Vira Narasimha II's Southern intervention

Vira Narasimha II's Southern intervention
Date 1220-1238 AD Location All across South India Result Hoysala-Chola victory Territorial changes Rajaraja III Restored to the Chola throne.
Belligerents
Hoysala dynasty Chola dynasty Chodas of Nellore	Pandya dynasty Kadava dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Vira Narasimha II Rajaraja III Tikka Choda	Maravarman Sundara Pandya I Kopperunchinga I
Casualties and losses
Light to Medium	Heavy to severe

The Southern intervention of Vira Narasimha II was a Hoysala campaign launched to protect the Chola dynasty from collapse and restore and maintain the imperial throne of Rajaraja III.

As the name suggests, it was led by Vira Narasimha II, one of the most noteworthy kings of the Hoysalas.

Prelude

After the death of Kulottunga III, the Cholas went into a period of deep decline. Rajaraja III, Kulottunga's successor, was in no way capable of maintaining the stability of the dynasty.

Shortly after, Rajaraja defied the Pandyas by refusing to pay tribute. In response, Maravarman Sundara Pandya I, the Pandya king, allied with the Kadava chief, Kopperunchinga I and invaded the Chola realm. ^[1] However, due to a royal marriage between the Hoysala and Chola families, Vira Narasimha II, the Hoysala king, quickly interfered alongside the Chola feudatory, Tikka Choda.

War

Initial Stages

During the initial stage of the war, Sundara Pandya went on the offensive and routed the Cholas in the battle of Tellaru. Afterwards, Rajaraja III fled from the Chola capital but was then captured by Kopperunchinga I.

Hoysala offensive

In order to prevent a Chola collapse, Vira Narasimha II quickly rushed down south with an army in order to rescue the defeated Chola ruler. He then defeated the South Arcot chiefs and captured Srirangam.

Magadai Mandalam was invaded again in 1220–1238. The Hoysala commanders Appanna and Samudra-Gopayya then reached Chidambaram, routing on their way the Kadava chiefs who were Pandya's allies, in the battle of Perumbalur. Finally, receiving news that the Kadava chiefs were willing to release the Chola monarch Rajaraja III from Sendamangalam where he was held captive and consider the Cholas as a free kingdom, the Hoysalas escorted the Chola monarch back to Kanchi in 1231. At the same time, Vira Narasimha II himself had defeated Sundara Pandya in the battle of Mahendramangalam. At Srirangam, Narasimha II built a mantapa (mandapam) in the temple during his halt there en route to the march against the Pandya. The Koyilolugu recording the history of the Srirangam temple mentions that the Kannada king Vira Narasimharaya II built the mantapa in the temple and set up a pillar of victory at Setu (Rameswaram). ^[2]

Defeat of the Kadavas

Soon after, Kopperunchinga I was defeated by Vira Narasimha II, who after restoring the fallen Chola empire as an ally, took the title 'Destroyer of the Demon Kadavaraya'.

Aftermath

For the rest of his reign Rajaraja had to depend heavily on Hoysala help. There was a continuous decrease in order within the kingdom and the disregard for the central control on the part of the feudatories increased. The extent of the kingdom over which Rajaraja had nominal control remained as during the times of Kulothunga III.

References

1. Sastri, KA Nilakanta (1955), A history of South India: from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar (Hardback ed.), Chennai: Oxford University Press, p. 195, ISBN   0-19-560686-8
2. Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1982). South Indian Shrines: Illustrated. Asian Educational Services. ISBN   978-81-206-0151-2.