A BRIEF OVERVIEW ON THE EMPERORS OF THE MEDIEVAL CHOLA EMPIRE OF SOUTH INDIA (A.D.985 - 1120), AND ON THE PRE-EMPIRE AND POST EMPIRE PERIOD CHOLA KINGS
The Medieval Cholas were a very powerful Tamil ruling dynasty of Tamil Nadu, South India, who conquered vast territories in the Indian mainland, and 'near overseas' in the west and south of India, and 'far overseas' in south-east Asia at the time of their supreme power and greatness around A.D.1025.
The first Prime Minister of the modern India - Late Hon' Jawarhalal Nehru had clearly acknowledged the - greatness of the Medieval Cholas in Indian History - and has stated in his book titled "Glimpses of India" that - Cholas were the only royal dynasty in the Indian History who crossed seas and conquered "far distant lands".
Measuring their greatness achieved in all fields, a non-Tamil Historian correctly and justifiably referred to them in his book titled 'Currents of South-East Asian History' as "....kings of World stature...".
For those who wish to know briefly on the Medieval Cholas of Tamil Nadu, I append below some particulars on them, and trust same will be of much interest to many Readers.
THE CHOLAR {Cholas} OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (A.D.848 - A.D.1279)
(1) Vijayalya Cholan : A.D.848-881- His parentage is still not clear from evidences. Capital city - Palaiyarai and later at Thanjavur
(2) Athiththa Cholan : A.D.871-907 - Son of (1) Capital city - Thanjavur
(3) Paranthaha Cholan - 1 : A.D.907-955 - Son of (2) Capital city - Thanjavur Seaport city - Nagapattinam Over Seas War Expedition to - Sri Lanka
(4) Kandarathiththa Cholan : A.D.950-957 - Second Son of (3) Capital city - Thanjavur Seaport city - Nagapattinam
(5) Arinchchaya Cholan : A.D.956-957 - Third Son of (3) Capital city - Thanjavur Seaport city - Nagapattinam
(6) Paranthaha Cholan - 2 (Sundera Cholan) : A.D.957-970 - Son of (5) Capital city - Thanjavur Seaport city - Nagapattinam Overseas War expedition to Sri Lanka
(7) Uththama Cholan : A.D.973-985 - Son of (4) Capital city - Thanjavur Sea city - Nagapattinam
(8) Rajaraja Cholan - 1 : A.D.985-1014 - Son of (6) Capital city - Thanjavur Sea-port City - Nagapattinam Over Seas War Expeditions to - Sri Lanka & Maldive Islands. Over Seas Political Relations with - China
(9) Rajendra Cholan - 1: A.D.1012-1044 - Son of (8) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam
Mainland War Expeditions up to - River Ganges in north India including the present Bangaladesh.
Over Seas War Expeditions to - Sri Lanka, Maldive Islands, Laccadive Islands (west of Kerala), Nicobar Islands (present Andaman & Nicobar Islands), lower Burma, lower Thailand, many regions in Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra of Indonesia & Laos onbehlf of the Cambodian king.
Over Seas Political Relations with - Cambodia, & China.
(10) Rajadhiraja Cholan - 1: A.D.1018-1054 - Eldest Son of (9) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam Over Seas War Expeditions to - Sri Lanka
(11) Rajendra Chola - 2 : A.D.1051-1063 - Second Son of (9) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam Over Seas War Expeditions to - Sri Lanka
(12) Virarajendra Cholan : A.D.1063-1070 - Son of (9) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam
Over Seas War Expeditions to - Sri Lanka. Expedition to lower Burma, Kedah region in Malaysia, some regions in Sumatra & Java of Indonesia, and the region of Taoist China near Canton lead by his nephew Kulothunga (14) "during his youthfull days on behalf of his uncle (the mother's brother) Virarajendra Chola".
(13) Athirajendra Cholan : A.D.1067-1070 - Son of (12) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam
(14) Kulothunga Cholan - 1 : A.D.1070-1120 - Son of the Sister of (10), (11), & (12) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam Over Seas War Expeditions to - Sri Lanka.
(15) Vikkrama Cholan : A.D.1118-1135 - Son of (14) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam
(16) Kulothunga Cholan - 2 : A.D.1133-1150 - Son of (15) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam
(17) Rajaraja Cholan - 2 : A.D.1146-1163 - Son of (16) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram later at Palaiyarai renamed as Rajarajapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam
(18) Rajadiraja Cholan - 2 : A.D.1163-1178 - Grand Son of (15)& a cousin brother of (17) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam Over Seas War Expeditions to - Sri Lanka
(19) Kulothunga Cholan - 3 : A.D.1178-1218 - Son of (17) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam
(20) Rajaraja Cholan - 3 : A.D.1216-1256 - Son of (19) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam
(21) Rajendra Cholan - 3 : A.D.1246-1279 - Son of (20) Capital city - Gangaikonda Cholapuram Sea-port City - Nagapattinam