Rajendra Chola II is best known for his role in "The Battle Of Koppam." Rajadhiraja Chola's younger brother is Rajendra Chola II. He ruled from 1054 to 1063 CE. In 1054 AD, he took over for his brother Rajadhiraja Chola. He was successful in maintaining a vast empire left to him by his elder brother. During his reign, no territory was lost. Rajendra Chola II was declared co-regent by his brother Rajadhiraja Chola earlier in his life. He shared the administration of the empire with his brother. As a co-regent, he was in charge of the state's internal affairs. In this article, we will discuss the Ruler of Chola Dynasty Rajendra II (1054 - 1063 CE) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Rajendra II - Background

• Rajendra Chola II (1054 - 1063 CE) reigned as Chola emperor after his elder brother Rajadhiraja Chola I died in the 11th century.
• After his elder brother Rajadhiraja Chola's death in 1052, he is best remembered for his role in the Battle of Koppam, where he dramatically turned the tables on the Chalukyan King Someshvara I.
• During his early reign, he led an expedition to Sri Lanka, during which the Sri Lanka army was routed and their king, Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa, was forced to seek refuge in a mountain fortress.
• He kept the Chola Empire well-maintained, as evidenced by the distribution of his records, which show that the Chola Empire did not lose any territory during his reign by protecting it.

Battle of Koppam

• In 1053–54 AD, Chola forces clashed with the Chalukyan army at Koppam (Koppal) on the Tungabhadra River.
• Rajadhiraja I was personally leading the Chola army from atop a war elephant to rally the retreating Cholas. Prince Rajendra, Rajadhiraja's younger brother, was holding back.
• The Chalukyan army then converged on the elephant on which the Chola king was riding and mortally wounded him. When the emperor died, the Chola army retreated in disarray. At that point, Rajendra entered the fray.
• The Chalukya army was once again focused on the leader. Rajendra-II was as valiant as his brave father and a natural leader of men.
• He immediately sensed that, with the death of their King Rajadhiraja-I, the Chola army was in disarray, so he announced his accession as the next Chola monarch and ordered the capable Chola army to continue fighting without ceasing.
• His unparalleled response and restoration of order by deciding to lead from the front on the battlefield simply re-galvanized his army, which had several generals serving in the Chola army from the times of Raja Raja I and Rajendra Chola I among its ranks.
• He had a slew of nephews and nieces. Needless to say, the Chalukya army was unprepared for such a reaction from any army that had lost its original leader and were simply no match.
• According to Rajendra II’s inscriptions, his elder brother Rajadhiraja-I was killed in the battle at Koppam, in which Rajendra-II and his other brothers took part.
• Even Rajendra-II had been injured and had withdrawn from the battle, but he returned and defeated the Ahavamalla (Someshvara-I), who called himself 'Trailokyamalla' (lord of three worlds).
• According to his inscriptions from Manimangalam, the Chalukyas were defeated at the end of the battle, and a number of officers from their army were killed on the field.
• Rajendradeva killed several opponents in this battle, including Jaysinghan, the Salukki's younger brother, Pulikesi, Dasapanman, and others.

Rajendra II - Accession

• Rajendra-II, who had been nominated as heir apparent over his own children by his elder brother Rajadhiraja Chola I, proclaimed himself king on the Koppam battlefield following his victory.
• It should be noted, however, that the above version of the Koppam battle is only found in Chola inscriptions. Contemporary Chalukyan chroniclers are deafeningly silent on this battle.
• A Chalukyan account of the battle is only found in a later inscription dated around 1071, which recounts the incident after a nearly 15-year gap and only mentions Rajadhiraja's death.

Battle with Chalukyas

• In order to avenge Koppam's disgrace, the Chalukyas invaded the Chola kingdom in force around 1062 CE. The armies met at the Muddakaru River (at the junction of the Tungabhadra and the Krishna river).
• The Chalukya commander Dandanayaka Valadeva was killed, and the Cholas, led by Rajamahendra, resisted the invasion. Virarajendra Chola was also present in the battle, fighting alongside Rajamahendra.
• The Western Chalukyan expedition to take Vengi was also thwarted by the Cholas on the same battlefield.
• Following that, Someshwara-I engaged the Chola army led by Rajendra-II and Virarajendra at Kudalasangamam, resulting in yet another heavy defeat for the Chalukyan king.

Art During His Reign

• When he was co-regent with his elder brother, Rajadhiraja Chola I, he shared the latter's workload by overseeing state affairs.
• He was an avid supporter of dance and theatre, and we know of several occasions when he encouraged artists and poets.
• In the fourth year of his reign, for example, he issued a royal order granting paddy and other rations to Santi Kuttan Tiruvalan Tirumud Kunran alias Vijaya Rajendra Acharyan (named after Rajadhiraja) for performing RajaRajeswara Natakam (a musical) at the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur.
• As a result, the dancer was instructed to obtain 120 Kalam paddy for this purpose, and he and his descendants were to perform the musical on a regular basis during the annual festival.

Other Conquests

• Rajendra-II, like his predecessors, had already seized control of the Pandyan kingdom.
• After defeating the Chalukya Someshvara I, he led another expedition to the Kalinga Kingdom as well as to Ilangai (Sri Lanka), whose king Manabharanan was aided by the Kalinga King Vira Salamegha.
• He also ruled over other provinces such as Ayodhya, Kanyakubja, Rattapadi, and Kadaram.

Conclusion

Rajendra II is best known for his role in the Battle of Koppam, which he fought alongside his elder brother Rajadhiraja Chola and in which he dramatically defeated the Chalukyan King Someshvara I. He kept the Chola Empire well-maintained, as evidenced by the distribution of his records, which show that the Chola Empire did not lose any territory during his reign by protecting it.