A HISTORICAL NOTE
The Chola Family Tree and other important characters
Centuries ago, the Cholas of South India rose to great heights when King Vijayalaya Chola (AD 846 - 871) conquered the Pallava Kingdom and established Thanjavur as the capital city of Cholas.
His son and successor King Aditya I (AD 871 - 907) vanquished the Pallavas and the Kongu land. Later, under the reign of his son Paranthakan I (AD 907-953), the Cholas acquired a dominion that laid the foundation for the vast empire that later Kings Rajarajan, Rajendran, and Kulothungan would establish and expand.
Paranthakan I, won significant victories over the Banas, the Gangas, the Pandyas and the King of Elangai and one can learn all about his conquests from the many inscriptions that were written about him. Towards the end of his reign, the Rashtrakutas under the command of Krishnaraja III invaded the Chola Kingdom and the Chola Crown Prince Rajadithan, who led the army, fell dead at Thakkolam (near present day Arakonam) in AD 947-948. Following this defeat the Rashtrakutas seized Tondainadu and ruled over it for about a quarter of a century, confining the sway of the Cholas to their ancestral dominion comprising of Thanjavur and Tiruchinapalli.
King Paranthakan I had three sons, the eldest Rajadhitan (who was killed in the Thakkolam battle), Prince Gandaradithan and Prince Arizhayan. After the demise of King Paranthakan, Gandaradithan ascended the throne, but he was a widower who had no intention of marrying again or siring heirs. Instead, he proclaimed his nephew, young Paranthakan, his brother Prince Arizhayan’s son, as his heir apparent.
However, unexpectedly a few years before his death, KingGandaradithan got married to Sembiyanmadevi and begot Prince Madhuranthakan. Despite the birth of his own son, he willed that his nephew would remain the crown prince and his heir apparent. After his death, his Queen Sembiyanmadevi upheld her husband’s wishes, as her own.
Paranthakan II ascended the throne after his uncle’s death and ruled the Kingdom wisely. He was so attractive and handsome that he came to be known as King Sundara Chola, by his subjects. King Sundara Chola had two sons and one daughter. He made his eldest son, Prince Aditya Karikalan, a peerless warrior, his heir apparent.
His son and successor King Aditya I (AD 871 - 907) vanquished the Pallavas and the Kongu land. Later, under the reign of his son Paranthakan I (AD 907-953), the Cholas acquired a dominion that laid the foundation for the vast empire that later Kings Rajarajan, Rajendran, and Kulothungan would establish and expand.
Paranthakan I, won significant victories over the Banas, the Gangas, the Pandyas and the King of Elangai and one can learn all about his conquests from the many inscriptions that were written about him. Towards the end of his reign, the Rashtrakutas under the command of Krishnaraja III invaded the Chola Kingdom and the Chola Crown Prince Rajadithan, who led the army, fell dead at Thakkolam (near present day Arakonam) in AD 947-948. Following this defeat the Rashtrakutas seized Tondainadu and ruled over it for about a quarter of a century, confining the sway of the Cholas to their ancestral dominion comprising of Thanjavur and Tiruchinapalli.
King Paranthakan I had three sons, the eldest Rajadhitan (who was killed in the Thakkolam battle), Prince Gandaradithan and Prince Arizhayan. After the demise of King Paranthakan, Gandaradithan ascended the throne, but he was a widower who had no intention of marrying again or siring heirs. Instead, he proclaimed his nephew, young Paranthakan, his brother Prince Arizhayan’s son, as his heir apparent.
However, unexpectedly a few years before his death, KingGandaradithan got married to Sembiyanmadevi and begot Prince Madhuranthakan. Despite the birth of his own son, he willed that his nephew would remain the crown prince and his heir apparent. After his death, his Queen Sembiyanmadevi upheld her husband’s wishes, as her own.
Paranthakan II ascended the throne after his uncle’s death and ruled the Kingdom wisely. He was so attractive and handsome that he came to be known as King Sundara Chola, by his subjects. King Sundara Chola had two sons and one daughter. He made his eldest son, Prince Aditya Karikalan, a peerless warrior, his heir apparent.
This is where our story begins.
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