Athirajendra Chola

Athirajendra
Family name :	Chola
First name :	Athirajendra
Title:	Parakesari
Predecessor:	Virarajendra Chola
Successor:	Kulothunga Chola
Reign:	1070 AD
Father:	Virarajendra Chola
Deceased on:	1070 AD

Athirajendra Chola had succeeded his father Virarajendra Chola to the throne in 1070 . But he only ruled for a few months as King of the Chola . His brief reign was marked by social unrest in the course of which he was killed. With his death, the medieval dynasty founded by Vijayalaya Chola in the second half of the 9th century came to an end. His successor was Prince Rajiga or Rajendra Chola from the Chalukya side line of the Cholas. He ascended the throne as Kulothunga I.

Historical background

The marriage policy introduced since Rajaraja Chola led to a rapprochement between the Eastern Chalukya in Vengi and the Chola dynasty, which was an affront for the Western Chalukya . The throne disputes over Vengi eventually degenerated into a proxy war between the Chola and the Western Chalukya.

Virarajendra Chola had interfered in the disputes in 1061 after the death of Vengi king Rajaraja Narendra , who was closely related to the Cholas on his mother's side. However, Saktivarman II came to the throne through a palace revolt, but was killed at the instigation of the Chola. Vijayaditya , the father of Saktivarman, then took control of Vengi and was able to repel the attempts of the Chola to overthrow him again. Still, he eventually accepted vassal status to the Chola.

The attempt to gain complete control over Vengi had thus failed. However, Virarajendra found in Vikramaditya (the later Vikramaditya VI. ) An important Chalukya ally, since he had married him to his daughter.

Rajendra Chalukya (later Kulothunga Chola I) was a son of Rajaraja Narendra and now in turn registered his claims to the Vengi throne, as he was of the opinion that Vijayaditya had usurped it. Despite the help of Chola, he was unable to assert himself against Vijayaditya. So he withdrew to his lands in the Baster district (Chhattisgarh) and played for time. The golden opportunity should come with the death of Virarajendra and the confusion it caused. Whether he was ultimately responsible for the death of Athirajendra remains to be seen.

Life

The life and very brief reign of Athirajendra raise many unanswered questions. His father Virarajendra Chola had two sons, Madhurantaka and Gangaikondachola . However, it is unknown which of the two eventually became heir to the throne as Athirajendra. Whether Athirajendra was married and had children is also in the dark.

Historical records or inscriptions about Athirajendra are almost non-existent. In his literary work Vikramankadeva Charita , the Chalukya author Bilhana reports the following background of the events:

“Shortly after Virarajendra Chola met his daughter with the ruler of the Chalukya Vikramaditya VI. had married he died. After his death there were uprisings in the Chola Empire, so that Vikramaditya VI. intervened and marched with his army to Kanchipuram to put down the revolts. He then moved on to Gangaikonda Cholapuram in the capital and enthroned Prince Athirajendra there. After peace was restored, he stayed in the capital for a month and only then returned to the Chalukya Empire. "

Only a few days after his return, Vikramaditya VI received. however, news that riots had broken out again in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, in which Athirajendra had been killed. He also learned that Rajendra Chola had usurped the throne and as Kulothunga I rose to ruler of the Chola. Together with his brother Someshvara II moved Vikramaditya VI. thereupon again in the capital of the Cholas and they succeeded (temporarily) to oust Kulothunga from the throne again.

Religious background of the turmoil

Attempts have been made several times to connect the turmoil after the death of Virarajendra Chola with the persecution of Ramanuja and his followers by the Chola. In some biographies about Ramanuja it is assumed that the disadvantages originated from Virarajendra or Athirajendra. However, the chola specialist KAN Sastri and many other biographers disagree.

literature

• Nilakanta Sastri, KA: The CōĻas (new edition 1984) . University of Madras, Madras 1935.
• Nilakanta Sastri, KA: A History of South India (new edition 2002) . OUP, New Delhi 1955.