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{{Short description|Medieval Indian empire (848–1279)}}
{{Redirect|Chola}}
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{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Chola Empire
| common_name            = Chola empire
| era                    = Middle Ages
| status                 = 
| event_start            = 
| year_start             = 848
| date_start             = 
| event1                 = Empire at its greatest extent
| date_event1            = 1030
| event_end              = 
| year_end               = 1279
| date_end               = 
| p1                     = Pandya Dynasty
| s1                     = Pandya Dynasty
| p2                     = Pallava Empire
| p3                     = Chera Kingdom
| p4                     = Eastern Chalukyas
| p5                     = Srivijaya Empire
| p6                     = Tambralinga
| p7                     = Eastern Ganga Dynasty
| p8                     = Anuradhapura Kingdom
| p9                     = Principality of Ruhuna
| p10                    = Western Chalukya Empire
| s2                     = Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
| s3                     = Kakatiya Empire
| s4                     = Eastern Ganga Dynasty
| s5                     = Melayu Kingdom
| s6                     = Venad
| s7                     = Hoysala Empire
| image_map              = Rajendra map new.svg
| image_map_caption      = Map showing the greatest extent of the Chola empire {{circa|1030}} under [[Rajendra I]]: territories are shown in blue, subordinates and areas of influence are shown in pink.
| capital                = [[Pazhaiyaarai]], [[Thanjavur]], [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]]
| official_languages     = {{plainlist|
* [[Middle Tamil]] 
* [[Classical Sanskrit]] (liturgical purpose)
}}
| religion               = [[Hinduism]]
| government_type        = [[Monarchy]]
| leader1                = [[Vijayalaya Chola]] (first)
| year_leader1           = 848–871
| leader2                = [[Rajendra III]] (last)
| year_leader2           = 1246-1279
| title_leader           = [[Emperor]]
| legislature            = 
| image_coat             = Chola Kings. Rajaraja I. 985-1014 CE Uncertain Tamilnadu mint (AV). Chola, conqueror of the Gangas in Tamil, seated tiger with two fish.jpg
| coa_size               = 300px
| symbol_type            = {{Plain link|https://www.mintageworld.com/media/detail/14986-rajaraja-i-gold-gadyana-listed-at-estimate-price-of-60000-70000/|Gold Gadyana coin}} of emperor [[Rajaraja I]] (985–1014). Uncertain Tamil Nadu mint. Legend "Chola, conqueror of the Gangas" in Tamil, seated tiger with two fish.
}}

The '''Chola Empire''', which is often referred to as the '''Imperial Cholas''',<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kaimal |first=Padma |date=May 1992 |title=Art of the Imperial Cholas. By Vidya Dehejia. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990. xv, 148 pp. 36.00 |type=book review |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-asian-studies/article/abs/art-of-the-imperial-cholas-by-vidya-dehejia-new-york-columbia-university-press-1990-xv-148-pp-3250-rajarajesvaram-the-pinnacle-of-chola-art-by-b-venkataraman-madras-mudgala-trust-1985-xx-393-pp-3600/CC00488CD7BAC4ABF6A5F746633A18B0 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |language=en |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=414–416 |doi=10.2307/2058068 |jstor=2058068 |s2cid=163175500 |issn=1752-0401}}</ref> was a [[Medieval India|medieval Indian]], [[thalassocratic]] empire that was established by the [[Telugu Chodas#Pottapi Chodas|Pottapi]] branch of the [[Chola dynasty]] that rose to prominence during the middle of the ninth century and united southern India under their rule. 

The power and the prestige the Cholas had among political powers in South, Southeast, and [[East Asia]] at its peak is evident in their expeditions to the [[Ganges]], [[Chola invasion of Srivijaya|naval raids]] on cities of the [[Srivijaya Empire]] on the island of [[Sumatra]], and their repeated embassies to China.<ref name="sastri1582">[[K. A. Nilakanta Sastri]], ''A History of South India'', p. 158</ref> The Chola fleet represented the peak of [[Indian maritime history|ancient Indian maritime capacity]]. Around 1070, the Cholas began to lose almost all of their overseas territories but the later Cholas (1070–1279) continued to rule portions of southern India. The Chola empire went into decline at the beginning of the 13th century with the rise of the [[Pandyan dynasty]], which ultimately caused the Chola's downfall.<ref name="sastri1952">[[K. A. Nilakanta Sastri]], ''A History of South India'', p. 195–196</ref>

The Cholas established a centralized form of [[Chola Government|government]] and a disciplined bureaucracy. Their patronage of [[Tamil literature]] and their zeal for building temples resulted in some of the greatest works of Tamil literature and architecture.{{sfn|Keay|2011|p=215}} The Chola kings were avid builders, and regarded temples in their kingdoms as both places of worship and of economic activity.<ref name="geeta20">Vasudevan, pp. 20–22</ref>{{sfn|Keay|2011|pp=217-218}} A prime example of [[Chola architecture]] is [[Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur|Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage site]], which the Rajaraja commissioned in 1010. They were also well known for their patronage of art. The development of the sculpting technique used in [[Chola bronzes]] of Hindu deities that were built using a lost wax process, was pioneered in their time. The Chola tradition of art spread, and influenced the architecture and art of Southeast Asia.<ref>Promsak Jermsawatdi, ''Thai Art with Indian Influences'', p. 57</ref><ref>John Stewart Bowman, ''Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture'', p. 335</ref>

== Founding ==
{{Refimprove-section|date=December 2023}}
[[File:TANJORE 2.jpg|left|thumb|The city of Thanjavur]]

[[Vijayalaya Chola|Vijayalaya]], the successor of [[Srikantha Chola]], founded the Chola empire in 848 CE.{{sfnp|Sen|1999|pp=477-478|ps=}} [[Vijayalaya]] belonged to a [[Telugu Chodas|Pottapi Chola]] family, a Telugu Chola branch that claimed descent from ancient Tamil king [[Karikala Chola]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=S.p |title=Readings in South Indian History |year=1977 |pages=62–63 |language=English}}</ref> and possibly a [[feudatory]] of the [[Pallava dynasty]]. Vijayalaya took an opportunity arising out of a conflict between the [[Pandya empire|Pandya]] and Pallava empires in c.&nbsp;850, captured [[Thanjavur]] from [[Muthuraja|Muttarayar]], and established the imperial line of the medieval Chola Dynasty.{{sfnp|Dehejia|1990|p=xiv|ps=}}{{sfnp|Kulke|Rothermund|2001|pp=122–123|ps=}} Thanjavur became the capital of the Imperial Chola empire.{{sfnp|Eraly|2011|p=67|ps=}}

Under [[Aditya I]], the Pallava dynasty defeated the Pandyan dynasty of [[Madurai]] in 885, occupied large parts of Kannada country, and had marital ties with the [[Western Ganga dynasty]]. In 925, Aditya's son [[Parantaka I]] conquered Sri Lanka, which was then-known as Ilangai. Parantaka I also defeated the [[Rashtrakuta dynasty]] under Krishna II in the Battle of Vallala.{{sfnp|Sen|1999|pp=373|ps=}} Later, Parantaka I was defeated by [[Rashtrakutas]] under [[Krishna III]] and the Cholas' heir apparent [[Rajaditya Chola]] was killed in the [[Battle of Takkolam]], in which the Cholas lost [[Tondaimandalam]] region to Rashtrakutas.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

The Cholas recovered their power during the reign of [[Parantaka II]]. The Chola army under the command of crown prince [[Aditha Karikalan]] defeated the Pandyas and expanded the kingdom to [[Tondaimandalam]]. Aditha Karikalan was assassinated in a political plot. After Parantaka II, [[Uttama Chola]] became the Chola emperor and was followed by [[Raja Raja Chola I]], the greatest Chola monarch.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

==Imperial era==
[[File:Rajaraja mural.png|thumb|Chola princes [[Aditha Karikalan]] and [[Rajaraja I|Arulmozhi Varman]] meeting their guru]]
[[File:Rajendra Chola, Gangaikondasolapuram.jpg|thumb|[[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]] proclaimed as Emperor by [[Shiva]] and [[Shakti|Shakthi]]]]

Under [[Rajaraja I]] and [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]], the Chola Empire reach its Imperial state.{{sfnp|Kulke|Rothermund|2001|p=115|ps=}} At its peak, the empire stretched from the northern parts of Sri Lanka northwards to the [[Godavari River|Godavari]]–[[Krishna River|Krishna]] river basin, up to the Konkan coast in Bhatkal, the entire [[Malabar Coast]] (the Chea country) in addition to [[Lakshadweep]] and the [[Maldives]] islands. Rajaraja Chola&nbsp;I was an energetic ruler who applied himself to the task of governance with the same zeal he had shown in waging wars. He integrated his empire into a tight, administrative grid under royal control and strengthened local self-government. In 1000, Rajaraja conducted a land survey to effectively marshall his empire's resources.{{sfnp|Eraly|2011|p=68|ps=}} He built [[Brihadeeswarar Temple]] in 1010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Endowments to the Temple |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_cholabt_endowments.asp |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India}}</ref>

Rajendra conquered [[Odisha]] and his armies continued north and defeated the forces of the [[Pala empire|Pala dynasty]] of [[Bengal]], and reached the [[Ganges river]] in northern India.<ref>Balaji Sadasivan, ''The Dancing Girl: A History of Early India'', p.133</ref> Rajendra built a new capital called [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] to celebrate his victories in northern India.<ref>Farooqui Salma Ahmed, Salma Ahmed Farooqui, ''A Comprehensive History of Medieval India'', p.25</ref> Rajendra&nbsp;I successfully invaded the [[Srivijaya]] kingdom in Southeast Asia, which led to the decline of the empire there.<ref>Ronald Findlay, Kevin H. O'Rourke, ''Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium'', p.67</ref> This expedition left such an impression on the [[Malay people]] of the medieval period his name is mentioned in the corrupted form as Raja Chulan in the Malay chronicle ''[[Sejarah Melayu]]''.<ref>Geoffrey C. Gunn, ''History Without Borders: The Making of an Asian World Region, 1000–1800'', p.43</ref>{{sfnp|Sen|2009|p=91|ps=}}<ref>Tansen Sen, ''Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations'', p.226</ref> Rajendra also completed the conquest of the Rajarata kingdom of Sri Lanka and took the Sinhala king Mahinda&nbsp;V a prisoner; he also conquered [[Rattapadi]]—territories of the Rashtrakutas, Chalukya country, [[Talakkad]], and [[Kolar]], where Kolaramma temple still has his portrait statue—in Kannada country.<ref>''Kalā: The Journal of Indian Art History Congress'', The Congress, 1995, p.31</ref>{{fcn|reason=Missing author, article title, issue. Need enough information for [[WP:V|verifiability]]|date=September 2023}} Rajendra's territories included the Ganges–Hooghly–Damodar basin,{{sfnp|Sastri|1984|pp=194-210|ps=}} as well as Rajarata of Sri Lanka and the Maldives.{{sfnp|Dehejia|1990|p=xiv|ps=}} The kingdoms along the east coast of India up to the river Ganges acknowledged Chola suzerainty.{{sfnp|Majumdar|1987|p=407|ps=}} Diplomatic missions were sent to China in 1016, 1033, and 1077.{{sfnp|Dehejia|1990|p=xiv|ps=}}

===Chola–Chalukya wars===
{{Unreferenced|section|date=December 2023}}

From the period of Rajaraja, the Cholas engaged in a series of conflicts with the [[Western Chalukyas]]. The Old Chalukya dynasty had split into two sibling dynasties, the Western and [[Eastern Chalukyas]]. Rajaraja's daughter Kundavai was married to the Eastern Chalukya prince Vimaladitya, who ruled from Vengi. The Western Chalukyas felt the Vengi kingdom was in their natural sphere of influence. Cholas inflicted several defeats on the Western Chalukyas. The frontier mostly remained at the [[Tungabhadra River]] for both kingdoms and resulted in the death of king [[Rajadhiraja Chola|Rajadhiraja]].

Rajendra's reign was followed by those of three of his sons in succession; [[Rajadhiraja Chola I|Rajadhiraja I]], [[Rajendra Chola II|Rajendra II]], and [[Virarajendra]]. In his eagerness to restore Chola hegemony over Vengi to its former absolute state, Rajadhiraja I (1042–1052) led an expedition into Vengi country in 1044–1045. He fought a battle at Dhannada, and compelled the Western Chalukyan army and Vijayaditya VII to retreat in disorder. Rajendra then entered the Western Chalukyan dominions and set fire to the Kollipaka fort on the frontier between the Kalyani and Vengi territories.

This brought relief for Rajaraja Narendra, who was now firmly in control at Vengi, with Rajadhiraja I proceeding to the Chalukyan capital, displacing the Chalukyan king Someshvara I, performing his coronation at Manyakheta, and collecting tribute from the defeated king, who had fled the battlefield. While the Chalukyans kept creating trouble through Vijayaditya VII, Vengi remained firmly under the control of the Cholas. Someshvara I again launched an attack on Vengi and then the Cholas in 1054.

After Rajadhiraja died, Rajendra II crowned himself on the battlefield. He galvanized the Chola army, defeating the Chalukyas under Someshvara I. The Chalukya king again fled the battlefield, leaving behind his queen and riches in the possession of the victorious Chola army. The Cholas consolidated their hold on Vengi and Kalinga. Although there were occasional skirmishes with the Chalukyas, they were repeatedly defeated by both the Cholas and the Vengi princes, who openly professed loyalty to the Chola empire. Following the death of Rajaraja Narendra in 1061, another opportunity for the Kalyani court to strengthen its hold on Vengi arose. Vijayaditya VII seized Vengi and with the consent of the Kalyani court, established himself permanently in the kingdom. Meanwhile, prince Rajendra Chalukya, son of Rajaraja Narendra through the Chola princess Ammangai, was brought up in the Chola harem. Rajendra Chalukya married Madhurantakidevi, the daughter of RajendraII. To restore him on the Vengi throne, RajendraII sent his son Rajamahendra and brother ViraRajendra against the Western Chalukyas and Vijayaditya VII. Chola forces marched against Gangavadi and repelled the Chalukyas. Virarajendra then marched against Vengi and probably killed Saktivarman II, son of Vijayaditya VII.

In the midst of this, in 1063, Rajendra II died; because his son Rajamahendra had predeceased him, Virarajendra returned to [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] and was crowned the Chola king (1063–1070). Virarajendra split the Western Chalukya kingdom by persuading Chalukya prince Vikramaditya IV to become his son-in-law and to seize the throne of Kalyani for himself. When Virarajendra died in 1070, he was succeeded by his son Adhirajendra, who was assassinated a few months later, leaving the Chola dynasty was without a lineal successor in the [[Vijayalaya Chola]] line.

==Later Cholas==
[[File:Sculpture in a wall at Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.jpg|left|thumb|Sculpture of [[Kulottunga I]]]]
[[File:Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram.jpg|left|thumb|[[Airavatesvara Temple]] Built by [[Rajaraja II]].]]

Marital and political alliances between the [[Eastern Chalukyas]] began during the reign of Rajaraja following his invasion of Vengi. Rajaraja Chola's daughter married Chalukya prince Vimaladitya,{{sfnp|Majumdar|1987|p=405|ps=}} and Rajendra Chola's daughter Ammanga Devi was married to the Eastern Chalukya prince [[Rajaraja Narendra]].{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=120|ps=}} In 1070, Virarajendra Chola's son [[Athirajendra Chola]] was assassinated in a civil disturbance, and Kulothunga Chola&nbsp;I, the son of Ammanga Devi and [[Rajaraja Narendra]], ascended the Chola throne, beginning the Later Chola dynasty.{{sfnp|Majumdar|1987|p=408|ps=}}

The Later Chola dynasty was led by capable rulers such as [[Kulottunga I|Kulothunga&nbsp;]]I, his son [[Vikrama Chola]], and other successors [[Rajaraja II|Rajaraja&nbsp;II]], [[Rajadhiraja II|Rajadhiraja&nbsp;II]], and [[Kulothunga III|Kulothunga&nbsp;III]], who conquered Kalinga, [[Eelam|Ilam]], and [[Kataha]]. The rule of the Later Cholas between 1218, starting with [[Rajaraja Chola II|Rajaraja III]] to the last emperor [[Rajendra Chola III|Rajendra III]], was not as strong as those of the emperors between 850 and 1215. Around 1118, the Cholas lost control of Vengi to the Western Chalukya and Gangavadi (southern [[Mysore]]) districts to the [[Hoysala Empire]]. Immediately after the accession of king Vikrama Chola, the son and successor of Kulothunga Chola&nbsp;I, the Cholas recovered the province of Vengi by defeating Chalukya Someshvara III; the Cholas also recovered Gangavadi from the Hoysalas. The Chola empire, though not as strong as between 850 and 1150, was still largely territorially intact under Rajaraja II (1146–1175) a fact attested to by the construction of the third grand, chariot-shaped [[Airavatesvara Temple]] at Dharasuram on the outskirts of modern [[Kumbakonam]]. Up to 1215, during the rule of Kulothunga Chola&nbsp;III, Chola administration and territorial integrity was stable and very prosperous, but during his rule, Chola power started declining following his defeat by Maravarman Sundara Pandiyan&nbsp;II in 1215–1216.{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=471|ps=}} Subsequently, the Cholas also lost control of the island of [[Sri Lanka]] and were driven out by the revival of Sinhala power.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Finegan |first1=Jack |title=An archaeological history of religions of Indian Asia |date=1989 |publisher=Paragon House |location=New York |isbn=0-913729-43-4 |page=323}}</ref>

The decline of the Cholas was also marked by the resurgence of the Pandyan dynasty as the most powerful rulers in South India. A lack of a controlling central administration in its erstwhile Pandyan territories prompted a number of claimants to the Pandya throne to cause a civil war, in which the Sinhalas and the Cholas were involved by proxy. Details of the Pandyan civil war, and the role played by the Cholas and Sinhalas, are present in the ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' and Pallavarayanpettai inscriptions.<ref>''South Indian Inscriptions'', Vol. 12</ref>{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|pp=128-129|ps=}}

For three generations, the Eastern Chalukyan princes had married into the imperial Chola family and felt they belonged to it as much as to the Eastern Chalukya dynasty. The Chalukya prince Rajendra Chalukya of Vengi had "spent his childhood days in Gangaikonda Cholapuram and was a familiar favourite to the princes and the people of the Chola country" according to ''[[Kalingathuparani]]'', an epic written in praise of him. Following the death of the death of Adhirajendra, Rajendra Chalukya established himself on the Chola throne as [[Kulottunga I]] (1070–1122), beginning the Later Chola or Chalukya-Chola period.<ref>{{cite book|title=Madras Government Oriental Series, Issue 157|author=Government Oriental Manuscripts Library |location=Tamil Nadu, India|page=729}}</ref>

Kulothunga I reconciled himself with his uncle Vijayaditya VII and allowed him to rule Vengi for the rest of his life. The Eastern Chalukya line came to an end with Vijayaditya's death in 1075 and Vengi became a province of the Chola Empire.{{cn|date=December 2023}} Kulottunga Chola I administered the province through his sons, whom he sent there as viceroys. There was a prolonged fight between Kulottunga Chola I and Vikramaditya VI.{{cn|date=December 2023}} Kulothunga's long reign was characterized by unparalleled success and prosperity; he avoided unnecessary wars and earned the admiration of his subjects. Kulottunga's successes resulted in the well-being of the empire for the next 100 years but Kulothunga lost the territories in the island of Lanka and began to lose control of the [[Pandya]] territories.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

===Diminished empire===
{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}}
[[File:Kulothunga3 territories.png|thumb|Chola kingdom under [[Kulothunga III]]]]

Under [[Rajaraja Chola III]] and his successor Rajendra Chola&nbsp;III, the Later Cholas were quite weak and experienced continuous trouble. One feudatory the [[Kadava]] chieftain [[Kopperunchinga I]] held Rajaraja Chola&nbsp;III as a hostage for some time.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=194|ps=}} At the close of the 12th century, the growing influence of the Hoysalas replaced the declining Chalukyas as the main player in Kannada country but they also faced constant trouble from the Seunas and the Kalachuris, who were occupying the Chalukya capital. The Hoysalas found it convenient to have friendly relations with the Cholas from the time of Kulothunga Chola&nbsp;III, who had defeated Hoysala Veera Ballala&nbsp;II, who had subsequent marital relations with the Chola monarch. This continued during the time of Rajaraja Chola&nbsp;III, the son and successor of Kulothunga Chola&nbsp;III{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=471|ps=}}{{sfnp|Majumdar|1987|p=410|ps=}}

The Hoysalas played a divisive role in the politics of Tamil country during this period. They exploited the lack of unity among the Tamil kingdoms and alternately supported one Tamil kingdom against the other, thereby preventing the Cholas and Pandyas from rising to their full potential. During the reign of Rajaraja III, the Hoysalas sided with the Cholas, and defeated the Kadava chieftain Kopperunjinga and the Pandyas, and established a presence in Tamil country. Rajendra Chola III, who succeeded Rajaraja III, was a more competent ruler who led successful expeditions to the north, as attested to by his epigraphs found as far as Cuddappah.<ref>{{cite journal |publisher=Sri Venkatesvara Oriental Institute |journal=Journal of the Sri Venkatesvara Oriental Institute |volume=5–7 |page=64}}</ref><!--Missing title and author--> He also defeated two Pandya princes, one of whom was Maravarman Sundara Pandya II, and briefly made the Pandyas submit to Chola control. The Hoysalas, under Vira Someswara, were quick to intervene and sided with the Pandyas, and repulsed the Cholas to counter the latter's revival.<ref>{{cite book |author=Sailendra Nath Sen |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |publisher=New Age International |year=1999 |page=487}}</ref> 

In South India, the Pandyas had become a great power that banished the Hoysalas from Malanadu and Kannada country; the Hoysalas were allies of the Cholas on Tamil country. The demise of the Cholas was caused by the Pandyas in 1279. The Pandyas steadily gained control of Tamil country and territories in Sri Lanka, southern Chera country, Telugu country under Maravarman Sundara Pandiyan&nbsp;II and his able successor [[Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan]], before inflicting several defeats on the joint forces of the Cholas under Rajaraja Chola&nbsp;III, and the Hoysalas under Someshwara, his son Ramanatha.{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=471|ps=}} Fromn 1215, the Pandyans gradually became a major force in Tamil country and consolidated their position in Madurai-Rameswaram-Ilam-southern Chera country and the Kanyakumari belt, and had been steadily increasing their territories in the Kaveri belt between Dindigul, Tiruchy, Karur, and Satyamangalam and in the [[Kaveri Delta]], Thanjavur, Mayuram, Chidambaram, Vriddhachalam, and Kanchi. The Pandyans marched to [[Arcot]]; Tirumalai, Nellore, Visayawadai, Vengi, and Kalingam by 1250.<ref>South India and Her Muhammadan Invaders by S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar pp. 40–41</ref>

The Pandyas steadily routed the Hoysalas and the Cholas,{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|pp=195–196|ps=}} and dispossessed the Hoysalas, defeating them under Jatavarman Sundara Pandiyan at Kannanur Kuppam.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=196|ps=}} At the close of Rajendra's reign, the Pandyan empire was at the height of its prosperity and had replaced the Chola empire in the view of foreign observers.{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=485|ps=}} The last-recorded date of Rajendra&nbsp;III is 1279; there is no evidence he was immediately followed by another Chola prince.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=197|ps=}}{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=130|ps=}} In around 1279, Kulasekhara Pandiyan routed the Hoysalas from Kannanur Kuppam and in the same war, the last Chola emperor Rajendra&nbsp;III was routed and the Chola empire ceased to exist. The Chola empire was completely overshadowed by the Pandyan empire and sank into obscurity by the end of the 13th century until period of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]].{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=472|ps=}}{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=130|ps=}} 

In the early 16th century, Virasekhara Chola, king of [[Tanjore]], rose out of obscurity and plundered the dominions of the Pandya prince in the south. The Pandya, who was under the protection of the [[Vijayanagara]], appealed to the emperor and the Raya accordingly directed his agent (''Karyakartta'') Nagama Nayaka, who was stationed in the south, to put down the Chola. Nagama Nayaka then defeated the Chola but the once-loyal officer of Krishnadeva Raya defied the emperor and decided to keep Madurai for himself. Krishnadeva Raya is said to have dispatched Nagama's son Viswanatha, who defeated his father and restored Madurai to Vijayanagara rule.<ref>{{cite book |author=P. K. S. Raja |title=Mediaeval Kerala |publisher=Navakerala Co-op Publishing House |year=1966 |page=47}}</ref> The fate of Virasekhara Chola, the last of the line of Cholas, is not known. It is speculated he either fell in battle or was executed along with his heirs during his encounter with Vijayanagara.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ē. Kē Cēṣāttiri |title=Sri Brihadisvara, the Great Temple of Thanjavur |publisher=Nile Books |year=1998 |page=24}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Burton |last=Stein |title=The New Cambridge History of India |chapter=Vijayanagara |volume=1 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1990 |page=57}}</ref>

== Administration ==

=== Government ===
{{Main|Chola Government}}
[[File:South India in early 11th century AD.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|The [[Mandalam|mandalams]] of the Chola empire, early 12th century CE]]

During the rule of the Cholas, the whole of South India was for the first time brought under a single government.{{efn|The only other time when peninsular India would be brought under one government before the [[History of the Republic of India|independence of India]] was during the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] (1336–1614).{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}}}

The Cholas' system of government was monarchical, as in the Sangam age.{{sfnp|Kulke|Rothermund|2001|p=104|ps=}} There was little in common between the local chiefdoms of the earlier period, and the imperial states of Rajaraja Chola and his successors.{{sfnp|Stein|1998|p=26|ps=}} Aside from the early capital at Thanjavur and the later one at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Kanchipuram and Madurai were considered to be regional capitals where occasional courts were held. The king was the supreme leader and a benevolent authoritarian. His administrative role consisted of issuing oral commands to responsible officers when representations were made to him. Due to the lack of a legislature or a legislative system in the modern sense, the fairness of king's orders depended on his morality and belief in ''[[Dharma]]''. The Chola kings built temples and endowed them with great wealth. The temples acted as both places of worship and centres of economic activity, benefiting the community.{{sfnp|Vasudevan|2003|pp=20–22|ps=}} Some of the output of villages was given to temples, which reinvested some of the wealth accumulated as loans to the settlements.<ref>Francis D. K. Ching, Mark M. Jarzombek, Vikramaditya Prakash, ''A Global History of Architecture'', p.338</ref> The Chola empire was divided into several provinces called {{transliteration|sa|[[mandalam]]s}} which were further divided into {{transliteration|sa|valanadus}}, which were subdivided into units called {{transliteration|sa|kottams}} or {{transliteration|sa|kutrams}}.<ref>N. Jayapalan, ''History of India'', p.171, {{ISBN|81-7156-914-5}}</ref> According to [[Kathleen Gough]], during the Chola period, the [[Vellalar]] were the "dominant secular aristocratic caste&nbsp;... providing the courtiers, most of the army officers, the lower ranks of the kingdom's bureaucracy, and the upper layer of the peasantry".{{sfnp|Gough|2008|p=29|ps=}}

Before the reign of Rajaraja Chola I, huge parts of Chola territory were ruled by hereditary lords and local princes who were in a loose alliance with the Chola rulers. Thereafter, until the reign of [[Vikrama Chola]] in 1133, when Chola power was at its peak, these hereditary lords and local princes almost vanished from Chola records, and were either replaced with or became dependent officials, through whom the administration was improved and the Chola kings were able to exercise closer control over the parts of the empire.{{sfnp|Talbot|2001|p=172}} The administrative structure expanded, particularly during and after the reign of Rajaraja Chola I. The government at this time had a multi-tiered, large, land-revenue department that was largely concerned with maintaining accounts. Corporate bodies such as the Ur, Nadu, Sabha, Nagaram, and sometimes local chieftains, undertook The assessment and collection of revenue, and passed the revenue to the centre. During the reign of Rajaraja Chola I, the state initiated a massive project of land survey and assessment, and the empire was reorganised into units known as {{transliteration|sa|valanadus}}.{{sfnp|Singh|2008|p=590|ps=}}

The executive officer first communicated the order of the King to the local authorities. Afterwards, the records of the transaction was drawn up and attested by witnesses, who were either local magnates or government officers.<ref name="India p.77">U.&nbsp;B. Singh, ''Administrative System in India: Vedic Age to 1947'', p.77</ref> At local government level, every village was a self-governing unit. A number of villages constituted a larger entity known as a {{transliteration|sa|kurram}}, {{transliteration|sa|nadu}} or {{transliteration|sa|kottam}}, depending on the area.{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|pp=474-475|ps=}}{{sfnp|Stein|1998|p=20|ps=}}{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=185|ps=}} A number of {{transliteration|sa|kurrams}} constituted a {{transliteration|sa|valanadu}}.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=150|ps=}} These structures underwent constant change and refinement throughout the Chola period.{{sfnp|Sastri|1984|p=465|ps=}}

In the Chola empire, Justice was mostly a local matter; minor disputes were settled at village level.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=185|ps=}} Minor crimes were punished with fines or a direction for the offender to donate to a charitable endowment. Even crimes such as manslaughter or murder were punished with fines. The king heard and decided crimes of the state, such as treason; the typical punishment in these cases was either execution or the confiscation of property.{{sfnp|Sastri|1984|p=477|ps=}}

=== Military ===
[[File:"Airavatesvara Temple wall details".JPG|left|thumb|[[Chola military|Chola Soldiers]] in battle at [[Airavatesvara Temple]]]]

The Chola military had four elements; the cavalry, the elephant corps, several divisions of infantry, and a navy.{{sfnp|Sakhuja|Sakhuja|2009|p=88|ps=}} The Emperor was the supreme commander. There were regiments of bowmen and swordsmen, the latter of which were the most-permanent and most-dependable troops. The Chola army was spread all over the country and was stationed in local garrisons or military camps known as ''Kodagams''. Elephants played a major role in the army; the empire had numerous [[war elephant]]s that carried houses or huge [[howdah]]s on their backs. These howdahs were full of soldiers who shot arrows at long range and fought with spears at close quarters.{{sfnp|Barua|2005|p=18|ps=}} The Chola army was mostly composed of [[Kaikolar]]s—men with strong arms who were royal troops receiving regular payments from the treasury{{efn|''Arul mozhideva-terinda-kaikola padai''; in this, ''arulmozhideva'' is the king's name, ''terinda'' means well known, and ''padai'' means regime}}.{{sfnp|Sen|1999|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA491 p. 491], Kaikolar}}

Chola rulers built several palaces and fortifications to protect their cities. The fortifications were mostly made of bricks but other materials like stone, wood, and mud were also used.{{sfnp|Dehejia|1990|p=79|ps=}}{{sfnp|Subbarayalu|2009|pp=97-99|ps=}} According to the ancient Tamil text ''Silappadikaram'', Tamil kings defended their forts with catapults that threw stones, huge cauldrons of boiling water or molten lead, and hooks, chains, and traps.{{sfnp|Eraly|2011|p=176|ps=}}{{sfnp|Rajasuriar|1998|p=15|ps=}}{{qn|date=April 2015}}

Chola soldiers used weapons such as swords, bows, javelins, spears, and steel shields.{{sfnp|Sen|1999|p=205|ps=}} Particularly the famous [[Wootz steel]], which has a long history in south India dating back to the period before the Christian era, seems to have been used to produce weapons.<ref>Menon, R. V. G., ''Technology and Society'', p.15</ref>

The [[Chola navy]] was the zenith of ancient India sea power.{{sfnp|Barua|2005|p=18|ps=}} It played a vital role in the expansion of the empire, including the conquest of the Sri Lanka islands and naval raids on Srivijaya.<ref>Pradeep Barua, ''The State at War in South Asia'', p.17</ref> The navy grew both in size and status during the medieval Cholas reign. Chola admirals commanded much respect and prestige, and naval commanders also acted as diplomats in some instances. From 900 to 1100, the navy grew from a small entity to that of a potent power projection and diplomatic symbol in Asia, but was gradually reduced in significance when Cholas fought land battles to subjugate the Chalukyas of the Andhra-Kannada area in South India.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=175|ps=}}

Chloa rulers patronised a martial art called ''[[Silambam]]''.{{cn|date=December 2023}} Ancient and medieval Tamil texts mention different forms of martial traditions but the ultimate expression of the loyalty of the warrior to his commander was a form of martial suicide called ''[[Navakandam]]''.{{cn|date=December 2023}} The medieval text ''[[Kalingathu Parani]]'', which celebrates the victory of Kulothunga Chola I and his general in the battle for Kalinga, describes the practice in detail.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

=== Economy ===
Land revenue and trade tax were the main source of income.<ref>Showick Thorpe, Edgar Thorpe, ''The Pearson General Studies Manual'' 2009, 1st ed., p.59</ref> Chola rulers issued coins in gold, silver, and copper.{{sfnp|Singh|2008|p=54|ps=}} The Chola economy was based on three tiers; at the local level, agricultural settlements formed the foundation to commercial towns ''nagaram'', which acted as redistribution centres for externally produced items bound for consumption in the local economy and as sources of products made by ''nagaram'' artisans for international trade. At the top of this economy were elite merchant groups (''samayam'') who organised and dominated the regions international maritime trade.{{sfnp|Schmidt|1995|p=32|ps=}}{{clarify|reason=so what was the middle tier?|date=April 2015}}

The Chola Empire's main export was cotton cloth.{{sfnp|Devare|2009|p=179|ps=}} Uraiyur, the capital of the early Chola rulers, was a centre for cotton textiles Tamil poets praised.{{sfnp|Eraly|2011|p=208|ps=}}{{sfnp|Ramaswamy|2007|p=20|ps=}} Chola rulers encouraged the weaving industry and derived revenue from it.{{sfnp|Singh|2008|p=599|ps=}} During this period, weavers started to organise themselves into guilds.<ref>Radhika Seshan, ''Trade and Politics on the Coromandel Coast: Seventeenth and Early Eighteenth centuries'', p.18</ref> Weavers had their own residential sector in all towns; the most important weaving communities in early medieval times were the [[Saliya|Saliyar]] and [[Kaikolar]].{{sfnp|Singh|2008|p=599|ps=}} During the Chola period, silk weaving attained a high degree of skill and [[Kanchipuram]] became one of the main centres for silk.<ref>G. K. Ghosh, Shukla Ghosh, ''Indian Textiles: Past and Present'', p.123–124</ref><ref>P. V. L. Narasimha Rao, ''Kanchipuram: Land of Legends, Saints and Temples'', p.134</ref>

Metalcrafts peaked during the 10th to 11th centuries because Chola rulers like Chembian Maadevi extended their patronage to metal craftsmen.{{sfnp|Ramaswamy|2007|p=51|ps=}} Wootz steel was a major Chola export.{{sfnp|Mukherjee|2011|p=105|ps=}} Farmers occupied one of the highest positions in society.<ref name="Their Environs p.319">S. Ganeshram, ''History of People and Their Environs: Essays in Honour of Prof. B. S. Chandrababu'', p.319</ref> These were the [[Vellalar]] community, who formed the nobility or the landed aristocracy of the country and were an economically powerful group.<ref name="Their Environs p.319" />{{sfnp|Singh|2008|p=592|ps=}} Agriculture was the principal occupation for many people besides landowners.{{sfnp|Sen|1999|pp=490-492|ps=}} The Vellalar community was the dominant secular aristocratic caste under the Chola rulers, providing the courtiers, most of the army officers, the lower ranks of the bureaucracy, and the upper ranks of the peasantry.{{sfnp|Gough|2008|p=29|ps=}}

In almost all villages, the distinction between persons paying the land tax (''iraikudigal'') and those who did not was clearly established. There was a class of hired day-labourers who assisted in agricultural operations on estates of other people and received a daily wage. All cultivable land was held in one of the three broad classes of tenure; peasant proprietorship called ''vellan-vagai'', service tenure, and ''eleemosynary'' tenure resulting from charitable gifts.<ref>Reddy, ''Indian History'', p. B57</ref> The vellan-vagai were the ordinary [[ryotwari]] village of modern times, having direct relations with the government and paying a land-tax liable to periodic revision.{{sfnp|Schmidt|1995|p=32|ps=}} The vellan-vagai villages fell into two broad classes; one directly paid a variable annual revenue to the state and the other paid fixed-rate dues to public institutions like temples to which they were assigned.{{sfnp|Mukund|1999|pp=30-32|ps=}} The prosperity of an agricultural country depends to a large extent on the facilities provided for irrigation. Apart from sinking wells and excavating tanks, Chola rulers built large, stone dams across the Kaveri and other rivers, and cut channels to distribute water over large tracts of land.{{sfnp|Ramaswamy|2007|p=86|ps=}} Rajendra Chola&nbsp;I dug near his capital an artificial lake that was filled with water from the Kolerun and the Vellar rivers.{{sfnp|Mukund|1999|pp=30-32|ps=}}

An internal trade in several articles was carried out by organised mercantile corporations. The metal industries and the jewellers' art had reached a high degree of excellence. Sea salt was made under government supervision and control. Merchants organised into guilds that were described sometimes by the terms ''nanadesis''; these were powerful, autonomous corporations of merchants that visited other countries in the course of trade. These corporations had mercenary armies for the protection of their merchandise. There were also local organisations of merchants called "''nagaram''" in big centres of trade like Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram.{{sfnp|Rothermund|1993|p=9|ps=}}{{sfnp|Mukund|1999|pp=30-32|ps=}}

=== Hospitals ===
[[File:Venkatesa Perumal Temple at Tirumukkoodal (Pazhayaseevaram) near Kanchipuram - top view.jpeg|left|thumb|Aerial view of the Venkatesa Perumal Temple in Thirumukkudal (near [[Kanchipuram]]), a temple built by [[Virarajendra]] in 1069. The temple also included a hospital and [[Vedic schools]].]]

Hospitals were maintained by the Chola kings, whose government gave lands for that purpose. The Tirumukkudal inscription shows a hospital was named after [[Vira Chola]]. Many diseases were cured by the doctors of the hospital, which was under the control of a chief physician, who was paid annually eighty [[kalam]]s of paddy, eight [[kasus]], and a grant of land. Apart from the doctors, other remunerated staff included a nurse, a barber who performed minor operations, and a waterman.<ref name="ReferenceB">N. Jayapalan, ''Economic History of India'', p.49</ref>

The Chola queen [[Kundavai]] established a hospital at Tanjavur and gave land for its perpetual maintenance.<ref>Balasubrahmanyam Venkataraman, ''Temple art under the Chola queens'', p.72</ref>

=== Society ===
During the Chola period several guilds, communities, and castes emerged. The guild was one of the most significant institutions of south India and merchants organised themselves into guilds. The best known of these were the Manigramam and Ayyavole guilds though other guilds such as Anjuvannam and Valanjiyar were also in existence.{{sfnp|Mukund|1999|p=29-30|ps=}} Members of the Vellalar caste were sent to northern Sri Lanka by the Chola rulers as settlers.{{sfnp|Hellmann-Rajanayagam|2004|p=104|ps=}} The [[Ulavar]] caste were agricultural workers and peasants were known as Kalamar.<ref name="Their Environs p.319" />

The [[Kaikolar]] community were weavers and merchants who also maintained armies. During the Chola period, they had predominant trading and military roles.<ref name="Craft Production p.188">Carla M. Sinopoli, ''The Political Economy of Craft Production: Crafting Empire in South India'', p.188</ref> During the reign of the Imperial Chola rulers (10th–13th centuries), there were major changes in the temple administration and land ownership. There was more involvement of non-[[Brahmin]] peoples in temple administration. This can be attributed to the shift in financial power. Skilled classes like weavers and merchants had become prosperous. Land ownership was no longer a privilege of the Brahmins (priest caste) and the Vellalar land owners.{{sfnp|Sadarangani|2004|p=16|ps=}}

There is little information on the size and the density of the population during the Chola reign.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=284|ps=}} The stability in the core Chola region enabled the people to lead a productive and contented life but there are reports of widespread famine caused by natural calamities.{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|pp=125, 129|ps=}}

The quality of the inscriptions of the regime indicates the inscribers had a high level of literacy and education. The text in these inscriptions was written by court poets and engraved by talented artisans. Education in the contemporary sense was not considered important; there is circumstantial evidence some village councils organised schools to teach the basics of reading and writing to children,{{sfnp|Scharfe|2002|p=180|ps=}} although there is no evidence of systematic education system for the masses.<ref>Italian traveller [[Pietro Della Valle]] (1623) gave an account of a village schools in South India; this account reflects the system of primary education that existed in [[Tamil Nadu]].</ref> Vocational education was through hereditary training, in which the father passed on his skills to his sons. Tamil was the medium of education for the masses; monasteries (''matha'' or ''gatika'') were centres of learning and received government support.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=293|ps=}}

Under Chola kings, there was generally an emphasis on a fair justice system, and the kings were often described as ''sengol-valavan'', the king who established just rule; and priests warned the king royal justice would ensure a happy future for him, and that injustice would lead to divine punishment.<ref>{{cite book |last=Balasubrahmanyam |first=S |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dufVAAAAMAAJ |title=Middle Chola Temples Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I (A.D. 985-1070) |publisher=Oriental Press |year=1977 |isbn=9789060236079 |page=291}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Subrahmanian |first=N |title=History of Tamil Nadu (to A.D. 1336) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aD6mnQEACAAJ |year=1971 |access-date=2023-06-12 |publisher=Koodal Publishers}}</ref>

=== Foreign trade ===
{{See also|Chola Navy|Relationship of the Cholas with the Chinese}}

The Cholas, who were in possession of parts of the west and east coasts of peninsular India,{{sfnp|Kulke|Rothermund|2001|p=124|ps=}} engaged in foreign trade and maritime activity, extending their influence to China and Southeast Asia.{{sfnp|Kulke|Rothermund|2001|pp=116-117|ps=}} Towards the end of the 9th century, southern India had developed extensive maritime and commercial activity.{{sfnp|Kulke|Rothermund|2001|pp=12, 118|ps=}} South Indian guilds played a major role in inter-regional and overseas trade. The best-known guilds were the [[Manigramam]] and [[Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu|Ayyavole]], who followed the conquering Chola armies.{{sfnp|Mukund|1999|p=29–30|ps=}} The encouragement of the Chola court furthered the expansion of Tamil merchant associations and guilds into Southeast Asia and China.<ref>Tansen Sen, ''Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations'', p.159</ref>{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|pp=465, 477|ps=}} The [[Tang dynasty]] of China, the Srivijaya Empire under the Sailendras, and the [[Abbasid]] Kalifat at [[Baghdad]] were the Chola Empire's main trading partners.{{sfnp|Sastri|1984|p=604|ps=}}

The Chola dynasty played a significant role in linking the markets of China to the rest of the world. The empire's market structure and economic policies were more conducive to a large-scale, cross-regional market trade than those enacted by the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]]. A Chola record gives their rationale for engagement in foreign trade: "Make the merchants of distant foreign countries who import elephants and good horses attach to yourself by providing them with villages and decent dwellings in the city, by affording them daily audience, presents and allowing them profits. Then those articles will never go to your enemies."<ref name="Buddhism, Diplomacy p.156">Tansen Sen, ''Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations'', p.156</ref>

Song dynasty reports record an embassy from ''Chulian'' (Chola) reached the Chinese court in 1077,{{sfnp|Kulke|Rothermund|2001|p=117|ps=}}{{sfnp|Thapar|1995|p=xv|ps=}} and that the king of the Chulian at the time, Kulothunga I, was called ''Ti-hua-kia-lo''. This embassy was a trading venture and was highly profitable to the Chola visitors, who returned with copper coins in exchange for articles of [[tribute]], including glass and spices.{{sfnp|Mukund|2012|p=92|ps=}} The motive behind Rajendra's expedition to Srivijaya was probably the protection of the merchants' interests.{{sfnp|Mukund|2012|p=95|ps=}}

=== Canals and water tanks ===
[[File:Temple Tank in Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram.jpg|left|thumb|Water Tank of the [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Nataraja Temple]] in [[Chidambaram]].]]

There was tremendous agrarian expansion during the rule of the imperial Chola dynasty (c.&nbsp;900–1270) in present-day Tamil Nadu, particularly in the [[Kaveri Basin]]. Canals of the Kaveri River were constructed in this period; these include the [[Uyyakondan canal]], [[Rajendran vaykkal]], and [[Sembian Mahadegvi vaykkal]]. There was an efficient, well-developed system of water management from the village level upwards. There was an increase in royal patronage, and the number of {{transliteration|sa|devadana}} and {{transliteration|sa|bramadeya}} lands, which increased the role of the temples and village assemblies in farming. Tank committees (''eri-variyam'') and garden committees (''totta-variam'') were as active as the temples with their vast resources in land, men and money. The water tanks that came up during the Chola period include one Rajendra Chola built at [[Solagangam]] in his capital city [[Gangaikonda Solapuram]] and was described as the liquid pillar of victory. Solagagam was about {{cvt|16|miles}} long, and was provided with sluices and canals for irrigating land in the neighbouring areas. Another very large lake of this period, which remains an important source of irrigation, is [[Viranameri]] near [[Kattumannarkoil]] in South Arcot district that Parantaka Chola founded. Other famous lakes of this period are [[Madurantakam]], [[Sundra-cholapereri]], and [[Kundavai-Pereri]], which was named after a Chola queen).<ref>Lallanji Gopal, ''History of Agriculture in India, Up to c.&nbsp;1200 A.D.'', p.501</ref>

== Art and architecture ==

=== Architecture ===
{{Main|Chola art and architecture}}
[[File:Gangaikonda Cholapuram view.jpg|thumb|[[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]], the capital of the Chola Empire, built from 1023 to 1027 by [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]].]]
[[File:Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur by Henry Salt.jpg|thumb|[[Brihadisvara Temple]], built in 1010 by [[Rajaraja I]]]]

The Cholas continued the temple-building traditions of the Pallava dynasty and contributed significantly to the Dravidian temple design.{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=479|ps=}} They built a number of [[Shiva]] temples along the banks of the Kaveri river. The template for these and future temples was formulated by Aditya&nbsp;I and Parantaka.{{sfnp|Dehejia|1990|p=10|ps=}}{{sfnp|Harle|1994|p=295|ps=}}{{sfnp|Mitter|2001|p=57|ps=}} The Chola temple architecture has been appreciated for its magnificence and delicate workmanship, ostensibly following the rich traditions of the Pallava Dynasty.<ref name="ReferenceC">V.&nbsp;V. Subba Reddy, ''Temples of South India'', p.110</ref> Architectural historian [[James Fergusson (architect)|James Fergusson]] says "the Chola artists conceived like giants and finished like jewelers".<ref name="ReferenceC" /> A new development in Chola art that characterised the Dravidian architecture in later times was the addition of a huge gateway called ''gopuram'' to the enclosure of the temple, which had been developed under the Pandya dynasty.<ref name="ReferenceC" /> The Chola school of art spread to Southeast Asia, and influenced the architecture and art of Southeast Asia.{{sfnp|Jermsawatdi|1979|p=57|ps=}}<ref>John Stewart Bowman, ''Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture'', p.335</ref>

Temple building received great impetus from the conquests and the genius of Rajaraja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola&nbsp;I.{{sfnp|Vasudevan|2003|pp=21-24|ps=}} The temples at [[Thanjavur]] and [[Gangaikondacholapuram]] display the maturity and grandeur to which the Chola architecture had evolved. The [[Brihadisvara Temple|Shiva temple of Thanjavur]], which was completed around 1009, idisplays the material achievements of Rajaraja's reign, being the largest and tallest of all Indian temples of its time. The temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram at Gangaikondacholapuram, which was designed by Rajendra Chola, was intended to excel its predecessor. It was completed around 1030 in the same style. The greater elaboration in its appearance attests to the more affluent state of the Chola empire under Rajendra.{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=479|ps=}}{{sfnp|Nagasamy|1970|p=|ps=}}{{page needed|date=April 2015}} The Brihadisvara Temple, the temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram and the [[Airavatesvara Temple]] at [[Darasuram]] were declared [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage Sites]] by [[UNESCO]], and are referred to as the [[Great Living Chola Temples]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Great Living Chola Temples |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250 |access-date=2008-06-03 |publisher=[[UNESCO]]}}</ref>

The Chola period is also noted for its sculptures and bronzes.{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=186|ps=}}{{sfnp|Mitter|2001|p=163|ps=}}{{sfnp|Thapar|1995|p=309-310|ps=}} Specimens in museums around the world and in temples of South India include figures of Shiva in various forms, such as [[Vishnu]] and his consort [[Lakshmi]], and the Shaivite saints.{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=479|ps=}} These works generally conform to the iconographic conventions established by long tradition but the sculptors of the 11th and the 12th centuries worked with great freedom to achieve a classic grace and grandeur. The best example of this can be seen in the form of [[Nataraja]] the Divine Dancer.{{sfnp|Wolpert|1999|p=174|ps=}}{{efn|By common consent, the finest Chola masterpieces are the bronze images of Siva Nataraja.{{sfnp|Mitter|2001|p=59|ps=}}}}

=== Literature ===
[[File:Kamba Ramyanam Mandapam at The Ranganathasamy Temple, Srirangam.jpg|left|thumb|[[Kamban|Kambar]] often recited poems at the Kamba Ramyanam Mandapam]]

Literature flourished in the Chola Empire. The poet [[Kambar (poet)|Kambar]] was active during the reign of [[Kulothunga Chola III|Kulothunga III]]. Kambar's epic poem ''[[Ramavataram]]'' (also referred to as ''Kambaramayanam'') is a classic of Tamil literature; though the author states he followed [[Valmiki]]'s ''[[Ramayana]]'', it is generally accepted his work is not a simple translation or adaptation of the Sanskrit epic.<ref name="Legend of Ram">Sanujit Ghose, ''Legend of Ram''</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2015}} Kambar's work describes the colour and landscape of his own time; his description of [[Kosala]] is an idealised account of the features of Chola country.{{sfnp|Ismail|1988|p=1195|ps=}}<ref name="Rays and Ways of Indian Culture">D. P. Dubey, ''Rays and Ways of Indian Culture''</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2015}}{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=116|ps=}}

[[Jayamkondar]]'s ''Kalingattuparani'' is an example of narrative poetry that draws a clear boundary between history and fictitious conventions. This poem describes events during Kulothunga's war in Kalinga, and depicts the pomp and circumstance of war, and the gruesome details of the field.{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=116|ps=}}{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|pp=20, 340-341|ps=}} The Tamil poet [[Ottakoothar|Ottakuttan]] was a contemporary of [[Kulottunga I]] and served at the courts of three of Kulothunga's successors.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|pp=184, 340|ps=}}{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=20|ps=}} Ottakuttan wrote ''Kulothunga Cholan Ula'', a poem extolling the virtues of the Chola king.<ref>''Encyclopaedia of Indian literature'', vol. 1, p 307</ref>

''Nannul'' is a Chola-era work on Tamil grammar. It discusses all five branches of grammar and, according to Berthold Spuler, is still relevant and is one of the most-distinguished normative grammars of literary Tamil.{{sfnp|Spuler|1975|p=194|ps=}}

The [[Telugu Chodas|Telugu Choda]] period was significant for the development of Telugu literature under the patronage of the rulers. In this era, great Telugu poets [[Tikkana]], [[Ketana]], Marana and Somana were active. Tikkana Somayaji wrote ''Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu'' and ''Andhra Mahabharatamu''. [[Abhinava Dandi Ketana]] wrote ''Dasakumaracharitramu'', ''Vijnaneswaramu'', and ''Andhra Bhashabhushanamu''. Marana wrote ''Markandeya Purana'' in Telugu. Somana wrote ''Basava Purana''. Tikkana is one of the ''kavitrayam'' who translated ''[[Mahabharata]]'' into Telugu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2018-06-23 |title=The Telugu Cholas of Konidena (A.D. 1050-1300) [Part 1] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/south-asia/book/the-history-of-andhra-country/d/doc220044.html |access-date=2019-01-07 |website=www.wisdomlib.org}}</ref>

Of the period's devotional literature, the arrangement of the Shaivite canon into eleven books was the work of [[Nambi Andar Nambi]], who lived close to the end of the 10th century.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|pp=342-343|ps=}}{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=115|ps=}} Relatively few Vaishnavite works were composed during the Later Chola period, possibly because of the rulers' apparent animosity towards them.{{sfnp|Sastri|1984|p=681|ps=}}

=== Religion ===
[[File:NatarajaMET.JPG|left|thumb|220x220px|[[Bronze]] [[Chola]] Statue of ''[[Nataraja]]'' at the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], New York City]]

In general, Cholas were followers of [[Hinduism]]. While the Cholas built their largest and most-important temple dedicated to [[Shiva]], it is uncertain whether they were followers of [[Shaivism]] only or that they were not favourably disposed to other faiths. The second Chola king Aditya&nbsp;I (871–903) built temples for Shiva and Vishnu. Inscriptions of 890 refer to his contributions to the construction Ranganatha Temple at [[Srirangapatnam]] in the [[Western Gangas]], who were both his feudatories and had connections by marriage with him. He also said the great temples of Shiva and Ranganatha temple were to be the ''Kuladhanam'' of the Chola emperors.<ref>[http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/darasuram/kulottunga.html "Darasuram Temple Inscriptions"]. ''What Is India'' (2007-01-29). Retrieved on 2013-07-12.</ref>

Parantaka&nbsp;II was a devotee of the reclining Vishnu (Vadivu Azhagiya Nambi) at [[Anbil]] the outskirts of [[Tiruchy]], to whom he gave numerous gifts and embellishments. He prayed before Vishnu before his embarking on a war to regain territories in and around Kanchi and Arcot from the waning [[Rashtrakutas]], and leading expeditions against Madurai and Ilam (Sri Lanka).{{sfnp|Tripathi|1967|p=480|ps=}} Parantaka&nbsp;I and Parantaka Chola II endowed and built temples for Shiva and Vishnu.{{sfnp|Vasudevan|2003|p=102|ps=}} Rajaraja Chola&nbsp;I patronised Buddhists and provided for the construction of the [[Chudamani Vihara]], a Buddhist monastery in [[Nagapattinam]], at the request of Sri Chulamanivarman, the Srivijaya Sailendra king.{{sfnp|Sastri|1984|p=214|ps=}}{{sfnp|Majumdar|1987|p=4067|ps=}}

During the period of the Later Cholas, there were supposed instances of intolerance towards [[Vaishnavite]]s{{sfnp|Stein|1998|p=134|ps=}} especially towards their acharya [[Ramanuja]].{{sfnp|Vasudevan|2003|p=104|ps=}} A Chola sovereign called [[Krimikanta Chola]] is said to have persecuted Ramanuja. Some scholars identify [[Kulothunga Chola II]] with Krimikanta Chola or worm-necked Chola, who is so-called because he is said to have suffered from cancer of the throat or neck. The latter finds mention in the [[Vaishnavite|vaishnava]] Guruparampara and is said to have been a strong opponent of the Vaishnavas. The 17th-century work ''Parpannamritam'' refers to a Chola king called Krimikanta who is said to have removed the Govindaraja idol from the Chidambaram [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Nataraja temple]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Natarajan |first1=B. |title=Tillai and Nataraja |last2=Ramachandran |first2=Balasubrahmanyan |publisher=Mudgala Trust |year=1994 |location=Chidambaram, India |page=108}}</ref> According to temple records of the [[Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Srirangam]] temple, however, Kulottunga Chola II was the son of Krimikanta Chola. The former, unlike his father, is said to have been a repentant son who supported Vaishnavism.<ref>{{cite book |author=V. N. Hari Rao |title=Kōil Ol̤ugu: The Chronicle of the Srirangam Temple with Historical Notes |publisher=Rochouse |year=1961 |page=87}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Kōvintacāmi |first=Mu |title=A Survey of the Sources for the History of Tamil Literature |publisher=Annamalai University |year=1977 |page=161}}</ref> 

Ramanuja is said to have made Kulottunga II a disciple of his nephew [[Mudaliyandan|Dasarathi]]. The king then granted the management of Ranganathaswamy temple to Dasarathi and his descendants as per the wish of Ramanuja.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sreenivasa Ayyangar |first1=C. R. |title=The Life and Teachings of Sri Ramanujacharya |publisher=R. Venkateshwar |year=1908 |page=239}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Mackenzie |first=Colin |title=Mackenzie manuscripts; summaries of the historical manuscripts in the Mackenzie collection |volume=1 |publisher=University of Madras |year=1972 |editor=T. V. Mahalingam |page=14}}</ref> Historian [[Nilakanta Sastri]] identifies Krimikanta Chola with [[Athirajendra Chola]] or [[Virarajendra Chola]], with whom the main [[Vijayalaya Chola]] line ended.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jagannathan |first=Sarojini |title=Impact of Śrī Rāmānujāçārya on Temple Worship |publisher=Nag |year=1994 |page=148}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Kalidos |first=Raju |title=History and Culture of the Tamils: From Prehistoric Times to the President's Rule |publisher=Vijay |year=1976 |page=139}}</ref> An inscription from 1160 states the custodians of Shiva temples who had social intercourse with Vaishnavites would forfeit their property. This is a direction to the Shaivite community by its religious heads rather than a diktat by a Chola emperor. While Chola kings built their largest temples for Shiva, and emperors like Rajaraja Chola&nbsp;I held titles like ''Sivapadasekharan'', in none of their inscriptions did the Chola emperors proclaim their clan solely followed Shaivism or that Shaivism was the state religion during their rule.{{sfnp|Sastri|2002|p=176|ps=}}{{sfnp|Sastri|1984|p=645|ps=}}{{sfnp|Chopra|Ravindran|Subrahmanian|2003|p=126|ps=}}

== Family tree ==
{{chart top|Medieval Cholas}}
{{chart/start|align=center}}
{{chart|||||king||||king=[[Vijayalaya Chola|Vijayalaya]]<br>848–881 }}
{{chart||||||!||||}}
{{chart|||||king||||king=[[Aditya I]]<br>871–907 }}
{{chart||||||!||||}}
{{chart|||||king||||king=[[Parantaka I]]<br>907–954 }}
{{chart||,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.|}}
{{chart|king1||king2||king3|king1=[[Rajaditya]]|king2=[[Gandaraditya]]<br>950–957|king3=[[Arinjaya]]<br>956–957}}
{{chart||||||!||||!||}}
{{chart|||||king1||king2|king1=[[Uttama Chola|Uttama]]<br>971–987|king2=[[Parantaka Chola II|Parantaka II]]<br>957–970}}
{{chart|||||||,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.|}}
{{chart||||||king1||king2||queen1|king1=[[Aditya II]]|king2=[[Raja Raja Chola|Raja Raja I]]<br>985–1014|queen1=[[Kundavai Pirāttiyār|Kundavai]]}}
{{chart|||||||||||!|||||}}
{{chart||||||||||king|||king=[[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]]<br>1012–1044}}
{{chart|||||||,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.|}}
{{chart||||||king1||king2||king3|king1=[[Rajadhiraja Chola I|Rajadhiraja I]]<br>1018–1054|king2=[[Rajendra Chola II|Rajendra II]]<br>1051–1063|king3=[[Virarajendra Chola|Virarajendra]]<br>1063–1070}}
{{chart|||||||||||||||!|}}
{{chart||||||||||||||king|||king=[[Athirajendra Chola|Athirajendra]]<br>1067–1070}}
{{chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

== Emperors ==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Ruler
!Reign
!Notes
|-
|[[Vijayalaya Chola]]
|
|848–870
|Founder of the Chola empire, belonging to [[Telugu Chodas]] of Pottapi branch and descendant of the [[Early Cholas]].
|-
|[[Aditya I]]
|
|870–907
|
|-
|[[Parantaka I]]
|
|907–955
|
|-
|[[Gandaraditya]]
|
|955–957
| rowspan="2" |Ruled jointly.
|-
|[[Arinjaya]]
|
|956–957
|-
|[[Parantaka Chola II|Parantaka II]]
|
|957–970
|
|-
|[[Uttama Chola|Uttama]]
|
|970–985
|
|-
|[[Rajaraja Chola I|Rajaraja I ''the Great'']]
|[[File:Rajaraja_mural-2_(cropped).jpg|155x155px]]
|985–1014
|
|-
|[[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]]
|[[File:Domlur_chola_stone_art_10th_century,bangalore.jpg|133x133px]]
|1014–1044
|
|-
|[[Rajadhiraja Chola I|Rajadhiraja I]]
|[[File:Coin_of_Rajadhiraja_Chola.png|100x100px]]
|1044–1054
|
|-
|[[Rajendra Chola II|Rajendra II]]
|
|1054–1063
|
|-
|[[Virarajendra Chola|Virarajendra]]
|
|1063–1070
|
|-
|[[Athirajendra Chola|Athirajendra]]
|
|1070
|Left no heirs.
|-
|[[Kulottunga I|Kulothunga I]]
|[[File:Sculpture_in_a_wall_at_Nataraja_Temple_in_Chidambaram,_Tamil_Nadu.jpg|150x150px]]
|1070–1122
|Son of Amangai Devi Chola, daughter of Rajendra I, and [[Rajaraja Narendra]], ruler of [[Eastern Chalukyas|Eastern Chalukya dynasty]]. Kolothunga's reign started the period which was known as ''[[Later Cholas|Chalukya-Chola dynasty ''or simply'' Later Cholas]]''.
|-
|[[Vikrama Chola|Vikrama]]
|
|1122–1135
|
|-
|[[Kulothunga Chola II|Kulothunga II]]
|[[File:The_stonescupture.jpg|133x133px]]
|1135–1150
|Grandson of the previous.
|-
|[[Rajaraja II]]
|[[File:Raja_Chola_II.png|219x219px]]
|1150–1173
|
|-
|[[Rajadhiraja Chola II|Rajadhiraja II]]
|
|1173–1178
|Grandson of king Vikrama Chola.
|-
|[[Kulottunga Chola III|Kulothunga III]]
|[[File:Third_Kulothunga_cholan.jpg|175x175px]]
|1178–1218
|
|-
|[[Rajaraja Chola III|Rajaraja III]]
|
|1218–1256
|
|-
|[[Rajendra Chola III|Rajendra III]]
|
|1256–1279
|Last Chola ruler, defeated by the [[Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I]] of the [[Pandya dynasty]]. After the war, the remaining Chola royal bloods were reduced to the state of being chieftains by the Pandyan forces.
|}

==Footnotes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

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{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
* Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). ''A History of South India'', OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
* Durga Prasad, ''History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D.'', P. G. PUBLISHERS
* Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1935). ''The Cōlas'', University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).

{{Middle kingdoms of India}}

[[Category:Chola Empire| ]]
[[Category:Chola dynasty]]
[[Category:Medieval empires and kingdoms of India]]
[[Category:History of Tiruchirappalli]]
[[Category:Medieval Tamil Nadu]]
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