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Chola dynasty

South AsiaHeartland today: India

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A Tamil dynasty based at Thanjavur that grew from a regional power into a sea-going empire, reaching Sri Lanka, the Ganges and Srivijaya before the Pandyas overran it in the 13th century.

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Key events

  1. Vijayalaya re-establishes independent Chola rule in the Kaveri delta, overthrowing the Pallavas and PandyasDisputed

    Wikipedia dates the founding to 848 and Britannica begins Vijayalaya's reign about 850.

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  2. An inscription at Uttaramerur, under Parantaka I, records the rules for choosing village committee members by lot

    Wikipedia dates the inscription with the election rules to 919, Madras Musings to about 920; both follow Parantaka I's regnal years.

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  3. – Rajaraja I sends a Chola army to Sri Lanka, which takes Anuradhapura and northern Sri Lanka

    UNESCO dates the invasion to 993; Britannica says northern Sri Lanka was acquired by 996.

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  4. – Rajaraja I builds the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur, with a pyramidal tower about 60 metres high

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  5. – Rajendra I sends a Chola army north to the Ganges, through Bengal, where it meets the Pala king Mahipala IDisputed

    The expedition is dated c. 1021–1024 from the Chola Tirumalai inscription. Mahipala I stayed on his throne afterwards.

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  6. Rajendra I sends a Chola fleet across the Bay of Bengal to raid the ports of SrivijayaDisputed

    The date 1025 comes from Wikipedia. Britannica says only that Rajendra I conquered parts of the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, with no date.

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  7. The Pandyas conquer the Chola country in 1257, and the reign of Rajendra III, the last Chola king, ends in 1279Disputed

    Britannica dates the Pandya conquest to 1257 and the end of the dynasty to 1279; Wikipedia gives Rajendra III's reign as 1246–1279.

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