered by western Chalukyas.

From this point of conquest chalukyas became the main antagonists of the Cholas in the northwest.

To Be Continued.....