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The Sri Lankan King who defeated Tamil Kings
by Guest Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:51 pm
Parākramabāhu I (Sinhala: මහා පරාක්රමබාහු Maha Parākramabāhu (Parākramabāhu the Great);[1][2] 1123–1186) was king of Sri Lanka from 1153 to 1186. During his reign from his capital Polonnaruwa, he unified the three sub kingdoms of the island, becoming one of the last monarchs in Sri Lankan history to do so. He oversaw the expansion and beautification of his capital, constructed extensive irrigation systems, reorganized the country's army, reformed Buddhist practices, encouraged the arts and undertook military campaigns in southern India and in Myanmar. The adage "not even a little water that comes from the rain must flow into the ocean without being made useful to man" is one of his most famous utterances.[3]...
Pandya War, 1167–1183
Parākramabāhu's alliance with Parakrama Pandya contributed in significantly shrinking the Chola empire by 1120
In 1167 the Pandyan king Parakrama appealed to his namesake in Lanka for assistance against an alliance of his rival Kulasekhara Pandya and the Cholas. Such an appeal was not unusual, as the Pandya had long found allies in the Sinhalese against the Cholas, and their nobility had spent some time in exile at the court of Mahinda IV (956–972) after the invasion of their land by Parantaka Chola II.
On this occasion however the Sri Lankan help came too late. By the time Parākramabāhu's general Lankapura arrived in Pandya Nadu, Kulasekhara had captured the capital Madhurai and killed King Parakrama's wife and children. His son Prince Virapandu however had managed to escape. Rather than head for Madhurai, Lankapura landed in the vicinity of Ramanathapuram and captured the city of Rameswaram, which remained in Sri Lankan hands for the next thirty years or so.[8] Here they built a fortress called Parakramapura. In this early phase of the war they fought Kulasekhara on several occasions, eventually laying siege to him in Madhurai and seizing the city. Virapandu was restored to power, but apparently only as a puppet, as the Sri Lankan army under Lankapura remained in Madhurai and continued to engage the Chola across south India.[78]
The Culavamsa dedicates much of chapter LXXVII to a description of the ensuing war between Lankapura and Kulasekhara, who apparently fought on with assistance from the Cheras. The Lankan effort was so successful that Parākramabāhu appears to have established a near-permanent authority over Pandya Nadu (the chapter is entitled Conquest of the Pandya Kingdom), even establishing a city called Panduvijaya in commemoration of the conquest.[79] However the account ends abruptly. No mention is made of Lankapura's return to Sri Lanka, nor of whether Virapandu III succeeded on hanging on to power.
The remainder of the story can be gleaned from inscriptions in south India and by inference. The Sinhala army is known to have scored a number of victories over the Chola army. However, the Pallavarayanpettai inscription indicates that Lankapura was defeated in 1171 and his head was nailed to the gates of Madhurai by Rajadhiraja Chola II (1163–1178).[8][80] Nevertheless the forces of Parākramabāhu appear to have remained in Pandya Nadu, scoring victories over Rajadhiraja II in 1176. It was not until 1181 when Virapandu III was defeated that the Sri Lankan army withdrew from Pandya Nadu, retaining only the area around Rameshwaram.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parakramabahu_I
Pandya War, 1167–1183
Parākramabāhu's alliance with Parakrama Pandya contributed in significantly shrinking the Chola empire by 1120
In 1167 the Pandyan king Parakrama appealed to his namesake in Lanka for assistance against an alliance of his rival Kulasekhara Pandya and the Cholas. Such an appeal was not unusual, as the Pandya had long found allies in the Sinhalese against the Cholas, and their nobility had spent some time in exile at the court of Mahinda IV (956–972) after the invasion of their land by Parantaka Chola II.
On this occasion however the Sri Lankan help came too late. By the time Parākramabāhu's general Lankapura arrived in Pandya Nadu, Kulasekhara had captured the capital Madhurai and killed King Parakrama's wife and children. His son Prince Virapandu however had managed to escape. Rather than head for Madhurai, Lankapura landed in the vicinity of Ramanathapuram and captured the city of Rameswaram, which remained in Sri Lankan hands for the next thirty years or so.[8] Here they built a fortress called Parakramapura. In this early phase of the war they fought Kulasekhara on several occasions, eventually laying siege to him in Madhurai and seizing the city. Virapandu was restored to power, but apparently only as a puppet, as the Sri Lankan army under Lankapura remained in Madhurai and continued to engage the Chola across south India.[78]
The Culavamsa dedicates much of chapter LXXVII to a description of the ensuing war between Lankapura and Kulasekhara, who apparently fought on with assistance from the Cheras. The Lankan effort was so successful that Parākramabāhu appears to have established a near-permanent authority over Pandya Nadu (the chapter is entitled Conquest of the Pandya Kingdom), even establishing a city called Panduvijaya in commemoration of the conquest.[79] However the account ends abruptly. No mention is made of Lankapura's return to Sri Lanka, nor of whether Virapandu III succeeded on hanging on to power.
The remainder of the story can be gleaned from inscriptions in south India and by inference. The Sinhala army is known to have scored a number of victories over the Chola army. However, the Pallavarayanpettai inscription indicates that Lankapura was defeated in 1171 and his head was nailed to the gates of Madhurai by Rajadhiraja Chola II (1163–1178).[8][80] Nevertheless the forces of Parākramabāhu appear to have remained in Pandya Nadu, scoring victories over Rajadhiraja II in 1176. It was not until 1181 when Virapandu III was defeated that the Sri Lankan army withdrew from Pandya Nadu, retaining only the area around Rameshwaram.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parakramabahu_I
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Re: The Sri Lankan King who defeated Tamil Kings
by Guest Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:54 pm
During his reign, Sri Lankan power contributed to the destabilizing of the Chola power of south India and Sri Lankan forces continued to have a presence in Rameswaram till the end of the 12th century. There are also records of Sinhala victories until well into the reign of King Nissanka Malla (1187–1196).[8] Furthermore the sheer size and extent of the king's construction projects can still be seen in Polonnaruwa today, as well as in the various carvings dotted around the country vaunting the accomplishments of the "Great King". However such success came at a price. Relentless warfare took its toll on the country and Parākramabāhu's reliance on Tamil mercenaries proved to be a destabilizing force after his death.
Reference: See the link in the OP
Reference: See the link in the OP
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Re: The Sri Lankan King who defeated Tamil Kings
by Guest Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:57 pm
Note: The above posts are for the historical education of Kayal Vizhi. I have no desire to hurt the sentiments of Tamilians other than to point out that history must not be misused in any way.
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Re: The Sri Lankan King who defeated Tamil Kings
by Guest Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:18 pm
Looks like Sri Lankan kings were allying with Pandyas and Cheras against their archenemies, the Cholas:
To eliminate the remaining actor in the triumvirate, Rajaraja invaded ancient Sri Lanka in 993 CE. The copper-plate inscription mention that Rajaraja’s powerful army crossed the ocean by ships and burnt up the Anuradhapura Kingdom. Mahinda V was the king of Sinhalese. In 991 CE, Mahinda’s army mutinied with help from mercenaries from Kerala. Mahinda had to seek refuge in the southern region of Ruhuna. Rajaraja utilised this opportunity and invaded the island. Chola armies occupied the northern half of Lanka and named the dominion ‘Mummudi Chola Mandalam’. Anuradhapura, the 1400-year-old capital of Sinhala kings was destroyed. The destruction was so extensive the city was abandoned. Cholas made the city of Polonnaruwa as their capital and renamed it Jananathamangalam. The choice of this city demonstrates the desire of Rajaraja to conquer the entire island. Rajaraja also built a Temple for Siva in Pollonaruwa.[10] RajaRajan's desire to bring the whole Lankan island under Cholan empire was never fulfilled and the southern part of the island (Ruhuna) remained independent. His son Rajendra Chola led the conquest continued in the year 1017 and brought the entire island under Chola rule.[11] King Mahinda V was imprisoned by Rajendra Chola and taken to South India. Later led Vikramabahu of Ruhuna rebellion against the Chola Empire. He allied with Pandyas and Cheras against the common archenemy Cholas. King Vijayabahu I successfully drove the Cholas out of Sri Lanka in 1070, reuniting the country for the first time in over a century.[12][13]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Raja_Chola_I#Sri_Lanka_conquest
To eliminate the remaining actor in the triumvirate, Rajaraja invaded ancient Sri Lanka in 993 CE. The copper-plate inscription mention that Rajaraja’s powerful army crossed the ocean by ships and burnt up the Anuradhapura Kingdom. Mahinda V was the king of Sinhalese. In 991 CE, Mahinda’s army mutinied with help from mercenaries from Kerala. Mahinda had to seek refuge in the southern region of Ruhuna. Rajaraja utilised this opportunity and invaded the island. Chola armies occupied the northern half of Lanka and named the dominion ‘Mummudi Chola Mandalam’. Anuradhapura, the 1400-year-old capital of Sinhala kings was destroyed. The destruction was so extensive the city was abandoned. Cholas made the city of Polonnaruwa as their capital and renamed it Jananathamangalam. The choice of this city demonstrates the desire of Rajaraja to conquer the entire island. Rajaraja also built a Temple for Siva in Pollonaruwa.[10] RajaRajan's desire to bring the whole Lankan island under Cholan empire was never fulfilled and the southern part of the island (Ruhuna) remained independent. His son Rajendra Chola led the conquest continued in the year 1017 and brought the entire island under Chola rule.[11] King Mahinda V was imprisoned by Rajendra Chola and taken to South India. Later led Vikramabahu of Ruhuna rebellion against the Chola Empire. He allied with Pandyas and Cheras against the common archenemy Cholas. King Vijayabahu I successfully drove the Cholas out of Sri Lanka in 1070, reuniting the country for the first time in over a century.[12][13]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Raja_Chola_I#Sri_Lanka_conquest
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Re: The Sri Lankan King who defeated Tamil Kings
by Guest Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:19 pm
Pandyas and Cheras and Cholas were all Tamils. So it was not a Sinhala vs Tamil battle. It was a (Sinhala + Pandya + Chera) vs Chola fight.
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Re: The Sri Lankan King who defeated Tamil Kings
by Guest Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:36 pm
Meanwhile, this is an interesting article first published in 'The Week' magazine. According to the article, the Chola conquest of Sri Lanka was reminiscent of Mahmud of Ghazni's attacks on North India in terms of brutality.
----
"Like father like son. But the greatest of Indian monarchs who dreamt of ruling over overseas territories were undoubtedly the splendid Chola father-and-son, Rajaraja and Rajendra. Thanks to their imperial energy and unprecedented vision, the Cholas dominated the amorphous maritime empire of the Sailendras for nearly a century. As Balram Srivastava observes in Rajendra Chola: 'The Chola navigators supported the Indian colonies in the far east and established a firm rule of the Cholas in Sri Vijaya. Their success nearer home, in Sri Lanka, was also splendid. They crossed the sea between India and Sri Lanka so often that it became a lake to them.' "
---
"The Cholas, originally a small clan ruling over parts of the Tamil country, could assert themselves only after the decline of the illustrious Pallavas of Kanchi. The first Chola empire was established by Karikala who subdued the Cheras and the Pandyas, but his successors were confined to a small territory between the Pallava and the Pandya kingdoms. But with the decline of the two in the 9th century, the Cholas asserted themselves, pushing back the Rashtrakutas, the Chalukyas, the Cheras and the Gangas."
---
"The real imperial era of the Cholas began with Vijayalaya around 850 A.D. Taking Thanjavur from the Muttarya chiefs, Vijayalaya assumed the title Tanjaikonda Prakesari or the conqueror of Thanjavur. And then, through a series of battles and marriage alliances with their neighbours, the Cholas consolidated in the next few centuries. After a short eclipse in the 10th century, came Rajaraja who literally turned the tide in favour of the Cholas."
---
"Ruthless conqueror. Having first fought and then agreed to a truce with Vengi of the eastern Chalukyas, Rajaraja, according to his own inscription, conquered Lakshadweep and the Maldives. Buddhist literature from Sri Lanka says that the Indian king took advantage of an internal strife in Sri Lanka and invaded the island. The ruthless Chola conquest was apparently no different from the conduct of Mahmud of Ghazni at Somnath. The Kulavamsa says that the capital Anuradhapura, which sported many Buddhist viharas, was 'utterly destroyed in every way by the Chola army.' Not only were the viharas decimated, but the holy stupas in them were torn apart in search of treasure. As George W. Spencer observes in The Politics of Expansion: The Chola Conquest of Sri Lanka and Sri Vijaya, 'Even if we allow for the exaggeration of the chroniclers, it is clear that the Cholas devastated the city.' "
---
"It was no religious conquest. The viharas were looted because they contained treasures, as did the temples of India during Mahmud's conquest. Rajaraja's adventures may be dismissed as having happened within the extended coastal waters of India. But his son Rajendra was a true conqueror of overseas territories. Says Dr. K.V. Hariharan in The Chola Maritime Activities in Early Historical Setting: 'Of the most notable was Rajendra Chola's naval expedition against Kadaram. In this expedition, he defeated a king named Sangama Vijayottungavarman, the king of Kataha, belonging to the Sailendras of Java. The territories wrested by the Cholas from this king consisted of the extensive kingdom of Sri Vijaya, which at one time included Sumatra and Java, with its capital at Palembang.' "
---
"Apparently it was after the Sailendra dynasty wrested the Sri Vijaya empire that relations with the Cholas soured. Is it probable that the imperial Chola was apprehensive of the conquering energy of the Sailendras ruling over the Sri Vijaya empire? There are scholars who believe that by the time Rajendra came to [the] throne, the Sailendra power was ebbing. Anyway, at its height, it encompassed all the islands from Nicobar to Sumatra and included the entire Malayan peninsula. Its capital, the city of Sri Vijaya, was believed to be to the southeast corner of Sumatra."
---
"Not only did Rajendra's army sack Kadaram and the Sri Vijaya capital, but it also took the Sri Vijaya king Sangrama Vijayottungavarman captive. The kingdom was restored to him only after he acknowledged Chola suzerainty. Tamil inscriptions recovered from the region show that there was Chola military presence till at least 1088 in the Malay archipelago."
---
"Information on these raiding conquests are sketchy, but scholars like R.C. Majumdar think that the emperor despatched more than one expedition to humble the Sri Vijayas. The list of 13 towns in the archipelago sacked by the Cholas has come from Rajendra's own inscriptions. Scholars have identified all but two of them. Six are located on the Malay peninsula, four on Sumatra, the other being the Nicobar islands. Scholars like Paul Wheatley have been sceptical of Rajendra's claims about the number of towns his army sacked, but most agree that a raid did take place."
---
"Says George Spencer: 'The campaign is plausible because it fits the Chola pattern of compulsive expansion in this period, fits the aim of Rajendra to exceed his father's accomplishments and fits the persistent Chola need to locate fresh sources of plunder or tribute.' There is evidence to show that the king of Kambujadesa (modern Cambodia) sent a chariot to the Chola, probably to appease him so that his strategic attention does [sic] not extend further than the Malay peninsula."
http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_062903a.html
----
"Like father like son. But the greatest of Indian monarchs who dreamt of ruling over overseas territories were undoubtedly the splendid Chola father-and-son, Rajaraja and Rajendra. Thanks to their imperial energy and unprecedented vision, the Cholas dominated the amorphous maritime empire of the Sailendras for nearly a century. As Balram Srivastava observes in Rajendra Chola: 'The Chola navigators supported the Indian colonies in the far east and established a firm rule of the Cholas in Sri Vijaya. Their success nearer home, in Sri Lanka, was also splendid. They crossed the sea between India and Sri Lanka so often that it became a lake to them.' "
---
"The Cholas, originally a small clan ruling over parts of the Tamil country, could assert themselves only after the decline of the illustrious Pallavas of Kanchi. The first Chola empire was established by Karikala who subdued the Cheras and the Pandyas, but his successors were confined to a small territory between the Pallava and the Pandya kingdoms. But with the decline of the two in the 9th century, the Cholas asserted themselves, pushing back the Rashtrakutas, the Chalukyas, the Cheras and the Gangas."
---
"The real imperial era of the Cholas began with Vijayalaya around 850 A.D. Taking Thanjavur from the Muttarya chiefs, Vijayalaya assumed the title Tanjaikonda Prakesari or the conqueror of Thanjavur. And then, through a series of battles and marriage alliances with their neighbours, the Cholas consolidated in the next few centuries. After a short eclipse in the 10th century, came Rajaraja who literally turned the tide in favour of the Cholas."
---
"Ruthless conqueror. Having first fought and then agreed to a truce with Vengi of the eastern Chalukyas, Rajaraja, according to his own inscription, conquered Lakshadweep and the Maldives. Buddhist literature from Sri Lanka says that the Indian king took advantage of an internal strife in Sri Lanka and invaded the island. The ruthless Chola conquest was apparently no different from the conduct of Mahmud of Ghazni at Somnath. The Kulavamsa says that the capital Anuradhapura, which sported many Buddhist viharas, was 'utterly destroyed in every way by the Chola army.' Not only were the viharas decimated, but the holy stupas in them were torn apart in search of treasure. As George W. Spencer observes in The Politics of Expansion: The Chola Conquest of Sri Lanka and Sri Vijaya, 'Even if we allow for the exaggeration of the chroniclers, it is clear that the Cholas devastated the city.' "
---
"It was no religious conquest. The viharas were looted because they contained treasures, as did the temples of India during Mahmud's conquest. Rajaraja's adventures may be dismissed as having happened within the extended coastal waters of India. But his son Rajendra was a true conqueror of overseas territories. Says Dr. K.V. Hariharan in The Chola Maritime Activities in Early Historical Setting: 'Of the most notable was Rajendra Chola's naval expedition against Kadaram. In this expedition, he defeated a king named Sangama Vijayottungavarman, the king of Kataha, belonging to the Sailendras of Java. The territories wrested by the Cholas from this king consisted of the extensive kingdom of Sri Vijaya, which at one time included Sumatra and Java, with its capital at Palembang.' "
---
"Apparently it was after the Sailendra dynasty wrested the Sri Vijaya empire that relations with the Cholas soured. Is it probable that the imperial Chola was apprehensive of the conquering energy of the Sailendras ruling over the Sri Vijaya empire? There are scholars who believe that by the time Rajendra came to [the] throne, the Sailendra power was ebbing. Anyway, at its height, it encompassed all the islands from Nicobar to Sumatra and included the entire Malayan peninsula. Its capital, the city of Sri Vijaya, was believed to be to the southeast corner of Sumatra."
---
"Not only did Rajendra's army sack Kadaram and the Sri Vijaya capital, but it also took the Sri Vijaya king Sangrama Vijayottungavarman captive. The kingdom was restored to him only after he acknowledged Chola suzerainty. Tamil inscriptions recovered from the region show that there was Chola military presence till at least 1088 in the Malay archipelago."
---
"Information on these raiding conquests are sketchy, but scholars like R.C. Majumdar think that the emperor despatched more than one expedition to humble the Sri Vijayas. The list of 13 towns in the archipelago sacked by the Cholas has come from Rajendra's own inscriptions. Scholars have identified all but two of them. Six are located on the Malay peninsula, four on Sumatra, the other being the Nicobar islands. Scholars like Paul Wheatley have been sceptical of Rajendra's claims about the number of towns his army sacked, but most agree that a raid did take place."
---
"Says George Spencer: 'The campaign is plausible because it fits the Chola pattern of compulsive expansion in this period, fits the aim of Rajendra to exceed his father's accomplishments and fits the persistent Chola need to locate fresh sources of plunder or tribute.' There is evidence to show that the king of Kambujadesa (modern Cambodia) sent a chariot to the Chola, probably to appease him so that his strategic attention does [sic] not extend further than the Malay peninsula."
http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_062903a.html
Last edited by Rashmun on Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:39 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Re: The Sri Lankan King who defeated Tamil Kings
by Guest Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:37 pm
It should be noted that the Sri Lankan fightback against the Chola bullies was much after the Chola plunder of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankans were ably supported by the Pandyas and Cheras in their efforts against the Cholas. As i mentioned earlier, the Pandyas, Cheras, and Cholas were all Tamils. So it was not a straightforward Tamil vs Sinhala fight as Thanjai Nalankilli seems to imagine.
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